As one of the world’s worst CO2 emitters on a per capita basis, Australia bears a clear responsibility for changes to the environment brought about by climate change, which is now forcing people from their homes.
Simply opposing new international measures to help these people, again places Australia at the tail end of countries when it comes to working to prevent and repair climate displacement.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said in a recent Guardian article on Displacement Solutions that ‘Australia does not see the creation of the climate change displacement coordination facility as the most effective or efficient way to progress meaningful international action to address the impacts of climate change.’
Climate change is already forcing people from their homes in a wide range of countries including many of Australia’s closest neighbours such as PNG, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati and elsewhere. If Australia wants to prevent displacement crisis situations such as those now facing Europe it should work to find viable and rights-based solutions to climate displacement in the region and globally rather than again scuttling positive proposals that could have gone some way in alleviating a crisis which will ultimately involve tens of millions of people facing displacement because of climate change.
Rather than opposing new international measures to assist climate displaced people as it did earlier this week, Australia should be at the forefront of the group of nations seeking to find real solutions for the growing climate displaced population of the world, which now numbers in the 10,000s but which will grow dramatically as the effects of climate change are increasingly felt.
Given Australia’s geographical location so close to so many of the countries worst affected by climate change, this recent decision to oppose a new climate displacement facility is nothing short of scandalous. Australia could have been part of the solution, but has chosen again to side with those most responsible for CO2 emissions instead of with the countless victims of climate change who need assistance now more than ever.
Scott Leckie, founder Displacement Solutions
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