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So we have another ALP majority government, and a thumping majority at that. The signatories of the Climate Rescue Accord were hoping for a progressive minority government. The Albanese government has demonstrated it does not prioritise climate or environment in their policies and actions. Take a minute to watch Ketan Joshi’s breakdown of the Albanese Government’s climate impact over their first term. Independents and minor parties across the country implore Australians to understand how preferential voting works, how a vote can’t be wasted.
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The UK has just announced an investment of £50 million (AUS$ 103 million) for outdoor research into solar radiation management. Reflect is the third R of Climate Rescue’s 3Rs: Reduce, Remove and Reflect. Reflect provides instant cooling. The conceptual chart below shows why instant cooling is necessary to bridge the delay between when we start reducing and removing greenhouse gases, and when those actions start to have an impact.  Reflecting excess sunlight is necessary for three reasons:
Decades of effective campaigns for climate delay and denial plus current fossil fuel based aerosols mean that emissions reduction alone, even at emergency speed, can no longer avert a global climate catastrophe. Politicians of the world have left it too late. But while the Climate Rescue Accord advocates for research into Reflect, it only promotes Reflect in the context of the full suite of Climate Rescue, in other words: in combination with the other two Rs, Reduce - emergency reduction in emissions - and Remove - lowering current greenhouse gas concentrations. Reflect without Reduce and Remove is a dangerous approach. Even if effective in the short term, greenhouse gas concentrations are currently at their highest ever - and continue to increase year by year. If these concentrations are not reversed, additional aerosols will be required to maintain the cooling effect, impacting rainfall and natural systems. Days after the solar radiation announcement, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called for a “fundamental rethink” of net zero policies, warning that present strategies may fall short in curbing climate risks. This seems very “on message” with the geoengineering announcement. But to quote former British Chief Scientist Sir David King on Blair’s words: “Tony is right to highlight the need for innovation, investment and carbon removal. These are vital tools in our response. But framing the climate challenge as a choice between reducing emissions and developing new technologies is misleading. We need to do both – simultaneously and urgently. At the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, we call this the 4R Strategy: Reduce emissions, Remove greenhouse gases, Repair critical ecosystems, and build Resilience. These are not optional elements; they are the foundation of a manageable future. Treating them as alternatives risks delaying action we cannot afford to postpone.” In summary: If we want a safe future for ourselves and our children, we must start advocating for Reduce along with Reflect and Remove.. Links and related content:
Gillard’s minority government (2010-2013) was perhaps the most productive Australian Parliament ever, passing over 500 pieces of legislation, including major reforms such as the Clean Energy Act, the Mineral Resource Rent Tax and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. In comparison, the Albanese majority Government has passed 342 Bills near the end of this Parliament (as at 14 March 2025) with just the budget sittings to go. Naturally, the two major parties are terrified by the thought of minority government and have buddied up yet again, to ram through legislation that further biases the election outcome to themselves and almost guarantee their future dominance.  Fortunately these legislative changes won’t come into effect for this election so a hung parliament won this election could reverse some of the changes that inhibit independents and minor parties into the future. In the 2022 election, the number of Lower House crossbenchers grew threefold (from 5 to 16). In 2025, the combined vote for all minor parties and independents should exceed either of the major parties in the Senate. The main factor is the growth in Millennial voters, who now outnumber voters over 65, and Millenials are not as bound to voting for the major parties. According to a recent survey conducted by Resolve Strategic for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, 72% of respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 believe they will never be able to buy a house and have shifted their focus to issues that will affect them: notably, climate change; job insecurity; integrity in government; and gender and diversity issues. and Why vote for a party that prioritises new fossil fuels over fixing the housing market? An additional half million Gen Zs will (hopefully) vote for the first time in this election. On climate alone, fossil fuel exports have doubled twice in the past three decades. While the Albanese government has been positive for renewables, they have also approved 19 fossil fuel projects since the 2022 Lismore floods and Australia remains the second largest exporter of coal. Any perceived emissions reduction is due to clever accounting of exporting our fossil fuels and bogus carbon credits.  But let’s not rest on our laurels. There are the crucial components for winning a progressive minority government?
