Join us for the low-down on the review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act - what is it, why is it important, and what can you do?
If there is one thing that the Coronavirus pandemic is teaching us, it's that we are inextricably part of the natural world. And if we want to protect nature from the relentless consumption and destruction of capitalism, development and industry - we need a strong, comprehensive and up-to-date Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
That’s why this 10-year review is important, and why we must raise our voices to make sure that the LNP Coalition Government doesn’t take this opportunity (especially while Coronavirus has the world’s attention) to further weaken the Act.
This webinar is open to anyone with an interest in creating a healthy future for nature and people.
RSVP's essential - closer to the date, we'll send you a link to join the webinar via Zoom.
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The webinar will cover:
Weaknesses and Limitations in the Act
- Facilitates development rather than preventing environmental harm.
- It accredited NT environmental laws when they were woefully inadequate
- Incapable of proactively addressing the major threats to biodiversity such as climate change.
Key Amendments Required
-
Expand the triggers of matters of national environmental significance
- Expand water trigger to include shale gas
- Climate change trigger
- Vulnerable ecological communities
- Update objects to prioritise environmental protection
Strengths of the Current Act
- Review processes: ensure the law is being properly applied without preventing sustainable development.
- Nuclear trigger: the commonwealth is uniquely placed to undertake these assessments
Northern Territory Case Studies
- Mt Peake: Environmental Impact Statement process approved more than 10m permanent groundwater drawdown and thousands of trees impacted - not referred to EPBC for assessment of those impacts.
