Can you believe the end of 2018 is almost here?
And what a year it’s been, with joy-filled highs and gut-wrenching lows.
2018 has been dominated by extreme weather. We sweltered through our second hottest summer on record, following confirmation that 2017 was the world’s third hottest year on record (beaten only by 2016 and 2015).
Drought conditions worsened across eastern Australia, especially through winter and early spring, with 100% of NSW declared in drought in August. The dry, hot conditions led to a disastrous start to the bushfire season. In NSW, the bushfire danger period for some local government areas was declared in winter (the earliest on record), and in Queensland, unprecedented bushfires ripped through tropical rainforest.
This year, the Climate Council has played a pivotal role ensuring that climate change is linked with extreme weather in the media through reports and interventions from our expert spokespeople. And for the first time ever, during the Queensland fires, journalists were asking us about the link to climate change before we released information. This shows a major change in media reporting driven by five years of education work - and means our politicians can’t dodge the hard questions when it comes to climate change impacts.
Despite extreme weather dominating the headlines around the globe and at home, climate change has remained a political football in 2018. The Australian Government proposed the woefully inadequate National Energy Guarantee (NEG), with the energy debate reaching fever pitch. You helped us play a pivotal role intervening in the energy debate. We worked to discredit the NEG and propose an alternative set of policy principles through our groundbreaking Roadmap for Renewables report, endless briefings, and holding an Energy Forum, which brought together experts and decision makers.
The NEG was abandoned, after another leadership spill in the Liberal Party. However, with yet another new Prime Minister, we still have no credible national climate policy. *Facepalm*.
But it’s not all bad news. 2018 has been a great year for climate action and the uptake of renewable energy, driven by local and state governments, businesses and the community. As we look to 2019, the momentum for action is growing apace.
Want the full wrap on climate impacts and action? Read and share our article here.
Right across the country, states, cities and towns have been taking action into their own hands. More than 100 councils have now joined our Cities Power Partnership which supports local government to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. The Climate Council community pitched in 18 months ago to get this project off the ground and it is now driving a local revolution! The City of Lismore launched their floating solar farm and Strathbogie Shire Council’s bulk buy program brought solar power to the people. The Bogie Bulk Buy, as it’s known locally, is a great example of climate action resulting in a win-win for a rural farming community.
Our annual State Renewables Race Report revealed that in the absence of federal action almost all states and territories have stepped up and taken action. We called out Western Australia as the only state without a renewable energy or net zero emissions target, and they are now reviewing their climate change policy (1).
It’s been a bumper year for renewables too. Two million Aussie households now have solar panels (!) and the price of renewables continues to slide, with existing coal power now costing more than new renewables (2).
Not only that, momentum for climate action is building across the board. Exit polling from the Wentworth by-election showed that for almost 80% of voters, climate change had at least some influence on their vote and thousands of school children went on strike across the country to push for climate action. The Stop Adani movement has been a powerful force this year, and will continue to fight into next year, as Adani presses ahead with their Galilee Basin mine. We’ve consistently provided the facts on the climate impacts of the mine, keeping the debate grounded in the latest climate science.
The recent COP24 global climate conference and IPCC report have also helped to renew global focus on climate action, and remind us that there’s a lot of work still to be done.
In September, many of you joined us to celebrate our 5th birthday as we looked back on the remarkable impact we’ve had together.
And with your support in 2018, we’ve had some big wins. Each and every time the Federal Government delayed, diminished or distorted emissions data - we called them out on it, including when they sneakily released data on the eve of Grand Finals football weekend. With your help, we notched up a win, with the Senate approving a regular deadline for reporting emissions data to the public. And with your backing, we also fought against attacks on charities that threatened our very existence.
Throughout 2018, together we’ve countered misinformation every step of the way, with independent, authoritative science. We have ensured Australians are equipped with the best information on climate change and solutions. And with your support, we’re the number one organisation communicating on climate change nationally generating over 8,000 media articles through 2018. This keeps the climate issue at the top of the agenda.
As we gear up for what many people are calling a ‘climate election’ in 2019, I want to thank you for all you have done for climate action so far, and urge you to continue to support our vital work in 2019. We’ll hold the government to account before and after the election, champion renewables, and push for greenhouse gas pollution to be cut deeply and swiftly.
Best wishes for the Festive Season ahead! It will be my daughter's first Christmas celebration and I’ll be heading down the Victorian coast with my family to reflect and re-energise. Showing her some of the beaches I love, the impacts of climate change, and what it means for her future will never be far from my mind.
Let’s take stock and build our collective energy to push hard in the New Year.
Best wishes,
Amanda
P.S. The Climate Council only exists because of ongoing donations from people like you. Can you power independent, accurate and timely information on climate change in 2019 - a pivotal year for Australian action on climate change - by chipping in a regular donation?
P.P.S. Take a walk down memory lane. Read and share our 2018 wrap article for a full overview of the year in climate action.
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