To: ACT Legislative Assembly
ePetition - Inquiry into Climate Adaptation Costs
Communities for Climate Compensation
We support big coal, oil and gas corporations paying their fair share for the costs of climate change. Local governments and residents shouldn’t be left holding the bill while corporations pocket the profits.
We call on ACT Legislative Assembly to pass a Polluter Pays motion to support a Climate Compensation Fund, which would help protect local services, strengthen and repair infrastructure, and fund disaster response and preparedness – ensuring our community can stay safe and thrive.
Reason for this Petition
The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly: The ACT is experiencing increasing natural disaster as a result of climate change. This includes heatwaves, severe storms, bushfires and associated smoke and flooding, placing pressure on local infrastructure, services and community wellbeing, and rising costs experienced by all Canberrans.
Requested Actions
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the ACT Government to Support a Polluters Pay Motion by calling on the Assembly to establish an inquiry into the cost on local communities in the ACT of climate disasters. This inquiry will develop an analysis of financial risks and costs and will consider how the ACT Government can call on the Australian Government to establish a Climate Pollution Levy to pay communities back via a Climate Compensation Fund.
Why is this important?
The “Polluter Pays” principle is simple – if you make a mess, you should clean it up.
Communities like ours are already paying the price of climate change through higher insurance premiums and increasing disaster recovery bills. Meanwhile, big coal, oil and gas corporations are making billions exporting Australia’s resources, often while paying no tax and pocketing huge government subsidies.
Our community is already experiencing the impacts of climate pollution – from floods and bushfires to heatwaves and coastal erosion. Local governments are on the frontline, responsible for roads, drainage, community facilities and emergency response – but right now the costs of disasters are rising faster than local government revenue.
A Climate Compensation Fund could help pay for:
🚨Disaster response and preparedness
😌 Insurance relief for disaster-hit communities
🚨Disaster response and preparedness
😌 Insurance relief for disaster-hit communities
🏠 Flood-proofed homes
🏛️ Upgraded community halls and evacuation centres
🌳 Shaded streets and cool public spaces
🚒 Well-resourced emergency services
✨ An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Climate Self Determination Fund
✨ An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Climate Self Determination Fund
👷 Support for a just transition for workers and their families
➕ And much more…
Delivery plans
This petition will be delivered to ACT Legislative Assembly who will be encouraged to table it as part of a successful Polluter Pays motion.
➕ And much more…
Delivery plans
This petition will be delivered to ACT Legislative Assembly who will be encouraged to table it as part of a successful Polluter Pays motion.