Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) exists to catalyse all levels of government to act on climate change. Informed by climate science and centuries of combined experience, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) is working to ensure that fire and emergency services are equipped to protect Australian communities from increasingly frequent and damaging extreme weather events. We are actively shaping the national conversation about climate change and extreme weather, by drawing the media spotlight when and where it’s needed, engaging with all state and federal bushfire inquiries and commissions and through convening and engaging with the people who need to be involved in the discussion.
Since its inception in April 2019 and throughout the 2019/20 Australian bushfire crisis, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) has been a source of leadership for Australians. Led by Climate Councillor and former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW, Greg Mullins, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) has cut through the political noise and firmly articulated that worsening extreme weather is being aggravated by climate change, driven by burning fossil fuels. Through a carefully executed media strategy, meetings with decision-makers and policy submissions, ELCA’s growing coalition has had a transformative impact on the public debate. We have:
– Clearly articulated that worsening bushfire conditions have been aggravated by climate change
– Shut down the argument that climate change shouldn’t be mentioned during bushfires
– Debunked dangerous myths aimed at diverting attention away from climate change
– Advocated for better resourcing for fire and emergency services
– Warned the Federal Government of the risks and consequences of its failure to act
– Underlined the fact that burning coal, oil and gas is driving climate change and these are worsening bushfire conditions.