Global Climate Change Action

18341 reads @ 1/6/2011
Dear Honourable Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Since this declaration was sent in 2007, not a lot has happened. Time for ACTION is way past due. Please respond.

Yours sincerely
Anne Goddard
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org
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2007.... still waiting!
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In the past 24 months, citizens’ Climate Action groups have mushroomed all over the nation, from coast to coast. Now 60 Climate Action Groups with hundreds of members and thousands of supporters have endorsed a Joint Declaration...

Here it is:

To: Prime Minister John Howard MP
To: Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd MP

8 November 2007

Dear Mr. Howard and Mr. Rudd

A joint declaration from the citizens' Climate Action groups of Australia

We are writing to both of you as one voice from the abundant citizens' climate change action groups that have formed across Australia. The existence of our many groups is the result of mounting anxiety in the population about the lack of effective action delivered so far on reducing our nation's greenhouse gas emissions, and the disappointing policies on offer from both of your parties at this critical time.

Our members are drawn from the spectrum of this country's people, from urban, rural and regional areas. They include small and large business operators and directors, parents, students, grandparents, farmers, migrants, and public service and other employees. Diverse and often dissimilar, we all share a common wish to see far more effective measures undertaken by our leaders to avert the dangerous climate change that scientists across the
globe predict.
read more and see list of signators....

It is clear to us that the climate change initiatives proposed by both major parties, at the time of writing, will not bring about the necessary reductions in emissions to keep global warming below the danger threshold (agreed by the IPCC) of 2°C above pre-industrial levels by the time our young children reach adulthood.

There is a wealth of knowledge in the public domain regarding climate change, its current and predicted effects, its causes and, increasingly, the necessary steps and options to curb Australia's contribution to this global crisis.

The existence of our many groups demonstrates a widespread understanding amongst voters about the need for sweeping, legislated changes to industry and society to tackle climate change effectively (a prime example being the
comprehensive Climate Protection Bill developed by Climate Action Coogee and endorsed by 60 citizens' climate action groups.)

We are writing to clearly express to you that:

A. Many Australians are prepared to make the necessary changes to our lifestyles to avert threatening climate change, including paying more for electricity.

B. We expect our government to swiftly impose measures that will cut greenhouse emissions from industry and domestic society to safe levels, and we will support and respect such leadership on this critical matter.

C. We are very much aware that there are substantial numbers of highly credible research papers and reports that demonstrate the viability of currently available, clean, renewable energy sources as being able to deliver the bulk of the energy needs of this country.

D. We are acutely aware of the significant contribution of the coal industry to climate change, both here and overseas, and are not convinced by the clean coal pathway. Exports of Australian coal contribute more to global greenhouse gases than all of Australia's emissions combined. Worldwide, there is no proven, working model for sequestering greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. The technology to provide 'clean coal' may never come to fruition, yet time is of the essence. We feel that any party that consents to the expansion of such a dangerous industry in this age is not acting responsibly, or in the public interest.

E. We remain opposed to the expansion of the nuclear industry for all the risks it continues to pose globally and locally.

On behalf of the undersigned Australian citizens' climate action groups, we ask that the Liberal Party of Australia and the Australian Labor Party pledge to:

1. Legislate a greenhouse emissions reduction target of at least 30% below 1990 levels by 2020, to put this country on track for an emissions reduction target of at least 90% below 1990 levels by 2050, aimed at keeping the global mean temperature increase from pre-industrial levels to below 2°C.

2. Legislate a renewable energy target of at least 25% by 2020.

3. Cease the approvals of new or expanded coalmines, coal-fired power stations and coal export infrastructure, and support the development of alternative, sustainable industries in coal-mining regions.

4. Adopt a target of zero energy growth by 2010 with annual reductions thereafter, through increased energy efficiency and demand management.

5. Abandon any plans for the expansion of uranium mining and export, and the development of nuclear power stations.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Alison Potter for