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By Haniene Tayeb, University of Melbourne, CSW, 2022 Haniene is studying at the University of Melbourne in the Faculty of Business and Economics. Her policy paper focuses on Developing a Standardised Sexual Harassment Training Rating Scale. Executive Summary The Respect@Work Inquiry, released in 2018, highlights the prevalence of sexual harassment within Australian workplaces. In response to its’ publication, employers have rapidly expanded conventional workplace training programs, despite evidence that programs of such nature are ineffective in reducing the incidence of sexual harassment (Magley et al. 2016; Roehling and Huang, 2018; Zelin and Magley, 2020). The current training institution market is unable to meet organisational demands for relevant and effective sexual harassment training. This is particularly due to the outsourcing of workplace training, inconsistency in training content and delivery style, and the use of conventional training methodologies. In response to these shortcomings, this policy paper proposes a standardised sexual harassment training rating scale be established. Where this is expected to increase the quality of training, encourage transparency in employers’ commitment to safe workplaces, and, ultimately, reduce the level of workplace sexual harassment.

By Angus Brawley, Griffith University, UNFCCC, 2022 Angus is studying a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics at Griffith University. His policy paper focuses on Microgrids For Major Disasters: Ensuring Australia’s Grid Is Prepared for a Changing Climate. Executive Summary With the impacts of climate change already being observed across Australia and rapidly intensifying, adaptation mechanisms1 are required to protect individuals, communities, and the natural environment. The focus on energy with relation to climate change has historically been dominated by mitigation efforts in the sector, however, extreme weather and natural disasters in recent years have exposed the shortcomings and vulnerabilities of the power system in its present centralised form, as hundreds of thousands of individuals have been left without power for days to weeks during times of crisis when it is needed most. Hence, it is clear that development and improvement is required to ensure the Australian energy system and vulnerable communities are resilient in a changing climate. In order to address these issues, this proposal recommends the establishment of a multi-level governance ‘climate ready grid’ program with the aim to identify regional energy vulnerabilities, co-design solutions and operational/business models, working alongside community to address these issues. The proposal also recommends the establishment of a national framework and guidelines on power sharing and storage for renewables based microgrids2 to address the current prohibitive legislation in this area and unify microgrid policy, which is presently divided.

By Matthew Teh, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, UNFCCC, 2022 Matthew is an employee at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. His policy paper focuses on Promoting ESG-Driven Critical Minerals Development for the Clean Energy Transition. Executive Summary Global efforts to mitigate climate change are guided by internationally agreed targets to reduce net zero greenhouse gas emissions, which requires the rapid development and application of clean energy technologies. The manufacture of these technologies is increasing the demand for the minerals used in their production (‘critical minerals’; also known as energy transition minerals). These minerals, however, are currently mined and produced under conditions that lead to poor environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes. As the global clean energy and resources market increases its efforts to strengthen ESG outcomes in the global critical minerals supply chain, Australia has a significant opportunity to leverage its critical minerals endowment and its leadership in the global resources sector. Existing Australian policies and initiatives, however, overlook the ESG drivers for the global critical minerals diversification. This paper proposes policies to ensure the effective, long-term mainstreaming and uptake of ESG best-practice in the sector. Implementing this policy would ensure Australia’s position amidst the ESG paradigm shift in the global resources industry, and fully realise the immense opportunities of resourcing the global clean energy transition.

By Amy Duong, The University of Sydney, UNFCCC, 2022 Amy is studying at the University of Sydney. Her policy paper is on Ensuring the long-term success of Australia’s Carbon Market Executive Summary This paper seeks to analyse the impacts of the Australian Government's Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023 (‘The Bill’) on Australia’s carbon market and its capacity to contribute to Australia’s emission reduction targets. The Bill was passed by Parliament on the 28th March 2023 with the amendment taking effect from 1 July 2023. This policy paper supports the current centrality of the Safeguard Mechanism in Parliamentary debate where the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is embracing stronger climate policy for Australia. This paper proposes that Australian carbon market policymakers should continue to capitalise on strong private sector support for reform and implement policy levers that guarantee the integrity of the carbon market and firmly signal the necessity of carbon abatement. At present, policy levers have a strong emphasis on flexibility for industry considering the 7-year deadline to reach the legislated 43% reduction by 2030. This paper provides two recommendations. The first recommendation urges for increased transparency around the creation and surrender of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) and Safeguard Mechanism Credits (SMC). The second recommends an accumulative cap for ACCU usage to communicate the temporal role of offsetting in Australia’s net-zero journey. By implementing these recommendations, the Safeguard Mechanism can act as a mechanism for market certainty and climate ambition. This can help overcome current perceptions of the mechanism as a punitive tool for industry or a getaway card for carbon emitters.

