Because climate change is seriously uncool.
TAKE ACTION: Join in to break the deadlock at the UN climate negotiations
In order to safeguard the future of our planet and avoid dangerous climate change, a fair and just climate treaty in Copenhagen is not optional, it is a must. The key to a fair and just climate treaty is global cooperation. The UN climate negotiations are at a critical point, but there is a real risk that political deadlock over ‘who does what’ will prevent them from moving forward at the pace that is necessary to secure the treaty we need. This cannot be allowed to happen, and you can help.
As a wealthy developed nation which has significantly contributed to the problem of climate change through our high per capita level of carbon emissions, Australia must accept its ‘double duty’ to cut emissions at home and help finance emissions reductions and adaptation in poor countries to ensure that we avoid climate disaster.
Dear Senator Wong, I am part of a growing group of Australian citizens monitoring the current UN climate change meeting in Bonn in the lead up to Copenhagen.
I want to see Australia play an active role in moving the UN climate negotiations forward to secure a fair and just climate change deal in Copenhagen.
I understand that the UN negotiations are deadlocked in part because rich countries, including Australia, want poor nations to make firm commitments to reduce their emissions, but poor countries won’t make such commitments until they know the level of financial support they can expect from rich countries.
I am pleased that the Australian government has recognised our responsibility to support developing countries respond to the challenges of climate change. However, I am concerned that we have not yet dealt with long term funding mechanisms, leaving developing countries with no predictable support. Australia must lead by example by being one of the first to commit to an international mitigation and adaptation finance mechanism.
As a UN e-monitor, I call on the Australian government to:
- Champion a global mitigation and financing mechanism that will generate the scale of funding that is necessary to meet the adaptation and mitigation costs in poor countries. For example, Oxfam at the Bonn meeting proposed that funds would be raised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) through the selling of emission permits to developed countries.
- Indicate that Australia is willing to pay its fair share for poor country mitigation and adaptation into this fund, Oxfam estimates this is around 4.3 billion AUD per year;
- Not hand out free permits to big polluters as part of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Instead, the Australian government should sell emission permits as a way to generate the needed finance for the suggested global mitigation and financing mechanism.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Global climate change negotiations are currently in political deadlock, but we cannot afford for any time to be wasted. Rich countries need to commit to the emissions reductions necessary to avoid dangerous climate change, and put an adequate figure on the table to support developing countries. Rich countries want poor nations to make firm commitments to reduce their emissions, but poor countries won’t make such commitments until they know the level of support they can expect from rich countries. The time has come for this deadlock to be broken.
Climate change - caused mainly by the emissions of the rich world - is happening now and is already hitting the world's poorest and most vulnerable, who have contributed least to the problem. Science tells us that in order to avoid further dangerous climate change, which will put the lives and livelihoods millions of poor people at risk; we must limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius or less. Pacific Island leaders have called for the developed world to act to ensure that we limit warming below 1.5 degrees to safeguard the very existence of their island homes. Australia, as a wealthy developed country, has the responsibility to act.
A new report by Oxfam, ’Hang Together or Separately?’, launched at the UN talks in Bonn, says that only rich countries can break the deadlock now crippling international climate negotiations and prevent the world lurching into climate disaster.
‘Hang Together or Separately?’ offers a solution to two hotly disputed issues that could make or break the talks - who should cut emissions and who should pay?
Rich countries got us into this mess and they have the money and the technology to get us out of it. This gives them a double duty – to deliver major emissions reductions at home and provide the money poor countries need to start tackling their emissions too.
The report proposes a global finance mechanism to provide the financial support poor countries need to tackle their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
To find out more about this new report read the daily UN E-monitors blog from Bonn
As a wealthy developed nation which has significantly contributed to the problem of climate change through our high per capita level of carbon emissions, Australia must accept its ‘double duty’ to cut emissions at home and help finance emissions reductions and adaptation in poor countries to ensure that we avoid climate disaster.
Write Senator Wong Now
Click here to visit to Senator Wong’s home page - and Paste the following letter into the message form.Dear Senator Wong, I am part of a growing group of Australian citizens monitoring the current UN climate change meeting in Bonn in the lead up to Copenhagen.
I want to see Australia play an active role in moving the UN climate negotiations forward to secure a fair and just climate change deal in Copenhagen.
I understand that the UN negotiations are deadlocked in part because rich countries, including Australia, want poor nations to make firm commitments to reduce their emissions, but poor countries won’t make such commitments until they know the level of financial support they can expect from rich countries.
I am pleased that the Australian government has recognised our responsibility to support developing countries respond to the challenges of climate change. However, I am concerned that we have not yet dealt with long term funding mechanisms, leaving developing countries with no predictable support. Australia must lead by example by being one of the first to commit to an international mitigation and adaptation finance mechanism.
