We need laws that protect life, not allow it to be destroyed. Our environment laws are here to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the wildlife and places we love. Yet under these laws today, our governments are allowing companies to mine more, frack faster and dredge deeper with little oversight. Companies are allowed to pollute our air and water, harm our living planet and damage our climate. They can overuse our oceans and land and drive wildlife to extinction. The system is not working.
It’s time for a new generation of environment laws
Our laws must protect our communities and our reefs, rivers, forests and wildlife from pollution, overuse and extinction. And they must stop climate pollution – now one of the biggest drivers of environmental destruction. Big polluters must not get away with damaging life. Strong laws give communities a say, not just corporations with deep pockets. They stop the extinction of our wildlife and protect the places we love, rather than gutting them for short-term gain. They make sure no one can damage what sustains us or take more than their fair share. That’s why the Places You Love Alliance and APEEL (Australian Panel of Experts on Environmental Law) have mapped out a blueprint for a new generation of environment laws. Laws that will empower our communities, protect our reefs, rivers, forests and wildlife and ensure we have a thriving and sustainable economy that supports the whole web of life.