International aid groups say the work they have done to mitigate poverty could be reversed if action isn't taken to mitigate the effects of climate change.
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Plan International, World Vision Australia, Oxfam Australia and Save the Children Australia made the call for action after the bushfire crisis that has ravaged much of Australia's south-east.
More ambitious emissions reductions targets to keep global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees, leadership on climate change from the Australian government and a just transition to a zero carbon future are among the steps the charities have called on the government to take.
Chief executive of Plan International in Australia Susanne Legena has made the call because climate change is affecting their "core business" - tackling poverty and helping children to be happy and safe.
"Children will inherit a planet, where we don't know what it will be like if we don't contain temperature rises to the levels scientists say we have to," Ms Legena said.
Climate change is the biggest issue facing children and young people, and Ms Legana said the organisation needed to advocate for and amplify the voices of young people in areas already affected by climate change.
A food crisis in southern Africa, typhoons, and the fires in Australia where children have had to flee to safety have pushed the normally non-political organisation to join the call.
"We're not your usual suspects on this issue, we're not political by nature - we tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice," Ms Legena said.
Plan International is also concerned that the hard-fought gains made by the charity could be unraveled if climate change is not addressed.
"In our work over 80 years we have seen massive improvements in children's health and infant mortality. All that investment in human development is changing the story.
"What we're worrying about is climate change putting all that at risk," Ms Legena said.
While Plan International's work mainly focuses on long-term development, its time is increasingly being spent responding to emergencies, conflicts or extreme weather events, or planning for them.
Similarly, climate risk is "an aspect of everything we do" at Oxfam International, according to the charity's climate change advisor Simon Bradshaw.
Dr Bradshaw said Oxfam had joined the call because it was important for the groups to say the issues they are addressing overseas and in Australia are connected and risk rolling back development gains that have taken decades.
"We've seen global hunger increase again, and that's after a decade of steady declines," he said, pointing toward extreme weather events and drought affecting food and water security.
"Climate change tends to further entrench inequalities within countries and across countries," Dr Bradshaw said.
Oxfam had decided to add its voice to those calling for change to put pressure on Australia to be a leader internationally on the climate.
The calls from the charities come after the world's central banks were told they must also take responsibility for climate change to stave off financial crisis.
The Bank for International Settlements - the global financial institution which supports central banks such as the Reserve Bank of Australia - has produced a new report detailing the financial instability climate change can cause.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg downplayed the report, which also said "carbon prices may need to skyrocket in a very short time span" due to the size of the challenge ahead.
"What the report also points out is the need for a balanced approach ... which sees not only emissions reduction, but adaptation, mitigation and resilience measures put in place without compromising the strength of the economy," Mr Frydenberg told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.
- with AAP