By Babet de Groot, Global Voices National Scholar, Y20, 2021 Babet de Groot is a Global Voices National Scholar. Her policy paper focuses on A Circular Economy for Australia. Executive Summary Australia has an overconsumption problem. The nation’s material footprint outweighs that of its cultural and regional neighbours and risks the environmental wellbeing of the Asia-Pacific (Jain, 2020; Wiedmann et al. 2015). To address this global environmental problem, Australia must embrace the circular economy. The circular economy represents a shift from traditional linear modes of production towards a regenerative and restorative economic model (EMF, 2013 and 2015; Esposito et al. 2018). This requires a systems-wide transformation. Australia must change the way it interacts with the environment through a paradigmatic shift, whereby we change our ways of thinking about how resources should be used. This policy paper explores the potential for the systems-wide transition to a circular economy in Australia. It proposes a single policy recommendation: to restructure the taxation system. First, this paper outlines the rationale for the systems-wide transition to a circular economy. It outlines the key mechanisms of circularity and their benefits, including GDP and job growth. Then, it explains the international and domestic policy landscape, existing circularity policy, and challenges and opportunities. Finally, it describes a key step to kick-start this transition: shifting taxation from employee-labour to resource consumption.

By Niamh Callinan, Global Voices National Scholar, Y20, 2021 Niamh Callinan is a Global Voices National Scholar. Her policy paper focuses on Bringing Australian Small-to-Medium Enterprises to the Front of Innovation. Executive Summary Innovation is critical to supporting and growing Australia’s economy through providing jobs and increasing the standard of living (Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, 2021). However, Australia’s innovation output ranks relatively low by international standards. This is a consequence of an ongoing disconnect between industry and research sectors, particularly small to medium enterprises (SMEs). This policy paper recommends two solutions; an expansion of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) SME Connect Framework to similar organisations, such as Austrade, to support SMEs across all industries (like trade and investment industries) and expand the government funded Research Block Grants Initiative to promote long-term collaborative partnerships between universities and industries. These recommendations are designed to improve industry-research collaboration in Australia and ultimately contribute to increasing Australia’s innovation output and related international standing.

Written by Emily Letch-Avenell, 2023 COP Fellow My journey with Global Voices to the National Conference in Canberra was nothing short of transformative. It's through these extraordinary opportunities that I've come to understand that they are just the beginning, paving the way for personal growth and greater societal change occurs. Participating in the Global Voices National Conference in Canberra, as a part of the fellowship program, was nothing short of amazing. The experience left me inspired, motivated, and deeply connected with dedicated and passionate individuals who share an unwavering passion for driving positive change. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The conference didn't merely educate; it served as a gateway to invaluable connections with prominent figures and subject matter experts. Their insights into climate negotiations and international diplomacy left me with a newfound appreciation for the necessity of global collaboration. The conference's influence extends beyond Canberra; it serves as an introduction to my involvement in COP 28 in Dubai later this year. My skill set has grown significantly because of this experience, and I now have the knowledge necessary to create policies that actually effect change. It has improved my knowledge of international relations and sharpened my networking skills. Through policy-making, diplomacy, mentorship, and like-minded relationships, I have acquired an abundance of tools to enable me to contribute significantly to COP 28. Meeting the Governor General during the Global Voices National Conference was an incredibly empowering experience. His genuine interest and investment in the initiatives led by young people, including our efforts in driving positive change, left a lasting impact. His encouragement and keen engagement with our passions not only validated our work but inspired a renewed sense of commitment, reinforcing the importance of our endeavors and encouraging us to persist in our pursuits with even greater passion and dedication. I am incredibly appreciative of Curtin University and Global Voices for this wonderful opportunity. I have a strong feeling of purpose as I prepare for my next adventure because I know I have the potential to have a significant influence in the fight against climate change. The global movement for change began with the National Conference in Canberra, and I am prepared and beyond excited to be speaking at one of the main platforms for change, COP 28. The lasting relationships I made at the Global Voices National Conference will surely be lifelong foundations, giving me the knowledge, abilities, and spirit of cooperation I need to face obstacles in the future and carry on bringing about

