Stop Offsets Fuelling a Net Zero Fraud
The Australian Parliament is debating legislation and regulations for its 'Safeguard Mechanism' - a policy that is supposed to reduce emissions from our biggest polluting industries.
The proposed design of the Safeguard Mechanism is a front for Australia's massive fossil fuel expansion.
Australia’s climate policies should reduce emissions, not hide them with offsets and creative accounting.
Despite Australia’s commitment to net zero by 2050, there are more than 100 new fossil fuel projects in development nationally.
Not only does the Safeguard Mechanism do nothing to stop new fossil fuel projects from going ahead, it will allow existing projects to increase their emissions as long as they buy some carbon offsets.
Australia Institute research has raised serious questions about the integrity of Australia's carbon offsets and experts suggest about 40 per cent of Australian offsets are junk.
We cannot reduce emissions while the Australian government keeps approving new gas and coal projects.
It is a fantasy that Australia can offset its way to 43% emissions reductions by 2030.
Unless integrity is restored to Australia's climate policies, Australia is fuelling a net zero fraud.
Add your name to the call for climate action with integrity >
To the Parliament of Australia
There are more than 100 new fossil fuel projects in development nationally.
Australia cannot reduce emissions while opening new gas and coal projects.
Australia needs a climate policy with integrity that drives genuine emissions reductions.
We, the undersigned, call on the Parliament to reject a Safeguard Mechanism that gives a green light to new fossil fuel projects and allows existing polluters to have unlimited access to offsets and increase their emissions.