Comprehensive plan to better protect our communities from climate risk
While accelerating the transition to net zero should be our number one objective,[1] investments in risk reduction and climate resilience must be a priority. Ignoring reality by not adequately planning and preparing for growing climate risks is nothing short of negligence from the major parties. Communities need action now.
Successive climate disasters continue to put our communities, homes, and infrastructure at risk. The Climate Resilience Plan provides a proactive, long-term and comprehensive plan to help adapt to climate risk and build long-term resilience, without passing the cost onto taxpayers.
The Climate Resilience Plan includes:
- $10b for a new Climate Resilience Facility Fund to back climate resilience infrastructure projects around the country.
- $40 million to expand the work of the Resilient Building Council in measuring resilience and incentivising risk reduction (via the Resilience Rating System) and the development of a Household Climate Resilient Certificate for homes.
- Legislating national climate resilience assessment and adaptation plan to be conducted every 5 years
- Updating the National Construction Code to promote low cost, climate-resilient and energy-efficient housing.
- Better co-ordination between all levels of government to create stronger land planning controls to ensure new developments are not built in high-risk areas (such as flood zones)
These $10bn investment has been independently modelled by the Parliamentary Library to add $1.5bn to the Budget, to reinvest fuel tax credits into stronger infrastructure, smarter planning and more resilient homes.
The challenge
The escalating impacts of climate change continue to cost Australians. Climate change continues to pose a major threat to the Australian economy[2].
Locally, in Warringah, the Northern Beaches holds significant climate risk with the NSW State Disaster Mitigation Plan[4] estimating that by 2060 the LGA will be the most impacted in NSW. The Plan estimates damage caused by extreme weather to the built environment in the Northern Beaches could come close to $1 billion dollars a year. Currently, local governments are struggling to pay for investment into climate resilience.
There is a clear dividend from investing in climate resilience. CSIRO research shows every $1 invested in climate resilience saves up to $11 in recovery costs.
However, federally currently only around 87% of disaster funding goes to recovery, with only 13% to risk reduction.[5]
Without a meaningful, sustainable funding plan, we will not be able to keep our communities safe from rising climate disasters.
Climate Resilience Plan
My plan would provide:
$10bn Climate Resilience Fund designed to sustainably fund climate adaptation and resilience efforts in Australia.
- The Fund would be set up as an investment facility, with the interest to use to pay out grants to implement the National Adaptation Plan.
- Instead of passing the cost onto taxpayers, the Fund will repurpose existing funds for fossil fuel subsidies by phasing the subsidy over three years (33% each year). This includes abolishing the fuel tax credit for all industries except agricultural businesses.[6]
- Funding will be prioritised to high-risk local government areas, as identified by the National Climate Adaptation Plan, to build infrastructure and mitigation strategies and reduce the overall economic impact of climate-related disasters. The second priority of the Fund would focus on uplifting climate resilience for households.
$40m to expand the work of the Resilience Building Council in measuring resilience and incentivising risk reduction (via the Resilience Rating System) and the development of a Household Climate Resilient Certificate for homes.
- The Resilience Ratings Scheme has been developed over the past decade in partnership with all levels of government, households, the Insurance Council of Australia, community-based NGOs, engineers, researchers, the building industry, banks and investors.
- This proposal will help more than 4.5 million households and small business to benefit from the Resilient Council's Resilience Ratings across all hazards (fire, flood, cyclone etc)
- This proposal help more Australians access affordable insurance and finance.[7]
Legislating national climate resilience assessment and adaptation plan to be conducted every 5 years.
- This would bind future governments to regularly assess emerging climate risks and make informed, long-term plans to safeguard our communities against climate risk.
- By including climate risks in government planning and decision-making, this Bill will help to build a strong Australia, where everyone – regardless of age, gender, race, ability – can feel safe and supported.
Updating the National Construction Code to promote low cost, climate-resilient and energy-efficient housing.
- Updating the National Construction Code to embed resilience in the next edition of the NCC – due in 2028 – will ensure homes are built for climate resilience.
- Reduce regulatory barriers to domestic, sustainable prefabricated housing and increase regulatory incentives for capital for households wanting to build with prefabricated housing providers
Better co-ordination between all levels of government to create stronger land planning controls to ensure new developments are not built in high-risk areas (such as flood zones)
- This proposal would ensure that local governments have the right tools available to prepare for climate adaptation.
- Develop consistent methodologies for climate hazard analysis and collating data to show national trends and reduce costs to local government.
Resources
Summary of the Climate Resilience Plan
[1] See for example, Climate Council (2023) ‘Mission Zero: How Today’s Climate Choices Will Reshape Australia’
[2] 2017 Deloitte Access Economics, reporting to the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities, found that over the past 10 years disasters have cost the Australian economy around $18 billion per year. Assuming current development patterns and population growth continue, this is forecast to reach $39 billion per year by 2050.
[4] NSW State Disaster Mitigation Plan
[5] See, ANU Disaster Solutions Update 2024 - 6 August 2024.pdf
[6] See, Australia Institute (2024), Grattan Institute (2023)
[7] The Resilient Building Council's Bushfire Rating App has helped save households up to 20% on their insurance premiums.
Do you like this page?