Chairman says cost of inaction on climate change is clear and issue shouldn’t be used to fight ‘political and ideological battles’

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The Climate Institute will shut its doors after 12 years of providing independent advocacy and research towards climate change solutions, citing lack of funding.

Australia’s first non-government organisation focused solely on climate change has a reputation for independence but its chairman, Mark Wootton, used its closure to take a parting shot at “some in government” who have used the environment as a proxy for ideological battles.

On Thursday Wootton announced that the Climate Institute would shut on 30 June after the expiry of its founding bequest.

Climate change: 90% of rural Australians say their lives are already affected Read more

“Despite ongoing support from a range of philanthropic and business entities, the board has been unable to secure sufficient funding to continue the level and quality of work that is representative of TCI’s strong reputation,” he said.

The institute was established in 2005 and has conducted research, built partnerships and influenced policy on climate change risk management.

The Climate Institute’s advocacy helped expand the renewable energy target in 2008, save the Climate Change Authority after the election of the Abbott government and build bipartisan support for Australia to ratify the Paris climate agreement in 2016.

Its Climate of the Nation series is the longest trend survey of the attitudes of Australians to climate change and its solutions.

Wootton said the institute was considered “a trusted broker and a critical friend” that had helped build understanding of the issue of climate change.

“We are disappointed that some in government prefer to treat what should be a risk management issue as a proxy for political and ideological battles,” he said. “They are increasingly isolated as the costs of inaction mount and the opportunities and benefits of action become ever clearer.”

Australia being 'left behind' by global momentum on climate change Read more

Wootton said that, despite the challenges, the landscape was stronger in 2017 than in 2005 and the institute was proud of its achievements “in making an enduring contribution towards its 2050 vision of a resilient Australia prospering in a zero-carbon global economy, participating fully and fairly in international climate change solutions”.

The institute’s chief executive since February 2007, John Connor, has resigned to work with Baker McKenzie as the head of the Fiji government secretariat hosting the 23rd United Nations convention on climate change.

Wootton said Connor had been “a dedicated and highly skilled [chief executive] at TCI and has been pivotal to our achievements”.

The institute will continue a number of core projects between now and 30 June, during which time it will be lead by Olivia Kember, the head of policy, who will assume the acting chief executive role.