Strategies in Action

THIS PETITION HAS CLOSED




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To Members of the House of Representatives and Senators

We call on the Australian Parliament to declare a climate emergency and to mobilise resources to restore a safe climate.

1. In February 2016, global temperatures spiked to well over 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, just weeks after the Paris Climate Agreement set an aim of not exceeding that benchmark. Climate scientists say that we are facing a climate emergency, and that the future of ecosystems and human civilisation now hang in the balance. Our Great Barrier Reef is dying as the oceans heat up and recent fires in Tasmania burned ancient world-heritage forests.

2. Declaring a climate emergency is a vital step in building support for the very large changes required to restore a safe, cooler climate.

3. A society-wide mobilisation of resources is required at a scale and speed not seen since the Second World War. Carbon emissions must be reduced to zero within a few years, not several decades, and we must draw down all the excess carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere using measures that include mass tree planting. We must rapidly transition from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy, replacing fossil fuel jobs with jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The climate restoration is an enormous task, but given the risks to ourselves and future generations we must rise to the challenge.



For more information about climate emergency goals, see the report Striking Targets.


Why report what you do to reduce emissions?


Government-led resource mobilisation is only half of the solution. The other half is what you and I do. During the Queensland floods, Aussies were taking neighbours and strangers to safety, sharing resources, and doing whatever was needed right from the start of the emergency simply because they could.

Individuals and community groups are already taking initiative and using their own resources to restore a safe climate for the common good.

These are the actions that early signers of the above petition reported:


Eight examples of actions for reducing carbon emissions

 

Minimise transport emissions
For example, walk, ride, take public transport, use an electric vehicle, avoid air travel. Instead, use video conferencing, skype for business, etc, whenever possible.

Put your money into renewable energy
Invest in renewable energy, or donate to community solar projects – see lists of investment and donation opportunities at www.corenafund.org.au.

Divest – Move your money out of fossil fuels
For banks see www.marketforces.org.au, for superannuation see www.superswitch.org.au.

Power your house with clean energy
Install solar if you can, or buy renewables-friendly electricity. Disconnect from gas – see www.greenelectricityguide.org.au.

Be a conscious consumer
For example, buy only what you need, and buy things that last. Recycle. Upcycle.

Plant trees
For drawing down excess carbon in the atmosphere. For example Earth Day, Trees for Life

Eat less meat
For example, meat-free days, vegetarian, vegan

Make your house energy efficient
See www.energyfreedom.com.au