Australia can’t afford to be complacent on any of these points. Toward number 3, Vote Climate #1 provides a Traffic Light Voting guide for all the 150 electorates. Voters can select their electorate for an overview of how to identify the most climate positive candidates (Green Light candidates) Vote Climate #1 leans on the Climate Rescue Accord, a revamped Climate Emergency Declaration to prioritise the Outstanding Green Light candidates. Candidates demonstrate their commitment to the 3Rs of climate rescue: reduce, remove, and reflect in a written statement. The Accord states explicitly what was not always obvious in the Declaration. We live in an age of rapid and tumultuous upheaval. Everyone is fed up with the same bad actors running the show. This Federal election is an opportunity for us to do something practical to promote the good side of human nature and Australian values we are proud of. Communities are set to make history again with Community Independents standing in 37 of 150 seats right across the country from Solomon In the far north to Franklin in the deep south of Tassie, and from the West to all the way down the East coast. Add to this good news other independents like Adam Martin in Braddon, who are fully committed to the 3Rs and the Green Transition. Let’s also not forget micro parties like the Legalise Cannabis Party are absolute heroes when it comes to commitment on stopping global heating. This election may be our last chance to change Australia’s politics for the better.   Some excerpts from Climate Sentinel News by William Hall, author of Vote Climate 1’s monthly climate blog, “Earth’s climate system has shifted into a new kind of rapidly evolving climate regime that is not encompassed or anticipated by existing climate forecasting models (at least not before 2050…). Every month since September has set new, still more extreme records. ALL the global climate indicators are at or near all-time records so extreme that by September last year staid climate professionals have called the readings “gobsmackingly bananas.” — a phrase that is now in common usage in the climate science community.”
“...a common problem in climate science today [is that] most climatologists trained in maths or physics still fail to appreciate the importance of fundamental non-linearity and chaos of complex dynamical systems like climate. The existential emergency Sagan predicted for the latter half of the 21st Century has already started now.” “....many indicators are literally breaking records faster than I can write about them.” “The most important of these regularly breaking records is the daily average sea surface temperature (SST), which is the first place excess solar energy piles up in the climate system. On 9 May SST is still more than 0.1 °C above 2023’s 9 May record – the 423 day of continuous daily records.” The Tasmanian election and the minority Liberal government it produced, gives us a lesson in how minority government can fail. It's a situation we must work towards avoiding Federally. Three red light candidates from Jacqui Lambie's party joined the Liberals to create a non-progressive state administration.
Unfortunately none of the seven out-standing green light independent candidates that signed up for the Climate Rescue Accord were elected. The only progressive independent to be elected was Craig Garland who we ranked with an orange light. More details on the Tasmanian election here. A successful outcome at a Federal level hinges on not just the erosion of Labor's majority. The Federal results must create a situation where the red light candidates in the lower house are not numerous enough for either major party to form government with them. The use of traffic light voting guides by swinging voters, especially in marginal seats, will help create a Federal minority government compelled to act decisively on climate. Many of us have been concerned about human induced global heating since the late 1980's or even earlier. As individuals we have worked to lead by example or, in the case of Extinction Rebellion, by disruptive protest. Emissions have continued to rise and heating of the oceans is rising exponentially. Vote Climate One maintains that we have generally failed here in Australia because none of our strategies have created the political will needed at a national level.
We are convinced that this political will could emerge from the creation of minority government. With global temperatures already at 1.5C above the pre industrial average, the next Federal election seems like our last chance to turn the ship around. Labor needs to be pulled back to say seventy seats to create a situation where they are compelled to negotiate the support of a progressive cross bench to form government. Climate Emergency Australia with Maribyrnong Council (Vic) ran the Climate Emergency Australia Conference 2024 for councillors and council staff on 19 March.
Bryony Edwards from the Climate Rescue Accord working group and Council and Community Action in the Climate Emergency (CACE) presented on appropriate council targets across the 3Rs: Reduce, Remove, Reflect: REDUCE: Real zero by 2030 REMOVE: Create biochar from all organic waste by 2030 Maximise soil carbon storage REFLECT: Maximise reflection across roads and roofs by 2030 Advocate for urgent R&D into safe methods for increasing Earth’s albedo. The Climate Rescue Accord has added an Adopters and Supporters page to the Climate Rescue Accord website. The page shows state or federally registered parties that have adopted or are adopting the 3Rs as well as organisational supporters of the 3Rs. Please get in touch If your party or organisation wants to get on board.
