YOU AND I HAVE SO MUCH POWER TO PROTECT EVERYTHING WE LOVE—BUT ONLY IF WE ACT NOW

By Ariane Wilkinson, Senior Manager-Climate and Energy Policy at WWF-Australia. Climate change is here, it’s very dangerous and it’s getting worse. As Australians, you and I have an outsized opportunity to do something about it. Let me explain. Everything you love and have ever loved, as well as everything I love and have ever loved, is under serious threat from climate change—caused by the mining, drilling and burning of coal and gas. Coal and gas are dangerous fossil fuels and the main cause of global warming. We must urgently replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. 2024 was the hottest year on record. Climate scientists have been warning our political leaders that we cannot approve any new coal and gas if we are to have any chance of holding global warming to safer levels. Despite scientists warning our political leaders for many years that we must urgently change course, Australia is still mining, drilling, burning and exporting globally significant amounts of coal and gas. In fact, Australia is the second largest exporter of emissions from our fossil fuel exports, second only to Russia. Climate scientists could not be clearer. We need our government to listen and act. It is the job of the government and political leaders to protect communities and drive climate solutions that are readily available with our world leading renewable resources. Not to approve more and more coal and gas projects that climate scientists are warning against. Every single tonne of additional coal and gas is already hurting Australians by causing more extreme heatwaves, bushfires, floods and storms. It’s driving up grocery prices, insurance costs and disrupting our way of life.

Climate scientists are also warning us that every single tonne of additional fossil fuels is driving us closer to irreversible global warming tipping points. This could devastate nature and completely change our world into a much harsher and more dangerous place for all of us to live. The places of great natural beauty that we love in our extraordinary country are at grave risk from climate change. Every single tonne of additional coal and gas is putting the future of our Great Barrier Reef at extreme risk with ongoing coral bleaching caused by warming oceans. Harming our forests, our beaches, our oceans, our Aussie wildlife—all the places and animals we adore and that make living in Australia so incredible.

Every day that the transition to clean renewable energy is delayed is a day we lock in more climate damage. Every new fossil fuel approval from our government is bringing more climate harm. Australia is dangerously off course on climate action. It doesn’t have to be this way. Political leaders have every opportunity to get us back on track by harnessing Australia’s renewable superpowers. 2025 is the year we must urgently change course if we are to have any hope of a safer climate future. Time has run out and we can’t delay. I hope you will join with me in asking our political leaders to Choose Nature and lean into our renewable strengths to get Australia on track. Australia must and can replace all the fossil fuels we mine and burn with renewable energy and zero carbon exports. We can do this. We have the smarts, the skills and an absolute abundance of renewable resources to make this happen. We know it’s best for our economy, our communities and for the country. We know the best thing we can do for nature is to rapidly shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The good news is we are already on our way as 40% of our electricity already comes from renewables. We also have a plan on how we can do that transition in a way that is good for people and nature. Please join me and urge our political leaders to deliver a safer climate and Choose Nature. Everything we love is at stake. We can convince our political leaders to act, but we’re counting on you to help. We need to ask them to follow the path to the place we all want and all deserve—the path to a safe home. For the safety and wellbeing of you and your family. For the safety and wellbeing of mine. For everything we love and have ever loved. Together, we have the power to protect it all. I hope you will join me.