What is the Climate Safeguard Mechanism?
In Australia, just 10 companies account for more than half of all harmful emissions produced under the Safeguard Mechanism. Together these companies have pumped out over 362 tonnes of harmful pollution since the scheme started in 2916- equivalent to the C02 produced by more than 16 million Australians in a single year! The Safeguard Mechanism has been called the most important climate policy in Australia, and is effectively a pollution speed limit on Australia’s biggest emitters. Since being introduced by the Abbott Government in 2016, this pollution speed limit has been extremely ineffective. The former government set notional pollution “limits” that were way higher than the amount companies were polluting.
The current Australian Government says it wants to use the pollution speed limit to actually reduce emissions. They plan to set genuine limits (baselines) on the amount the biggest companies can pollute, and the progressively lower these baselines over time until Australia gets to net zero.
The government is proposing to establish new emissions baselines for all 215 companies covered by the policy, and then reduce these baselines by a set percentage each year. Companies that don’t meet their baseline will have to buy offsets- credits for carbon abatement delivered elsewhere- to account for the amount of emissions over their agreed limit.
Companies that reduce emissions below their baseline will receive credits, which they can sell to those higher emitting companies. This will drive companies to invest in technologies or cleaner production processes to come under their baseline, and avoid paying for credits. As you can imagine the big polluters do not want the safeguard mechanism strengthened with new baselines created and enforced. This is where Australian Parents can make a difference. Sign the petition. Engage with the campaign on social media with the hashtag #safeguardourkids. Get a meeting with your MP and/or email them and ask them to make sure that the safeguard mechanism is strengthened and big polluters are held to account.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
* Meet with your MP and urge them to keep the safeguard mechanism strong- to achieve the target of a reduction of 43% of emissions by 2030. Ask your MP to pressure the Prime Minister to strengthen the Safeguard Mechanism targets.
* Post on social media with the hashtag #SAFEGUARDOURKIDS and urge your MP, the Prime Minister and Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen to secure the target of a reduction of 43% emissions by 2030.
* Email your MP and urge them to reduce the emissions targets under the Safeguard Mechanism. Tell them that a reduction protects our kids.
* Check for updates about the campaign on local group leaders chat or coordination slack channels, or if you’re new to this space, on our Facebook group.
* Sign our petition urging the Minister, Chris Bowen to take action on securing the Safeguard Mechanism’s emissions targets.
More Information:
GUIDE TO MP MEETINGS
Most politicians say that they rank engagement with their constituents as the most influential factor in their political decision making. Supporting constituents to meet with their MP is a really key tactic because it both engages MPs on our issue, and it arms them to advocate for their constituents when they walk into the party room.
With the Albanese government entering the final decision-making phase on the reform of Australia’s Climate Safeguard Mechanism, now’s the time for community members to meet their Labor MPs to call for them to hold polluters accountable. The key message we want our MPs to hear is that it’s time they stood up for the community.
ORGANISING AN MP MEETING:
Email or phone the MP’s electorate office to request a meeting and line up a time. Script (if needed):
Dear [INSERT MPs NAME],
My name is ___________. I’m a local constituent concerned about the climate crisis and supportive of government efforts to deliver deep emissions cuts this decade.
After years of climate inaction under the Coalition, the Albanese government has taken positive steps to tackle climate change such as legislating an Emissions Reduction Target for 2030.
I [OR NAME OF LOCAL GROUP] would like to meet with you in February or March to discuss your government’s reform of Australia’s Climate Safeguard Mechanism. It is a major opportunity to hold the biggest polluters accountable and ensure industry pulls its weight on climate.
I look forward to hearing back from your office with a time we can meet.
Kind Regards, [Your Name]
MEETING WITH YOUR MP
Meet with the MP. It can be hard to dictate the agenda in MP meetings – some MPs will dominate, others will ask lots of questions, some will test people’s knowledge. Just do what you can to bring it back to why it is important to you, as a constituent, that the MP does better on climate policy. Reiterate the offer to support the MP in being more ambitious on climate.
Remember to get a photo, and write down any useful quotes or notes from the meeting. These are useful for social media and for remembering what we’ve done.
SUGGESTED MEETING AGENDA:
NOTE: As mentioned above, some MPs like to direct the meeting. What follows is a plan for when the MP creates space for community members to lead the discussion.
The nominated leader of the meeting would initiate an intro round. Constituents would be invited to share their name, suburb where they live, and a climate impact that concerns them.
We suggest the following group discussion points for the meeting. Consider allocating specific points to attendees so everyone has a chance to speak:
* Outline the things you/the community do to reduce climate pollution—for example cycling to work;
* Express your frustration about that governments keep letting big business get away with polluting;
* Share why acting on climate is important to you: your personal story as a parent concerned for the wellbeing of your children is key to convey here. This is your opportunity to connect with your MP/ Senator on shared values as a parent (if they are a parent – check this before your meeting).
* Ask the MP to stand up for a strong Climate Safeguard Mechanism in the party room:
* The Albanese government can do this by increasing the ambition of the Safeguard Mechanism. The government should rule out the unfettered use of offsets for polluting companies and impose tough conditions on new entrants.
* Finally, ask the MP to join you and fellow attendees for a photograph to post on social media.