Written by Julian Garratt, 2023 IMF/WB Fellow Leading into the 2023 World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Morroco, I expected economics and international relations to dominate the discussion. Little did I predict that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would become a leitmotif in the numerous sessions throughout the weeklong conference. However, one perspective remained salient: AI’s ability to leapfrog potential in Africa. AI is estimated to contribute 15.7 trillion dollars to the global economy by 2030 with the greatest economic gains predicted to be captured by China and the US, accounting for 70% of the global economic impact (PwC, 2017). More recently in an analysis by the IMF, advanced economies are 36% more exposed to AI than low-income countries (Georgieva, 2024). Although advanced economies will likely see a tightening job market and lower wages, more automation implies enhanced productivity. Low-income countries are likely to see less of an effect on both fronts mostly deriving from weaker infrastructure, investment and a smaller labour market. However, with Africa constituting 42% of the global youth by 2030 (Habti, 2022), the continent often overlooked as an economic powerhouse is poised to capitalise on the AI revolution. Despite a smaller workforce equipped to develop AI systems, there has been a distinct push to upskill the working population in the new AI frontier. AI Saturdays is a global movement focussed on upskilling communities of enthusiasts and professionals alike in cutting-edge AI technology. In Africa, AI Saturdays is run by communities in Nairobi, Kenya and Kigali, Rwanda. In conjunction, the 2025 1 Million Women in Intelligent Automation Initiative is an AI development and leadership program aimed at up-skilling a million women in AI and Intelligent Automation by 2025. Aside from grassroots movements, Google has launched a 10-week equity-free accelerator program for African startups developing Africa-centred solutions that utilise advanced technology such as Machine Learning and AI6. That is not to say that AI hasn’t already impacted African industry. UjuziKilimo is a Kenyan-based agriculture company that uses Machine Learning and various analytics to supply farmers with data-driven decisions. In the health sector, Ubenwa is a Nigerian startup to address the high rate of newborn mortality using AI to detect Perinatal Asphyxia. Africa’s AI footprint also spans globally with the record-breaking sale of the Tunisian-founded AI company InstaDeep for approximately 500 million euros (InstaDeep, 2023). These examples aren’t outlier successes, however, the African AI landscape bears numerous challenges regardless. Applying AI to a problem is tumultuous regardless of the country, the barriers only seem to be more exacerbated in Africa. When we use AI products like ChatGPT, most people write in English, however, Africa is estimated to have up to 2000 languages (Harvard University, n.d.) which are mostly underrepresented in modern large language models (LLMs) (Ojo et al., 2023). This partially stems from a need for more data on African dialects required to train LLMs but ignores the wider barriers to electricity and internet access in Africa that would allow for an efficient transfer of local knowledge and data. Aside from Africa’s connectivity constraint, a significant challenge to building AI-powered tools is the demand for highly educated workers. Illustrated in a session at the 2023 WB & IMF Annual Meetings titled “Knowledge Café - Skills and Workforce Development for the Green and Digital Transformation”, 1 billion workers will need to be upskilled in the next 10 years. This is anticipated to arise from digital forms of education such as Khan Academy as the primary engine for a skilled workforce diverges from formal education. Africa’s internal issues aren’t the only forces acting against AI adoption in Africa. Graphic Processing Units (GPUs), the main workhorse for building and using AI applications, aren’t available in Africa on the most popular cloud platforms run by Amazon, Google and Microsoft as of February 2024. Although the underlying reason may stem from a lack of AI investment in Africa, the true reason may derive from a combination of challenges mentioned previously which in aggregate has reduced the demand for AI in Africa. Yet, the biggest threat to leapfrogging potential in Africa is the centralisation of AI in large tech companies. When the algorithms for AI tools are hidden from the public, so too are the underlying biases of the creators. Instead, as we see currently, a large majority of state-of-the-art LLMs are already available to the public free of charge in a movement known as “open-source”. For entrepreneurs, researchers and enthusiasts alike, open source promotes total accessibility without the imposed biases which has the potential to progress Africa’s AI economy. As profits and media attention spur global interest, it is not unexpected that the conversation has turned towards regulation. African countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, Angola, Kenya and South Africa have all either introduced an AI ethics framework or begun developing bills related to AI and robotics (Sun, n.d.). In the meantime, AI systems will continue to improve and are more likely to outgrow the regulations and frameworks poised to contain them. This is no different in Africa, which at the 2023 Annual Meetings was referred to as “an early AI startup”. Hence, it should be unsurprising that African AI companies and researchers should crave the same investment and acceleration as AI in advanced economies. However, leapfrogging AI potential in Africa is more than just investment or regulation, rather it’s about allowing solutions to be created in Africa, for Africa. References: Georgieva, K. (2024). AI Will Transform the Global Economy. Let’s Make Sure It Benefits Humanity. International Monetary Fund. https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2024/01/14/ai-will-transform-the-global-economy-lets-make-sure-it-benefits-humanity Habti, H. E. (2022). Why Africa's youth hold the key to its development potential. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/why-africa-youth-key-development-potential/ Harvard University. (n.d.). Introduction to African Languages. https://alp.fas.harvard.edu/introduction-african-languages InstaDeep. (2023). BioNTech Completes Acquisition of InstaDeep. https://www.instadeep.com/2023/07/biontech-completes-acquisition-of-instadeep/ Ojo, J., Ogueji, K., Stenetorp, P. and Adelani, D.I. (2023). How good are Large Language Models on African Languages? [online] arXiv.org. doi:https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2311.07978. PwC. (2017). Sizing the prize: What’s the real value of AI for your business and how can you capitalise? https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/analytics/assets/pwc-ai-analysis-sizing-the-prize-report.pdf Sun, R. (n.d.). Global AI Regulation Tracker. https://www.techieray.com/GlobalAIRegulationTracker#google_vignette

