Call on the Chief Minister to take real action on climate

The NT is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and yet we are one of the only jurisdictions in Australia with rising emissions.

With new projects like fracking in the Beetaloo, Barossa Gas and the Middle Arm gas hub, the government's target of net zero by 2050 is nothing more than a pipe dream.

The Government's climate policy is abysmally failing us and it’s time to call it out. We need transparency and climate action now.

Will you sign our petition calling for the immediate release of the emissions forecast report and the adoption of climate policies that will actually deliver emission reductions?

Dear Hon. Eva Lawler,
Will you be a climate leader? The past year was the world’s hottest year on record [1] and throughout the Northern Territory we are feeling the heat.
The Government’s own report shows that by mid-century Darwin can expect 176 extreme heat days a year and by the end of the century we can expect 288 extreme heat days per year [2]. This is in sharp contrast to early climate records that show Darwin used to experience an average of 7.5 extreme heat days a year [3]. Most disturbingly for our communities is that many parts of the NT are predicted to be unliveable within 50 years due global warming[4].
Territorians are already being impacted by extreme heat and we have seen the communities of Daguragu and Pigeon Hole evacuated two years in a row as a result of heavy rainfall and flooding. The international community of climate experts have consistently warned us that natural disasters will increase in severity and frequency as a result of climate change [5]. Thankfully no lives were lost during these recent events, but there is a significant emotional and financial toll for communities affected by extreme weather, as well as great economic cost for the government to bare.
We have long been warned by the international community of climate experts that we need to take immediate action to reduce emissions if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We are in the midst of a climate crisis and the lives and future of Territorians is hanging in the balance. It is time for our government to step up and show genuine climate leadership.
As a Territorian on the frontline of the climate crisis I am calling on you to take a strong position on climate and ensure we have a liveable future here in the NT.
Will you:
1. Release the emissions forecast report immediately.
2. Commit to an emissions reduction target of at least 43% by 2030.
3. Fully implement Pepper Inquiry recommendation 9.8.
4. Commit to a climate change act that delivers:
     a) A credible emissions reduction strategy; and
     b) 50% renewable energy by 2030
 
Kind regards,
 
 
1.World Meteorological Organisation, ‘WMO confirms that 2023 smashes global temperature record’ (Jan 2023) <a href="https://wmo.int/media/news/wmo-confirms-2023-smashes-global-temperature-record">https://wmo.int/media/news/wmo-confirms-2023-smashes-global-temperature-record </a>
2.CSIRO Climate Change in the Northern Territory: State of the Science Climate Change Impacts <a href="https://depws.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/944831/state-of-the-science-and-climate-change-impacts-final-report.pdf">https://depws.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/944831/state-of-the-science-and-climate-change-impacts-final-report.pdf </a>
3.Bureau of Meteorology – Climate Statistics <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=014015&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1941-1970&tablesizebutt=normal">http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=014015&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1941-1970&tablesizebutt=normal </a>
4.Jamie Seidel, ‘Three Aussie towns set to become unliveable due to extreme heat’, (May 2023) <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/three-aussie-towns-set-to-become-unliveable-due-to-extreme-heat/news-story/a96b36d1be5054d9fe3282ebf18c3431">https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/three-aussie-towns-set-to-become-unliveable-due-to-extreme-heat/news-story/a96b36d1be5054d9fe3282ebf18c3431 </a>
5.Sixth IPCC synthesis report, (March 2023) <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/resources/spm-headline-statements/">https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/resources/spm-headline-statements/</a>