2017: our big wins and what's next!

Thanks for being a force for nature

Everything we do, every day, is powered by people like you. This is the change you've made possible over the past 12 months... check it out!

Our wins in 2017 – the highlights

Four community delegates delivered ACF's biggest petition ever to MPs on behalf of 164,835 people who said no to a $1 billion loan to Adani's polluting coal mine.
During the Queensland election, ACF Community groups held over 50 local campaign actions in critical electorates. Volunteers handed out our independent scorecard at polling booths throughout the state. Millions of Queenslanders heard the call to vote for our reef, not coal.
WE STOPPED THE LOAN!
40,000 of us said “no way Jay” and stopped plans to ship, store and bury one-third of the world’s high-level radioactive waste in South Australia.

That's not all...

At Convergence in Brisbane and Melbourne, hundreds of people came together to speak out for our beautiful planet, form local campaign groups and grow community power like never before. Today, more than 20 ACF groups are running powerful local campaigns to #StopAdani and shift to clean energy in their communities.
Nineteen River Fellows graduated from a nine-month program of citizen advocacy, campaigning and community engagement. They're growing a groundswell of community support to make sure everyone who calls the Murray-Darling Basin home – the people, wildlife, farms and cities – can thrive for generations to come
In December, we celebrated ICAN (the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) winning the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. ACF has been part of this campaign right from the start.

What's next

Your opinion matters. In our 2017 community survey, you told us the top three issues you want to address are 1) cutting pollution, 2) shifting to clean energy and 3) protecting nature.

Below, see the progress we’ve made so far and what’s in store for 2018.

1. Cutting pollution

What we've done:

As part of the #StopAdani alliance we’ve grown one of the biggest environment movements Australia has ever seen. We've stopped more than 25 banks. We've stopped the $1 billion loan.
We’ve held the government to account for its lack of credible climate policy, exposed Australia's low ranking on the global Climate Change Performance Index, shined a light on Australia’s rising pollution, and busted the myth that coal can be clean.
We've proven the proposed Clean Energy Target wouldn’t get polluting fuels out of Australia’s electricity until as late as 2101 – and showed politicians how this is a disastrous policy for people and the planet.

What's next:

We will #StopAdani: We’ll continue to grow people power by engaging in conversations with thousands of people; hosting events to introduce people to the campaign; sharing the strategy and building the skills they need to take effective action. We’ll make sure all political parties know their future depends on stopping damage to our climate.
We will stop coal: Our goal is to make Adani the litmus test for action on climate change, so stopping the mine removes the social licence for all new polluting fuels. We’ll disrupt the dominant stories fuelled by the big polluter lobby’s selfish worldview with stories about what really matters – our reefs, rivers, forests, communities and wildlife.

2. Transitioning to clean energy

What we’ve done:

We’ve analysed policies, scrutinised announcements, met with MPs, exposed vested interests and delivered blueprints for solutions. We’ve spoken out on the Finkel review and come out swinging on the National Energy Guarantee, which would stifle the transition away from coal to clean energy.
We've pushed state governments to lift their game, with many – including Queensland, where we worked the hardest – making important policy announcements on climate change and clean energy.
With our partners, we launched the national Repower campaign, amplifying a united call for action to shift Australia to 100% clean, renewable energy.
When federal MPs pressured AGL to keep the dirty, old Liddell power station open, thousands of ACF community members emailed CEO Andy Vesey and urged him – successfully – to shut down Liddell sooner rather than later.

What's next:

We will #Repower Australia: Working with partners across the movement and you, our community, we will take on the big polluters and demand our elected representatives step up and lead a fair transition from dirty fuels to clean energy. We know we can do it and will show Australia how with our 2018 Homegrown Power Plan, due to launch in February.
We’re firing up for elections: At these keys moments in our democracy, we’ll run powerful community campaigns for no more coal and 100% clean energy. We’ll call on governments to commit to policies to protect our climate and nature. We’ll publish independent scorecards and grow unstoppable community power so every candidate understands that to win our votes, they must choose clean energy.

3. Protecting nature

What we’ve done:

We took on perhaps the biggest failure of environmental law in Australia’s history – the approval of the Adani coal mine. We further challenged the Environment Minister’s federal approval in court and while our laws are too weak to win the case, we exposed Australia’s broken laws.
When the 2017 State of the Environment Report came out, we made sure MPs saw the extent of damage caused by big polluters in Australia and highlighted the need for stronger environmental laws.
With the Places You Love Alliance, we mapped out and are championing a blueprint for a new generation of laws to protect the whole web of life.

What’s next:

We will fix the system: Our nature work is changing to focus on the big systems that currently destroy our rivers, reefs and forests – the laws, the dwindling investment, the politically motivated decisions. We can no longer go on protecting place by place but must change the systems that will protect all the places we love. Stay tuned for the launch of our new nature campaign (and others) in 2018!

Want to see what people in our community think about ACF's work? See our 2017 community survey results.

New year, new campaigns

In 2016, we worked in partnership with Monash University to diagnose the underlying causes – the systems and values – that drive environmental destruction. Now, we’re using this research to drive big changes in the way we work to protect nature and our climate and have exciting plans in the works for 2018.

Economy for life

We know the way our economy operates is a fundamental problem that we can change. Moving forward, we will redouble our efforts in challenging runaway growth with new thinking around forever jobs and industries that are pollution-free and care for nature.

Democracy

In a healthy democracy, dollars don’t determine public policy – people do. Our goal is to strengthen the institutions and rules of our democracy so that it works for everyone and represents everyone, not just the powerful few.

Stay tuned for more!

Thank you!

Across the country, our community is doing incredible things.

People young and old are meeting with MPs, joining local groups, putting up posters, writing letters to the editor. Thousands are giving monthly donations, volunteering, marching the streets, signing petitions and never giving up.

Together, we are creating a world powered by clean energy from the sun and wind. A world where reefs, rivers, forests, people and wildlife thrive.

Thanks for showing up, speaking out, and taking action for our beautiful planet.

People made this crisis and together we can solve it!

Thank you – and let’s go!

Thanks for being a force for nature

Our wins in 2017 – the highlights

That's not all...

What's next

1. Cutting pollution

What we've done:

What's next:

2. Transitioning to clean energy

What we’ve done:

What's next:

3. Protecting nature

What we’ve done:

What’s next:

New year, new campaigns

Thank you!

Join a community of people who show up, speak out and act