Australian Government finds itself facing its first lawsuit against climate change filed by a 23-year-old student. This has been a ‘hot’ issue in Australia since the bushfires of 2019 had wreaked havoc on the country’s ecosystem. This lawsuit has been filed alleging the government’s failure to disclose climate change-related risk to the investors in the country’s resources, as reported by Wion.
Kathleen O’Donnell, the plaintiff, in this case, has claimed in her litigation that investors in the country’s sovereign bonds should be made aware of the climate change risks, as it may be difficult for Australia to pay back its debts in any case.
This lawsuit has come in a scenario where there is already a looming call in the global arena for a green recovery amid the global pandemic. In the wake of this many large investment managers have pledged zero carbon emissions by 2050 across their country. Kathleen is alleging that the government has breached disclosure of these details and has sought the court’s order to restrain any more promotion of e-AGBs until there is complete disclosure.
A spokeswoman from the government’s side had told Reuters that the government was aware of the lawsuit.
Australia is the second-largest exporter of coal and is also the second-largest per capita carbon emitter, after the United States. Notably, it only contributes to 1.3 % of the world’s carbon emissions.