Do you ever wonder if signing petitions, sending emails, and supporting submissions makes an impact?
Well, many of the actions we have featured this year have really helped. Here is a summary of some of our major wins, achieved with many people such as you doing their bit to make a difference!
💰💰The banks are finally shifting💰💰
Move Beyond Coal led 226 actions at 90 branches over 9 months while sending thousands of emails and social media comments. What impact did this have? In July NAB refused to extend a $1.2 million credit facility to Whitehaven Coal, followed by other overseas financiers then also pulling out. After missing out on their $1 billion credit facility, Whitehaven’s managing director and chief executive officer said of getting finance: “Look, it’s hard yakka”. Poor Paul.
It wasn’t just NAB who felt the heat.
In August, Commonwealth Bank updated its climate policy to resemble something better suited to our dire times and the Paris Agreement, with ANZ, NAB and Westpac following suit. Westpac surprised us in November by setting a zero-deforestation target for loans to beef, dairy and sheep farming, a policy commended by the Australian Conservation Foundation.
There is still a long way to go, but without your actions even these steps would not have happened.
🏞️🏞️First step for protecting the Channel Country🏞️🏞️
After years of promising to protect Qld’s channel country but doing nothing except quietly allowing gas companies to explore while approving fracking leases, the Qld Government finally gave in to community pressure. After a series of actions coordinated by Lock the Gate and Western Rivers Alliance, they released a Regulatory Impact Statement for public comment. Consultation closed in August, and with more than 10,000 signatures wanting protection, our State Government would be wise to listen to people power!
🚗⚡🚗⚡The weekend won’t be ruined 🚗⚡🚗⚡
After sustained pressure, including over 600 responses led by Solar Citizens to the submission process, the Federal Government finally released a new fuel efficiency strategy in April. Specifics are to be decided over the next year through another consultation process, so watch for our calls to support this important strategy.
🌊🌊The Water Trigger🌊🌊
Wheeling and dealing in the recent final sitting of Federal Parliament saw the introduction of an expanded “water trigger” to the EPBC (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) Act: the Federal Minister must now assess “unconventional gas development” (fracking) for impact on water. This means Beetaloo Basin projects will now be assessed at a Federal level – until now these projects were rubber stamped by the Northern Territory Government. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek must now seek scientific advice, though she can still give in to the fossil fuel industry and ignore the advice (at her peril!)
💣💣Clive Palmer has had a bad year💣💣
In February, Minister Plibersek blocked Palmer’s proposed Styx Coal Mine near Marlborough, only 10km from the ocean, after she received 9,000 public submissions in only 10 business days!
Then in April, his proposed Waratah Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin was buried by the Qld Department of Environment and Science. This only happened the Department accepted the advice of the Qld Land Court to refuse the project, following a case led by a group of young people called Youth Verdict in the previous November. A last ditch appeal by Waratah Coal was withdrawn.
But still Palmer kept on trying….
Clive tried to sneak approval for his Waratah Power Plant near the central Qld town of Alpha through the local council. But alas! In November, the Queensland Department of Environment and Science rejected the project and last Thursday new Premier Steven Miles killed it (finally, after two years!)
🎯🎯New emissions targets🎯🎯
The Qld Government launched its Climate Action Plan in July 2021, with a target of 30% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2030. After ongoing pressure to do better, new Premier Steven Miles has announced a new emissions reduction target of 75% below 2005 levels by 2035! Climate activism DOES make a difference!
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Sometimes it might seem like our efforts to protect the climate are seemingly never-ending and even futile. But some of the successes above are done and dusted victories, while others bring us one step closer to success.
So bring on 2024! Together we are stronger and that’s what Climate Club Qld is here to help with.
Thank you for taking action in 2023. Together we made a difference.⚡
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
As reported above, in his very first speech as new Qld Premier, Steven Miles announced a much improved emissions reduction target of 75% by 2035.
