Zali Steggall

5 STEPS TO NET ZERO

Zali Steggall

AUSTRALIA NEEDS PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP AND A SENSIBLE PLAN TO GET TO NET ZERO EMISSIONS SO WE CAN POSITION OUR ECONOMY FOR SUCCESS, AND SAFEGUARD OUR COMMUNITIES AGAINST DISASTROUS CLIMATE IMPACTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNFOLDING.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: ZALI STEGGALL, OAM, MP

We are careening from ‘unprecedented’ disaster to disaster, from droughts to fi res to fl oods, with deafening silence from the media and the federal government on the root cause: global warming supercharging these events. Whilst immediate attention is needed on rescue and recovery efforts, we cannot mindlessly sleepwalk to the next disaster. We need to plan for a safer future.

It was only recently in early March that we experienced fl ooding never seen before on the Northern Beaches and surrounding areas. Incredibly, we watched cars marooned in major intersections, torrents of water rushing through local businesses and inundating our civic centres. Like the smoke that choked our cities for months during the terrible 2019-20 summer bushfi res, this is a real and present reminder of the impacts of climate change due to global warming we face in Warringah and Australia. The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report spells out the compounding and cascading consequences for our community if we fail in our mission to get to a Net Zero economy.

Putting aside the environmental and health cost, our local and national economies simply won’t cope with repeated disasters and disruption. The cost of natural disasters is estimated to increase to over $1.2 trillion in the next forty years. Now that’s a number you don’t see front and centre of election debates!

It is so important that even amongst the current disaster and recovery efforts, we also focus on solutions and longterm planning. Australia is at the front line of global warming. The IPCC singles Australia out as one of the most climate change vulnerable developed countries in the world. We must better prepare

and mitigate by reducing emissions, assessing risks and adapting.

The ‘5 Steps to Net Zero’ plan that I have released would position Australia as a global leader, both in keeping its people safe and in riding the wave of economic

“Passing the Climate Change Bill that I have introduced to parliament is the very important first step. It has the overwhelming support of every sector from business, industry, academics, unions and community groups as it provides a clear legislated framework with attainable long term targets...”

DECARBONISE ENERGY: 80% RENEWABLES BY 2030 CLEAN UP TRANSPORT: 76% NEW VEHICLES EV BY 2030

MODERNISE INDUSTRY: HALVE EMISSIONS BY 2030 REGENERATE AUSTRALIA: 8MHA OF REFORESTATION BY 2030

opportunities of the global transition to Net Zero. The 5 Steps provide the roadmap to signifi cantly reduce our emissions and adapt in this critical decade to 2030.

Importantly, the 5 Steps are built on expert advice, with policies from rapidly decarbonising our energy sector, cleaning up transport, transforming industry and futureproofi ng agriculture.

A suite of necessary policies are included - from a ‘Future Transmission Fund’ to ensure our transmission and grid are not holding back the uptake of renewable energy, to an ‘Australian Vehicle Emissions Standard’ to stop Australia becoming a dumping ground for the dirtiest vehicles in the OECD, to a ‘Fair Employment Transition Agency’ to help regional affected communities transition to new clean industries and sustainable jobs. This plan can deliver over 250,000 jobs and $680 billion in economic gains.

Passing the Climate Change Bill that I have introduced to Parliament is the very important fi rst step. It has the overwhelming support of every sector from business, industry, academics, unions and community groups as it provides a clear legislated framework with attainable long term targets and mandated national risk assessments and adaptation planning.

A core component of the Climate Change Bill is the requirement for an independent Climate Change Commission to conduct ‘National Climate Change Risk Assessments,’ which assesses the key risks to Australia’s economy, communities and environment. Based on the fi ndings of these assessments, the Government is then required to develop and implement its own ‘National Adaptation Plans’ to address those risks that have been identifi ed. We need these risk assessments in order to prepare and protect communities.

The Morrison Government has to date blocked debate on the bills, refusing to meaningfully address the impacts and causes of global warming. By downplaying the risks and threats to our communities as unpredictable, ‘one-in-ahundred-year’ or misleadingly ‘one-inone-thousand-year’ events, it avoids the clear need to do more to prepare, adapt and mitigate. It is abundantly clear that national risk assessments are urgently needed. Keeping our communities safe and prosperous needs action, clear plans and leadership.

To read the 5 Steps to Net Zero you can visit www.zalisteggall.com.au/climate •

ZALI STEGGALL OAM MP // FEDERAL MEMBER FOR WARRINGAH // INSTA @ZALISTEGGALL www.zalisteggall.com.au