Celtic Gardens Australia - Anna Pye writes
Suggestions for Actions that we as we as citizens, community and individuals can take to help reduce global warming.
Luckily we have a plethora of choices and examples to follow.
1. Vote for clean Energy in New South Wales State Election in March 2007 along with Greenpeace who tackles greenhouse pollution, is for increasing renewable energy and pushing for energy efficiency.
2. Sign the Democrats petition against Nuclear Energy and Uranium.Articles and actions.
3. Read and respond to the article in The Echo on John Howard and his Nuclear stance: Byron Bay Echo
4. Read and follow the Greenpeace “The NSW Quit Coal and Clean Energy Community Action Kit”.
5. Fight for Australia to join the Kyoto Protocol so that we, like China could also get a $300 million wind farm funded under the Kyoto Protocol instead of missing out on this $300 million project by being the only other country with the US not being a signatory.
Through ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, Australia could access the global carbon trading market, forecast to be worth 2.6 trillion by 2012.
6. Support the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change report which shows that it is possible for Australia to deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions at an affordable cost, whilst maintaining strong economic growth.
7. Urge John Howard to follow Gov. Schwarzenegger’s example to sponsor a policy resolution to support research, policy coordination and implementation of various strategies to reduce greenhouse gasses. Goals to include the use of coal, biomass, energy efficiency geothermal, solar, electricity transmission and wind. Decreasing our dependency on foreign oil and increase the use of alternative fuels. Develop like Gov. Schwarzenegger a plan to have one million solar roofs on residential and commercial buildings by 2018 providing 3,000 megawatts to the electricity grid. Encourage cities, schools, and commercial building owners to reduce electricity purchased from the grid. Promote and educate the need for continued energy conservation. Encourage the use of biofuels to fight against high petrol prices. Set goals to reach clean energy specified objectives by a certain time.
8. John Howard to support and follow the European Union’s plan to save energy by calling on people to switch off or change energy-draining appliances as part of a drive to reduce Europe’s reliance on imported fuel.
9. Join “Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle” an independent collective of local parents and residents taking steps towards reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions through donating to their cause or follow their example by setting up a similar project locally. They encourage the government to legislate and aim for a state renewable energy target of 15% by 2012 and 25% by 2020 to spur $3 billion in investment in clean energy projects and 2,000 new jobs in NSW, they promote the concept of exporting clean energy instead of climate changing coal. They also advocate for clear and binding renewable targets to cut carbon pollution to 60% of 1990 levels to that global warming is kept below two degrees celcius (recommended by the International Climate Change Taskforce).
10. Reduce your own CO2 emissions on the home front , visit the Australian Conservation Foundation’s “greenhome” site- www.acfonline.org.au/greenhome
11. Offset your air travel or office energy emissions by visiting: Carbon Neutral
12. Fill in and send a letter to Hon. John Howard direct: Your Letter to John Howard to put climate change on the agenda. Sample letter from Climate Change
13. and Premier Iemma re coal reduction and clean energy provided by the Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle on their website: www.climatechangebr.org
14. Sign the petition on Get Up which is asking the government to dramatically cut greenhouse pollution, shift to clean energy and solve the climate crises now.
15. Buy your electricity from a retailer with the highest amount of accredited Green Power.
Visit www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au
16. Campaign to get a Green-Home workshop program in your area. In Victoria the Green Home program is supported by the Victorian Government and the NSW Green Home program supported by NSW Government.
17. Change your electricity retailer to a retailer that provides Green Power Products-Green Power is government accredited clean, renewable energy sourced from the sun, wind, water and waste.
18. Encourage schools to do energy audits on their household appliances as environmental school projects.
19. Ask the Howard Government to provide more investment opportunities such as the $75,000,000 being spent on building one of the largest solar power plants in the world in regional Victoria.
20. Read The Climate Institute Australia’s media releases on raising public awareness and debates about the dangers to Australia of global warming.
21. Support The Climate Institute Australia’s request for the government to introduce a carbon cap, and to develop a domestic emission trading scheme that is compatible with international carbon markets that have emerged under the Kyoto rules.
22. Support the Stern Review which advocates for a fundamental overhaul of Australia’s climate change policy.
23. Campaign with farmers who are being penalised to the tune of $2.5 billion over five years as a result of the Federal Government’s policy not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol or introduce a national emissions trading scheme.
24. Support the Climate Institute’s request for the government to address climate change and drought together in order to protect the future of farmers.
25. Read the Climate Institute “Top Ten Tipping Points on Climate Change” the report is an analysis of why Australia is adrift on the climate change issue.
26. Print out the poster: ten things to do to help stop global warming on: www.climatecrises.net
27. Encourage the government to host more Solar Cities in NSW similar to its “Blacktown Solar City prototype. The Black town Solar City projects joins Adelaide and Townsville as the first three Australian Solar Cities saving greenhouse gas emissions and reducing electricity bills.
28. Research the American Council for ideas and tips on Energy Efficient Economy for and saving energy on heating and cooling.
29. Invest your money on companies, products and projects that address issues related to climate change.
30. Ask your local politicians these QUESTIONS:
1. Do you support a Cap on Carbon? State why you vote for it and if not why you don’t vote for it?
If Yes
How would you campaign?
2. Would you fight for Australia to sign the interna tionally ruled Kyoto Protocol? If not, why not? If yes How?
3.. Would you campaign for a nationally consistent regulatory policy and framework to respond to climate change in Australia, if yes how would you promote?
4. Would you fight against massive quantities of Uranium to be mined as a potential power support?
If not, why not? If yes how would you campaign?
5.. What alternate green - renewable energy proposals to Uranium would you promote, why and how would you promote it
6.. What are your views and actions to reverse the damaging effects of escalating climate change? Please list them.