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For immediate release
Emergency Leaders for Climate Action welcomes third round release of the Disaster Ready Fund
Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA), a group of former fire and emergency services chiefs, welcomes the Federal Government’s release of Round Three of the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF). The $1 billion, five year investment will play a crucial role in supporting communities facing escalating climate risks fuelled by the burning of coal, oil and gas.
The former fire and emergency service leaders strongly support initiatives such as the DRF aimed at better preparing and protecting Australians from current and future climate-fuelled disasters by building infrastructure to withstand more intense and frequent bushfires, floods and storms.
Greg Mullins AO AFSM, founding member of ELCA and former Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, said:
“Climate pollution is fuelling more frequent and intense disasters, and communities across Australia are feeling the impacts of bushfires, floods and storms, often in quick succession. The national funding for climate resilient infrastructure announced today will protect and benefit Australians for decades to come.
“The devastating unseasonal fires engulfing Los Angeles have shown that nowhere is immune from the impacts of climate change, and that we must invest more in communities to better prepare them for escalating disasters.
Projects funded by the Disaster Ready Fund could include flood levies, community disaster hubs, or solar micro grids that maintain power when communities are cut off from the energy grid after a disaster.
“We know that for every dollar spent on disaster resilience, there can be up to $9.60 return on investment in saved recovery and other costs. The $200 million annual expenditure announced by the Federal Government today, matched by co-contributions from state and territory governments, is another vital step towards better preparing our communities for future disasters by building critical infrastructure they need to help protect them from bushfires, floods and storms now and into the future”.
For media enquiries or interviews with ELCA members
Contact Media Manager, Jacqui Street
0498 188 528 / jacqui.street@climatecouncil.org.au