By Environmental Defenders Office Qld
At Environmental Defenders Office Queensland (EDO Qld), we use the legal system as a sharp tool to hold government and industry to account on climate change. We use the law to cut through the spin, expose the truth, and initiate change.
We urgently need your help right now to ensure our climate change cases succeed.
We’re not afraid to stand up to the likes of big business – like Adani and Hancock Coal – to ensure that you get to exercise your right to protect the environment and fight climate change in court. And we’re proud to represent you!
We’re leaders in climate litigation across Australia. We have an outstanding track record in helping our community clients bring legitimate, considered, climate change matters before the courts.
Every one of our courtroom victories moves us all one step closer to preventing disastrous climate change!
Our court actions helped stop dumping in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. And last year we finally got the Supreme Court to decide beyond doubt that yes, emissions from burning Aussie coal overseas must be taken into consideration before granting Queensland environmental licences.
…But the fight is far from over.
We recently announced that we’ll be representing our community group client in the Supreme Court, challenging the state environmental authority of the massive Adani Carmichael Coal Mine.
Right now, we’re also in the Federal Court, for our client Australian Conservation Foundation, challenging the lawfulness of the federal re-approval of the massive mine. You see, Australia has an international obligation to do all it can to protect the Great Barrier Reef and we’re not convinced this decision adheres to this.
In just a few weeks we’ll be back in court, yet again in a landmark case, this time regarding the Alpha Coal Mine. This case is taking climate change to Queensland’s highest court for the Court to consider the legal significance of environmental harm caused by transporting and burning coal.
Big business and coal companies have plenty of money for lawyers. As a not-for-profit community legal centre we need every dollar you can spare to even up the fight for the little guys. For every dollar you give to EDO Qld, the community gets at least $8 worth of professional legal services.
We need your donations so that in the coming year we can:
As prominent barrister Stephen Keim SC says: “The science is clear, and it’s also clear that legal expertise is imperative. We need legal experts to drive change. We need Environmental Defenders Office Queensland. I urge you to please make a donation today”.
With your support we’re confident we can do what’s needed. But if we can’t raise a minimum of $100,000 by 30 June, we’ll have to make tough decisions on the actions we can take in the coming year.
The courts should not be the exclusive domain of commercial interests and government. If we can’t raise the money, nowhere other than independent EDOs can supply the skills and legal expertise needed by the community.
Yours sincerely,
Jo-Anne Bragg
CEO/Solicitor
Environmental Defenders Office (Qld) Inc
(IMAGE: Bleached Acropora plate coral, next to unbleached Montipora coral. Picture taken at Cleveland Bay, attribution: Andrew Baird)
EDO Qld