Carolyn McColl says she will never forget the horror of waking up to a pitch-black sky during the 2019-20 bushfire season and a report from the Bega mayor there was only enough fire-fighting resources to protect two towns in the whole shire.
The Bega Meals on Wheels chairwoman helped lead a team of eight staff and 200 volunteers delivering meals to elderly and frail people in the region throughout the summer, followed in March by severe floods.
The charity is one of more than 80 community service organisations to have signed a declaration from the sector, calling on the federal government to commit to stronger emission reduction targets.
Ms McColl said in her 35 years with Meals on Wheels it's never been so difficult to get a hot meal to those who need it, with bushfire and flood seasons rolling into one another and putting increased strain on resources.
"We kept up all our meal deliveries where we could, as many of our staff and volunteers were evacuated or had their homes in danger of the fires," Ms McColl said.
"Even though it's been over 18 months since the fires and the floods, there's still a lot of trauma in the area."
St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra Director Community Engagement Erin MacArthur said it is low-income households which suffer disproportionately from the effects of climate change.
"Poor quality housing, inefficient heating, lack of cooling, and a reduced ability to pay high energy bills results in low-income households enduring freezing winters and unbearable heat in summer," Ms MacArthur said.
"Consequently, these already vulnerable households suffer from increased illness, greater bill stress, increased sick days from work and school and increased mental distress."
The charity has joined the united call for action ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference kicking off this month.
Ms MacArthur said St Vinnies staff and volunteers have witnessed the effects of climate change here in Canberra, with hotter summers and colder winters locking low-income households into cycles of debt with their energy providers, as residents attempt to heat and cool their homes.
"It's not just vulnerable tenants who are impacted, but the community and our staff as well," she said.
IN COVID-19 NEWS:
- Live updates: ACT still on track to lift lockdown despite case surge
- Police have ordered people to leave Canberra 483 times
- Boarding school students forced to quarantine in rooms for 14 days
Australian Council of Social Service CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said the community sector was compelled to speak out because without fast and inclusive action on climate change, poverty and inequality will grow.
"As world leaders gather together in one months' time, Australia has the opportunity to go from laggard to world leader by cutting pollution and creating healthier, thriving communities and economy," Dr Goldie said.
The UN's 26th climate change conference will be held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.
While Prime Minister Scott Morrison is yet to confirm his attendance, the community sector is just the latest putting pressure on his government to commit to a net-zero emissions target.
Dr Goldie said the current debate of net zero by 2050 was divorced from the reality of what was needed to protect the people bearing the brunt of climate impacts.
"Waiting until 2050 will be too late. Our failure to act faster and more fairly will be unforgivable," she said.