Action:
Write your own short email to thank him for setting a commendable new emissions reduction target of 75% by 2035.Write your own short email to urge the Qld Opposition to support these targets.
Also reported above, in the same speech new Qld Premier Steven Miles refused Clive Palmer’s Waratah Power Station.
Urgent action by Fri 22 Dec: Send the pre-filled email to thank him for ending this terrible project, but remind him that Whitehaven's Winchester South Coal Mine has been recommended by Queensland's Coordinator General. Minister Leanne Linard needs to stop it.
Steven Miles may be feeling clean and green, but our Channel Country remains under threat. We have been waiting since August for our State Government’s accepted option from the Regulatory Impact Statement (detailed above).
Action: Send an email to Steven Miles urging him to enact regulatory option 4: No new oil and gas in the rivers and floodplains of Queensland’s Lake Eyre Basin.
As COP28 comes to a close with world leaders refusing to commit to a full phase-out of fossil fuels, the Our Islands Our Home movement (we described their original landmark win in Issue #4) is calling for the Albanese Government to commit urgently needed funds for sea wall funding in the 2024 Federal Budget.
Action: Share their call for Minister Burney and Minister Bowen to urgently increase seawall funding in the May 2024 Federal Budget. Share on Facebook, Share on Instagram, or Sign the petition.
When the Latrobe Valley Hazelwood coal mine closed in 2017, it left behind a massive toxic pit. Carbon emissions may have ceased, but fossil fuel companies need to know their responsibilities don’t end there.
Action: Sign the petition to ensure Engie’s rehabilitation plans are properly scrutinised.
A report by Parents for Climate reveals how cost-of-living pressures and record-setting summer heat means families across the country are struggling to keep their homes cool and safe for kids. It calls for all homes, schools and childcare centres to be heatwave-safe, powered by a cost-effective rollout of rooftop solar.
Action: Send the report to your Federal MP, cc’d to Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, and Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Jenny McAllister.
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
Solar Citizens have been pushing hard for the federal government to legislate a mandatory Fuel Efficiency Standard for all new cars, and we are still waiting. The 2024 Affordable EV campaign will highlight the cost-saving potential of electric vehicles as well as the common barriers to owning one. Solar Citizens wants to share your experiences with MPs to highlight just how important affordable EVs and fuel efficiency standards are to all Australians.
Action: Share your story - big or small - about solar, home batteries, electric vehicles, power bills, clean technology.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
Despite expanding the “water trigger” in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the EPBC is barely monitored, rarely enforced and full of loopholes allowing corporations to destroy nature.
Action tomorrow: If you are in Brisbane - meet in Kalinga Park, alongside beautiful Kedron Brook, to make clay ornaments and send photos of the work to local Members of Parliament to tell them how much we care about the places we love. Bring your family along for a morning of craft and community action, Thursday 21 December, 9-11am
🏋️🏋️♀️🏋️🏋️♀️🏋️🏋️♀️🏋️🏋️♀️🏋️🏋️♀️🏋️🏋️♀️🏋️🏋️♀️🏋️🏋️♀️
Last Thursday, Tiwi Islanders travelled 3000 km to state their human rights concerns face to face with Westpac management at the bank’s AGM in Brisbane. The bank’s dismissive treatment of their case has been shameful and out of step with even the bank’s own policies. After some awkward questions from the floor by three Tiwi Islanders, CEO Peter King has finally agreed to meet traditional owners on their country, and hear their concerns about Santos’ $5.8 billion Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea, which Westpac is part-funding! We stand with Australia’s First Nations and their human rights.
Fossil fuel extraction and climate destruction doesn't stop for the holiday period, but we are going to. Robyn will be back in late January with our next edition; stay tuned for a big 2024!
Ron
plus Malcolm, Robyn and Jan - The Climate Club Qld team
To help us keep these newsletters helpful, you can always reach us by email climateclubqld@gmail.com or check out the simple info on our About page.
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.