1. low emissions reduction targets

2. free permits for polluters

3. unlimited ability for polluters to outsource emissions cuts to developing countries

4. making emissions reduction cuts by individuals and households redundant.

Our intention was to deliver 19 black balloons to Kelvin Thomson – when we found the shutters closed instead we filled up the alcove with 300 balloons. Thanks to Andrea Rassell for photos.

http://morelandclimategroup.wordpress.com/

Media Release 27 March, 2009

Community Climate Action Groups today “stepped in” to over 30 corporate and MPs’ offices across the country to oppose the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

Protesters from Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle rallied outside Tanya Plibersek’s office in Surry Hills wielding banners saying “Switch off the CPRS. Switch on Renewables”.

They handed out ‘pollution permits’ to the public. Priced at $45 per tonne these permits are virtually free to the carbon corporates. Major carbon emitters qualify for 90% discounts and heavy polluters score cash backs.

“This so called Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme takes a ‘business as usual’ approach that rewards big polluters like coal and aluminium. It will not shift these industries from their unsustainable practices. It continues our dependence on fossil fuels. It will lock us into a dangerous climate change trajectory with severe, irreversible impacts on human life, the economy and the planet,” said Gayle Adams, Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle member. “It is nothing more than a scam – a Carbon Polluters Rescue Scam.”
Gayle continued, “Today is the eve of Earth Hour when millions of Australians will turn off their lights in a show of support for strong action on climate change. But we need to do much more than turn off our lights if we are to tackle climate change. The planet is warming at an accelerating rate and if we don’t act now we will face irreversible consequences”.
Leichhardt mother, Lucy Macken, was worried by the short-sightedness of the government, which has chosen to listen to the powerful coal lobby while ignoring the community on the most important issue of our generation. “They simply don’t get the seriousness of the situation. We are part of a growing national community movement demanding a safe climate future for our kids.”

Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle, along with 150 climate action groups across Australia, are calling for direct Federal Government investment in renewable energy to achieve 100% renewables by 2020, a moratorium on coal and just sector-by-sector transition plans to green jobs.

The protests are part of a national day of action against the Scheme, the dismally low emissions reduction target, rewards to big polluters and failure to solve the climate crisis.
In Sydney climate action groups targeted Anthony Albanese, Peter Garrett and Maxine McKew. Politicians can expect the pressure to build in the lead up to international December negotiations in Copenhagen.

What: Protest opposing the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
When: Friday 27th March, 12:09 – 1:00 pm
Where: Office of Tanya Plibersek – 422 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Organised by: Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle

For more information contact Gayle Adams 0404 196 988

Media Alert Friday, 27th March 2009

What: Concerned community members demand real climate action
When: Friday 27th of March, 12.30pm
Where: Electorate office of Duncan Kerr MP, cnr of Harrington and Collins Streets, Hobart Tasmania

Australians from across the country will unite today as part of a National Day of Climate Action, calling on the Federal Government to switch off the 5% Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and switch on strong emissions reduction targets, renewable energy and green jobs.

Hobart residents will gather at their Federal Labor MP Duncan Kerr’s Office to tell him that 5% is not enough and the community will not allow the Government to legislate a target that takes away their right to a safe climate.

“5% is not enough. This target is a death sentence for the planet and will seriously undermine the chance of a global agreement on climate change. Climate change is already affecting millions of people’s lives around the world today. If we do not have strong government action then all people will suffer” said Climate Action Hobart Spokesperson and Hobart resident Jess Wright.

“Even the most conservative estimates by scientists say we need emissions cuts of 25-40%. To achieve this we need to switch off the 5% CPRS and switch on real targets, renewable energy and green jobs” continued Jess Wright.

The Draft Legislation for the CPRS was released on Tuesday 10 March and has been strongly criticised for its weak 5-15% emissions reduction targets, for excluding some polluting industries and providing other big industrial polluters with free carbon pollution credits worth billions of dollars.

“The Government has chosen to give the big polluters a free ride at the stake of a safe climate for all Australians. The community demands a CPRS which will deliver real emissions cuts, a new green economy, renewable energy and above all a safe and healthy future” said Climate Action Hobart Spokesperson and Hobart resident Hannah Aulby.

