As global leaders head to the virtual United Nations Climate Ambition Summit tomorrow, Australia should be flying its flag at half mast after being handed the international 'Fossil Award' for failing to honour our climate commitments under the Paris Accord.
In the five years since countries around the world agreed to keep global temperature increases to 1.5° Celsius through the Paris Agreement, Australia has done next to nothing to honour its commitments. As a result, Australia was nominated for all four categories of the Climate Fossil Award alongside the likes of Russia and Brazil.
Gavan McFadzean, Manager Climate Change and Clean Energy Program, Australian Conservation Foundation, said: "For years the Australian Government has refused to set climate targets and policies to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, even though Australia is especially vulnerable to climate impacts.
"We've already suffered severe bushfires and are witnessing the demise of the Great Barrier Reef right before our eyes.
"This government agreed to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees when it signed up to the Paris Agreement five years ago, but the Morrison Government is yet to make good on that promise."
Julie-Anne Richards, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Australia, said: "It has been five years since the Paris Agreement and every year the Australian government has failed to take meaningful action on climate change. Now is the time for urgent action, including an ambitious climate plan from our government, and for Australians to finally hold
"When all serious attempts have failed to shift the minds of our federal leaders, we're hoping humour might shake things up a bit, said CANA's Julie-Anne Richards.
