Taking Action to Protect Our Environment
Newsletter
Australia holds a shameful record for being global leader for extinctions – we’re the worst in the world for extinction of mammals. We’re in the midst of a biodiversity crisis.
What has caused this mass extinction of animals? It’s mostly land clearing and introduced species. Add to these threats the increasing risk of bigger and more frequent bushfires and we have a climate catastrophe on our hands.
The 2019/20 Australian bushfires killed an estimated three billion animals.
Last month I hosted a virtual Q&A with Terri Butler, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water to discuss these important issues and talk about solutions to mitigate against the risks of further destruction to our precious environment.
It’s imperative that we maintain the environmental assets of this beautiful country, for our future and for the future of our children.
We know that biodiversity risk increases bushfire risk and that the reduction of burrowing animals affects the recovery phase after a bushfire. In this scenario there is less regeneration and we end up with a depleted and vulnerable landscape. Environmental degradation leads to natural disasters like bushfires, floods and droughts.
Australia’s EPBC (Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act) laws are not working for environmental protection. Every piece of legislation passed to protect the environment has been passed by a Labor government. The Coalition continues to try and water them down and wilfully cause further environmental damage.
The environmental trajectory we are on currently is not sustainable. We’re not looking at what we can do to protect species properly. We need a national environmental regulator to protect this beautiful country of ours.
The Coalition continues to block reform and amendments to environmental law, including rejecting the recommendations in Graeme Samuel’s review of the EPBC Act. Australia is being left behind as the rest of the world moves to protect biodiversity.
Australia is in poor company with the US, Brazil and Russia in refusing to sign a global pledge, signed by 64 countries committing them to reverse biodiversity loss. Scott Morrison said that “it’s not aligned with government policy.” The refusal to sign is consistent with the coalition's refusal to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The pledge states that “nature fundamentally underpins human health, wellbeing and prosperity” and that humanity is in a state of “planetary emergency” due to the triple crises of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and climate change.
The Coalition still has climate change deniers in their ranks like Craig Kelly. It would be laughable if it wasn’t for the fact he has a large social media following: this makes him dangerous.
We in Corangamite are directly in the firing line of climate change. Much of our region relies on tourism, but with biodiversity under threat our tourism sector and economy are at risk.
Many people have asked me the question: “What can we do to stop this destruction of our environment? How can we make our voices heard?”
People using their voices and supporting campaigns will make a difference. It can be as simple as joining an email campaign and emailing your local MP.
If you want to be part of the solution I recommend you check out LEAN – Labor Environment Action Network and sign up to be updated on news and campaigns you can join.
You could also join Fight for Planet A’s Craig Reucassel’s “Good for the Hood” community environmental challenge.
Here are some other environmental organisations you can join:
- Australian Conservation Foundation
- Friends of the Earth Australia
- Bush Heritage Australia
- World Wildlife Fund
Get your whole family inspired by watching these incredible series and documentaries which highlight our environmental challenges, but also offer hope and solutions:
This story was originally published in Libby's October Newsletter. Please click here to subscribe to the email newsletter.
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