Climate Emergency Petition

Mobilising public and private resources to restore
a safe climate for the common good

In February 2016, global temperatures spiked to well over 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, just weeks after the Paris resolution aimed at not exceeding that benchmark. (See: Climate Reality Check)

Ask Australian parliaments and local councils to
declare a climate emergency and mobilise resources
to restore a safe climate

“All of us are fully aware how wrong it is to falsely yell ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theatre. But we are also aware of how wrong it is to sit silently while a fire begins to spread…” Richard Alley, Professor of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University

Humans are like frogs in a saucepan of water being gradually heated to boiling. Each month brings us more frightening news on the effects of global warming, but because the changes are gradual, there’s never a clear signal that it’s time to step up to stronger action.

Let’s use the alarming spike in global temperatures during February 2016 and the bleaching of the Reef as the impetus to insist our leaders stop playing political games on climate and stand together to draw a line in the sand. Australian Parliament must declare a climate emergency. It’s the first step in mobilising government and community resources and funds that are not normally available. Declaring a state of emergency inspires the public to act for the common good.

Australians are great at pitching in to help in an emergency. In the Queensland floods of 2011, three-quarters of the council areas were declared disaster zones. Government funds were made available and a large workforce was mobilised to deal with the emergency. More than 55,000 volunteers registered to help clean up the streets of Brisbane. All over Australia kind-hearted individuals and community groups sent supplies and raised emergency funds.

This petition is a first step in a growing campaign by grassroots climate action groups to pressure our political leaders to step up and do what is needed to address the climate crisis. It is part of a PetitionStorm and the total includes signatures on other forms of the petition. Read more at http://www.climatesafety.net

» For more information about climate emergency goals, see the report Striking Targets

When you sign the petition, you can also
report what you do to reduce emissions

Government-led resource mobilisation is only half of the solution. The other half is what you and I do. During the Queensland floods, Aussies were taking neighbours and strangers to safety, sharing resources, and doing whatever was needed right from the start of the emergency simply because they could.

Individuals and community groups are already taking initiative and using their own resources to restore a safe climate. Tell Parliament and everyone else what YOU are already doing to show how we are mobilising together for the common good.

Use the form below to sign the petition to Parliament.

If you wish, you can also add your climate actions. We’ll add the data from the climate action counters when we submit the petition because we believe it is powerful to show that the public is already mobilising itself.

Eight examples of actions
for reducing carbon emissions

• Minimise transport emissions
For example, walk, ride, take public transport, use an electric vehicle, avoid air travel. Instead, use video conferencing, skype for business, etc, whenever possible.

• Move your money out of fossil fuels
For banks see www.marketforces.org.au, for superannuation see www.superswitch.org.au.

• Put your money into renewable energy
Invest in renewable energy, or donate to community solar projects – see www.corenafund.org.au.

• Power your house with clean energy
Install solar if you can, or buy renewables-friendly electricity. Disconnect from gas – see www.greenelectricityguide.org.au.

• Make your house energy efficient
See www.energyfreedom.com.au

• Eat less meat
For example, meat-free days, vegetarian, vegan

• Be a conscious consumer
For example, buy only what you need, and buy things that last. Recycle. Upcycle.

• Plant trees
For drawing down excess carbon in the atmosphere. For example Earth Day

Help build support
for a climate emergency declaration

• Share this petition on social media
• Include a link to the petition in e-news to members of your group
• Embed the petition on your group’s website
• Get out into the community to seek support for the climate emergency declaration
• Build support within the political party that you favour most
• Lobby politicians/councillors to support the making of a climate emergency declaration

This petition is also embedded at
www.corenafund.org.au/news/climate-emergency-petition

If you would like to embed this petition page on your website, please contact us.

Enquiries
Margaret@CORENAfund.org.au
MikAidt@climatesafety.info
Philip.Sutton@green-innovations.asn.au

You can also download an A4 version of the petition (PDF) to print out

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