It’s no secret that fossil fuel companies are the largest source of carbon emissions in Australia.
The 12 largest contributors, known as the Dirty Dozen, have reportedly emitted an enormous 287.7 million tonnes of CO2 since 2016. Despite Australia signing the 2015 Paris Agreement, which pledged to cut down on fossil fuels and transition to renewables, fossil fuel companies have produced more emissions post 2015, in comparison to prior emissions.
The ongoing effects of climate change will continue to increase in frequency and severity, and it is vulnerable Australian communities that will pay the price. Extreme weather events like the 2020 “Black Summer” fires and the 2022/2023 Lismore and North NSW floods will become repeat disasters with each summer continuing to break temperature records. The upcoming El Niño poses a large threat for the ACT, which is surrounded by bushland and is particularly at risk from increased bushfire activity and a bushfire season that continues to become longer and longer.
If you want to make a stand against the continuation of climate pollution the “Make Big Polluters Pay” campaign is calling on fossil fuel companies to be held accountable for their role in climate pollution.The campaign is calling for the implementation of a “Climate Pollution Levy,” in addition to a “Climate Compensation Fund” to ensure polluters pay their fair share of the costs of climate change.
The Climate Pollution Levy aims to place the cost of climate change on the parties most responsible (as opposed to ordinary Australians) by introducing a levy that ensures oil, coal, and gas companies are held financially responsible for their role in climate pollution. The levy will ensure remittance is paid by fossil fuel companies through energy price controls, and rebates to avoid energy price gouging. Additionally, polluting energy forms will be more expensive than sustainable alternatives and the rate will continue to increase to fund the transition into renewable energy. The levy aims to raise $46 billion per year, with income from the levy contributing towards a Climate Compensation Fund. The Fund will be designed with impacted communities and will be distributed through various streams, including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Climate Self Determination Fund. The main outcomes of the fund will go towards supporting vulnerable communities facing climate disasters in Australia and into local governments for the development of climate resilience, as well as increased financial support for developing regions in the Pacific. Funds will also be used to support the transition into renewable energy through upskilling workers and financing of their families.
If you’re an ACT resident, you can take action by signing the petition currently before the ACT Legislative Assembly, calling on the ACT government to support the “Make Big Polluters Pay Petition” and establish an inquiry into the cost of climate disasters faced by local communities and a financial analysis to pay communities back through a “Climate Compensation Fund.” The petition will close on the 6/2/2027, so get your signatures in ASAP!
To ensure that fossil fuel companies and climate polluters pay their share in the damages caused by climate change you can also sign the national “Make Big Polluters Pay” petition, aiming to reach 20,000 signatures.