A coalition of business, technology, and social impact leaders are pledging action towards a sustainable future, outlining firm goals and transparent timelines to do our part in reducing the impacts of climate change. Today, we’re publishing this open letter to ask our political leaders to do the same.
Originally published by Canva.
Dear Mr. Morrison
We write to you as a coalition of business, technology, and social impact leaders across Australia, hoping to open up an alternative path to the one that Australia is heading down. An alternative of hope, optimism and economic opportunity.
Today, the scientific consensus cannot be any clearer. Climate change is the single greatest threat to global stability, security and life on earth. Its effects are already being felt around the globe: sea levels are rising far ahead of projection, unprecedented bushfires only recently ravaged our own backyard and global temperatures are rising at an alarming rate.
But as innovators, leaders and business builders, we have experienced first-hand the opportunities that often lie in challenges. The solutions required to fight climate change and reduce our carbon emissions already exist, they’re also the future industries that will power Australia’s growth and development on the world stage. In fact, The Climate Council has predicted that Australia being powered by just 50% Renewable Electricity in 2030 will lead to the creation of more than 28,000 new jobs – nearly twice as many as a business as usual scenario.
This opportunity is one that we firmly embrace. With a carbon free future in mind, each of us has committed our organisations to being a catalyst for this change, and embracing the solutions that will help humanity combat climate change. We have all committed to:
Powering our global operations through 100% renewable energy by 2030
Net Zero operations by 2040
Encouraging employees to voice their demand for swift and decisive action by attending the upcoming climate rallies across Australia
Each of those steps will be critical for all organisations to take, but in isolation they will not be enough to prevent the effects of climate change. To do that we need individuals, organisations and governments to step up and commit to legitimate action and effective timelines. Preventing a climate catastrophe is physically and scientifically possible, we just need policy to catch up. It is not too late for Australia to embrace the opportunities that this challenge brings and reap the benefits of leading the charge to climate positive solutions.
We call on you to immediately put in place policies that rapidly reduce Australia’s emissions and create the framework that will provide the foundations of our future growth. This is an appeal for you and your government to do the following:
Immediately cease further investments in fossil fuels, and put a stop to the ‘gas-led recovery’
Implement a renewable energy target of 100% by 2030
Achieve a target of Australia Net Zero by 2040
This letter and thousands like it are being collected at http://towhomitshouldconcern.com. We encourage you to read each of them in order to properly understand the concerns of Australians like you and us, our children and the future generations who deserve a planet with a brighter future.
If you’re a business owner committed to doing your part to protect the planet – add your name to this letter here.
Sincerely,
Cameron Adams, Co-founder & CPO, Canva
Craig Blair, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Airtree
Daniel Petre AO, Co-founder & General Partner, Airtree
Tim Lucas, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Buildkite
Ronni Kahn AO, CEO & Founder, OzHarvest
Adam Jacoby, Director Global & Strategic Innovation, Swinburne University & Chairman MiVote
Hichame Assi, CEO, Envato
Alister Coleman, Founder & Managing Partner, Folklore
Rick Baker, Co-founder & Partner, Blackbird
Niki Scevak, Co-founder & Partner, Blackbird
Maxine Sherrin, Festival Director, Spark Festival
George Hedon, Founder & CEO, Pause Fest
Jon Tse, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Karst
Kevin Garcia, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Karst
Justin Dry, Co-founder and Chief Entrepreneur, Vinomofo
Phoebe Gardner, Co-founder & CEO, Beyond Ag
Alex Arnold, Co-founder & CTO, Beyond Ag
Michael Batko, CEO, Startmate
Adam Jacobs, Co-founder, Hatch
Lauren Peate, Founder and CEO, Multitudes
Dean McEvoy, Angel Investor & Advisor
Simon Ingram, Co-founder & Managing Director, Terrain Solar
Daniel Jarosch, Leaders for Climate Action
Dave Greiner, The Greiner Foundation
Martijn Wilder AM, Founding Partner, Pollination
Grant McDowell, Co-founder & CMO, Enosi
Matt Allen, CEO & Co-founder, Tractor Ventures
Markus Mutz, CEO & Co-founder, OpenSC
Prashan Paramanathan, Founder & CEO, Chuffed
Andre Eikmeier, Founder, Good Empire
Brad Parsons, CEO & Founder, MOVUS
Michael Fox, Co-founder & CEO, Fable Food Co
Vince Allen, Co-founder & CEO, SunDrive Solar
David Hu, Co-founder & COO, SunDrive Solar
Simon Griffiths, Co-founder & CEO, Who Gives A Crap
Sam Kroonenburg, CEO & Founder, A Cloud Guru
Alex Zaccaria, Co-founder & CEO, Linktree
Andrew Barnes, CEO & Co-founder, GO1
Matthew Byrne, Founder, Pure
Matt Fairhurst, Co-Founder & CEO, Skedulo
Iain Smale, Managing Director, Pangolin Associates
Eva Ross, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Sendle
Desmond Hang, CEO & Founder, Carbar
Sandra Byron, Co-founder & CEO, A Ton of Fun
Lili Sussman, Chief Strategy Officer, WISR