Written by Jennifer Menzie, 2023 CSW Fellow The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is not merely a conference; it is a convergence of emotions, a whirlwind of gratitude and empowerment, and a stark realisation of the work that lies ahead. As I immersed myself in the discussions and experiences at CSW, one quote resonated deeply with me: “Men and women are two wings of a bird, and birds cannot fly without a wing”. This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of gender equality in achieving not just world peace but also advancing towards all Sustainable Development Goals for a safer and inclusive global community. Upon reflecting on my week at CSW, the passion and determination that was present in the atmosphere is indescribable. Whilst there is so much wrong in the world currently, it really is something special and inspiring to see a diverse range of individuals, mainly women, who are committed to make a positive change in the sphere of gender equality. Throughout the week, I purposely planned my schedule to attend a diverse range of topics, as I wanted to experience, learn, and absorb as much information as possible. In multiple sessions, I heard the importance of listening to first-hand experiences and seeing what they say is needed to make a difference. I find this incredibly important, and I am glad it was voiced, as people who are not living in poverty, people who are privileged, and so on, are making decisions based on assumptions and this needs to be rectified. It is in this sense that I think critically about CSW being held each year in New York, as accessibility to the conference is limited and therefore a range of voices are not heard. True inclusivity demands broader participation and representation from diverse backgrounds and regions. Additionally, one recurring theme that struck a chord was the emphasis on the importance of investing long-term to gender equality and not just implementing multiple short-term programs. Particularly, the term “investing” was used on multiple accounts. When reflecting on why “investing” was used, I appreciate the terminology as it has positive connotations and carries a sense of commitment and foresight. Thereby, this terminology signals a collective understanding that sustainable change requires continuous support and resources. Another refreshing aspect throughout the week that I appreciated was the spotlight on the role of men in reshaping gender norms and challenging traditional notions of masculinity. This shift was great to see, as often women have been viewed as needing to change or women are seen as the problem, and therefore, historically achieving gender equality has been placed on women. However, males have a huge role in creating change, particularly cultural change, and the shift in focus is something I was impressed with. It highlighted that gender equality requires collaborative efforts. Moreover, when considering what session stands out the most to me, it has to be the Townhall meeting with the Secretary General, António Guterres. In such a short time, he was able to address a vast amount of issues occurring in today’s world, including current wars and genocides, racial and gendered discrimination in algorithms, inequalities between developed and developing countries, the heightened prevalence of gendered violence, the “stubborn presence of racism”, the flaws of the United Nations and urgent need for reform, and the importance of increasing the threshold on when incarceration is justified. His passion to make a difference, his desire to listen to as many people as possible, and his honest criticism of the United Nations was truly memorable, and I could tell he was extremely genuine when he powerfully stated, “I will not give up”. After this session, I could tell everyone in the room left feeling heard and inspired to implement change, especially with his strong last statement being “fight for gender equality, take no prisoners”. In essence, this experience has reinforced the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges. It has also ignited my passion and desire to implement what I have learnt into my community and use my voice to challenge current practices and offer recommendations. Again, it needs to be highlighted the inspiration felt following this conference, and how incredibly honoured I feel to have been able to be in the presence of such amazing individuals! As we continue this journey towards gender equality, let us respond to the call to action, amplify diverse voices, and work collectively towards a brighter, more inclusive future.

