Global Climate Change Action

Update: Joint Declaration
note: click "read more" for list of endorsing groups.

To: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd MP
Kevi...@aph.gov.au
PO Box 6222
Kingston ACT 2604
Parliament House
Fax: (02) 6277 8495

26 November 2007

Dear Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

Congratulations on becoming the Prime Minister of Australia. We are very pleased that you will be making climate change a top priority of your first 100 days in office.

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

We are writing to 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.

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.

We applaud your stated commitment to tackling climate change. Unfortunately, it is clear to us that the climate change initiatives proposed by your Party, at the time of writing, will not bring about the necessary reductions in emissions to keep global warming below a dangerous threshold.

The critical upper limit was previously agreed by the IPCC to be 2°C above pre-industrial levels by the time our young children reach adulthood. Now, with the release of the fourth IPCC report that reveals that global warming is happening much faster than was previously thought, this tipping point is very likely to be much lower.

Your new government’s policy and initiatives need to be reconciled with the emerging respected science and IPCC recommendations so that we avoid risking catastrophic climate change.

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 climate action groups across the nation demonstrates a widespread understanding about the need for sweeping, legislated changes to industry and society to tackle climate change effectively.

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 government 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 uranium mining and 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 your government:

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.

We have every hope that your government will recognise climate change as a global emergency needing swift and decisive action to immediately curb this country’s escalating emissions, and the emissions that arise from our exports.

We hope you draw upon the sentiments and asks in this Joint Declaration when representing our nation at the Bali conference.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Alison Potter

for
Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle
PO Box 890
Rozelle NSW 2039
alis...@datacodsl.com
6 members, 500 supporters

Ballina Climate Action Network
PO Box 787
Ballina NSW 2478
t...@eco-options.com.au

Climate Action Newcastle Inc
PO Box 2359
Dangar NSW 2309
c...@climateaction.org.au
50 members, 500 supporters

Grey Power Community –
Eastern Suburbs, Ryde/Epping, Northern Beaches and other areas
GPO Box 3307
Sydney NSW 2001
i...@greypower.org.au
250 supporters

Glen Eira Climate Action Group
c/- 3 Claire St
McKinnon VIC 3204
abc...@iprimus.com.au
13 members

Ashgrove Climate Action Group
23 Caneby Street
Ashgrove QLD 4060
e...@gwhiz.com.au
200 supporters

Kyogle Climate Action Network
c/o 321 Blackhorse Creek Rd
Black Horse Creek via Kyogle NSW 2474
ansh...@hotmail.com
30 members

Citizens Climate Campaign
7 Mission St
Katoomba NSW 2780
clim...@aapt.net.au
1084 members in many parts of Australia

Maroubra Climate Action
2 Oorana Ave
Phillip Bay NSW 2036
gjo...@exemail.com.au

Mansfield Environment and Climate Action
Shop 3, 12-22 Highett Street
Mansfield VIC 3722
s_ke...@activ8.net.au
50 members

Eat Cake and Save the World
78 Hope St
Brunswick VIC 3056
quie...@optusnet.com.au

L.I.V.E. (Locals Into Victoria's Environment)
22 Young Street
Albert Park VIC 3206
deb_...@bigpond.com
200 members

Adelaide Hills Climate Action Group
PO Box 1145
Stirling SA 5152
jan...@ngeringa.com
14 members 69 supporters

Bayside Climate Change Action Group
23 Nelson Street
Sandringham VIC 3191
forc...@bigpond.net.au
450 families

Melbourne and Batman Climate Action Coalition
56 Lucerne Cres
Alphington VIC 3078
clim...@gmail.com
13 members

Lake Macquarie Climate Action Inc
6 Corwen Close
Cardiff South NSW 2285
gppe...@internode.on.net

WeCan - Western Community Action Network
PO Box 926
Williamstown VIC 3016
wec...@iinet.net.au
6 members

Hills Against Global Warming
41 Solander Rd
Kings Langley NSW 2147
hill...@bigpond.com

Climate Change Australia – Hastings Branch
PO Box 2389
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
j...@impactenviro.com.au

WE CAN - Willunga Environs Climate Action Network
14 Hill Street
Willunga SA 5172
chri...@optusnet.com.au

Ryde Gladesville Climate Change Action Group
PO Box 2064
Boronia Park NSW 2111
i...@climatechangerg.org

Shoalhaven Clean Energy for Eternity
138 Princes Hwy
Milton NSW 2538
litt...@internode.on.net

Jamberoo FutureCare
PO Box 97
Jamberoo NSW 2533
jamb...@gmail.com

Climate Action Bondi (CAB)
58 Bondi Rd PO
Bondi NSW 2026
clim...@gmail.com

Maroondah Climate Change Action – MaCCA
9 Dirkala Ave
Heathmont VIC 3135
a...@macca.org.au
17 members 200 supporters

