Media release

From: Griffith University

In anticipation of the Australian Government’s new net zero by 2050 target, an alliance of business leaders, industry and community groups are committing to a five-year alliance to get on with the job of planning and delivering our sustainable economy transformation.

Engineers Australia, the Planning Institute of Australia, the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council are among the first to join the Climate Ready Australia 2030 (CRA2030) alliance which is a flagship project of Griffith University’s Climate Ready Initiative (CRI).

The project is backed by CRI’s high-profile board, including internationally recognised economist and former leader of the Liberal Party, Dr John Hewson AM, and Australian business leader Ann Sherry AO.

The CRI board is chaired by internationally-recognised impact investment expert Rosemary Addis AM who believes Australia is at a crossroads where we should make strategic decisions about the future we want to create. 

“Done well, the transformation required by climate change has the capacity to deliver substantial positive social, economic and environmental benefits,” said Ms Addis. 

“But, if we don’t keep pace with global expectations we will increasingly see Australian goods and services penalised, such as through facing higher trade tariffs. Our agriculture, energy, health, and infrastructure sectors all face major threats that we must prepare for.

“If we don’t take transformative action on climate change now, Australia risks missing out on the substantive economic opportunity, jobs creation and broader environmental co-benefits of a carbon neutral future. 

“Australia currently lacks a plan for how to deliver our carbon commitments while ensuring that 25 million Australians are better off in 5, 20 and 50 years time,” Ms Addis said.

“This is an ambitious project aiming to fill this critical gap, by developing a detailed plan of how to get there, in collaboration with the industries and community groups that must be part of solutions.”

Convening CRA2030 is Sam Mackay, Executive Director of the CRI, who said that other peak groups are encouraged to join the Alliance.

“By joining, industry and community groups can help to shape a shared plan for sustainable development that builds on past successes.

“This includes identifying the big transformative actions and investments needed to minimise Australia’s risk and enhance our opportunities in a rapidly transforming world,” Mr Mackay said. 

Professor Brendan Mackey, CRI Deputy-Chair and Director of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon, said that Griffith University provides a neutral platform to facilitate dialogue and collaboration between business, government and community, as well as helping ensure these deliberations are informed by robust evidence.

“The alliance will benefit from Griffith’s internationally recognised expertise and experience in climate risk management and social and economic development, in Australian and in the Asia-Pacific,” Prof Mackey said.