Fmr UN chief Ban says "climate targets insufficient"; Australia must "at least halve emission this decade"; "ethical toll of inaction incalculable". Keynote address, 9 minute video and short video clips here.
NSW Energy Minister Kean says Federal leaders will get a message "at the ballot box"; must act on climate or "get out of the way". Keynote address and 8 minute video here.
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In a rare intervention in domestic politics today, former UN Secretary-General and architect of the Paris Climate Agreement, Ban Ki-moon, will say Australia's climate targets are insufficient and it must at least halve emissions this critical decade to 2030.
Ban will also point to the enormous opportunities Australia has to become a renewable energy superpower, and the climate action underway across every sector of the Australian economy and society.
In a direct reference to his Federal counterparts, NSW Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean will say that complaining the climate challenge is too hard is not a solution, and claiming that others should come up with a plan is a cop out. Kean says Federal leaders should do the job or get out of the way, and that Australia must stop being a climate laggard, and step up as a climate leader.
Ban and Kean are keynotes at today's opening of Australian online climate summit the Better Futures Forum which continues to 19 August. The Forum is the flagship event of Better Futures Australia (BFA), an unprecedented alliance of climate champions from finance, business, resources, agriculture, health, faith, local and state governments, First Nations, unions, social services and higher education representing over seven million Austalians.
Better Futures climate leaders are demonstrating scalable climate solutions as they urge the Federal Government to align with our international allies and, at a minimum, halve our emissions this decade.
BAN KI-MOON said:
"This is a critical year. Global heads of state are preparing to meet at the UN Climate Summit, COP26, in Glasgow in November.
"Our planet is set on a dangerous trajectory. The world is looking to Australia to take its place amongst the international community and lift its national ambition on climate.
"The shift to a zero-carbon world is now inevitable. Australia is well placed to be a global renewable energy leader in this transition. The opportunities are enormous if you choose to get ahead of the challenge.
"There is already huge momentum for change. All Australian States are now committed to net zero emissions by 2050 and to ambitious reductions in this critical decade to 2030. Many of Australia's leading investors have publicly committed to a zero emissions economy.
"Internationally, Australia's major trading partners, including Japan, South Korea and China have mid century net zero targets. In the short term, the US, Japan, the EU and the UK have committed to emissions reductions that are roughly two to three times as deep as Australia's current effort.
"Australia's current goal of a 26-28% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030, and the absence of a national zero emissions target, is out of step with its States, its trading partners, and other comparable nations. It is insufficient to meet Australia's Paris Agreement commitments.
"Ethically, the toll of inaction on climate is incalculable. Economically, failing to set ambitious, credible emissions targets in line with the rest of the world poses a huge threat to Australia's future prosperity and international standing.
"Australia risks finding itself on the wrong side of carbon-border tariffs as other nations move ahead, seizing the opportunities of the zero-carbon age.
"The Federal government now has an historic opportunity to seize the moment. Australia must at least halve emissions this decade, and commit to zero by 2050."
Full speech and video here.
MATT KEAN said:
"Remaking our politics and building a better country is the responsibility of every citizen. It is our responsibility when we … decide how to vote at the ballot box. We need to send a message … that failing to deliver on the promise of what we can be is not an option.
"Complaining that [climate challenge] is too hard is not a solution. Saying it is up to others to come up with a plan is a cop out. The community expects our leaders to get on with it, or get out of the way.
"In our short history, every generation has turned the challenge of their time into an opportunity to make our country a better place.
"Australia should not be a climate laggard. We should be a climate leader because we can do what other countries can't, because here in Australia we can protect our planet in ways that lift the living standards of all humanity.
"That is the challenge of our time and I truly believe that the generation of people here today – the current custodians of our planet – will take it on and turn it into an opportunity to underwrite our prosperity, rebuild our economy and remake our politics.
Full speech and video here.
NOTE TO EDS:
The Better Futures Forum online climate summit is running 17-19 August 2021 includes international and Australian leaders from every sector of the economy and society:
Jonathan Pershing, US Deputy Special Presidential Envoy on Climate
Matt Kean, NSW Minister for Energy and Environment
Chris Bowen, Shadow Minister for Climate Change
Meaghan Scanlon, QLD Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef
Georgie Skipper, Chief of Corporate & Government Affairs, Sun Cable
Alok Sharma, President, COP26, the UN Climate Summit, Glasgow, November
Dr Omar Korshid, President, Australian Medical Association
Susan Aitkin, Mayor, City of Glasgow (host of COP26)
Rebecca Mikula-Wright, CEO, Investor Group on Climate Change ($2 trillion in assets)
John Hewson, former Liberal opposition leader
Debby Blakey, CEO of HESTA, ($63 billion under management)
Innes Willox, CEO of AiGroup
Francis Wedin, CEO, Vulcan Energy, world's first & only zero-carbon lithium ($1bn market cap in 18 months)
Bishop Philip Huggins, President, National Council of Churches in Australia
Cassandra Goldie, CEO of ACOSS
Jess Scully, Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney; Sandy Verschoor, Lord Mayor of Adelaide.
View local government leaders video here.
Cathy Eatock, co-chair, Indigenous Peoples Organisation (peak for 285 ATSI organisations)
David Barnden, Equity Generation Lawyers (won landmark case by teenage plaintiffs establishing Federal Government duty of care to next generation on climate)
Dr Anika Molesworth, scientist, farmer, deputy chair of Farmers for Climate Action.