(Noting that this article was first published at ClimateSafety.info on 11 March 2024 and is used here with the author's permission.) The Tasmanian state election, scheduled for 23 March 2024, has become a focal point for climate action with the introduction of the Climate Rescue Accord. This initiative, endorsed so far by 12 candidates – seven community independent candidates along with five candidates from the Animal Justice Party, seven women and five men – aims to significantly shift the state’s approach towards a safe climate. The Climate Rescue Accord focuses on the so-called “3Rs” – Reduce, Remove and Reflect – and it proposes comprehensive strategies to mitigate climate change impacts. Its adoption by candidates indicates a growing prioritisation of climate issues in Tasmania’s political discourse. Impact on voter sentiment According to polls, support for independent candidates and minor parties has increased, reflecting a potential shift in voter sentiment. The increase in support for independents and minor parties suggests a desire for broader representation and possibly a shift away from traditional two-party politics. There is the real potential for some of these candidates to hold the balance of power in the next Tasmanian parliament. This movement could lead to transformative policies that align with global climate goals, marking a critical step for Tasmania in addressing environmental challenges. This election cycle has seen a focus on issues such as healthcare, the cost of living, and environmental concerns, reflecting the priorities of Tasmanian voters. Political landscape changes The election will be the first to be held with the House of Assembly restored to 35 seats, a significant change from the previous number of 25 seats. This change aims to provide broader representation. With the election set to increase the number of seats in the House of Assembly, the outcome could significantly alter the political landscape in Tasmania, potentially leading to more coalition governance and a greater influence of minor parties and independents in the legislative process. The Liberal party has been in a minority government situation in Tasmania since May 2023. The Accord’s goals and strategies The Climate Rescue Accord aims to initiate action to halt global warming, ensure survival, reduce suffering, and restore a safe climate for all living beings. Its objectives include holding global temperature rise to the minimum possible, ensuring temperatures do not exceed 2°C and ideally returning below 0.5°C. The Accord represents a big picture vision and strategy for survival and a safe climate, reaching out to the cross bench and minor political parties to support this vision. The Accord emphasises reducing greenhouse gas concentrations to pre-industrial levels, supported by credible scientific evidence. The Climate Rescue Accord also highlights the importance of policy development, encouraging individuals and political parties to get involved in policy working groups, share information about the Accord, and sign up for their newsletter to stay updated. In the context of the Tasmanian election, the signing of the Climate Rescue Accord by candidates indicates a growing influence of climate-focused politics in Australia, especially among independents and minor parties. This movement reflects a broader trend toward addressing climate change with comprehensive, science-based approaches and leveraging political support for significant environmental action. Tasmanian candidates in support of the Climate Rescue Accord Bass Tim Walker (Independent) “I enjoyed reading about the Climate Rescue Accord on the website. I fully support the 3Rs and the Accord, and if I am successful in becoming a Tasmanian State parliamentarian, will look forward to advancing and supporting the actions outlined through the decisions I make.” Jack Davenport (Independent) “I support the use of the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord to help inform decisions, supported by the best available evidence, I will potentially make in the Tasmanian parliament in relation to action on the climate emergency.” George Razay (Independent) George has endorsed the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord. At a local level he is particularly concerned about the effect of pollution on public health. Ivan Davies (Animal Justice Party) The Animal Justice Party has fully endorsed the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord. Lyons Angela Offord (Independent) “I support the use of the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord to underpin decisions I will potentially make in the Tasmanian parliament in relation to action on the climate emergency.” Anna Megan Gralton (Animal Justice Party) The Animal Justice Party has fully endorsed the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord. Clark Sue Hickey (Independent) “I support the use of the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord to underpin decisions I will potentially make in the Tasmanian parliament in relation to action on the climate emergency.” Casey Davies (Animal Justice Party) The Animal Justice Party has fully endorsed the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord. Franklin Martine Delany (Independent) “In brief, I’m entirely comfortable with offering my support for the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord. They’re very nicely aligned with my thoughts on, and hopes for, future climate action. I seriously believe the world has no need of