BREAZE — Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions
P.O. Box 319W
Ballarat West VIC 3350
i...@breaze.org.au
455 online members, 200 financial members

Watershed
Rose Cottage, Goolwa Road
Middleton SA 5213
rose...@hotmail.com
27 members

Green Coast Catalysts
PO Box 216
Bangalow NSW 2479
wals...@ozemail.com.au
6 active members

The Courthouse Group (aka Newtown Local Climate Action Group)
c/o Tim Luckett
Brennan MacCallum Building (A18)
University of Sydney NSW 2006
cour...@gmail.com

Binalong Climate Action Network
11 Queen Street
Binalong NSW 2584
oldr...@ruraloz.com.au
12 active members

YCAN! (Yarra Climate Action Now!)
C/o - 21 Mater St
Collingwood VIC 3066
yarr...@gmail.com
180 supporters

Pine Rivers Climate Action Network
C/o - 1062 Dayboro Rd
Kurwongbah QLD 4503
pine...@gmail.com
10 active members and 60 supporters

Nillumbik Climate Action Now
C/o - 145 Thompson Crescent
Research VIC 3095
nill...@hotmail.com
60 members

Cool Change Adelaide
6 Wyatt Street
Glenelg East SA 5045
cool...@gmail.com
12 members

Murrindindi Climate Network Coordinator
PO BOX 246
Alexandra VIC 3714
i...@murrindindiclimatenetwork.org.au

People for Environmental Protection
PO Box 2032
Mt Waverley VIC 3149
gcou...@netspace.net.au
18 members

Geelong Sustainability Group
PO Box 4236
Geelong VIC 3220
mart...@vic.chariot.net.au
60 members/supporters

Energycare
GPO Box 84
Adelaide SA 5001
c...@senet.com.au
12 local members

WATCH (Wodonga Albury Towards Climate Heath)
2 Drewett Rd
West Wodonga VIC 3690
lize...@iprimus.com.au

Climate Action Pittwater
474 Barrenjoey Road
Avalon NSW 2107
Lin...@atelierhaefeli.com.au

Climate Change Action Group
15 Franklin St
South Bundaberg, Qld 4670
a...@globalclimatechangeaction.org
82 members, 1045 supporters

Climate Change Australia (Clarence Branch)
c/- Environment Centre
31 Skinner St
South Grafton NSW 2460
clar...@yahoo.com.au
29 members

Bellingen Climate Action Group
1 Church Street Lane
Bellingen, NSW 2454
stee...@ecobello.org.au
150 supporters

Mosman Clean Energy for Eternity
c/- John Warburton
PO Box 703
Mosman NSW 2088
mos...@cleanenergyforeternity.net.au

CANWin – Climate Action Now Wingecarribee
PO Box 531
Bowral NSW 2576
secr...@canwin.org.au
79 financial members 207 associate members

Lighterfootprints
15 Faversham Rd
Canterbury VIC 3126
c...@the.inter.net.au
20 members 300 supporters

Clean Energy For Eternity SE NSW
- Bega, Eurobodalla, Snowy River, Cooma-Monaro, Shoalhaven
14 Canning St
Bega NSW 2550
adm...@cleanenergyforeternity.net.au

Just Rights Queensland
44 Fenton Street
Fairfield Qld 4103
camp...@justrightsqld.org
300+ members

Nimbin Climate Action Group
PO Box 379
Nimbin NSW 2480
rob...@permaculture.com.au

Climate Action Coogee
1 Walker St
Redfern NSW 2016
clim...@gmail.com
150 supporters

South Woden SEE-Change
41 Wilsmore Cres
Chifley ACT 2606
Goug...@tpg.com.au

Climate Action Denmark
PO Box 142
Denmark WA 6333
clim...@westnet.com.au
30 members

ParraCAN – Parramatta Climate Action Network
c/- PO Box 128
Granville NSW 2142
i...@parracan.org.au
8 members, 100 supporters

CLEAN (Cowra Low Emissions Action Network)
c/- 40 Taragala St
Cowra NSW 2794
jdur...@mail.com
20 members

Sutherland Climate Action Network
Box 589 PO
Sutherland NSW 1499
s...@sutherlandcan.org.au
166 supporters

Mount Alexander Sustainability Group
233 Barker St, PO Box 1043
Castlemaine VIC 3450
d...@masg.org.au
490 financial members

Yarra Valley Climate Action Group
PO Box 23
Ivanhoe Vic 3079
mawj@bigpond .com

North Coast Climate Action Group
PO. Box 640
Mullumbimby NSW 2482
i...@nccag.org
400 supporters