A string of protests have erupted across the country in angry response to the Federal Government’s announcement on Monday that Australia would only cut its greenhouse gas emissions by between 5 and 15% by 2020. At the same time, a coalition of over 60 Australian environment and community groups have united to condemn the Rudd’s announcement of what amounts to an ineffectual greenhouse reduction target.

In a joint statement issued by the Australian Climate Movement, the interim emissions targets have been denounced as a total failure of climate policy, a demonstration of the Rudd Government’s capitulation to pressure from the big polluters, and simply unacceptable.

The statement confirms that if adopted globally, this target would guarantee the loss of the Great Barrier Reef and the Kakadu wetlands, and would steer the earth on a path towards catastrophic climate change.

Right from the moment of the announcement, peaceful protest actions have been initiated by community groups, concerned individuals and environmental organisations, right across the country. All are united by their position that the emission targets represent a failure of the Federal Government to act on the climate science, a failure to act in the public interest, and a failure of international diplomacy.

The statement from the Climate Movement reinforces that this decision will send a signal to the world that Australia is reneging on the agreed Bali range of 25-40% for developed countries.

This makes the likelihood of a global agreement all the more remote, and unified global action all the more difficult to achieve.

It calls for the Australian Parliament, the media, and all sections of the community to ensure that this weak
target is not allowed to stand, and to make sure that 2009 is the year that Australia begins to show real
leadership on climate change in the lead up to the international negotiations in Copenhagen.

Monday, December 15th

Rudd’s Announcement

The outrage at the Government’s position was almost instant. Three female protesters had to be wrestled from the National Press Club for lambasting the Prime Minister’s targets during the Press Club announcement. The protesters interrupted the announcement, shouting at the Prime Minister in voices that betrayed their anger and her despair:

“No, thats not good enough. It’s spineless, totally spineless. This will mean runaway climate change.This will kill the great barrier Reef; this will wipe out the pacific islands. You’re siding with polluting industries against the people. There’s still time to change, we need leadership, give us some hope.We will not walk away from climate change, unlike Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong.”

One of the other women who accosted the Prime Minister, Annika Dean, later told the media, “This announcement means the Australian Government is willing to sacrifice the Great Barrier Reef to appease the big polluting companies that are fuelling global climate change.

“It is devastating that they have betrayed the public trust in this way. We cannot accept this kind of cowardly policy.”

“The Government has been under pressure from heavily polluting industries, like coal and aluminium, to weaken its stance on emissions reduction.”

One of the others, Rising Tide’s Georgina Woods, told the media that further protests can be expected.

Rudd’s Office Occupied

She was right. Shortly after the announcement, five protesters from the Brisbane Southside Climate Action Group occupied the Brisbane electorate office of Prime Minister, describing the government’s emissions targets as weak and defeatist.

They were joined by around 15 other members of the group, who staged an accompanying peaceful and colourful protest outside Mr Rudd’s office.

Group spokeswoman Kristy Walters told the media that the targets were a recipe for climate chaos. In a statement issued by Ms Walters, she said:

“These targets are based on industry preferences rather than scientific necessity. With such low targets more extreme weather events like the recent storms in Brisbane and more severe droughts are likely to occur more frequently. In short, they are a recipe for climate chaos. This irresponsible plan is simply unacceptable”.

Nicole Rankin, a member of the group sitting inside Rudd’s office said “As a mother, I am extremely concerned about what Rudd’s climate change plan means for future generations. The government is clearly pandering to industry and in doing so is sacrificing a safe future for generations to come”.

Outside, the group displayed a range of banners which read “Rudd’s Plan = Climate Chaos” and other signs reading “Thank you Kevin, Love from the Coal Industry”.

Wong’s Office Targeted

Meanwhile in Adelaide, more than 50 protesters converged on the Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong’s Adelaide office, also accusing the government of sentencing Aussie kids to a life of climate chaos.

Robyn Waite, from the Climate Emergency Action Network (CLEAN) of South Australia and the new climate action group “Mums, Kids and Climate” told the media that the targets ignored dire warnings from scientists.

“They are committing our children to climate chaos and we want to see targets that will see our children enjoy a safe climate. We’re here to let her know those targets are completely outrageous; Penny Wong should be basing those decisions on science and not on appeasing different business interests.”

CLEAN member Gemma Weedall said the government often presented the climate change issue “as being the environment versus the economy”:

“But it doesn’t have to be like that. A renewable energy sector could generate thousands more jobs and it could still be a sustainable economy.”

Climate Movement Speaks Out

Members of the Climate Movement have issued a range of statements in relation to the outpouring of community opposition.

Damien Lawson, from Friends of the Earth Melbourne said, “This is an expression of the community’s disgust with the cringing climate policy Kevin Rudd announced yesterday. If Kevin Rudd doesn’t have the brains or the ticker to choose the Reef, the wetlands and the people over coal and other polluting industries, then he should get out of the way.”

Tessa Dowdell, of the Australian Student Environment Activist Network said, “We have everything to lose by sitting on our hands. Kevin Rudd has very clearly sided with polluting industries over the people of this country and has betrayed the promise on which we elected him.”

John Hepburn, from Greenpeace Australia, said “”Mr Rudd has betrayed the science, betrayed the community and betrayed the next generation who will have to live with climate change impacts.”

For regular updates on the climate protest, check out

• Step In to Step It Up Australia
• Friends of the Earth Australia’s Protest Updates
• Updates from the Blogosphere at Larvatus Prodeo