Dear Alison
Final Details:

The Climate Change Action Group endorses your letter (below)
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateChangeAction
80 global members, mostly Australian.

Cheers
Anne Goddard
Administrator

To: Prime Minister John Howard MP
PO Box 6004
Kingston ACT 2604
Phone: (02) 6273 2564
Fax: (02) 6273 1534

To: Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd MP
Kevin.Rudd.MP@...
PO Box 6222
Kingston ACT 2604
Parliament House
Fax: (02) 6277 8495

Day/month/2007

Dear Mr. Howard and Mr. Rudd

A joint declaration from the citizens' Climate Action groups of Australia

We are writing to both of you as one voice from the abundant citizens'
climate change action groups that have formed across Australia. The
existence of our many groups is the result of mounting anxiety in the
population about the lack of effective action delivered so far on reducing
our nation's greenhouse gas emissions, and the disappointing policies on
offer from both of your parties at this critical time.

Our members are drawn from the spectrum of this country's people, from
urban, rural and regional areas. They include small and large business
operators and directors, parents, students, grandparents, farmers, migrants,
and public service and other employees. Diverse and often dissimilar, we all
share a common wish to see far more effective measures undertaken by our
leaders to avert the dangerous climate change that scientists across the
globe predict.

It is clear to us that the climate change initiatives proposed by both major
parties, at the time of writing, will not bring about the necessary
reductions in emissions to keep global warming below the danger threshold
(agreed by the IPCC) of 2°C above pre-industrial levels by the time our
young children reach adulthood.

There is a wealth of knowledge in the public domain regarding climate
change, its current and predicted effects, its causes and, increasingly, the
necessary steps and options to curb Australia's contribution to this global
crisis.

The existence of our many groups demonstrates a widespread understanding
amongst voters about the need for sweeping, legislated changes to industry
and society to tackle climate change effectively (a prime example being the
comprehensive Climate Protection Bill developed by Climate Action Coogee and
endorsed by 60 citizens' climate action groups.)

We are writing to clearly express to you that:

A. Many Australians are prepared to make the necessary changes to our
lifestyles to avert threatening climate change, including paying more for
electricity.

B. We expect our government to swiftly impose measures that will cut
greenhouse emissions from industry and domestic society to safe levels, and
we will support and respect such leadership on this critical matter.

C. We are very much aware that there are substantial numbers of highly
credible research papers and reports that demonstrate the viability of
currently available, clean, renewable energy sources as being able to
deliver the bulk of the energy needs of this country.

D. We are acutely aware of the significant contribution of the coal industry
to climate change, both here and overseas, and are not convinced by the
clean coal pathway. Exports of Australian coal contribute more to global
greenhouse gases than all of Australia's emissions combined. Worldwide,
there is no proven, working model for sequestering greenhouse gas emissions
from coal-fired power plants. The technology to provide 'clean coal' may
never come to fruition, yet time is of the essence. We feel that any party
that consents to the expansion of such a dangerous industry in this age is
not acting responsibly, or in the public interest.

E. We remain opposed to the expansion of the nuclear industry for all the
risks it continues to pose globally and locally.


On behalf of the undersigned Australian citizens' climate action groups, we
ask that the Liberal Party of Australia and the Australian Labor Party
pledge to:

1. Legislate a greenhouse emissions reduction target of at least 30%
below 1990 levels by 2020, to put this country on track for an emissions
reduction target of at least 90% below 1990 levels by 2050, aimed at keeping
the global mean temperature increase from pre-industrial levels to below
2°C.


2. Legislate a renewable energy target of at least 25% by 2020.

3. Cease the approvals of new or expanded coalmines, coal-fired power
stations and coal export infrastructure, and support the development of
alternative, sustainable industries in coal-mining regions.

4. Adopt a target of zero energy growth by 2010 with annual reductions
thereafter, through increased energy efficiency and demand management.

5. Abandon any plans for the expansion of uranium mining and export,
and the development of nuclear power stations.


We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,