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 UK government has pledged to reduce emissions by 81% of 1995 levels by 2035. The deadline for other 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)
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 Climate Change Authority has released its Annual Climate Change Statement, progress report and projections, showing Australia will reach 42.7% emission reduction by 2030
The WA govt is reviewing the Gas Marketing Code to set standards for marketing claims comparing gas or gas appliances to electricity on cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, health, sustainability and emissions.
The WA parliament passed laws removing the EPA’s responsibilities for regulating carbon emissions from development proposals, saying this was the sole remit of the federal safeguard mechanism (Watch our recent webinar on transforming WA away from gas)
Many States have introduced tough protest laws, targeting climate and forest protests (see Strengthening Democracy)
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 plants – 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.
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 WA government approved an extension of Woodside’s North West Browse gas project to 2070. Approval is still required from the Federal Environment Minister – her assessment is currently limited to heritage impacts, but that is subject to a reconsideration request calling for the climate impacts on threatened species (Watch our recent webinar on transforming WA away from gas)
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
ANZ bank has rejected a complaint by Tiwi Islanders alleging support for the Barossa project breached the bank’s human rights policy
The Full Federal Court has dismissed the appeal in the Living Wonders case, which challenged the Environment Minister’s approval of Narrabri and Mt Pleasant coal mine expansions. The Court confirmed that the Minister was not required to consider climate impacts when making decisions under the EPBC Act. ECoCQ has sought leave to appeal to the High Court.
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