Overview
Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) is a group of former senior fire and emergency service leaders from every state and territory in Australia with more than 1,000 years of cumulative frontline experience. The organisation acts as a catalyst for all levels of government to address the impacts of climate change, specifically regarding worsening heatwaves, fires, floods, and storms.
Mission and focus areas
ELCA focus on ensuring that governments and the public understand how climate change drives worsening disasters. Their core areas of focus include explaining the link between climate change and extreme weather, debunking myths that divert attention from climate issues, and advocating for rapid cuts to climate pollution. They also focus on securing greater investment in community resilience and ensuring fire and emergency services are adequately equipped.
Structure and governance
ELCA is a project of the Climate Council. The group is composed of former emergency chiefs and senior leaders, including figures such as Mike Brown AM AFSM and Greg Mullins AO AFSM. It is 100% independent and funded by public donations.
Programs and offerings
ELCA produces evidence-based reports and submissions to state and federal inquiries and commissions. Key offerings include the development of the Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan, alongside various research reports such as “Prepare or Pay: Counting the Cost of Climate-fuelled Bushfires” and “The Great Deluge.” They engage in media advocacy and convene discussions with stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction.
Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) works to ensure that governments and public understand how climate change is driving worsening disasters, more investment in community resilience and disaster risk reduction, and that fire and emergency services are adequately equipped to protect Australian communities from increasingly frequent and extreme weather events.
