COTA SA surveys consistently show that a large portion of older people, like many Australians, are concerned about climate change and events such as the recent floods have been reminders of the very real impact it can have.

One of the questions often asked is “What can I do?”. In this webinar we explored ways to take control of where you spend or invest, using your financial power to support reduced emissions and increased social responsibility.

This recording is not intended as financial advice but to increase awareness of options that are available to you to impact locally on climate change.

Watch the recording now

Through our surveys and consultations, older South Australians have told us they want information about further steps they can take to make a difference and have a positive impact. The COTA SA Climate Change Group has been active in progressing a number of strategies to explore different actions older people can take, including using their connections to Australian businesses to encourage them to move to Net Zero.

All older South Australians have connections to businesses in Australia through purchasing goods and services, investing in businesses through shares or superannuation and using banks to manage their finances. These businesses want our relationship with them to continue. We, in turn, are impacted by the decisions they make to reduce carbon emissions.

The COTA SA Climate Change Group wanted to exercise its customer power and find out more. It started by setting up meetings with seven SA-based companies that are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) to discuss their commitment to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050, how they are going to achieve that target, and how they would ensure that their shares would retain value through the journey.

This report outlines the steps taken by the Climate Change Group, what they found and practical steps that others can take.

Read the Report: ACTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE: Choosing where to spend and invest

In late 2021/early 2022 we surveyed older South Australians about how they felt about climate change, the steps they have taken to reduce their environmental impact and interest in buying an electric vehicle.

The survey results reinforced that well over 80% of older South Australians are very concerned about climate change. Respondents weren’t just concerned for themselves and the significant impact on their health. It’s the impact on future generations and the planet that had them most worried with 90% stating these concerns.

Many older people are already personally active in the current waste and consumption reduction strategies. They expect to do this heavy lifting and see Governments’ role to support you to do it, as they’re doing with solar panels and batteries and recycle and green waste bins; the infrastructure, the subsidies, and the education.

So what action are our survey respondents looking to take next? The survey results indicate that they are active in considering electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar batteries. But particularly electric vehicles, where 67% of respondents would consider buying an electric vehicle for their next car, but purchase price and charging stations are barriers to buying one.

The next steps that need to be taken by Governments are clear. If they want to win the hearts and minds of older people, sort out electric vehicle prices and charging so that this climate-concerned generation can take their next steps in climate change action.

While the results are yielded from a small sample size, they are consistent with other local and international studies seeking to understand the attitudes and expectations of people in relation to climate change. The insights from our survey will help COTA SA’s Climate Change Group to set its priorities for 2022.

Since our workshop the expanded Climate Change Group (CCG) Steering Committee has been progressing our agreed project work. We agreed to work on three fronts:

• Approach companies regarding their plans and targets
• Consider approaches to discuss energy policies in the light of the SA Government Climate Change Action Plan
• Plan a future webinar.

It was agreed that we crawl before we walk, and effort has been put into the first of these projects with approaches to specific companies.

It has been encouraging in recent months to see significant and increasing concern expressed by business and investors to act on their responsibility to address climate change.

As the basis for framing appropriate approaches, the Climate Change Group arranged a zoom meeting with Andrew Gray who is the lead player on environmental Sustainability and Governance at Australian Super and in 2017. He was also the cofounder of Climate Action 100+ which, as a peak body, has developed and implemented a thorough set of indicators which monitor the progress to Paris Net Zero by 2050 of the more than 160 firms that together generate over 80% of industrial emissions.

Letters have been sent for the CCG by the CE, COTA SA, to the Chairs of four key south Australian based industries - ARGO, Beach Energy, OZ Minerals and Santos. The CCG has requested meetings to discuss the respective companies positions about their progress to Net Zero and the framework of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In the next week Andrew McNaughton will follow up with these organisations to seek meeting times.

During discussion at the most recent Climate Change Group meeting, potential topics for the next webinar were canvassed. We recommend a focus on providing options for older people about investing in an environmentally sustainable way through their super funds or more general investment possibilities. We also propose a focus on initiatives from local councils in the area of environmental living including the critical need for tree canopy. We are keen too to get other suggestions for future webinars.

The Group will continue the underpinning themes from the workshop including ‘Think global, act local’ given that many people are overwhelmed by the enormity of the climate change challenge and want to find useful ways to make a difference. In terms of possible projects, we noted the South Australian Government`s Climate Change Action Plan 2021–25.

We will consider strategies to address ways the COTA SA CCG can contribute to, provide feedback, and influence this Plan.

Importantly CCG members also contribute a climate change perspective to other key submissions, including:

• Climate in all statements in the COTA SA 2022 State Election Platform
• Inclusion of recommendations and feedback about the draft Walking Strategy
• Support for the SACOSS joint submission to the Water Security Statement 2021

In 2020 we connected with the COTA Victoria Green Sages environmental group.

COTA Australia has a published position on climate change.

Upcoming Events

We draw your attention to two events in November that you may be interested in being part of:

• COTA NSW webinar about climate change — 18 November 2021

• SACOSS Liveable Futures Conference: Towards Climate Justice & Social Equity — 18 November 2021

The Climate Change Group looks forward to keeping you abreast of developments as they occur and to feedback following our discussions with the four South Australian companies.

Barry Apsey
Chair, Climate Change Group

On 27 May 2021, the Climate Change Group held a planning session at the Joinery.

Three main themes emerged from the planning session as guidelines for COTA’s future involvement in Climate Change:

• COTA as an educator and information provider to COTA members
• COTA as an advocate and lobbyist as part of holding business firms and Governments to account
• COTA to work in partnership with other organisations and age groups in its climate change activities.

Three main areas of concern dominated the discussion:

• Investment and superannuation — specifically how these could be directed to improve Climate outcomes
• South Australia as a (Net) Zero state by 2030
• Fossil Fuels — specifically how to reduce carbon emissions.

Other areas of group concern but which received a lesser rating were:

• Health effects of climate change
• Solar for renters
• Reducing our personal carbon footprint at home
• Voting for the Greens.

The key projects that were discussed:

• A webinar on superannuation and investments which informed where funds invest and all about Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) investments and their performance. This could be a cross-generational webinar (Investment area of concern).
• Expanding on this to identify firms and funds to hold accountable for their climate change (and ESG) investments (Investment).
• Writing to key organisations and associations (e.g. Business Council, American, Chinese and Indonesian Chambers of Commerce) asking what they or their members have in place to reduce carbon pollution (SA Zero, Fossil Fuels).
• Promoting and lobbying for electric vehicles — for individuals and industry and recognise new electric vehicle charging stations (merit certificates) (SA Zero, Fossil Fuels).
• Creating a coalition to deliver a YouTube channel to provide practical information on sustainability and how to get to Zero e.g. on electric versus conventional vehicles, ‘grey imports’ of electric vehicles from Japan, carsharing, air quality impacts of conventional vehicles (SA Zero, Fossil Fuels).
• Meeting with SANTOS regularly (e.g. just before results seasons) holding them to account for actions on their Climate Change Plan (Fossil Fuels).
• Lobbying South Australian Government on electric vehicle taxes and rail as an alternative to heavy transport (Fossil Fuels).