“As a young Australian I am deeply concerned about my future, so on this National Day of Action I’m standing together with people from across the country to say that 5% is absolutely not enough!” concluded Hannah Aulby.

Climate Action Hobart is a newly formed group of individuals committed to creating positive government and grassroots community action on climate change. Climate Action Hobart is part of an ever growing network of grassroots climate action groups forming right across the country demanding action that secures a safe climate.

For comment, contact: Jess Wright 0428 274 280
Hannah Aulby 0427 079 729

‘Switch off Coal and Switch on Renewables’ is the very clear message being sent to state and federal Governments this Earth Hour by community climate activists who have occupied Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley today.

Spokesperson for the group Louise Morris said, “We are facing a climate emergency and if we are serious about tackling climate change, the first step is to Switch off Coal and Switch onto Renewables.

“Hazelwood’s carbon pollution emissions, at 17 million tonnes annually, are equivalent to about 5% of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions – the same amount as Kevin Rudd’s emission reduction target for 2020. “

“By shutting down Hazelwood this year, we could achieve this 5% target immediately, and then adopt proper emission reduction targets as the climate science demands. Its time to get down to the real business of transitioning Australia away from polluting fossil fuels and switching onto renewable energy,” said Ms Morris.

“Governments are happy to provide token support for climate change by switching off their lights for an hour, once a year, but if they are serious on climate change it’s clear Hazelwood needs to be decommissioned this year.

“This Earth Hour we need to acknowledge it is time to do so much more than just switch off our lights for an hour. We need to switch off our reliance on dirty coal and switch onto job rich renewable energy sources.”

Every hour needs to be Earth Hour. If we are to avoid catastrophic climate change and have a job rich renewable energy future we need to act now. This is not a technical or economic problem we just need the political will to switch off coal and switch onto renewable energy.” Concluded Louise Morris.

http://switchoffcoal.wordpress.com

Rally outside the office of Lindsay Tanner, Member for Melbourne

Disgruntled climate activist outside Tanner's office

Members of WATCH present Sophie Mirabella, Member for Indi, with PV cells

Community climate activists outside the office of Martin Ferguson, Member for Batman

At Martin Ferguson's office

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Ryde Gladesville Climate Action Group joined over thirty local climate groups around Australia on Friday 27th March by staging a protest outside the office of local Federal MP Maxine McKew.

RGCAG say the government is just playing games with fixing the climate and decided to join in the spirit. They chalked a huge snakes and ladders board on the pavement outside.

“Labor’s response to climate change is just like a game of snakes and ladders. We have seen small steps forward like signing Kyoto Garnaut, but enormous  backward steps. Our snakes are a 5% target, Free Permits pushing clean coal. The group rolled a giant dice. The counters ? Looked suspiciously like Mr Rudd, Ms Wong and Ms McKew,

“There are clear winners and losers under the CPRS and the climate and community is on the losing side. Big polluters like coal and aluminium are set to continue profiting from climate change by receiving billions of dollars in compensation and free permits. “

Either this government doesn’t understand the science which says that immediate steps are needed now, or its ignoring it. Which is scarier ? ” asks the group

“We met with Ms McKew last year but have been pretty disappointed to date. Her view has been that whatever Labor is doing is better than the last government. She also dismissed as alarmist the latest scientific modelling predicting rapid dangerous changes to the climate.

Download the PDF of the coverage of this action in the Northern District times here.

Community Climate Action Groups across Australia are today holding protests at the offices of over 30 Federal MPs to protest the failure of the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

The protestors are calling on the Government not to pursue a scheme that rewards big polluters, fails to commit to adequate emission reduction targets, and locks us into catastrophic climate change.

“We are deeply concerned that the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme takes a ‘business as usual’ approach to the urgent threat of climate change, and does not commit to the emissions reduction targets that the science tells us are necessary to avoid dangerous climate change,” said Moira Williams from Climate Action Newtown.