As a UN e-monitor, I call on the Australian government to:
- Champion a global mitigation and financing mechanism that will generate the scale of funding that is necessary to meet the adaptation and mitigation costs in poor countries. For example, Oxfam at the Bonn meeting proposed that funds would be raised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) through the selling of emission permits to developed countries.
- Indicate that Australia is willing to pay its fair share for poor country mitigation and adaptation into this fund, Oxfam estimates this is around 4.3 billion AUD per year;
- Not hand out free permits to big polluters as part of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Instead, the Australian government should sell emission permits as a way to generate the needed finance for the suggested global mitigation and financing mechanism.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Further reading
Global climate change negotiations are currently in political deadlock, but we cannot afford for any time to be wasted. Rich countries need to commit to the emissions reductions necessary to avoid dangerous climate change, and put an adequate figure on the table to support developing countries. Rich countries want poor nations to make firm commitments to reduce their emissions, but poor countries won’t make such commitments until they know the level of support they can expect from rich countries. The time has come for this deadlock to be broken.
Climate change - caused mainly by the emissions of the rich world - is happening now and is already hitting the world's poorest and most vulnerable, who have contributed least to the problem. Science tells us that in order to avoid further dangerous climate change, which will put the lives and livelihoods millions of poor people at risk; we must limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius or less. Pacific Island leaders have called for the developed world to act to ensure that we limit warming below 1.5 degrees to safeguard the very existence of their island homes. Australia, as a wealthy developed country, has the responsibility to act.
A new report by Oxfam, ’Hang Together or Separately?’, launched at the UN talks in Bonn, says that only rich countries can break the deadlock now crippling international climate negotiations and prevent the world lurching into climate disaster.
‘Hang Together or Separately?’ offers a solution to two hotly disputed issues that could make or break the talks - who should cut emissions and who should pay?
Rich countries got us into this mess and they have the money and the technology to get us out of it. This gives them a double duty – to deliver major emissions reductions at home and provide the money poor countries need to start tackling their emissions too.
The report proposes a global finance mechanism to provide the financial support poor countries need to tackle their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
To find out more about this new report read the daily UN E-monitors blog from Bonn
Tags: action
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Christine on -
I've written to Penny Wong. Can't find the discussion on this, so am putting it here.
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Willis on
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I just wrote to her too =)
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Permalink Reply by Michael Christie on -
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Permalink Reply by Denise Dempsey on
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I too could not find the discussion - have just sent the email to Penny Wong. Hope she answers all of us!
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Permalink Reply by Brad Homewood on -
I've written to senator Penny Wong as well, but cant help but think back to when our weak and lame targets were first announced,
there was a story in the media that said Penny Wong, Peter Garrett and a number of other members were disappointed with the low targets and argued for stronger ones, I get the feeling that Penny Wong would like to see stronger targets consistent with the governments earlier rhetoric, but unfortunately has to tow the party line, a party line that has undoubtedly been influenced by the fossil fuel lobby, who dreads the strong targets that are necessary.
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Permalink Reply by Carl Kenner on
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Penny Wong doesn't have to tow the party line. She CHOOSES to tow the party line. She could save the planet if she wanted to, she just chooses to help destroy it. That's because Penny Wong is one of the most evil and dangerous people in the world today.
Anyway, I sent her the letter. But writing letters asking nicely for her not to destroy the world seems a bit out of proportion to the scale of the problem.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy at Kallista on
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I have sent the email to Penny Wong I was just reading an article in The Saturday Age and I just wanted to add a few quotes from it
Graeme Peerman formly of CSIRO 40 years in climate science field is desperate to understand our in action despite the science. It is worth while read. some quotes " If we are waiting for the perfect solution, it will be too late."
We need to search deep within our selves and as a community for the sense of the responsibility we have toward others and to the stewardship we owe to millions of species that share the planet with is". Australias chief scientist Penney Sacket , said the world had about six years to get emisions under control.
Each persons behavior will play a significant role in how we reapond to this environmental threat. I hope penny wong is searching deep.!!
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Permalink Reply by Cara on -
Hi all,
Thanks for sending letters to Penny Wong demanding stronger action. I'm not sure of the exact figures (I will find out) but more than 2000 people sent letters to Wong on this issue within the first 10days of us posting this call to action. This is a great show of public support!!
As we head towards Copenhagen, it will be increasingly important for our elected representatives from all parties, representing all electorates and from a range of portfolios to hear the concerns of Australians on climate change loud and clear.
Any other letters that you send to Ministers or to your local paper it would be great to see posted on here - and if you get a response put it up on here as well!
I think it is really awesome to see Australians from all parts of the country and walks of life taking action!
You guys rock
- Cara
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