Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, poses the greatest threat to Australia’s natural environment. It jeopardises delicate ecosystems crucial for our health and prosperity, endangers the habitats of vital animal, insect, and plant species, and threatens iconic natural landmarks like the Great Barrier Reef.

Despite these pressing concerns, our national environmental law, the Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, fails to directly address climate change, leaving our cherished natural places inadequately protected.

Under the EPBC Act, new projects and developments undergo an environmental approval process to assess their impact on our landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage. However, this process often overlooks the significant impacts of fossil fuel projects, which pollute our air, waterways, and atmosphere, exacerbating climate change and accelerating environmental degradation.

Approving new coal, oil, or gas projects contributes to catastrophic extreme weather events like fires, droughts, and floods, pushing a safe climate further out of reach. Yet, these projects continue to receive approval because our national environmental law does not require the Environment Minister to consider climate change or its impacts.

It’s time to take action. We must pause fossil fuel project approvals until the government improves our environmental laws to address climate change and protect our natural environment adequately.

Therefore, we call on the Australian government to:

• Pause approvals for new fossil fuel projects until environmental laws are strengthened to address climate change adequately.
• Require the Environment Minister to consider the climate impacts of proposed projects and developments.
• Prioritise the protection of Australia’s unique plants, World Heritage-listed places, ecosystems, and endangered species in all decision-making processes.
• Support renewable energy initiatives and transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• Listen to the concerns of communities, Indigenous peoples, and environmental advocates in shaping environmental policies and decisions.

Together, we can demand meaningful action to safeguard Australia’s environment for future generations. Sign this petition to pause fossil fuel project approvals and protect our natural heritage.

#ProtectOurEnvironment #ClimateActionNow #SaveAustralia’sNaturalPlaces