“Big polluting industries like coal and aluminum must be made to cut emissions rapidly and immediately. The CPRS will give away billions in concessions without even achieving the necessary pollution cuts. In fact, emissions are likely to continue rising under this scheme,” continued Ms. Williams.

The protests are twice the size of similar actions that took place last year following the announcement of the 5-15% emissions reduction target and the release of the White Paper for the CPRS.  Protest organisers attribute the increase to the continued failure of the Government to meet the clear need for more decisive action.

“It is an absolute disgrace that when faced with the threat of catastrophic climate change, our leaders are pandering to the powerful fossil fuel and mining lobbies, and continuing to ignore urgent scientific advice and widespread community alarm about the most important issue of our time,” said Pablo Brait from Yarra Climate Action Now.

“We are calling for a moratorium on coal mining and coal-fired power stations, and an end to perverse subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. We want just sector-by-sector transition plans for affected workers and communities. The Government can stimulate the economy and create quality green jobs, by making direct investment in renewable energy to move towards 100% renewables by 2020.”

What: Protests opposing the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
When: Friday 27th March
For further comment:
Moira Williams, Climate Action Newtown, 0420 504 411
Pablo Brait, Yarra Climate Action Now, 0421 011 182

Protesters stormed Anthony Albanese’s office in Marrickville today in opposition to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

Local community members wielding banners with “Switch off the CPRS. Switch on Renewables”, rallied outside the MP’s office at 9am this morning to voice their outrage at the terms of the government’s proposed emissions trading scheme. The protests are part of a national day of action against the Scheme which proposes a dismally low emissions reduction target, rewards big polluters and will not solve the climate crisis.
The protest took place on the eve of Earth Hour when millions of Australians will turn off their lights in a show of support for strong action on climate change. “We need to do much more than turn off our lights if we are to tackle climate change. The planet is warming at an accelerating rate and if we don’t act now, we will face irreversible consequences,” said Ingrid Dernee, St Peters resident and member of Climate Action Newtown.
“The scheme takes a ‘business as usual’ approach that continues to reward big polluters like coal and aluminium. It will not shift these industries from their unsustainable practices and commits us to a continued dependence on fossil fuels. It will lock us into a trajectory for dangerous climate change with severe, irreversible impacts on human life, the economy and the planet,” continued Ingrid.

Tim Luckett, a father from Summer Hill, was worried by the short-sightedness of the government, which has chosen to listen to the powerful coal lobby while ignoring the community on the most important issue of our generation. “They simply don’t get the seriousness of the situation. We are part of a growing national community movement demanding a safe climate future for our kids.”

Climate Action Newtown along with 150 climate action groups across Australia are calling for direct Federal Government investment in renewable energy to achieve 100% renewables by 2020, a moratorium on coal and sector-by-sector just transition plans for affected workers and communities that will create green jobs.

Other climate action groups targeted Tanya Plibersek, Peter Garrett and Maxine McKew across Sydney today. Politicians can expect the pressure to build in the lead up to international negotiations in Copenhagen scheduled for December.

Details:
What: Protest opposing the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
When: Friday 27th March, 9am
Where: Office of Anthony Albanese’s office – 334 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
Organised by: Climate Action Newtown

For more information contact Moira Williams 0420 504 411

Culture Jam of Earth Hour Poster

Tomorrow, Friday March 27th, is the first national community actions to Switch off the CPRS and Switch On Renewables. There are so many exciting actions planned in every state and territory.

Next week we’ll be telling the NSW Minerals Council, whose financial and political has made the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme so favourable for polluters: “We won’t leave it to the market; we’ll leave coal in the ground.” If you’re in Sydney, come along!

When: Next Thursday, 2nd April, 4.30pm
Where: Rally outside 1 O’Connell St, Sydney (off Pitt St near Wynyard)
What: NSW Minerals Council seminar about so-called ‘clean’ coal
For more info, 0402 564 862 or network@climatesummit.org.au

2009 is the most important year in our history. We have a short window of opportunity to drastically cut carbon emissions and avert dangerous climate change that will have severe consequences forever. As we speak, Australian farmers are ripping crops out of the ground due to low rainfall.  This will only worsen under climate change.

