Climate change affects us all and we urgently need to scale up action and phase out damaging activities.
Funders can help to advocate for change and call on government to dedicate funds to make it happen. Funders can also invest in transition industries and technologies, influence boards and companies to divest from fossil fuels, support affected communities, and build capacity within civil society organisations working to ensure that the transition is fast, fair and sustainable.
The deadline for countries to submit revised 2035 NDCs has been extended to September 2025.
The UK Supreme Court ruled that the EU’s Environment Impact Assessment Directive requires decision makers to consider the impacts of downstream greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel extraction projects (Scope 3 emissions)
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Swiss government had violated the human rights of its citizens by failing to do enough to combat climate change (analysis of implications for Australia)
National
The Climate Change Authority has released a new report, Unlocking Australia’s clean energy potential, setting out recommendations for accelerating the deployment of renewable energy
DCCEEW has released the first National Renewable Energy Priority List, identifying 56 projects across the country, including transmission and generation and storage projects
The Future Made in Australia Bills were passed, unlocking $22.7B in clean technology investments and providing tax credits for hydrogen and critical mineral production. A deal with the crossbench secured amendments to prevent funding for fossil fuel projects, excluding uranium from tax credits, and a $500M commitment to energy efficiency upgrades for public housing.
David Shankey has been appointed as the first CEO of the Net Zero Economy Authority, and will support NZEA Chair, Dr Iain Ross AO
The ACT government has released a draft revised School Sponsorship Policy for comment. The new policy proposes adding fossil fuel companies to the list of prohibited sponsors (the current policy prevents sponsorship from companies engaged in banking, tobacco, alcohol or weapons sales, pornography, or anything illegal)
The Victorian government has released a draft Victorian Transmission Plan, detailing a 15 year plan to build renewable energy infrastructure to meet solar and wind energy, including proposed renewable energy zones and transmission projects. The Victorian Department of Environment has also released its Handbook for the development of renewable energy in Victoria, responding to community consultation regarding impacts of renewable projects on biodiversity
Updating members on climate and environment laws, regional planning initiatives for renewables / transition minerals, contested projects and any related litigation
Coordinating member collaboration in support of COP31
Facilitating member discussions about carbon offsets and gas
Promoting use of the Climate Change Funding Framework and Climate Lens to all funders (and updating the gaps & opportunities chapter to reflect current priorities)
Supporting Climate Funders and Just Transitions Working Groups to discuss approaches to transition planning that maximise benefits for climate, nature, communities, and cultural heritage protections
Working with partner organisations to promote activities calling on Federal and State governments to increase their climate ambition in the lead up to COP31
What can AEGN members do?
Join the AEGN Just Transitions and Climate & Energy mailing lists to stay up to date
A number of key fossil fuel projects will be a focus of community-led campaigns in 2024, highlighting their carbon impact (in addition to other environmental and cultural impacts) and the potential for a few big projects to undermine achievement of climate targets. These include:
Middle Arm & Beetaloo Basin
With financial support from the Commonwealth government, the NT government is progressing the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct in Darwin Harbour. The Precinct, which will include gas and petrochemical processing and export facilities, is opposed by traditional owners and environmental organisations.
Burrup Hub
Woodside’s LNG Burrup Hub – including the Scarborough, NorthWest and Browse projects – is estimated to produce 6 billion tonnes of carbon pollution across its 50-year lifetime, making it Australia’s most polluting project. In addition to the climate and health impacts, there are concerns about impacts on indigenous songlines and world heritage nominated Aboriginal rock art on the Burrup Peninsula (Murujuga)
Barossa Gas
Santos is operating the offshore LNG gas project within the Barossa field (285km northwest of Darwin), drilling up to 8 sub-sea wells and transporting gas through an undersea pipeline to a Darwin processing facility.
Narrabri
Gas fields at Narrabri will drill more than 800 coal seam gas wells across sites within the Pilliga forest and farming land on Gamilaroi country. It is being opposed on the basis of cultural impacts, impacts on aquifers, and climate impacts.
Lock the Gate’s application to prevent Tamboran’s Shenandoah fracking project from proceeding until the Federal Government assesses the impacts of the project under the EPBC water trigger was heard on 23 – 25 June 2025. A decision is expected later this year.
Both major parties committed to reclaiming the Port of Darwin during the election, which may have implications for ongoing government support for the Middle Arm precinct
The IESC advice to the Federal government on fracking in Beetaloo Basin indicated that exploration fracking will have minor impacts on groundwater if best practice mitigation strategies are adopted, but noted limited information and that subsequent production would likely have more significant impacts. ENGOs and traditional owners have repeated calls for the Federal Minister to call in the exploration projects for detailed assessment. ECNT is challenging the NT government’s decision to approve the environmental management plan for the project.
The Resources Minister has granted exploration permits for a range of new offshore gas exploration (including Esso and Beach Energy in the Otway and Sorrell Basins, and Chevron, INPEX, Melbana and Woodside Energy in WA), and new permits for carbon capture and storage projects
Ensuring First Nations voices are centred in events and debate relating to gas projects
Hosting field trips to explore the impacts of significant fossil fuel projects
Updating members on legal outcomes, campaign and advocacy projects, including opportunities to make submissions or lobby decision makers
What can AEGN members do?
Fund research projects to improve data collection regarding health, social, and environmental impacts from Middle Arm and Beetaloo
Attend Senate inquiry hearings, in person or online, to hear evidence from traditional owners, concerned farmers, economists, health practitioners and environmental groups
Use your influence as a shareholder or board member to encourage divestment from fossil fuel companies
