Council received a report on the advantages to joining the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). This organisation is an international
association of local and metropolitan governments dedicated to sustainable development. A decision was taken by Moreland Council to join ICLEI.
The brief report and motion to join was accepted by Council unanimously at the meeting. (more…)
Rich countries do your fair share: Civil society at COP21
The 195 countries who are signatories of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change reached a global agreement in Paris.
But what does the Paris agreement actually mean?
What should the local climate movement be focussing on now?
What do we need to do to ensure our politicians and leaders take the actions necessitated by the agreement and the implied science?
Which way forward for the climate movement?
When: Wednesday, February 17 at 6:30 PM Where: Resistance Centre, Level 5, 407 Swanston Street, Melbourne (opposite RMIT)
Suggested donation at door: $3 (or $5 solidarity).
Cheap vegetarian meal available from 6pm
Includes an eyewitness report from local citizen journalist, recently returned from Paris.
Speakers:
John Englart (climate activist, citizen observer at Paris summit),
Andrea Bunting (Climate Action Moreland, Socialist Alliance),
David Spratt (climate activist, co-author of Climate Code Red).
Our member John Englart popped into the studio of North West FM 98.9 on Friday for the Environmentality radio program. He discussed his experience at the Paris climate change conference, the implications for the climate movement, and the current cuts to climate research staff at the CSIRO.
See the Environmentality blog with details of the interview. A podcast of the program is also available to play. He expands on this interview in these notes on his blog.
Climate Action Moreland members John Englart and Andrea Bunting discussed the Paris conference, the Paris Agreement, and the civil society protests in Paris as part of the Green left radio Breakfast show on 22nd January (Full Show).
This is the 20 minute discussion excerpt on COP21 from the show:
The Fossil of the Day awards are given each day at the UN climate talks. They are a great way for climate activists to expose who has done their best that day to spoil the climate talks.
Fossil of the day trophy
At the 2014 climate talks, Australia won so many Fossil of the Day awards, that they were dubbed the Fossil of the Year (or the Colossal Fossil). And the same in 2013! Believe me, this is not an award that we should be winning.
This year, Australia is doing better. It took us 10 days to pick up a Fossil of the Day award (shared with Argentina).
Picture by John Englart from awards ceremony. (Yellow text added)
John Englart, our reporter for the Paris climate talks, reports that the French government has banned climate marches planned for November 29 and December 12.
The government is citing security concerns following the November 13 mass shootings and bombings that killed 129 people.
This banning makes it even more vital that people across the world send a clear message. Our leaders must take strong immediate action to slash carbon emissions. Join us at the Melbourne People’s Climate March on Friday November 27 at 5.30pm outside the State Library. Facebook event here.
John also writes:
Can I suggest that those of you not in Paris do a cardboard cut out of a person and write #jesuisParis on it and take it along to the protest as your plus one. Use it to add other climate slogans as you desire. Let your placards speak for Paris as the French State are attempting to silence the citizens of Paris mobilising during the climate conference.
The French organisation Coalition Climate 21 has issued a media release. A web translation is as follows:
NOVEMBER 29 AND DECEMBER 12 PROTESTS PROHIBITED IN PARIS
PRESS RELEASE Paris, November 18, 2015
The Prefecture of Police of Paris has just informed us that due to the tragic events that took place on November 13, the World March for the climate of 29 November and 12 December mobilizations planned are banned in Paris.
We regret that no alternative has been found to allow our mobilizations.However, we are more determined than ever to make our voices heard on issues of climate justice.
“We realize the gravity of the situation.More than ever we will mobilize and gather creatively. No COP21 without mobilizing civil society ” said Juliette Rousseau, coordinator of the Coalition climate 21.
Indeed, on 28 and 29 November weekend, on the eve of the opening of the COP 21, millions of people will march for climate justice:
2173 events are being prepared in over 150 countries
57 marches are planned worldwide
Dozens of marches in the regions of France have been announced
On 29 November and 12 December in Paris, we will find an alternative form of citizen mobilization, to show that COP 21 will not be done only with the negotiators.
Citizens Climate Summit to be held on 5 and 6 December in Montreuil (Seine Saint-Denis) and the Action Zone Climate, to be held from December 7 to 11 at Paris-CENTQUATRE should be maintained.These mobilizations will be two great opportunities to demonstrate that we have the solutions and alternatives to climate change and that civil society is determined to fight against the climate crisis.
21 Climate Coalition recalled that COP 21 is not an end in itself and that we citizens of the world are building a movement that will be strengthened after this summit and beyond.
These are extraordinary times with enormous changes in society required to reduce emissions to mitigate climate change in the future and also adapt to the rising temperatures, sea levels and extreme weather events already occurring now and in the pipeline due to the enormous inertia in the climate system. One of our members, John Englart, will be travelling to Paris with his teenage daughter, to attend the United Nations Paris climate conference, known as the 21st Conference of the Parties or more simply as COP21.
There will be huge protests in Paris on the same weekend we march in Melbourne and in cities around the world, and a further Paris mobilization protest on December 12 immediately after the conference, no matter the result of negotiations.
We have seen too little results and many failures from 21 years of diplomatic process. Free Trade talks proceed and are often concluded with great rapidity by comparison. Free trade that primarily benefits corporate wealth has been given far more importance from our politicians than a safe climate that benefits everyone and particularly future generations.
John and Tarryn will be in Paris to document and report from the streets and civil society events.
But more than this. John Englart will join the Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) NGO official delegation to the conference to observe proceedings. He will have access to main conference plenaries and walk the same corridors as world leaders and diplomats. He will be reporting and posting to his own blog, to the nofibs website, on his own twitter account (@takvera) and will even use Climate Action Moreland’s twitter account (@camoreland) to post occasional updates, and sending updates to social communities on Google Plus and Australian and international Facebook groups he is a member of. (more…)
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