WWF: NEW MINISTERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REGENERATE AUSTRALIA

The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia today congratulated Labor’s new federal ministers who now have an opportunity to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time.

“In recent years Australians have lived through devastating wildfires and floods, record-breaking temperatures, multiple mass coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, rampant deforestation, and the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world,” said WWF-Australia Acting CEO Rachel Lowry.

“They have seen our wildlife and wild places on a precarious trajectory."

“In the face of critical challenges there are powerful opportunities and solutions grounded in science."

“Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, International Development and the Pacific Minister Pat Conroy, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and the rest of Labor’s ministry take charge of their portfolios at a defining moment in our history."

“WWF stands ready, backed by our 2.4 million supporters, to work with the new ministers to secure a brighter future for Australia’s environment and people,” Ms Lowry said.

Ms Lowry said under an agenda to Regenerate Australia there is an opportunity to transition our environment and economy to the age of adaptation and resilience.

“We can become a renewable energy exports superpower to reduce emissions and create thousands of jobs,” she said.

“We can recover koalas along Eastern Australia, reduce key threats to the Reef, rewild areas where our unique wildlife has been lost, and help safeguard our most vulnerable species and communities from the impacts of a warming planet."

“We can expand Indigenous protected areas and ranger programs, keep plastics out of nature, and ensure Australia’s aid program focuses on protecting and restoring nature, whilst improving quality of life not just in Australia but across our entire region,” Ms Lowry said.

WWF-Australia will be sending new ministers a document entitled “ A Blueprint To Regenerate Australia ” outlining policy priorities to build a stronger and more sustainable nation.

About Regenerate Australia

Regenerate Australia is the largest and most innovative wildlife recovery and landscape regeneration program in Australia’s history. Launched by WWF-Australia in October 2020, the multi-year program will rehabilitate, repopulate and restore wildlife and habitats affected by the 2019-2020 bushfires, and help to future-proof Australia against the impacts of a changing climate. Find out more.