3. Australia’s fossil fuel production for export is doubling back in the form of escalating climate risks, damage and destruction for all Australians As one of the major contributing countries to global warming, Australia is escalating climate harms for people in Australia. Our fossil fuel exports are doubling back on us in the form of more extreme climate change, threatening our homes, jobs, children, health, food, businesses, recreation, culture, property, safety and lives with escalating damage and destruction. Ź Australia has warmed on average by 1.47°C since national records began in 1910. Ź Every fractional temperature rise means more frequent, intense and compounding heat extremes, fires, rainfall, flooding, storms and cyclones in Australia. Ź The bulk of Australia’s population lives in areas which are highly exposed to future physical impacts of climate change. Ź Everyone in Australia is now exposed to escalating climate risks and harms, especially from heat, but many communities are particularly vulnerable. Ź Our underlying socioeconomic systems – including our economic, energy, health and hospitals, transportation and clean water systems – are increasingly exposed to cascading and compounding climate impacts.
4. Australia must urgently implement an ambitious national plan to phase-out its fossil fuel export production in an orderly, cooperative and just manner. Policy silence surrounds our role in this escalation. People in Australia are unprotected from the worsening climate which our own exports are materially escalating. Ź Australia must urgently implement an ambitious, but orderly, cooperative and just, phase-out of its fossil fuel exports. Not a sudden and disruptive ‘stop’, but a genuine, progressive phasing out. Ź Unless it begins this process, Australia’s actions and policies will not be consistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal. Ź Australia’s economy is quite diverse and not particularly dependent on fossil fuel production. Ź Australia’s economy would benefit from avoiding current costs related to its fossil fuel production for export. Ź Investment in Australia’s new, clean export opportunities would benefit from a pathway less impeded by powerful competition from Australia’s incumbent fossil fuel exporters. Ź The phase-out must be orderly and just, based squarely on cooperative processes and open communication. Ź Approvals in Australia of new fossil fuel project should be halted backed by amendment of the EPBC Act to make the consideration of climate change impacts mandatory as a core part of any new project assessments. Ź Large fossil fuel exporters should be required by law to disclose their exported emissions and to undertake climate-related human rights due diligence in relation to these emissions. Ź Australia should take a strong lead in international efforts towards a cooperative phase-out of fossil fuel production, using all powers in its sphere of influence. Executive summary and key messages 4