Media Release 4th November 2025
Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) made clear that Australia needs a coordinated plan of action to prepare for worsening climate impacts and ensures no person or community is left to manage them alone.
Today Renew Australia for All – an alliance of 80+ organisations from across community, environment, health, as well as unions, clean industry and faith groups – launched the Climate Safety Plan (CSP): a detailed package of initiatives that would support communities to prepare for and respond to climate disasters.
The alliance aims to win major investment and policy reform in the 2026 Federal Budget.
“We’re filling in the blanks in the government’s National Adaptation Plan with our Climate Safety Plan - providing politicians and policymakers with a detailed plan for action developed with the collective experience and expertise of our 80 diverse member organisations – and importantly, how to pay for it,” Elise Ganley, a spokesperson for Renew Australia for All said.
“The National Climate Risk Assessment painted a terrifying picture of cascading climate impacts under 2 or 3 C warming. Without a historic federal investment in climate adaptation, those impacts will rock Australian society and deepen economic inequality.
“Climate change is already here. More frequent and intense heatwaves, bushfires, floods, storms, and rising seas are putting our health, homes, communities, and daily lives at risk, while worsening droughts threaten food security.
“Extreme heat and disasters are also putting extra strain on our hospitals, emergency services, energy system, insurance costs, cost of living, and local support services and networks.
“Our communities are under pressure, but together with the right policies and investment, we can prepare and support each other to better adapt and build resilience to climate change impacts,” Elise said.
The Climate Safety Plan (CSP) details policy demands including:
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Updating the National Construction Code and implementing minimum standards for rental properties, to ensure new and existing housing is resilient to climate impacts;
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$4 billion over 5 years through the Disaster Ready Fund and a new National Adaptation Fund to support local governments, community-facing and community-led organisations to continue delivering essential climate resilience work and fill emerging gaps for people most at risk;
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Developing new WHS regulations to keep workers safe from extreme heat, climate disasters, vector-borne illnesses, and poor indoor air quality driven by climate change;
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Fully funding the National Climate and Health Strategy to enable Australian health workers to make sure no one is left behind in climate emergencies, and prepare our health system to sustain public health through worsening climate hazards;
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Funding the CSP by reforming two outdated, inefficient fossil fuel subsidies–the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax and the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme–to claw back billions in public revenue annually.
Alice Salomon, Head of Advocacy at Uniting NSW.ACT said: “We know that these worsening climate impacts are not being felt equally in Australia and we see first hand the impacts already being felt by the people we serve.
“Renters, people on low incomes, people with disabilities, the elderly, front-line workers, migrants and First Nations communities face the biggest risks.
“Community service organisations like Uniting are increasingly being called in to clean up the mess from back to back climate disasters and to support the communities so tragically affected," Alice said.
“Increasing storms, floods and fires are already fuelling homelessness and financial hardship, with lasting harm to health and wellbeing,” Alice said.
Nic Seton, CEO of Parents for Climate said “As parents, we want nothing more than to know our children are safe — but climate change is putting that basic security in danger.
“Climate adaptation is about more than surviving — it’s about making sure every child can thrive. We must prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all children, from heat-resilient homes to community services that protect their health and education.
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and stable environment and that means acting now to adapt to the climate impacts already unfolding around us.”
Annie Butler, Federal Secretary, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) said: “Time and time again, nurses and midwives have shown their incredible resilience, going above and beyond to keep people safe during extreme weather events, like floods, fires and heatwaves.
“Our communities need a system that matches resilience and can better support that resilience, one that is equipped, funded and can stand strong alongside them as climate impacts intensify.
“That’s why funding the National Health and Climate Change strategy is crucial, so our communities, particularly those most vulnerable to climate-related health risks, have the resources and support they need to prepare, respond and recover from the impacts of extreme weather events. Government must work with us to ensure every Australian has access to the support to stay safe and healthy, as the climate continues to change.”
Emma Bacon, Executive Director, Sweltering Cities said: “Extreme heat is already leaving people sick in their homes, unsafe at work, and struggling to afford basic cooling. The National Climate Risk Assessment makes it clear that these threats will only intensify.
“We need urgent investment in safe homes, resilient communities and strong health systems so no one is left behind in a hotter, harsher climate.
“Failure to act means hundreds of thousands, or even millions more Australians will be left to deal with the stress and dangers of an unstable and unprecedented climate without” adequate support.
"For us, that's unacceptable," Emma said.
Renew Australia for All is an alliance of 80 + organisations from across community, environment, health, as well as unions, clean industry and faith groups.
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Media contact:
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Andrew Bradley |