More than 1000 scientists and academics are calling on UniSuper to live up to its climate commitments and publicly denounce support for APA Group building fracking projects in the Northern Territory.
Market Forces, an organisation that campaigns to divest fossil fuels, released an open letter on behalf of UniSuper members on Saturday, asking for the super fund to uphold its commitments to climate change.
The letter states that APA’s gas pipeline could “unleash emissions” from the Beetaloo’s vast gas reserves.
Market Forces campaigner Rachel Deans called on the super fund to publicly oppose “APA enabling dangerous gas fracking.”
“UniSuper has committed to ‘working with companies to reduce real-world emissions and accelerate the transition’ to ‘contribute to a 43 per cent reduction in Australia’s emissions by 2030’ and reach net zero portfolio emissions by 2050.”
“There’s a growing swell of outrage from climate scientists and academics over UniSuper’s inaction,” the letter states.
Climate Analytics, a global climate and policy institute, estimates annual domestic emissions from Beetaloo and Middle Arm could add 11 per cent to Australia’s current annual emissions.
The letter further links to an unreleased report commissioned by the Morrison Liberal government that “found traditional owners were unlikely to gain economic, social, cultural or other benefits from fracking plans.”’
Macquarie University pro-chancellor and emerita professor of biology Lesley Hughes said failing to advocate against the pipeline being built was letting down super fund members.
“Funding the expansion of the fossil fuel industry is fundamentally incompatible with the Paris Agreement,” she said.
“We are in a climate emergency, with warming rapidly escalating and the impacts being felt by millions of people. It must stop!”
The calls come after United Nations special rapporteur Marcos Orellana released his final report into toxic and hazardous waste in Australia.
He called on Australia’s state and federal governments to implement a national and subnational “moratorium on all new fossil fuel developments “.
Dr Orellana criticised the disconnect in narratives between authorities’ efforts and the lived experiences of local communities.
“Indigenous peoples have suffered grave maltreatment from radiation exposure due to nuclear testing, spraying of highly hazardous pesticides, uranium and other mining, and industrial activities with toxic impacts,” he wrote.
“Government decisions regarding toxic pollution have profoundly affected the health of communities.”
He said Australia had warmed by 1.47°C on average over the past century.
“This has led to more frequent and intense extreme heat events, prolonged droughts in the southern parts of the country, and led to extreme floods in the wetter northern parts.”
