It was a very long list.
When we first considered the idea of a new investigative series looking at Australia’s less-scrutinised environmental issues, we knew we had to speak to those on the frontline. We discussed the idea with Australia’s top scientists and environmentalists and it became clear there were many issues needing urgent attention.
They were deeply worried about our fragile environment – our rivers, oceans, forests, flora and fauna were in trouble. When we launched Our wide brown land, this list of environmental concerns seemed to grow.
More animal and plant species than ever are under threat with little attention from those in power, native flora and fauna continue to be threatened by invasive species and our commitment to protecting the land through national parks is waning. We are in midst of a land-clearing crisis, the hard fought for forestry agreements are under threat, and, as highlighted by the recent fish kills, and communities running out of water, the Murray-Darling basin plan is falling apart. And Australia’s environmental protections are shrinking.
There was more. The emissions reduction fund, which was set up to help cut greenhouse gases, has been used to upgrade fossil-fuelled power plants or to pay for cuts that would have happened anyway, while the increase in natural gas production means these emissions will cancel out any recent savings anyway. The recycling crisis has deepened and a lack of funding is stymying solutions, but plastic is now so ubiquitous it has been found in ocean floor sediment in one of Australia’s most isolated marine environments. Plus we’re lagging behind the rest of the world in the switch to electric cars.
Fortunately there were also a few bright spots: Port Augusta, a former coal mining town, is leading the way in Australia with a raft of renewable energy projects. And citizen scientists are increasingly lending a hand to collect data for underfunded research projects.
Our reporting helped to shape the debate. Some of the highlights include environment reporter Lisa Cox’s work on the questionable use of government funding earmarked for threatened species, which led to the launch of a national Senate inquiry. The issue was also raised during Senate estimates and forced the environment department and government to correct its record on threatened species spending. It has led to calls from scientists, environment groups and volunteers for an overhaul of Australia’s environment laws.
Our articles on the renewal of the regional forest agreements caused a stir, and New South Wales Labor refused to sign off on the proposed extensions to the NSW RFAs because the government “knows the science underpinning the RFAs is out of date and incomplete”.
And our extensive coverage of the crisis in the Murray-Darling basin plan helped to speed up the implementation of the royal commission. The team of journalists who worked on this section of our series won a 2018 UN day media award for the promotion of climate action.
Yet clearly more work needs to be done. Only by highlighting these issues will they get the attention they deserve. So now we need to turn the spotlight on the growing climate crisis and its devastating impacts – some seen, some unfolding out of sight.
This is why we are launching a new investigative series: The Frontline: Australia and the climate emergency. And once again we need your help to support our journalism and continue to raise awareness of these issues that we know you care so deeply about. If you would like to send us an idea, email us at thefrontline@theguardian.com and if you would like to help to fund our series, click here.
