The 2021 COP26 summit stressed the urgency of climate change and pushed countries to act now to meet net zero targets by 2050. However, for Australia and the Pacific the time to act was years ago. 

The effects of climate change in Australia and the Pacific are undeniable – and devastating. Climate change is putting entire ecosystems at risk, threatening the existence of the region’s populations. 

• Kiribati and Tuvalu are already seeing considerable land loss, which could result in detrimental impact to the shelter and food in communities.
• Communities, wildlife, and land are still recovering from the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfire season, which raged across 46 million acres, destroyed 5,900 buildings (including nearly 3000 homes), and killed at least 34 people, while also suffocating Sydney and Melbourne. 
• The treasured Great Barrier Reef suffered through three mass coral bleaching events in just five years, due to rising temperatures and acidity in seawater. 
  

Natural disasters such as these are serving as a call to action for our leadership – but the mandate doesn’t end there.

Australia’s position as the dominant power in the Pacific region, both politically and economically, as well its long-term relationships with global powers provide it with the levers to make swift and significant strides in reaching net zero. 

Many have questioned Australia’s commitment to tackling climate change, claiming its 2030 net zero targets as too conservative. And while there is always room for growth, it is crucial to highlight how Australia as a whole is beginning to show commitment and progress via financial investments, political capital, especially at the State level, and additional regional support. This emerging shift in commitment has translated into specific examples of action: 

• A commitment of $2B to fight the climate crisis, with at least $700M earmarked for Pacific States; 
• A federal net zero target of 2050, with even more ambitious goals from many of its States and Territories;
• Targeted strategies from the federal government and States to reduce carbon emissions; and
• A $3B strategy from New South Wales to back hydrogen, with the goal of decreasing the reliance of Australia’s largest state economy on coal. 
  

In Australia, the will to play a central role in the fight against climate change is evident, and there already exists a strong foundation for coordinated, impactful, and immediate progress. Because of Australia’s influential leadership role, it also has the unique opportunity to address this complex crisis with clarity and direction, and to support and motivate the region to take purposeful and accelerated action. 

So what would it take to save the region from the devastating effects of climate change? Where do we start? Using the learnings from our work with Governments and climate experts from around the world, we believe that there are 3 foundational elements that need to be in place to effectively address climate change in the Pacific.‍

‍Define goals top-down and bottom-Up

Under international climate agreements stated in the 2020 NDC, Australia has committed to both a 26-28% reduction from 2005 levels by 2030 and 50% by 2050 (the Paris Agreement). In addition, each country in the region has their own targets. Explicit targets like these can be translated into explicit guidance for the region if we consider:

• What does success look like for Australia as a whole? Do we have a regional target?
• As the region’s largest economy, how can Australia support efforts to reach this goal?
• Are existing targets from both the federal and State level enough to get us to this overarching goal?
• How are we defining a clear hierarchy of goals with clear sub-targets that can get us to our overarching target?
  

Elevating climate change as a regional issue, with Australia playing a leading role, provides an opportunity to galvanise a community of nations that can collectively tackle one of the greatest issues of our time. And without a measurable, meaningful, and moveable regional goal, Australia will continue to be a collection of individual countries facing devastation of climate change, without a focal point to drive progress.‍

Build a guiding coalition ‍

Targets don’t exist in a vacuum; an environment that facilitates ambition, action, and impact needs to be fostered to reach targets. To do so, it is important to have a coalition of dedicated partners across the region. Governments across all levels, as well as private industries, must coalesce around a shared vision, guided by specific targets. 

Culture and community groups will be key to this Guiding Coalition. There is great insight and wisdom to be learned from groups historically on the margins of power, and great momentum to be harnessed from community-based organizations and nonprofits, many of whom have been doing climate-adaptive work for years. Changes must happen in our lifestyles, and sensitivity to culture and tradition is crucial for the community to adapt. 

Finally, regional collaboration is integral. Australia has already demonstrated a willingness to partner with other countries, and these relationships present a powerful opportunity to identify and implement successful practices. In doing so, this type of collaboration can improve outcomes for people across the region, whose lives are directly impacted by the threat of climate change.‍

Make a plan, and be relentless

‍To avoid succumbing to the complexity of this crisis, it is important to stay focused: Identify a set of high impact strategies and work relentlessly to deliver. Reliable and meaningful data is required to track progress, as well as driving accountability and transparency to demonstrate that the numbers are moving and that a difference is being made. Australia has a crucial role to play in leading the development of such a plan for the region.‍

A regional leader, a regional target, a regional plan, all driven by a regional partnership to secure a future for the people.

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Anna Needs is an Australian expert in the Deliverology® approach. Anna was a founding member of the Premier’s Implementation Unit in 2015 and led the team in 2019 through the development on a new round of 14 priority targets in consultation with NSW agencies and the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations. Anna has supported the Western Australian government in the establishment of their Delivery unit and is currently working with clients across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific to deliver outcomes for citizens.

Josh Wiseman is a skilled practitioner of Deliverology, having successfully applied these tools as Priority Lead in the NSW Premier's Implementation Unit. Josh has effectively partnered with the Government to set ambitious targets, drive focus, and use data to underpin quality delivery. Josh has a keen interest in the intersection between customer and delivery, having most recently led an ambitious program to improve the customer experience for families accessing critical government services. Josh is currently working with clients across Australia.

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Image via Kristin Hoel.