(ABC) Crowdfunded Billboards At World Climate Conference To Take Aim At The Australian Government

ABC The World Today - Katherine Gregory | Scott Mitchell

One billboard Dan Ilic intends to display in Glasgow during the COP26 conference was designed by artist James Hillier/Nordacious. (Supplied: Dan Ilic)

Key Points Comedian Dan Ilic has raised $65,000 after launching a crowdfunding campaign to pay for satirical billboards in Glasgow for COP26 The federal government has yet to decide who will represent Australia at the global climate conference Mr Ilic says he will use the excess funds to launch 'JokeKeeper'

When world leaders like Joe Biden and Boris Johnson descend on Glasgow for the world's most significant meeting on climate in years, they could well come face to face with a billboard designed by an Australian comedian.

Dan Ilic bought the billboard space for $12,225 and with the invoice hovering over him, he launched a fundraiser to help pay for it on Monday.

The goal of the campaign is to satirise Australia's climate commitments.

"Just to tell people there in Glasgow that the people there at the talks representing Australia, don't necessarily represent Australians," said Mr Ilic.

Twelve hours after asking for help footing the bill, he raised his goal, and on Wednesday the figure stood at more than $65,000.

"I've kinda had to change the scope of the campaign, it looks like we could be close to projecting that billboard onto the SEC Armadillo, which is the conference centre where the COP is being held," he told the ABC's The World Today program.

He already has two billboard designs, one in the style of an ad promoting tourism to Australia.

"We've got one that says, 'cuddle the koala before we make them extinct'," Mr Ilic told the ABC's The World Today program.

"The next billboard says, 'Australia: net zero emissions by 2300'." 

Comedian Dan Ilic said the response meant he had to go bigger with his plans for COP26. (Supplied: Dan Ilic)

Mr Ilic said there is some truth to that last claim, some projections have said if Australia remained on its current emissions reduction trajectory, not including planned reductions, it would take 277 years to reach net zero.

The main reason Mr Ilic was keen to start the campaign though, was to crack a laugh out of the weary attendees in Glasgow.

"These people are tired, they are upset about Australia. At this climate conference, you will talk to people from all over the world about how annoyed they are with Australia's lack of action on climate change."

"Secondarily — to have someone take a photo of it and embarrass Scott Morrison."

A mock-up of the second billboard Dan Illic intends to display. (Supplied: Dan Ilic)

Prime Minister still undecided on whether to attend the conference

The COP26 meeting in Glasgow is the latest meeting of the United Nations Climate Change conference, with COP referring to the Conference of Parties.

It is set to be the most significant meeting since COP21 in Paris in 2015, when the Paris Agreement on climate change was made.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison is still undecided on whether he will attend the event.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the government was still deciding who would represent Australia in Glasgow.

"It is a significant undertaking, as you know it involves the two-week domestic quarantine as well, so no final decisions have been made," she said.

"One thing we are absolutely committed to, as we have said, is setting out our long-term emissions reduction plan prior to the COP and that is what we are focused on as a government."

Public opinion in favour of action, but divided on what action should be taken

Australians were generally of the belief there must be action on climate change, said Natasha Kassam, director of the Lowy Institute's Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program.

"Nine in 10 Australians agree that climate change is an issue and we need to do something about it," she said.

"Where there is some variance is what we should do about it."

She said while in the past Australians were worried about the cost of that action, the majority are now worried about the cost of inaction on climate change.

Now there is also high public support for our government to commit to a net-zero emissions target ahead of the Glasgow COP.

"The majority say that our climate change position is bad for our reputation and 70 per cent of Australians say that we should join with other countries such as UK and US to increase our commitments to address climate change."

As donations keep pouring in, Mr Ilic said he planned to use the extra funds to launch a project he was calling "JokeKeeper".

"It's going to be subversive comedy to ridicule fossil fuel-supporting parties and politicians for the upcoming federal election."

And he's not afraid of shooting big.

"The ultimate goal is $1 million," he said.

Links

• ‘Sick of making jokes’: Dan Ilic on his campaign to shame Australia at COP26
• Aussie Raises $40K To Pay For 3 Huge Billboards Shaming Morrison’s Climate Response In Glasgow
• Australia is shaping up to be the villain of COP26 climate talks
• Australia's Scott Morrison doesn't deny pressuring UK to drop climate asks from trade deal
• Cop26: Women Must Be Heard On Climate, Say Rights Groups
• (CA National Observer) Meet The Young Climate Leaders Helping To Set The COP26 Agenda
• (AU The Diplomat) Australia’s Reluctant Climate Change Diplomacy