We face a climate emergency. Yet our government has failed to deliver strong action on climate change.  It has bowed to the lobbyists of polluting industries instead of securing the economy, livelihoods and futures of the people it is meant to represent.

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) will hand over the right to pollute our atmosphere to the very companies that profit the most from polluting it. It sets a measly emissions reduction target and hands billions of dollars in concessions to fossil fuel industries – that can ‘offset’ their emissions overseas.

Instead of a Carbon Polluters Rewards Scam, we need immediate investment in renewable energy, which will create thousands of green jobs.  We want support for affected workers and communities in phasing out dangerous fossil fuels.

Australia is an innovative nation and well-placed to be a leader in the renewables industry. Make sure we turn the tide of climate change, and activate clean, sustainable solutions for a safe climate future.

stepitupaustralia.wordpress.com / climatesummit.org.au

When: 8am Friday 27 March

Climate Action Canberra will rally outside the Department of Climate Change tomorrow morning with “Penny and the Polluters” fiddling while the Earth burns. This is part of a national day of action against the federal government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

“We need an emergency response to the dire climate change situation. The latest science tells us we have ten years to make a transition to a low Carbon economy” said Cindy Eiritz, a mother and member of Climate Action Canberra.

“The current CPRS framework locks in ten years of continued polluting by the big end of town, gives them $6 billion in handouts and in the end only cuts emissions by a measly 5-15%.” She said.

A rapid transition requires a high Carbon price. The ‘cap’ on the price of Carbon at $30 a tonne will make it difficult to stimulate the growth of low Carbon technologies in Australia, when fossil fuels enjoy the benefit of still being the default option for electricity supply.

The cap on the price of Carbon has other perverse consequences, including disenfranchising the efforts of ordinary people to reduce emissions: under the CPRS, efficiency measures like Earth Hour, or the purchase of green power will simply lower the Carbon price.

Dr Peter Wood, an applied mathematician at ANU, has recommended a reform called a ‘price floor’ to moderate the worst effects of a ‘price cap’. He sees this reform as a compromise measure between a Carbon tax and a trading scheme.

Wood is concerned also about the 15% maximum reduction target jeopardising the possibility of a strong international agreement in December in Copenhagen. “This target shirks Australia’s international obligations and will make us again a pariah nation at the UN summit again” He added “Such low targets will actually decrease the likelihood of international agreement”.

Leigh Hughes, co-convenor of Climate Action Canberra, calls on all Canberrans to join in the growing movement for a just and scientifically credible solution to Climate Change. “We need to make our voices heard. The possibility of a safe climate future is within reach, but the CPRS is absolutely not good enough” he said.

Contact Cindy Eiritz: 0408 266 744

Dr Peter Wood: 0405 545 904

Leigh Hughes: 0421 283 825

Climate Action Canberra is a community-based, non partisan climate action group, connecting the latest science to a emergency policy and community response, in the leadup to the UN conference in Copenhagen December 2009. Acting as an information hub and an entry point, it facilitates peoples’ productive engagement in climate change issues in the ACT.

And a reportback from Climate Action Canberra member:

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your work in making this morning’s rally a success. A number of people at my work saw us, and one of them who was on a passing bus said that it started a discussion involving all the passengers! The ABC has done a radio interview; and currently sitting on the front desk of the Department of Climate Change is our own ‘Letter to Staff’ outlining the reasons for our protest. The music by ‘Penny and the polluters’ and the speakers were fantastic, as were the banners and Clayton’s ‘greenhouse mafia’ act. I also think I spotted a certain Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly in the crowd! All in all, I think we should be quite happy with ourselves, being able to hold a quite lively rally on an issue as specific as the CPRS, at 8am on a somewhat dismal Canberra morning.

I also just wanted to pass on a text message I received after the rally from a participant. It read: “Thankyou! That was the most meaningful protest I have been to in ages!”.

So congratulations all – but of course, there is still a very long way to go and many other successes we will need before we can put on our victory hats (if there were such things as victory hats)!