Land & water
2022 State of the Environment report released
Friends of the Earth Australia welcomes the release of the national State of the Environment report. Although required to produce them every five years, the previous Coalition government held up the release of the report, delaying Australia’s ability to respond to the biodiversity crisis outlined in the document.
Australia has produced a national state of environment report every five years since 1995. They assess every aspect of Australia’s environment and heritage, covering rivers, oceans, air, land and urban areas. They show that our natural environment is in continuous decline.
This report is the first to consider how our declining natural environment is impacting on the health and well-being of Australians. It is also the first to include Indigenous co-authors.
Economics for Earth
Creating a Language of the Future
What creative facilitation can we use for a new future? In Chain Reaction #141 Sue Stack offers an exercise using imagined/real words of the future.
Climate & Energy Justice
Federal Climate & Environment Policy Platform 2022
Friends of the Earth Australia welcomes the rapid movement of the new federal government on key election commitments, including those covering environment, climate and energy.
We note that the government has already acted to update Australia’s emission reduction targets from the 26-28% target of the Coalition to a new commitment of 43% reduction by 2030.
The federal ALP has a resounding mandate to meet and then exceed its commitments on climate, energy and environment. There has never been a more supportive federal parliament, with strong representation from the Greens and climate independents, who will back more ambitious action. We believe that continued rapid implementation of the existing platform will create many opportunities for deeper emissions cuts and deeper reform of environmental laws.
Land & water
Fire ready policies
We know that Australia is facing ever worse climate change driven disasters (‘UnNatural’ disasters). These include worsening fire seasons, longer heatwaves, increased flooding and longer droughts. The following are some suggestions on how Australia should be responding to longer and more intense fire seasons.
Having a new national government offers huge opportunities to fine tune how we fight fires.
The first thing, of course, is to stop contributing to climate change. This means increasing our ambition on climate change (for instance committing to a 75% emission reduction target by 2030) and ending the development of all new fossil fuel projects. Reducing emissions will reduce future climate impacts.
We also need to increase our ability to fight fires as seasons get longer and more intense.
Climate & Energy Justice
Landscape, Soundscape, Immersion
"Artists as eco-social change makers" – Lila Meleisea shares how her artistic practice weaves together her Samoan heritage and passion for activism. Published in Chain Reaction #141.
Economics for Earth
Friendship as Anti-Capitalism
To become radically anti-capitalist, Aia Newport invites us to prioritise friendships in our daily lives and organising space. Written for Chain Reaction #141.
Economics for Earth
PNG does not need a coal industry
Mayur Resources should not be creating a coal industry in PNG, writes Phil Evans in Chain Reaction #141.
Anti-nuclear
AUKUS disrupts "a very peaceful part of planet Earth"
Nic Mclellan writes an in-depth analysis of AUKUS's impact on the Pacific, and Australasian politics. Published in Chain Reaction #141
Economics for Earth
Corporate Cane Toads exposed by Australia’s most disgusting award
Who won the inaugural CaneToad awards? Rhys Dolby reports, for Chain Reaction #141.
Indigenous Land & Rights
Alliance of the Solwara Warriors: Our culture, our heritage, our future
The Solwara Warriors are fighting deep sea mining in the Pacific, Jonathan Mesulam and Nat Lowrey write for Chain Reaction #141.