Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is at the UN climate talks in Türkiye right now, where countries from every region and the head of the UN have called for a plan to move off coal, oil and gas. But Australia, which is running the negotiations, has offered no way forward. Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira, CEO of 350 Australia, has written him an urgent letter. Add your name now, then share it and tag the PM so he sees it before he leaves COP31 later this week.
Dear Prime Minister Albanese,
You are at COP31 at a moment that will define Australia's place in the world. Countries from various negotiating blocs, and the UN Secretary-General, have asked the COP31 presidencies to continue the progress from last year's climate conference: helping countries develop their own plans to transition away from fossil fuels. As co-president, Australia has the power to lead but so far, it hasn’t.
We are asking you to make sure these three things happen at COP31:
- Lead the world off fossil fuels: use Australia’s role as co-president to carry forward the process for national roadmaps for a fair, funded transition away from coal, oil and gas. And Australia should publish it's own roadmap with an ambitious deadline to phase out coal.
- Back electrification powered by renewables, backed with climate finance and delivering energy access.
- Commit AUD$11 billion in international climate finance over five years, that funds loss and damage, adaptation and just transitions, and redirect the $14.5 billion a year spent on fossil fuel subsidies.
First Nations communities across this continent and our Pacific neighbours live with the consequences of fossil fuel expansion every day, and they are leading the way to something better. Australia secured its COP31 presidency on the promise of a “Pacific COP”.
Prime Minister Albanese, we urge you not to turn your back on the people you promised to stand with.
Te Raukura O'Connell Rapira, CEO of 350 Australia together with people from around the world who are adding their names to this letter.