humans. If we’re unable, or unprepared, to work out how to live an existence more in balance with the rest of the global ecosystem, then people will disappear. And, in truth, the rest of the planet would undoubtedly find life much easier without us! Neither the world, nor the Universe, has any real need for us. The choice is ours.” Clare Glade-Wright (Independent) “I generally support the underpinnings of the 3Rs. Every decision that comes to parliament I would assess on each of their merits.” Jehni Thomas-Wurth (Animal Justice Party) The Animal Justice Party has fully endorsed the 3Rs and the Climate Rescue Accord. Notes: The Animal Justice Party candidates have not endorsed the 3Rs as individual candidates. Their commitment is through their party policy, unlike independents whose endorsement is personal. The Animal Justice Party have made their position clear via party policy. The research and information about the candidates was conducted and compiled by Vote Climate One. Vote Climate One will soon start working on preliminary Traffic Light Voting assessment of the Federal independents for the next Federal election.  Animal Justice Party, The Australian Progressives and Fusion Party have acknowledged and committed to radical action required to avoid runaway global heating and further devastation. The required action includes zero emission across all sectors, sequestering excess carbon dioxide, plus immediate research and development into reflecting sunlight to actively cool the planet. The history of climate action in Australia is marked by weak targets and accounting tricks and ongoing approval of new fossil fuel projects. The major parties’ positions on climate change will lead to an unlivable earth. We hear endless talk of climate action and mitigation but within Australia, no MP or environmental-NGO advocates for a global vision and commensurate strategy to stop let alone reverse global heating. The Climate Rescue Accord has stepped into this leadership void. The Accord aims to bring other minor parties and independents on board, with several new parties set to sign on. The Accord is also reaching out to international stakeholders hoping to start a worldwide movement. While the Accord’s vision is to stop and reverse warming globally, the commensurate strategy is the 3Rs: Reduce (emissions to zero at emergency speed), Remove excess greenhouse gases, and Reflect sunlight to actively cool the planet until Reduce and Remove can achieve a safe climate on their own. To the 3rd R, Reflect, the Accord calls for urgent research and development to determine safe methods for making the earth more reflective. “The world has left it too long for net zero targets alone to avert the threat of runaway warming.” Explained Dr Adam Cardilini from the Accord’s Working Group. “At around 1.5C of warming we enter a world where runaway climate change becomes more and more likely. This would create a world that is unlivable for most people, animals, and ecosystems.” The idea of active cooling by reflecting sunlight is not new. There are calls for moratoriums of real world research into methods, such as use of aerosols, to increase Earth’s reflectivity. “There are many ways we can create an active cooling that don’t include the classic geoengineering options, such as use of aerosols in the stratosphere. Other options could include lightning roofs and roads or mirrors on the earth’s surface.” said Dr Cardalini. “However we don’t really know because the required research isn’t happening.” “We need to understand that we are already geoengineering between a half and one and a half degrees of cooling from aerosols created by burning fossil fuel. As we go to zero emissions, we need to offset this loss of cooling,” explained Bryony Edwards from the Working Group. The participating parties of the Accord have and are adopting policy that comprehensively reflects all 3Rs, including near-zero targets across all sectors, using the work of many groups that have been developing such plans, including Australia’s Beyond Zero Emissions. Mik Aidt, from the Accord Working Group, emphasised that active cooling by reflecting sunlight cannot happen without the other two Rs: Reduce and Remove. “The 3Rs are a complete package but active cooling alone is just a temporary bandaid. Ocean acidification, pollution, and greenhouse gas imbalances still need to be addressed via Reduce and Remove.” The Climate Rescue Accord began as climate policy conversation between executives and members from federally registered political parties. The Accord working group committed to the vision of stopping and reversing warming, bringing others on board including international stakeholders. Vote Climate One, a Climate Rescue Accord partner, has endorsed the 3Rs and will assess any candidates with regard to their embrace of the 3Rs through its traffic light voting guide. Rob Bakes from Vote Climate One said that, “The major parties have proven to be worse than useless on climate action. Minority government is the only way Australia can reorient itself to a future where we might just have a chance at survival.” “Unless there are parties that are willing to work together, as with the Climate Rescue Accord, we won’t get the change we need,” said Antoinette Pitt, representing the Australian Progressives. “On top of that we need the public to understand how preferential voting works - how to use their preferences.” Contact the Climate Rescue Accord working group: [email protected]  |
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