Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently travelled to Europe to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, before attending the NATO Leadersโ Summit in Lithuania.
Whilst in Germany, PM Albanese announced that Australia has signed up to the Climate Club.
Not our Climate Club Qld newsletter, but โan alliance of nations that aims to decarbonise industry and pursue net zero emissions by 2050.โ
Chancellor Scholz had first floated the initiative to establish a Climate Club at the start of 2022, and it was formally established by the G7 in December 2022. The Terms of Reference list three thematic pillars:
Advancing ambitious and transparent climate change mitigation policies
Transforming industries
Boosting international climate cooperation and partnerships
Still with me? Or do we need Greta to reprise her famous blah, blah, blah speech?
The Climate Council reminds us that Labor remains wedded to fossil fuel extraction: โJoining the Climate Club is a good move, but must be backed by stronger steps at home to phase out fossil fuels and build the clean industries of the futureโ.
Since taking Government in May 2022, Labor has approved 3 new coal mines with 116 million tonnes of lifetime emissions.
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Another exclusive club, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) was launched in April 2021 โto coordinate efforts across all sectors of the financial system to accelerate the transition to a net-zero global economy.โ
Financial institutions in GFANZ join one of eight sector-specific alliances, such as the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. Members โare committed to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050โ, and โthis ambitious commitment sees signatory banks setting intermediate targets for 2030 or sooner using robust, science-based guidelines.โ Wow! Member banks include (wait for itโฆ..) all four of Australiaโs Big Four banks!
Did Market Forces take into account the club membership when they revealed the Big Four loaned $6.267b to the fossil fuel industry in 2022 alone?
As you can see, Government and Big Business think they can have it both ways when it comes to climate change. Well they canโt anymore. And weโre here to help you let them know! ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐
What can you do today?
๐ If you have 5 minutes:
In Issue 17 we reported the proposed Clive Palmer Waratah Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin has been rejected. But his Waratah Coal Power Station project in the Galilee Basin hasnโt yet been killed off. Qldโs Deputy Premier Steven Miles can approve or reject this climate-wrecking project, but has recently delayed the decision.
Action: Sign the Petition urging Steve Miles to reject the project.
Fracking plans for Beetaloo Basin and Darwin Harbour's Middle Arm gas export hub have shocked health professionals across the country, who are attending a Climate & Health Day of Action at Parliament House on Tuesday 8 August. Support these important community voices speaking up for bold climate action by sharing details of the event and taking action yourself.
Action: Sign the joint letter which will be delivered in person by health professionals to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on 8 August.
Action: Sign the petition urging Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to fast track her promise to expand the water trigger to cover shale gas fracking such as that planned by Tamboran Resources in the Beetaloo Basin.
๐ If you have 15 minutes:
Many of Australiaโs biggest financial institutions claim to support the rights of Traditional Owners. Yet many of them are enabling Santoโs destructive plans by loaning to or investing in this toxic company, which has a track record of failing to gain consent from Traditional Owners for its projects.
Action: Watch Walk With Us, a documentary telling the story of Gomeroi and Tiwi Islands Traditional Ownersโ fight against Santosโ Narrabri and Barossa gas projects. Email your Super Fund and/or your Big 4 Bank to demand they stop enabling destructive gas projects.
๐๐ฝ If you have 30 minutes or more:
Commonwealth Bank will release its updated climate policy on 9th August. 350.org is holding a webinar the following day to analyse the announcement, discuss what is planned next, and celebrate the hard work by folks who worked on the campaign over the last 12 months (such as actions described in Issue 7 and Issue 23).
Action: RSVP to the 350.org webinar, which will be held on Thu 10 August 5:30 โ 6:30pm.
The Australian Labor Party National Conference is being held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from Thu 17 to Sat 19 August.
Action: Join a rally on the first day (Thu 17 August 8:00am - 9:30am) to form a giant human clock to send a clear message to Labor: Timeโs Up! Itโs time to protect Country and our Climate!
This November people will take to the water for the Peopleโs Blockade of the Worldโs Largest Coal Port in Newcastle. Hear Alexa Stuart (19-year-old climate activist from Rising Tide Newcastle) and Jonathan Sriranganathan (former Greens Councillor for Gabba ward) speak about why we need a mass, disruptive movement to match the urgency of the climate crisis and achieve transformative change.
Action: RSVP for the speaking tour Thu 17 August 6:00pm - 7:30pm at The Burrow, 52 Russell Street West End.
Last Friday night the Move Beyond Coal movement celebrated the NAB/Whitehaven coal victory. I sat for a while with several High School students who are part of the School Strike for Climate movement - what an inspirational group of young people! When I think about people who are too scared or unsure about advocating for climate action, itโs interactions like these that give me heart and give me hope.
They are organising the next School Strike for Climate, starting at 1pm Fri 15 Sept at Queens Gardens, Brisbane and then marching through the CBD streets.
The rally will be authorised, legal and safe. Save the date; support our future generations, and be there!
Our inbox is always open! To help us keep these newsletters helpful, you can always reply to us with:
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Thatโs all for today, folks ๐๐ฝ Thanks for taking action.ย See you in two weeks.
Ron, Jan, Malcolm and Robyn - The Climate Club Qld team
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We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Meanjin - Brisbane. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded - always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
2023 Climate Club QLD
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