Thread by @TheAusInstitute

"In polling today, Australians are more concerned about climate change. Do you think since the fires people's concerns about climate change have shifted & that now requires stronger action"

The PM's response? More claims we're "meeting and beating" our emissions targets🙄#auspol

The bushfire crisis has intensified concern about climate change and its impacts #auspol #AustraliaBurning

@TheAusInstitute's Climate of the Nation poll shows 79% of ppl are concerned about climate change - up 5 percentage points from just 6 months ago > tai.org.au/content/concer…

.@TheAusInstitute research on @theprojecttv via @vanOnselenP:

👉 47% of Australians are “very concerned” about climate change
👉 57% say we're experiencing “a lot” of climate change impacts in Aus
👉 4 in 5 are worried Aus' native forests & unique wildlife will never be the same

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP Climate change is making natural disasters like fire & drought more frequent & extreme -- already costing ordinary Australians billions of dollars every year #auspol

Fossil fuel producers should contribute to these growing costs. Here are 8 reasons why > medium.com/@TheAustraliaI…

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 1/ The costs of increasingly severe natural disasters in Australia are astonishing.

Natural disasters are estimated to currently cost Australians at least $13b a year -- insurance claims alone from the current bushfires have already reached over $375m. medium.com/@TheAustraliaI…

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 2/ Currently, the costs of climate disasters are almost entirely borne by ordinary Australians.

We pay for emergency response, relief & reconstruction through higher taxes, rates & insurance premiums.

In the end, of all the costs come back on us >
medium.com/@TheAustraliaI…

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 3/ Australian communities & charities are being forced to step in & cover the costs of disaster recovery.

Rather than letting them foot the bill govt. could ensure the costs are recovered through a levy on the very companies fuelling these disasters > theaus.in/climatedisaste…

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 4/ Natural disasters are predicted to increase in regularity & severity in coming years (as will costs).

Now that Govt. has acknowledged the link between global warming & these disasters, a levy on the companies that contribute is an important next step > nb.tai.org.au/climatedisaste…

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 5/ It's a fundamental principle of economics: companies profiting from activities that cause damage to others should pay the costs of that damage.

A levy would help ppl & businesses recover from the fires & to protect us from escalating future disasters > theaus.in/climatedisaste…

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 6/ Insurance only covers a small fraction of the costs of natural disasters.

In a natural disaster, costs like damage to property are usually covered, but only a very, very small proportion of intangible costs (loss of income & health impacts, incl mental health) can be insured.

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 7/ Every tonne of coal and gas mined in Aus results in around 2.5 tonnes of heat-trapping gases pumped into the atmosphere, making natural disasters more intense & frequent.

medium.com/@TheAustraliaI…

@theprojecttv @vanOnselenP 8/ Our research shows 62% of ppl support the introduction of a fossil fuel levy to pay for the impacts of climate change.

Thousands have already signed our petition calling for the introduction of a National Climate Disaster Fund, add your name too > theaus.in/climatedisaste…