Written by Callum Noone, 2023 COP Fellow In December 2023, I had an incomplete vision of what to expect before attending COP28. While those with COP experience attempted to describe the event's scale, pace, and energy, it is hard to comprehend what one is walking into. Having now attended and had time to reflect on my experiences, COP28 was everything, and more, of what experienced ‘COP’ers’ had described it. I spent the majority of my time learning about new programs, initiatives and policies from across the globe, listening to negotiations, and attempting to locate pavilions in the expansive ExpoCity venue, all whilst navigating 15km a day. However, the highlight of my time at COP28, and my biggest takeaway from the event, was the power of networking and connecting with a massively diverse and knowledgeable range of people. While the Global Voices scholars attended to learn, observe, and test our policy paper concepts, a large majority of the attendees attended with a specific professional purpose in mind. One attendee described it as ‘the world’s largest trade show’. In my eyes, I consider it the world’s largest policy networking event. The sheer variety of attendees and experiences presented one of the most amazing opportunities to connect with peers, professionals, academics, and public servants, all of whom had a specific interest or knowledge in an area of the movement. Being at COP offered unmatched access to hop from one amazing individual to another, learning more about their industry, current research or their own perceived purpose in the movement. This allowed abundant opportunities to pick the minds of those whose path somewhat mirrored my own and those who have had completely different socioeconomic and cultural experiences. The environmental movement is composed of a significantly diverse base, all of which have various interests, not all of which revolve around emissions. A concept core to my thinking regarding environmental issues is to ensure that I am not adopting a ‘carbon tunnel vision’ approach. This refers to focusing purely on emissions reduction and ignoring the many other problems facing the globe, such as biodiversity loss, pollution, water scarcity and soil degradation. COP28 demonstrated that whilst emissions are still the predominant focus of many, given their effects on the aforementioned issues, many attempts to negate and evolve humanity's behaviour and systems to fix these problems. The environment has evolved to exist in homeostasis. Humanity and its daily actions globally are an artificial influence that degrades this homeostasis. For humanity to minimise the effects of climate change and ensure a clean and functional environmental system, we must ensure that ‘carbon tunnel vision’ does not cloud our impact on our environment and the solutions we devise to solve this crisis. COP28, and those I met, solidified my view on this concept. A background consideration before, during and after my trip to Dubai was whether the scale of the event was reflective of the environmental concepts many of the attendees were passionate about. Does connecting with fellow environmentalists have the capacity in the long term to offset the immediate environmental impact of the event? This back-and-forth over the morality of attendance could easily send oneself into a spiral of self-doubt regarding one's intentions and purpose in the context of an environmental action movement. However, the world is not a binary. There is much grey that fills the gaps between moral absolutism. Yes, COP28 was a substantial event, and the scale of emissions, consumption and waste would have been considerable. However, by networking stakeholders across fields and industries, one can imagine how wicked problems that occur in one place may be assisted by the knowledge of another person elsewhere. At an individual level, such an experience may offset any concerns, as an immediate problem has been solved. If one scales this up to the planet, many problems are being solved, making the planet healthier. This concept may be further extrapolated to the knowledge one gained at the conference, and how this empowers a movement of continuous localised improvements. COP28 was an amazing experience. The week was full of exciting new experiences, and I savoured every moment. I look forward to hopefully attending again sometime in the future, and to paying close attention to the progression future COPs make in attempting to solve the significant environmental conundrum we have collectively found ourselves in.

