You’d be forgiven for thinking that the very existence of national environmental laws creates an obligation on Environment Ministers to protect the environment. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Instead, their obligations are limited by the objects and duties that are specified in the law. And in the case of our...
Humane Society International Australia (HSI) welcomes the announcement at the G7 from Prime Minister Scott Morrison that Australia will join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (‘HAC’)—an intergovernmental group of sixty countries with the goal of protecting at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030.
Australia is a global biodiversity hotspot and unfortunately a leader in mammal extinctions. We are pleased to see the Australian Government commit to greater action to address the extinction crisis.
While Australia is making great progress in the marine environment, we look forward to the Government developing strategies to increase our area of land under protection from 20% to 30% by 2030.
Currently, Australia’s federal environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (‘EPBC’), is undergoing reform providing an excellent opportunity to lift our standards and support the goals of the HAC.
“HSI has been calling for reformed legislation with strong new National Environment Standards to protect biodiversity and critical habitats for threatened species. More robust laws to guard against the loss of wildlife and ecosystem decline would help achieve our commitments to the HAC,” said Nicola Beynon HSI Head of Campaigns.
