Our future is at stake: new alliance representing northern Australia calls for urgent action on National Climate Risk Assessment
A new conservation alliance has called for urgent action to phase out fossil fuel exports as today’s National Climate Risk Assessment shows that large areas of Australia’s north will become unlivable due to climate change.
Four groups, which have formed the Northern Australia Conservation Alliance, say Australia’s first National Climate Risk assessment confirms that Northern Australia risks being turned into a fossil fuel and climate sacrifice zone.
In a joint submission to the Senate Committee on the National Climate Risk Assessment, the groups say the global ecological and cultural treasure of northern Australia faces an existential threat from climate change within less than two generations.
The Climate Change Authority says based on current global commitments, the world is on track to see 2.9C of warming this decade. The report warns that under a +3.0°C scenario, there will be a 423% increase in heat-related mortality for Darwin compared to current conditions.
Wallabies in the Kimberley flood of 2023. Photo: Andrea Myers.
Recent research has found that much of Northern Australia could experience “near unlivable conditions” should global temperatures increase by around 3 degrees, and that this could become a reality within 40 years. These kinds of extreme conditions are currently found only in 0.8 percent of the planet, mostly in the Sahara.
Sea level rises could inundate large portions of Australia’s northern coastline and will have profound impacts on First Nations communities and their traditional connections to Country. One study previously demonstrated that over 50% of First Nations respondents to a survey in Arnhem Land would have to consider relocating in the future due to climate change.
The groups are holding the Inaugural Australia’s Great North conference in Garramilla / Darwin this week on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 September. The conference will include a keynote address from Peter Garrett AM on why Australia’s future will be decided in the north.
Martin Pritchard, Executive Director, Environs Kimberley said:
“This report is devastating news for the Kimberley. It is clear that if we don’t phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible, then according to the science areas of the Kimberley will become uninhabitable. This could mean the end of more than 60,000 years of occupation by First Nations people in areas of the Kimberley, if they become climate change refugees and can no longer live on Country.”
“This is not just an environmental issue, it's a human rights issue and we’re calling on the Albanese government to act accordingly by refusing new gas proposals like fracking in the Kimberley and Northern Territory.”
“Places like the Kimberley’s Fitzroy Crossing which already has 67 days a year over 40°C will be unlivable if it gets to the projected seven and a half months over 40 by century’s end. The Kimberley will be like a place from a Mad Max movie, desolate, desert-like and devoid of people.”
Fitzroy Crossing bridge collapsing in the flood of 2023. Photo by Andrea Myers.
Kirsty Howey, Executive Director, Environment Centre NT said:
“This report confirms what we’ve all feared, that the Northern Territory is sleep-walking into an unlivable future due to climate change.”
“It’s hard to hear that the places we call home will no longer exist. We’re talking about whole communities being wiped out because politicians and gas companies see the north as a sacrifice zone."
“While the gas industry pushes ahead with some of its most polluting projects in the Territory, we’re heading for a future that is unlivable and unequal.”
“If we don’t change course, we could be the last generation to raise children in Darwin, which research shows will become unlivable due to climate change.”
“The data shows we simply can’t afford toxic projects like the Middle Arm gas hub, fracking in the Beetaloo, or plans for the world’s biggest carbon dumping project off Darwin.”
“Instead of taking responsible action, we’ve got a Territory government that’s embraced climate denial and cut our emissions and renewable energy targets.”
Alex Vaughan, Policy and Advocacy Officer, Arid Lands Environment Centre said:
“Communities like Mpartnwe - Alice Springs have just sweltered through one of its hottest years on record. In the last year we had more than three months of average temperatures over 39 degrees, so it’s hard to think it can get a lot worse.
"The human, environmental and economic costs of failing to act on climate change are incalculable in northern Australia. The solutions to these climate crises must be led by communities in the north.”
Bronwyn Opie, Director, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre said:
“Cyclone Jasper showed us what this risk looks like for Far North Queensland — nearly two metres of rain fell over just a few days, power was cut to 40,000 people, and the entire community of Wujal Wujal had to be evacuated. This was followed by a heatwave, compounding the disaster and leaving communities to recover without power or cooling.”
Sign the petition to ban fracking in the Kimberley here.
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