Written by: Connor (Djindjabad) Wright, Larrakia man. In the heart of December 2023, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) convened, marking another critical stage in the world's ongoing battle against climate change. However, this significant event was overshadowed by a stark contrast in representation. The substantial number of fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance disproportionately outnumbered the small number of Indigenous delegates. This imbalance not only highlights the challenges in global climate negotiations but also raises crucial questions about whose interests are truly being represented at these international conferences. The numbers spoke volumes about the skewed priorities at COP28. Reports indicated that there were over 2000 fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance (Lakhani, 2023), a figure that alarmingly outnumbered the Indigenous participants. While the exact count of indigenous attendees was reported to be only over 300 (Selibas, 2023), the staggering difference is not just indicative of representation; it is a illustration of the underlying power dynamics that continue to shape global climate policies. The underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples at COP28 is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern observed in many international forums. Indigenous communities, despite being pivotal stakeholders in the fight against climate change, often find their voices marginalized. Traditional knowledge systems and sustainable practices are vital to developing holistic and effective climate solutions. Yet, the minimal presence of Indigenous representatives at COP28 meant that these critical perspectives were largely absent from the discussions and decision-making processes. While seeming to respect and want to preserve these traditional knowledge systems many western governments “collect” and romanticise such knowledge. This leads many indigenous leaders and scholars to not be taken seriously on the international stage, being tokenised and sidelined. In her opening statement during the WWF: Indigenous Leadership at COP 28 press conference Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (2023) stated. “We do our advocacy to see how we can be included into the negation tables, yet the system never changed.” “They want to sit at the tables, they sit on our behalf, they sit on our land and decide for our people without managing those lands, without knowing the management of those lands, without knowing the diversity of the species.”(18:46) Adding to the complexity of the situation was the role of Dubai's COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber. Allegations of behind-the-scenes negotiations and agreements with fossil fuel lobbyists raised serious concerns about the conference's commitment to genuine climate action (Angela Dewan & Rosa Rahimi, 2023). These dealings, rumoured to be centred around sustaining and even expanding fossil fuel usage, are starkly contrasted with the urgent need to transition to renewable energy sources. The president even claimed that there is “no science” behind the need to phase out fossil fuels to stop global temperatures rising above 1.5OC (Carrington & Stockton, 2023). Such actions not only compromise the integrity of the conference but also signal a disheartening disregard for the pressing climate issues that disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including of course Indigenous peoples. The sidelining of Indigenous voices at COP28 is more than a failure of representation; it is a missed opportunity to integrate valuable insights into global climate strategies. Indigenous communities have long exhibited resilience and adaptability to environmental changes, practicing sustainable land and resource management. Their continued marginalisation means that the conference missed out on learning from these time-tested approaches, which could offer innovative and sustainable solutions to the climate crisis. The events at COP28 underscore the urgent need for a paradigm shift in how global climate negotiations are conducted. It is imperative that future conferences ensure equitable representation, particularly of those who are most affected by climate change and have the least contribution to its causes. This means not only increasing the number of Indigenous delegates but also ensuring that their voices are heard, their perspectives valued and included in the decision-making process. When the world gathers to decide the fate of our shared home, it is not be about the ones who are the loudest or the richest but who speak for the land, because the land speaks but not in a language many understand. COP28 has shown us the path not taken; it is time to choose the road that leads to a better future. Angela Dewan & Rosa Rahimi. (2023, November 27). Climate summit host UAE planned to use the event to make oil deals, leaked notes suggest. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/climate/uae-cop28-documents-al-jaber-climate-intl/index.html Carrington, D., & Stockton, B. (2023, December 3). Cop28 president says there is ‘no science’ behind demands for phase-out of fossil fuels. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/03/back-into-caves-cop28-president-dismisses-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim. (2023, January 12). WWF: Indigenous Leadership at COP 28 | UNFCCC. https://unfccc.int/event/wwf-indigenous-leadership-at-cop-28 Lakhani, N. (2023, December 5). Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists get access to Cop28 climate talks. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/05/record-number-of-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-get-access-to-cop28-climate-talks Selibas, D. (2023, December 19). Little achieved for Indigenous groups at U.N. climate summit, delegates say. Mongabay Environmental News. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/12/little-achieved-for-indigenous-groups-at-u-n-climate-summit-delegates-say/

By Julian Garratt, UNSW Co-op, 2023 IMF/WB Fellow Executive Summary Disasters have cost the Australian government billions in recovery and exposed homeowners to thousands of dollars in losses. Recent literature has proven the efficacy of anticipatory cash transfers based on Machine Learning forecasts to alleviate the strain on conventional government recovery interventions. Early action resulted in double the amount of social benefit compared to a late response and is especially beneficial to low-income households. This paper recommends the creation of the Australian Government Anticipatory Action Fund (AGAAF) to finance anticipatory cash transfers. Compared to current funding mechanisms such as the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the AGAAF would prioritise disaster preparedness, aligning with recommendations from the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. The AGAAF is expected to cost $260 million annually from 2024 and save approximately $3 billion per year in recovery costs (based on an 11:1 ROI estimate from the CSIRO). An additional $3 million is required to implement the software infrastructure to support a national anticipatory action program with oversight from the Department of Home Affairs via the National Emergency Management Agency.