The Conservation Council ACT Region and Comms Declare have today jointly welcomed the passage of a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly calling on the Government to get fossil fuels out of Canberra’s schools. The motion, moved by Greens MLA Laura Nuttall, calls on the ACT Government to update Education Directorate policy to prevent fossil fuel and gambling companies from public school sponsorships.
“We are delighted that the ACT Legislative Assembly has once again shown that Canberra is a climate leader by calling on the Government to ban fossil fuel sponsorships in our schools,” said Simon Copland, Executive Director of the Conservation Council ACT Region.
“Schools are vital in helping prepare kids for the future by giving them the best education possible to tackle the increasing number of challenges facing our world. However, this safe space is being increasingly contaminated, with coal, oil and gas companies using school programs and sponsorships as marketing tools to increase their community acceptability, all while their products damage our health and environment.
“We’re seeing Australian children lose more years of good health to disease from air pollution than tobacco smoke. We are glad the ACT Legislative Assembly has recognised this impact and decided to take action on this issue.”
Belinda Noble from Comms Declare said this decision came after a recent survey showed deep concern about the influence of fossil fuel companies within schools.
“Parents are deeply concerned about the impact these companies can have on their children,” she said. “A recent national survey we conducted found more than half of parents support restrictions on coal, oil and gas companies’ commercial activities in schools, much like there already exists on banking, junk food, tobacco and weapons manufacturers.”
“In agreeing to this ban the ACT has committed to providing a clean energy education for pupils in the ACT. The ACT has also shown important leadership, showing the rest of the country that such a policy can easily be implemented.”
Copland concluded by saying this should just be the first step in removing the influence of fossil fuel companies from Canberra.
“We will be keeping an eye on the ACT Government to ensure that this ban is implemented as soon as possible. However, this does not end here. We will be continuing to work with the ACT Government to see similar bans in other areas – including for ACT Government events and programs, and eventually a territory wide ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorships.”
Text of the motion passed by the Assembly is available here.