Australia must strengthen environmental laws, backed up by real investment, if it is to heed the recommendations of last week’s UN Biodiversity Conference in Egypt.
“The Senate has heard the UN’s clear signal to the world that our planet is in the midst of an extinction crisis,” Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The Government must listen to the experts who say we are at a tipping point in protecting the environment and our biodiversity, not put their heads in the sand. We need environmental laws with teeth, backed by real funding, if we want to be part of a global solution.
“The World Wildlife Fund has called out Australia as one of the worst biodiversity managers on the planet. We have a responsibility to our unique flora and fauna, to reverse this harrowing trend of extinction.
“Australia would fail to explain to future generations and the rest of the world, if the koala was driven to extinction. We have the golden opportunity to be the generation that saves the planet and the myriad species that live here.
“The Greens are fighting for urgent action on climate change, and to protect our environment and biodiversity, while the Morrison Government further abandons the environment.”
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s motion, below, passed the Senate this afternoon.
That the Senate— notes that
1. The 14th United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (the Conference) took place in Egypt from the 13th to the 29th of November 2018.
2. The United Nations Report to the Conference demonstrated that Australia is failing to meet international targets, especially in parts of the country where land clearing and habitat destruction are widespread.
3. The World Wildlife Fund also issued a report as part of the Conference that placed Australia amongst the worst performers on biodiversity in a group of 100 nations.
4. The Conference called on governments to scale up investments in nature and people towards 2020 and beyond and to accelerate action to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020.
Calls on the government heed the recommendations of the Conference.