Caritas Australia joins faith-based agencies to campaign for a Safer World for All
06 Mar 24
The Safer World for All campaign has launched this week, pushing for Australia to help prevent the emergence of global catastrophes by investing in Australian aid, building a fairer global economy, and securing a safer climate future.
The Safer World for All coalition consists of 25 humanitarian aid agencies and faith-based charities, including Caritas Australia. It is supported by the Australian Council for International Development, Micah Australia, and Global Citizen. The campaign launched with a panel discussion at the Global Citizen NOW: Melbourne conference.
If the world continues on its current path, by 2030 575 million people - around 7% of the world’s population - will be living in extreme poverty, with around 600 million people chronically undernourished.
Kirsty Robertson, CEO of Caritas Australia said: “The world's most vulnerable communities face challenges on multiple fronts with many exposed to conflict, climate change and financial pressures, all at once. Without intervention, further hunger, poverty, and displacement is inevitable. Governments, such as ours here in Australia, can and must intervene to limit the damage."
In turn, the campaign calls for:
- The Humanitarian Emergency Fund to be doubled to $300 million annually to respond to crises as they happen.
- An additional $350 million investment to better prepare for mounting natural disasters and protracted humanitarian crises.
- The expansion of Australia’s foreign aid budget to 0.37% of gross national income by 2027 with a bipartisan commitment to reach 0.5%.
- $4 billion in global climate finance contributions and a $100 million initial contribution to the Loss and Damage Fund.
Safer World for All also campaigns for Australia to support global efforts to make debt, tax, and investment fairer for the developing world, especially given ten of Australia’s top 15 export markets today are countries where we once provided foreign aid.
Attending the Melbourne launch, Damian Spruce, Director of Advocacy at Caritas Australia said; “What Safer World for All tells us is that everybody benefits from reducing the global damage wrought by climate impacts, humanitarian crises, and economic disparity.
“As a leading global economy Australia has a huge role to play in investing in better outcomes worldwide. This is especially true when we look to our neighbours in the Pacific, who are bearing the brunt of climate change and all the accompanying economic and humanitarian concerns it brings” he concluded.