While the COP31 summit will take place in Türkiye, Australia will hold the presidency of the COP31 negotiations which is an important leadership role. This will be an vital opportunity for Australia to drive an ambitious climate agenda, and step up its own climate leadership. At a critical time for climate action, Australia has been approving new coal and gas expansion inconsistent with the 1.5°C goal in the Paris Agreement. It is also failing to deliver its fair share of international climate finance.
ActionAid representatives Sophie Hardefeldt and Flora Vano have been at COP30 in Belém along with partners from around the world, calling for governments to commit to ambitious climate action that prioritises women and communities bearing the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
Sophie Hardefeldt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at ActionAid Australia, said: “Minister Bowen says that the government has come to this agreement with Türkiye in the best interests of climate action. Now he needs to back up his words and do something about it. Real climate action means stopping the approval of new fossil fuel projects, supporting First Nations and frontline communities to lead climate solutions, and delivering its fair share of climate finance. The science is clear – you can’t lead the world out of a climate crisis while greenlighting more coal and gas extraction.”
Flora Vano, Country Manager at ActionAid Vanuatu, said: “It’s disappointing that COP31 is not coming to the Pacific region, but Australia has promised to listen to and lead with the Pacific. Now it needs to deliver on its promises of climate action, and support communities like mine to scale our work to reduce the growing impacts of the climate crisis.”
Michelle Higelin, Executive Director of ActionAid Australia, said: “This is a crucial moment for people and the planet regardless of whether COP31 is being held in Australia. Based on Australia’s historical emissions, Australia should be contributing 4.8% of the global climate finance goal to support countries respond to the climate crisis. Our current contribution is less the 1% and woefully inadequate. Let’s use this role as president of the COP31 negotiations to show the world that we are serious about taking global climate leadership by paying our fair share of climate finance”.
The Australian Government’s climate risk assessment presents a dire warning that without urgent action to phase out fossil fuels, communities across Australia will experience more fires, floods and heatwaves. The impacts will be even worse for women and frontline communities across the Pacific, who are bearing the worst climate impacts with few resources to cope and the least responsibility for climate change.
Despite the findings of its own risk assessment, the Government’s 2035 climate finance target fell well short of what is needed to keep global heating to 1.5°C and was released days after the approval of the North West Shelf gas project extension. Recent analysis from Oil Change International shows that four countries – Australia, United States, Canada and Norway – are collectively responsible for nearly 70% of projected new oil and gas expansion from 2025 to 2035.
ActionAid Australia is calling on the Australian Government to:
- Stop approving new and expanded fossil fuel projects and urgently phase out fossil fuels in line with the 1.5°C goal.
- Show global leadership on international climate finance by delivering an AU$11 billion in climate finance over the next five years.
- Scale up funding for women-led climate solutions and our Pacific neighbours.
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Spokespeople available for comment:
- Michelle Higelin, Executive Director, ActionAid Australia
- Sophie Hardefeldt, Head of Policy & Campaigns, ActionAid Australia
- Flora Vano, Country Manager, ActionAid Vanuatu
For further information and to arrange interviews please contact Steph Wulf:
About ActionAid
ActionAid is a global women’s rights organisation working with women on the frontlines of injustice, so they can empower themselves to transform their communities. We work across 70 countries and represent a global movement of women standing together to claim their human rights and campaign against injustice.