Industrial Workers of the World

Carbon scheme a recipe for disaster

http://www.foe.org.au/media-releases/2008-media-releases/carbon-scheme-a-recipe-for-disaster

The government's carbon trading scheme and emissions targets announced today are a recipe for disaster and will not deliver a safe climate, Friends of the Earth Australia said today.

More than 60 environmental and social groups have joined together to denounce these targets. Carbon scheme a recipe for disaster Monday, 15 December 2008 “The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, announced by the government, is a polluters paradise and could have been comfortably proposed by John Howard.”

“The targets if adopted globally would not only kill the Great Barrier Reef and the Murray Darling but would spell disaster for hundreds of millions of people,” Damien Lawson, climate justice coordinator said today. “By adopting a target range 5-15% the government is seeking to deflect the public anger which will no doubt be generated by this failure to show leadership in the face of this crisis.” “But, even these hopelessly low targets are a fiction, as they rely in part on obtaining carbon credits generated in developing countries. Many of which will not reflect an actual reduction in carbon pollution.” “

The slow start to a slow scheme will mean pollution reductions will tiny and at a snails pace, even while climate change accelerates.” “The coal industry fingerprints are all over this white paper.” “The climate system is perilously close to tipping points that will take us into runaway catastrophic climate change. Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong don't seem to understand how close to edge of the cliff we are.” Kevin Rudd says he has got the balance right, but this does not stack up in the face of what the science is telling us. It is not possible to negotiate with the planet, we must adopt targets that will prevent the climate system running out of control.”

“We need a plan to cut our emissions in half in the next decade and then to move to zero as quickly as possible.” “We are in an emergency and only emergency action which mobilises the whole of society to confront the problem will do the job. Like World War II such a mobilisation can also address the problem of global recession and world wide poverty.” “The fast-tracking of $500 billion in investment for renewable energy and commitments on energy efficiency are only a small part of what is needed.”

“Kevin Rudd's climate police is a recipe for disaster. We will be stepping up community organising and protest over the next six months to pressure the government to adopt more realistic targets.”

NOTE : To respond to the government's announcement and to highlight the climate emergency Friends of the Earth will join many of the community protests planned over the next two days at MPs offices around the country.”

For information and comment: Damien Lawson 0419 253 342

Check here for details on our community actions at MP's offices --

Environmental community unites to condemn Rudd’s low greenhouse target A coalition of over 60 Australian environment and community groups have united today to condemn the Rudd Government’s announcement of an ineffectual 5-15% greenhouse reduction target. The undersigned groups have issued this joint statement:

The announcement of an interim emission reduction target of only 5-15% represents a total failure of climate policy and shows that the Rudd Government has caved in to pressure from the big polluters.

This decision is simply unacceptable. If adopted globally, this target would guarantee the loss of the Great Barrier Reef and the Kakadu wetlands, and would steer the earth on a path towards catastrophic climate change.

This decision represents a failure of the Federal Government to act on the climate science, a failure to act in the public interest, and a failure of international diplomacy.

This decision will send a signal to the world that Australia is reneging on the agreed Bali range of 25-40% for developed countries and will make a strong global agreement all the more difficult to achieve.

We urge the Australian Parliament, the media, and all sections of the community to ensure that this weak target is not allowed to stand, and to make sure that 2009 is the year that Australia begins to show real leadership on climate change in the lead up to the international negotiations in Copenhagen.

