Austalia's Climate Action Summit

Australia's first climate action summit brought together over 500 people representing about 150 climate action groups from all over Australia. For three days we discussed,  shared skills, networked, and we developed a policy, strategised on a national campaign as well as a initial proposal for how we will organise ourselves as a network of climate action groups.

UYDEC was represented by myself and I was pleased to see many others from the outer east of Melbourne in attendance.  The experience was inspiring and motivating and I look forward to

It was amazing to witness the relative speed at which such a diverse group was able to come to agreement over the campaign strategy for the network. We agreed that the key campaign objectives for 2009 are:

1. Prevent the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) from becoming law.

2. Build community-wide action to demand green jobs, a just transition and 100% renewable energy by 2020.

3. Build community support for a goal of stabilisation at 300ppm CO2 in the atmosphere and strong international agreement in line with what science and global justice demands. Communicate this position to the Copenhagen Conference of Parties and advocate for the Australian government to adopt this position.

These objectives are based on the science of climate change rather than the politics of government or special interests.

To conclude the gathering a peaceful protest was held on theTuesday morning, climate activists encirlced parliament house to mark the beginning of the parliamentary year with a strong message that we are not happy with the governments direction on climate change.

For coverage of the summit and the action see:

For coverage of the events in the news visit these sites:

ABC News

Protesters descend on Parliament House

The Age

Labor loses backing on emissions

Protesters call for larger carbon cuts

Canberra Times

Climate Protection Bill

This campaign is inspired by the success of a community driven Climate Change Bill in the UK, which has achieved laws to cut greenhouse pollution and promote a clean energy future.

In 2005, communities across the UK decided they wanted their politicians to take action on climate change. They seized on a draft Climate Change Bill put together by green groups, and 130,000 people across the country contacted their MP to support it. In response, 400 MPs voted for the Bill and when passed in Parliament, the UK will become the first country to legislate binding limits on greenhouse pollution.

Now, in the lead up to Australia's 2007 federal election, community climate groups across the country have written a Climate Protection Bill.

This Bill comprehensively addresses the causes of Australia’s spiraling greenhouse gas emissions, and proposes workable solutions to stem these emissions, protecting the future for our children, the world's most vulnerable communities and our fragile planet.

The Climate Protection Bill is a powerful tool for community members. It unifies the concerns of Australians across the country, and gives each of us a set of demands to take to our politicians and candidates before the 2007 federal election.

Want to know more?

For more information, you can read the overview of the 19 points of the Climate Protection Bill. Or, download the complete Climate Protection Bill.

Garnaut Climate Change Review - Release of Draft Document

The Garnaut Review released its Draft Report on 4 July 2008.

The Draft Report describes the methodology that the Review is applying to evaluation of the costs and benefits of climate change mitigation; to the application of the science of climate change to Australia; to the international context of Australian mitigation, and to Australian mitigation policy.

The Draft Report is a stage in the journey toward the Final Report at the end of September 2008.

It follows the Interim Report and the Emissions Trading Scheme Discussion Paper released in February 2008 and March 2008 respectively.

The Draft Report generally does not make recommendations, although the tendency of policy analysis is clear. It is closest to recommendations on the design features of the emissions trading scheme, which require business and community discussion of the issues before the completion of the Final Report.

Public forums: briefings on the Draft Report 

Professor Garnaut will be hosting public forums from 7 to 11 July 2008 in a number of cities around Australia to present his preliminary findings from the Draft Report. To register your attendance at a forum, please click here.
 

Draft Report corrections

Since the release of the Draft Report, several typographical errors have been corrected. All Draft Report files available on this website have been updated accordingly to include these corrections.

To download a full list of corrections, please click here (PDF, 33kb).
 

Grassroots Climate Change Action

 Here is a list of climate action groups that I have compiled - some don't have contact details yet as I have not been able to find them - I will add them once they are available. Any additions to this list is welcome. Please send to sec [at] uydec.org.au

Green Carbon Report

The key research question was ‘How much carbon can natural forests store when undisturbed by intensive human land-use activity?’ This report presents a summary of results from case studies in theeucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia.

Key findings:

Australian natural forests have far larger carbon stocks than is recognized.

The remaining intact natural forests constitute a significant standing stock of carbon that should be protected from carbon emitting land-useactivities.

There is substantial potential for carbon sequestration in forest areas that have been logged if they are allowed to re-grow undisturbed by further intensive human land-use activities.

Of special note is: The highest biomass carbon stocks, with an average of more than 1200 t C ha-1 and maximum of over 2000 t C ha-1, are in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forest in the Central Highlands of Victoria and Tasmania.  Access this report here: http://epress.anu.edu.au/green_carbon/pdf_instructions.html

The difference between Climate and Weather