In 2021, a group of Australian children challenged the Federal government in court, on the grounds that they should not approve a coal mine expansion because it would exacerbate climate change, causing harm to young people. Ultimately, the Federal Court of Australia established that the Australian Government does not currently have a legal duty of care to young people, and that this would need to be established by the parliament. Senator David Pocock has proposed an amendment to the Climate Change Act, known as the Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill, that will see this duty of care established.

The ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS) has worked with experts from around the University to provide recommendations to strengthen this Bill, and better protect young Australians. ICEDS spoke to these recommendations at the Senate Inquiry public hearing on the proposed bill in February 2024. Watch a summary of these contributions here. 

For more information, watch this short explainer and check out the ICEDS submission.