Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s carbon emissions trading system only guarantees a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 – a climate fail. The latest science says we need at least a 50% reduction by 2020 to avoid catastrophic climate consequences.

Under the present scheme big polluters get massive compensation, voluntary actions by individuals actually make it cheaper and easier for big polluters to pollute, and reductions will be purchased from overseas.  Yes that’s right, Treasury actually forcasts that Australia’s actual emissions will increase by 2020 and it is only by purchasing offsets from the developing world (probably buying rainforest in PNG or Indonesia) that we will meet the piddly 5% target.

This isn’t good enough.  The government must go back to the drawing board and design a scheme that actually will reduce our emissions in line in what we must do to avoid dangerous levels of global warming.

At the moment the politicians seem to be treating climate change as just another issue they can run a PR campaign on and tinker with business as usual policies.

You can help build public pressure for real action and strong policies that will actually have a positive result by joining a Climate Action Group.

There are Climate Action Groups all over Australia. Check out our map to see if there is already a group near you.  Or check out our list of groups.  Meet likeminded people and organise a campaign in your area.

If there isn’t already a Climate Action Group set up in your area, you can establish one.  The Nature Conservation Council, Greenpeace and other people in the Climate Movement can assist you.

Contact

Max at the Nature Conservation Council on 9279 2466 mphillip@nccnsw.org.au

or contact Emma at Greenpeace on 9261 4666 emma.pittaway@au.greenpeace.org