Signed: 1. Steve Shallhorn, Executive Director, Greenpeace Australia Pacific 2. Greg Bourne, Executive Director, World Wide Fund for Nature 3. Andrew Hewett, Executive Director, Oxfam Australia 4. Nina Hall, Executive Director (Acting), Climate Action Network Australia 5. Simon Sheikh, National Director, GetUp! 6. Virginia Young, The Wilderness Society 7. Cam Walker, Coordinator, Friends of the Earth Australia 8. Jeff Angel, Executive Director, Total Environment Centre 9. Anna Rose & Amanda McKenzie, Co-Directors, Australian Youth Climate Coalition 10. Georgina Woods, Rising Tide 11. Cate Faehrmann, Executive Director, Nature Conservation Council of NSW 12. Piers Verstegen, Director, Conservation Council of Western Australia 13. Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director, Queensland Conservation Council 14. Julie Pettett, Chief Executive Officer, Conservation Council of South Australia 15. Kelly O'Shanessy, Executive Director, Environment Victoria 16. Dr Elaine K. Harding, Coordinator, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre 17. Emma King, Coordinator (Acting), Environment Centre of the NT 18. Andrew Cox, Executive Officer, National Parks Association of NSW 19. Margaret Steadman, Executive Officer, Tasmanian Environment Centre Inc 20. Carol Ride, Convenor, Climate Emergency Network 21. Jonathan Doig, Convenor, Sutherland Climate Action Network 22. Sue Mathews, Trustee, The Mullum Trust 23. Phil Glendenning, Director, Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education 24. Mary Tinney, Coordinator, Sisters of Mercy Earth Link 25. Sr Geraldine Kearney, Delegate for Social Responsibility, Sisters of the Good Samaritan 26. Jill Finnane, Coordinator, Pacific Calling Partnership 27. Thea Ormerod, President, Australian Religious Response to Climate Change 28. Keely Boom, Director, Australian Climate Justice Program 29. Teresa Capetola, Climate Change and public health research cluster, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University 30. Julien Lacave, Projects Manager, Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society 31. Paul Murfitt, Chief Executive Officer, Moreland Energy Foundation Limited 32. Tessa Dowdell, Climate Convenor, Australian Student Environment Network 33. Janet Cavenagh, Clarence Branch of Climate Change Australia 34. Jacquie Svenson, Convenor, Climate Action Coogee 35. Lizette Salmon, WATCH, Wodonga & Albury Towards Climate Health (WATCH) 36. Annie Nielsen, Executive Member, Parramatta Climate Action Network 37. Bev Smiles, Central West Environment Council 38. Bob Phillips, President, Lake Macquarie Climate Action 39. Bradley Smith, University if Queensland Climate for Change 40. Jim Morrison, President, North Coast Environment Council 41. Carmel Flint, Co-ordinator, North East Forest Alliance 42. Carolyn Ingvarson, Convenor, Lighter Footprints Climate Change Action Group 43. Robin Knox, Project Manager, COOLmob 44. Dr Gabe Lomas, Association for Berowra Creek 45. Geoff Walker, Save Happy Valley Coalition Aotearoa 46. Janet Klein, Secretary, Adelaide Hills Climate Action Group 47. Tony Gleeson, Alstonville High School Community Sustainability Advisory Committee 48. Vanessa Morris, Executive Officer, SEE-Change 49. Shakti Burke, Kyogle Climate Action Network 50. Sheila Monahan, Convenor, South East Region Conservation Alliance 51. Sue Fielder, Ballina Climate Action Network 52. Tony Gleeson, Broadwater Community Dunecare 53. Sue Lewis, President, Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle. 54. Ben Henley and Vicki Brooke, Co-Convenors, Climate Action Newcastle 55. Erland Howden, Hills Against Global Warming 56. Roger Pye, President, Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre 57. Penelope Milstein, Sustainability in Stonnington Incorporated 58. Carol Ride, Convenor, Darebin Climate Action Now 59. Cath James, Justice & International Mission, Uniting Church of Australia 60. Deborah Hart, Locals Into Victoria's Environment (LIVE) 61. Dr Mark Diesendorf, Deputy Director, Institute of Environmental Studies, UNSW 62. Jack Smit, Project SafeCom, WA For comment: Nina Hall, Climate Action Network Australia, Mob 0415 750 957 John Hepburn, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Mob 0407 231 172 Damien Lawson, Friends of the Earth, Mob 0419 253 342