ELCA was created by a group of senior leaders who previously directed fire and emergency services in every state and territory in Australia.

The 23 founders created ELCA to address climate change, which they understand to be the underlying cause of increasing extreme weather events, though they felt constrained from discussing it while working in the public service.

[2] During the launch, former National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales) fire manager, Bob Conroy, announced that, "Climate change is upon us, it's perilous and we need to do more about it.

The 23 signatories of the letter called for a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss "unconstrained by their former employers, how climate change risks are rapidly escalating.

"[5] Mullins also stated that the summer of 2019–20 was going to be "the worst I have ever seen" and encouraged the Federal Government to urgently introduce measures to address climate change such as limiting the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

"[5] In another op-ed he stated that, "The Federal Government’s failure to address climate change will increasingly place Australian lives and property in danger.

"[15] Other key recommendations from the plan include: more large aerial firefighting capability, better fuel management, an Indigenous-led National Cultural Fire Strategy, better coordinating wildlife recovery and better utilisation of the Australian Defence Force.