Dear Friend,

Our November newsletter reflects on outcomes from COP29 in Baku as we gear up for climate and energy milestones coming up in 2025. Dive in!

🌏 ON OUR AGENDA 🌏

As the year winds down, we are feeling optimistic about climate action in 2025. With an election in the first half of the year, an approaching national climate plan announcement from the government, and an Australia/Oceania COP31 at play, our agenda is filled with activities and opportunities for impactful engagement.

• Pre-Budget Submissions: We continue to convene working group meetings to shape submissions ahead of the 2025-26 federal budget.
• Mission 2025: BFA is excited to launch this global campaign in Australia. Read more below.
• Growing our Champion Network: We continue to welcome new voices across sectors to build support for robust climate policies. Know a potential BFA Champion? Please nominate them here!

📅 EVENTS & ACTIVITIES 📅

\\\ BFA Events

• Mission 2025 Australia Launch 📆 December 5, 8:30-10:3am AEDT📍Sydney and online. This gathering of leaders from business, local government and sustainability will highlight real economy players who are spearheading Australia’s climate initiatives. View our LinkedIn post here - please like and share!

• Quarterly Multi-Sectoral Roundtable l 📆 December 17, 12-1:30pm AEDT📍Online. Join us for our final roundtable of the year to celebrate 2024's wins and delve into plans for 2025.

\\\ ICYMI

Carbon Leakage Review Briefing l If you missed our recent briefing with representatives of the DCCEEW team, you can watch it here. Learn about proposals being considered by government to manage Australia's carbon leakage.

\\\ Upcoming Member Events

• "Idle Off", University of Melbourne 📆 November 28, 5:30pm📍Online and in-person [ON TODAY!]

• Governing in the Climate Emergency (training for councillors, CEOs and LG Executives) 📆 February 2025📍Online.

• Climate Action Week Sydney 📆 March 10-16, 2025. Expressions of interest to host an event now open.
  
  

Do you have an event to share? Let us know by reaching out to [email protected].

BFA IN BRIEF

\\\ COP29 Reports

BFA Champion HY William Chan

"This year's COP29 in Baku highlighted cities, subnational governments, and the built environment as key drivers of international collaboration. Multilevel governance emerged as a critical theme, with the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency calling for enhanced climate finance access, localised adaptation measures, and just transitions."

'Alopi Latukefa, Director of the Edmund Rice Centre, BFA Partner

"Hopefully small island nations and other affected places will be a factor in the finance agreement, so there is compensation for countries whose people are losing their livelihoods and their lands because of climate change." See 'Alopi's interview on ABC World here.

Jackie Peel, Director of Melbourne Climate Futures and BFA Champion

An excellent article in The Conversation by Jackie Peel provides a useful report-back on the COP covering climate finance progress, making carbon markets a reality, indecision on fossil fuels, and lots more.

For more on COP29, check out videos from Australia's pavilion.

\\\ BFA Champion Spotlight

Daud Batchelor, Vice President, Islamic Council of Queensland and Adjunct Fellow, IAIS Malaysia Vice President, Islamic Council of Queensland and Adjunct Fellow, IAIS Malaysia

Dr. Batchelor’s paper on environmental stewardship from an Islamic perspective is now published in TAHFIM: Journal of Islam and the Contemporary World.

Read more about Daud and other BFA Champions here.

🌱BE PART OF THE SOLUTION 🌱

/// Open Consultations & Submissions

Have your say on the following policy areas:

• First Nations Underwater Cultural Heritage | Survey closes Nov 29 | The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water seeks feedback on the assessment guidelines for First Nations underwater cultural heritage in Commonwealth waters. Details here.
• Review of the Alternative Waste Treatment Method | Closes: Dec 2 | Feedback on the current methods under the ACCU scheme. Details here.
• Carbon Leakage Review Consultation Paper | Closes December 3 | Input on policy options to manage carbon leakage, including Australian border carbon adjustment. More information can be found here.
• National Hydrogen Regulatory Review | Closes: Dec 8 | Feedback on the national regulatory framework for hydrogen projects. Learn more.
• PEMM Act Review | Closes: Jan 31 | Consultation on the Product Emissions Standards Act review. Details here.
• Pre-Budget Submissions Treasury | Closes: Jan 31 | BFA will compile a high-level submission to amplify aligned asks across sectors. Submit your input.
• Energy Efficiency for Distribution Transformers | Closes: Jan 31 | Views on a Regulation Impact Statement for imposing stricter GEMS energy requirements. Submit feedback.

Stay informed on upcoming consultations via consult.dcceew.gov.au.

Thank you for being a part of our community. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or ideas.

Warm regards,

The BFA Team - Lisa, Quimby, Jordan and Ciara
betterfutures.org.au

We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their Elders past and present and are committed to creating better futures together.