Citizens Climate Campaign

Citizens Climate Campaign

Message of the Month - October 2006

Australia Left Behind

On ABC's Four Corners What Price Global Warming? (28.8.06) John Howard said "I want to see the evidence, I want to see the science, I want to see the proposition. I mean, these sweeping generalisations are next to useless". He also dismissed calls for Australia to cut its greenhouse emissions by 60% in order to combat the effects of global warming, saying that "60% would have enormously damaging impacts on our economy".

He should take the advice of Professor Matthew England, Director of the Climate and Environmental Dynamics Laboratory at UNSW and see Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth. "Don't be fooled by self-anointed experts telling you he (Gore) has got it wrong. He hasn't", said Professor England.

Also, The Climate Institute has recently stated that "the uniquely Australian notion that reducing greenhouse gases harms economies and corporate profits is being blown out of the water by a surge in corporate activity to exploit the upsides of climate change. Carbon has a price, it is profitable and global companies are setting the pace."

"Companies around the world are using climate change as a strategic business driver across not only emissions reductions, but also the development of new markets, technologies and investment opportunities. The global response is, to a large degree, being driven by business. For example, there is a rush to invest in clean energy, a global market now worth $74 billion. The global carbon market was worth $13 billion last year and grew to $18 billion in the first half of this year."

The Australian government is increasingly alone in its position. There has been a strategic shift in the position of the US on climate change, says the Climate Institute, and there is strong belief in corporate circles that the first action of the next President of the United States, Republican or Democrat, will be to initiate urgent action on climate change.
Send a short message to the Prime Minister using some, or all of the following points:
* Ask him to go to see An Inconvenient Truth. Ask him exactly what more scientific evidence he needs before he will join other nations in taking drastic action to deal with global warming.

* Ask him to look at what is happening in the economies of other countries which are already responding to global warming.

* Ask him to take immediate action to stimulate the Australian economy by adopting renewable energy targets of at least 10% by 2010 (Italy has just decided to double its renewable energy capacity to 22% by 2010).

It is important that the Federal Opposition also understand our concerns about global warming. You might like to send a copy of your message to them too.

Contact Details:
Post to Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, or email:
The Hon John Howard: http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm This is the only way you can send an email to the Prime Minister.
The Hon Kim Beazley: Kim.Beazley.MP@aph.gov.au

For information on how you can reduce your personal contribution to greenhouse emissions, visit the ACF Greenhome Guide at www.acfonline.org.au/greenhome