TAKE ACTION! Australia to submit emission reduction targets in less than 2 weeks

In less than 2 weeks the Australian government will lodge our national pollution reduction target under the ‘Copenhagen Accord’. Please take the time before January 31 to write, email, ring and pester Climate Change Minister Penny Wong to let her know you’re watching and that we won’t let the pressure down!!

We've made it super easy. You can simply send our letter through A Climate for Change. Or read on for ideas to write your own!

C'mon Penny, be a climate hero!
Photo thanks to Michael Myers

The Australian Government is due to submit our national emissions reduction target as part of the Copenhagen Accord by Sunday 31 January.

After the disappointment of Copenhagen, where world leaders failed to agree to a fair, ambitious and legally binding global climate agreement, now is the time to ensure that our government knows that we are still paying close attention to their climate policies and we demand nothing less than swift and effective action on climate change.

Unlike Copenhagen, we're pretty sure that this target submission wont make a big news story, in fact we may not hear that the government have submitted their target until well after the fact. But, we need to make sure Wong knows Australians demand climate action. Lots of us will have different ideas about what is best to say – we encourage you to say whatever you like! Just let her know you’re watching, and that we won’t let the pressure down.

This week environment and development organisations from all across Australia (and indeed some international groups) are sending formal letters to the Minister and Prime Minister before the Copenhagen Accord targets go in calling on them to committ Australia to strong action.

Ensure your voice is heard too.

HOW TO CONTACT PENNY
Email to: senator.wong@aph.gov.au
Phone her office in Parliament House: (02) 6277 7920

WHAT TO SAY TO PENNY
** We were all disappointed in the failure of the Copenhagen talks to reach agreement on a plan to reduce greenhouse emissions world-wide, and provide for enhanced action on adaptation, finance and technology transfer.

** Science tells us that to limit warming and avoid runaway climate change, rich developed countries like Australia need to reduce their emissions by at least 40% on 1990 levels by 2020. ‎Without big cuts in emissions Pacific Island nations, like Tuvalu which sits less than 4.5 metres above sea level at its highest point, could be uninhabitable by 2025.‎

** If Australia wants to see international consensus to save the climate, we must use the Copenhagen Accord to stimulate the negotiations and raise ambition for an effective outcome. To do this, Australia needs to show it is committed to take strong action by lodging an emission reduction target with the Copenhagen Accord in line with what science and historical responsibility demands.

MORE INFORMATION
Read the Copenhagen Accord.
For a summary of what the Climate Action Network of Australia and its member groups think of the Accord, and the outcomes of Copenhagen, visit the CANA website.