1
Climate change increases the risk of conflict and Australia will not find lasting national security without adequately addressing it.
- › Australia faces substantial climate and security risks on its doorstep and without urgent action, climate change will reduce security in our region.
- › Failure to rise to the challenge of climate and security is already leading to a loss of geopolitical influence for Australia, particularly in the Pacific.
- › Water has long been a contested resource in Asia and climate change is worsening the situation. Any conflict over water in our region could have profound consequences for Australia.
- › Pacific Island Countries as well as Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, India and Indonesia face significant threats from sea level rise, which
is likely to increase displacement and forced migration.
2
The federal government’s financial support of the fossil fuel industry is actively undermining Australia’s national security.
› Australia is spending public money in ways that exacerbate climate change, including handing out billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsides.
› Australia failed to use COVID-19 to invest in a renewables-led recovery, spending less than two percent of its economic stimulus money on climate solutions. By comparison, Canada spent 74.5 percent and the UK spent more than 20 percent.
3
Australia has fallen well behind the US, UK, Japan, New Zealand and other peers in analysis of climate and security risks.
- › Climate change needs to figure prominently in Australia’s security thinking and investment, but this is not yet the case.
- › In 2018, a Senate Inquiry called for a national climate and security threat assessment but this has not occurred, and climate change remains on the margins of Australia’s defence, foreign affairs and trade strategies.
- › Other nations and international organisations are rapidly broadening traditional notions of national security in order to address climate security risks.
4
Australia must act rapidly and decisively on climate change in order to maintain the collective security of our region.
› To address the root cause of climate-fuelled insecurity, the science is clear that Australia should reduce its emissions by 75% (below 2005 levels) by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2035.
As a first step, Australia must at least match the updated commitments from our key allies, and pledge before Glasgow to at least half our emissions (below 2005 levels) by 2030.
› Australiacanhelpacceleratedecarbonisation in our region by shifting from fossil fuel exports to clean exports and making smart use of development assistance.
› As part of the 2022-23 Federal Budget papers, the federal government should publish a statement on how the budget as a whole addresses the climate security challenge.
› The Federal Government should urgently complete an Integrated Climate and Security Risk Assessment.
full report: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/CC_MVSA0274_Climate-Security_V8-FA_Low_Res_Single_Pages.pdf
“We MUST respect this earth - it is all we have
Claudio Dametto - South Australia
“I will always Vote to Preserve Our World.
Liam McGregor - Western Australia
“A simple message that even a politician can understand
Felicity Crombach - Victoria
“Please show you care about our future generations!!
Phil Harmer - New South Wales
“Save our world , Life & health before profits.
Kerry Lillian - New South Wales
“Close down all coal mines and Do not mine gas . Make these Companies
Daniel Johnson - New South Wales
“We want carbon free energy!
Edan Clarke - New South Wales
“Feels good to be taking a voter action step
Beaver Hudson - New South Wales
“Great Initiative. Let’s Hold elected officials Accountable to their bosses, us!
John Paul Posada - New South Wales
“We need actions not words we need honest democratic govt We need a pm
Bob Pearce - South Australia
“Thank you for this great resource. I was feeling helpless. Even this small step
Silvia Anderson - Victoria
“If political parties continue receiving political donations, we will rarely have politicians working for
Dan Chicos - New South Wales
“I only vote for people who will take urgent action to restore a safe
Susie Burke - Victoria
“Current government is not representing the opinion of the majority of Australian to meet
Neil Price - Tasmania
“We are fighting to rescue our kids' future from those who seek to steal
Vanessa Norimi - Queensland
“No time to waste Now or Never My vote is for NOW
Rosalie White - Victoria
“I am only 9 but I already care
Ava Bell - New South Wales
“From New Lambton Uniting Church - Caring for our world is a moral imperative.
Niall McKay - New South Wales
“Our federal govt is an International climate Embarrassment - its about time they stepped
Oriana Tolo - Victoria
“Vote earth this time!
Sue Cooke - Queensland
“We are in one on the wealthiest countries in the world. we have the
rowan huxtable - New South Wales
“The climate Emergency is the public health opportunity and urgent priority of the 21st
Mike Forrester - Victoria
“If they want my vote they better act now
Barbara McNiff - New South Wales
“We need to act locally now for the earth. Our only home. Vote Earth
Anne Miller - New South Wales
“I often look at the places I've known all my life and see how
Jim Baird - New South Wales
“Strike one For people power!!! Democracy might prevail outside the current cronyism that faces
Lorraine Bridger - New South Wales
“Our federal politicians Are Afraid to make action on climate change a major election
Jennifer Martin - New South Wales
“climate election, let's go!
Fahimah Badrulhisham - New South Wales
“Great to see this website that is a focus on action for climate change
Lynette Sinclair - New South Wales
“Let’s show politicians and the Murdoch media that climate change is by far the
Jane Aitken - Australian Capital Territory
“If you want to stay in power You need to take action to stop
Jane Bulter - New South Wales
“We are all that stands between terminal climate change and the vulnerable. We are
Carol Khan - Queensland
“We need a Government that Believes this is real and not taking money from
Ken Gray - New South Wales
“I'm voting for my childrens future
Anneliese Alexander - New South Wales