Global Climate Change Action

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
Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle
http://www.climatechangebr.org/
PO Box 890
Rozelle NSW 2039
alisonp@datacodsl.com
6 members, 500 supporters

The Climate Change Action Group
http://globallclimatechangeaction.org/
C/- 15 Franklin St
South Bundaberg, Qld 4670
anne (at) globalclimatechangeaction.org
80 global members,
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateChangeAction
962 supporters,
including the Australian Greens, The
Australian Democrats, The Socialist Alliance, and "anonymous" Qld ALP supporters and members.

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

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

Climate Action Newcastle Inc
PO Box 2359
Dangar NSW 2309
can@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
info@greypower.org.au
250 supporters

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

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

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

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

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

Mansfield Environment and Climate Action
Shop 3, 12-22 Highett Street
Mansfield VIC 3722
s_keane1@activ8.net.au
50 members

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

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

Bayside Climate Change Action Group
23 Nelson Street
Sandringham VIC 3191
forcey5@bigpond.net.au
450 families

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Climate Action Bondi (CAB)
58 Bondi Rd PO
Bondi NSW 2026
climate.action.bondi@gmail.com

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

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

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

Green Coast Catalysts
PO Box 216
Bangalow NSW 2479
walshems@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
courthouse.group@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Geelong Sustainability Group
PO Box 4236
Geelong VIC 3220
martobe@vic.chariot.net.au

60 members/supporters
Energycare
GPO Box 84
Adelaide SA 5001
crr@senet.com.au
12 local members

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lighterfootprints
15 Faversham Rd
Canterbury VIC 3126
ci@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
admin@cleanenergyforeternity.net.au

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

Nimbin Climate Action Group
PO Box 379
Nimbin NSW 2480
robyn@prmaculture.com.au

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

COOLmob
NT Environment Centre
PO Box 2120
Darwin NT 0810
coolmob@ecnt.org

South Woden SEE-Change
41 Wilsmore Cres
Chifley ACT 2606
Gough50@tpg.com.au

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Grand Stand for the environment
(a group of concerned Seniors and Grandparents in the City of Manningham)
PO Box 637
Templestowe Vic 3106.
algapritch@westnet.com.au
50 supporters
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Anne Goddard
for the Climate Change Action Group
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org