The petition was also endorsed by MPs from the ‘Teal’ party, student activist Anjali Sharma, and Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty.
Climate activists and prominent political figures are urging for a legal duty of care to safeguard future generations from the impacts of climate change.
This call is in spite of the Labor government’s resistance to a climate duty of care bill in December, after a Senate report advised against its passage in parliament.
The recent letter was signed by Australian climate activist Anjali Sharma with the backing of Lucy Turnbull, activist Grace Tame, Nobel laureate Peter Doherty, and independent Senators Lidia Thorpe and David Pocock.
The letter emphasizes that young people should have a duty of care in the face of climate change and highlights that 2024 was the “hottest year on record.”
“Climate catastrophe is no longer a distant possibility—it is becoming a reality that we are witnessing and will have to navigate in the future,” the letter adds.
Addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, the letter points out the absence of laws in Australia safeguarding the “health” and well-being of young people.
“We urge you to acknowledge your duty of care to us. We urge you to ensure that the decisions you make today prioritize our health and well-being, and that this is legally enforced,” the letter states.
The climate letter was also supported by organizations like Parents for Climate, Save the Children, Unicef Australia, Australian Primary Nurses Association, Climate Action Nurses, the Human Rights Law Centre, and Doctors for the Environment Australia.
Student activist Sharma previously took legal action against the Australian government to halt the expansion of a coal mine in the case Sharma v Minister for the Environment.
Lucy Turnbull is the wife of former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and a former Lord Mayor of Sydney.
Committee Finds Climate Health Impacts Difficult to Define
In June last year, the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee rejected the idea of a climate change duty of care bill, while acknowledging the adverse health effects of climate change.
The Committee recognized the efforts made by Labor to address climate change, but highlighted the challenges in assessing the “emotional, spiritual, and cultural health” impacts of climate change.
“The committee expressed concerns that the bill’s provisions lacked detail and guidance, making it challenging for decision-makers to understand and comply with the proposed duty,” the report noted.
The Bill, originally introduced by independent Senator David Pocock, seeks to amend the Climate Change Act 2022 to require decision-makers to consider the health and well-being of children.
Government Rejects Bill as Not ‘Fit For Purpose’
In December 2024, the Labor government affirmed its agreement with the findings of the Senate Committee.
The government argued that the bill would shift the responsibility for reducing emissions to individual project approvals rather than allowing the government to establish emissions targets through legislation.
However, NSW Libertarian Senate candidate Craig Kelly argued that Australia’s efforts would have minimal impact on global emissions.
“Australia’s pursuit of net zero is futile, pointless, and harmful. It prioritizes short-term political interests over the well-being of Australians and the nation’s future,” Kelly remarked.
He emphasized that the only duty of care Australian authorities owe to their people is to educate them on the true science of climate change.
