At the Annual General Meeting of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for international development and humanitarian agencies, member NGOs unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Australian Government to increase its climate commitments.    

The resolution, adopted by ACFID’s member NGOs, establishes clear policy positions aimed at translating commitment into actionable measures across the humanitarian and development sector. 

 The climate ambition resolution calls on the Government to:  

1. Commit to meeting Australia’s climate finance fair share, currently $4 billion annually towards the collective finance goal of $USD 100 billion as agreed under the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change by 2025; 
2. Provide climate finance that is accessible, predictable, high quality and additional to the existing development budget to ensure it does not detract from progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals; and
3. Advocate and commit to an ambitious and inclusive New Collective Quantified Goal at COP29 in November. 

The resolution seeks to reaffirm solidarity with Pacific civil society, advocating for a genuine partnership with Pacific Island countries and establishing a clear plan to limit exported and domestic greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with the pathway to limit global warming to the 1.5°C target established by the Paris Agreement and to effectively support communities most affected by climate change impacts. 

“Climate change is the biggest single shared emergency facing our world, threatening to undo decades of development progress, and the lives of entire communities across The Pacific and the world. The Australian Government must raise its climate ambition,” said Acting Director of Policy and Advocacy, Alan Hewson.                   

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact ACFID Media at 0401 721 064 or at [email protected]  

Background:  

ACFID is made up of Australian not-for-profit organisations dedicated to international aid and development, collectively referred to as the ACFID Council.  

The Council convenes an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at least once each financial year, where representatives from member organisations come together to steer the council’s strategic direction and uphold high ethical standards in the sector. During the AGM, members engage in voting on commitments related to resolutions, ensuring collective commitment to shared goals. 

A resolution within this context represents a deliberate policy position aimed at driving meaningful change across the humanitarian and development sectors.  ACFID’s goal is to ensure that these resolutions translate into actionable initiatives that have a real impact.