Community Climate Action Groups. Protests. Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS)

Community Climate Action Groups across Australia held protests at the offices of over 30 Federal MPs to protest the failure of the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). This included the Labor Party Office of New South Wales in Sydney as well. The protesters are calling on the Government not to pursue a scheme that rewards big polluters, fails to commit to adequate emission reduction targets and locks Australia into catastrophic climate change. “We are deeply concerned that the CPRS takes a ‘business as usual’ approach to the urgent threat of climate change and does not commit to the emissions reduction targets that the science tells us are necessary to avoid dangerous climate change,” said Moira Williams from Climate Action Newtown, Sydney. “Big polluting industries like coal and aluminium must be made to cut emissions rapidly and immediately. The CPRS will give away billions in concessions without even achieving the necessary pollution cuts. In fact, emissions are likely to continue rising under this scheme,” continued Williams. The protests are twice the size of similar actions that took place last year following the announcement of the 5-15% emissions reduction target and the release of the White Paper for the CPRS. Protest organisers attribute the increase to the continued failure of the Government to meet the clear need for more decisive action.“It is an absolute disgrace that when faced with the threat of catastrophic climate change, our leaders are pandering to the powerful fossil fuel and mining lobbies, and continuing to ignore urgent scientific advice and widespread community alarm about the most important issue of our time,” said Pablo Brait from Yarra Climate Action Now. “We are calling for a moratorium on coal mining and coal-fired power stations, and an end to perverse subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. We want just sector-by-sector transition plans for affected workers and communities. The Government can stimulate the economy and create quality green jobs, by making direct investment in renewable energy to move towards 100% renewables by 2020.” Brait emphasised.

Climate Action Coogee in Sydney staged a protest outside the office of Federal MP Peter Garrett to oppose the Federal government’s proposed CPRS. “We want to send Peter Garrett the message that the people of Kingsford Smith want real action on climate change, not half-baked plans like the proposed emissions trading scheme,” said Mel Edwards of the action group. The action groups believe that CPRS is more about rewarding big polluters than reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the scheme is deeply unfair and will not keep coal in the ground. In fact, “it is doubtful that any emissions trading scheme would result in a significant shift away from fossil fuels, which are the main source of greenhouse gas pollution” Edwards added. Coogee Climate Action Group is demanding Federal Minister Peter Garrett to stand up and reject the CPRS in favour of a just and rapid transition to renewable energy that will create quality green jobs and a safe climate.

Climate action group in Newcastle Rising Tide accuses the Federal Government’s proposed CPRS for not delivering the promised cap on pollution and will actually increase greenhouse gas emissions. Campaigners complain that the scheme does not limit the number of emissions units that may be granted as a result of reforestation projects, issued at a fixed charge by the Government, or the number of emissions units that may be bought from overseas schemes. “As a result, there will be no cap at all” says Rising Tide. Spokesperson of the Group Georgina Woods, said, “The Government has pulled the wool over our eyes on this one. We have read the fine print, and we are shocked. This is not a cap and trade scheme, because there is no cap. This is merely a trading scheme.” The Government came under fire for announcing emission cuts of only 5-15% by 2020. Activists argue that “even this minimal promise” will be broken if the scheme is passed into law in its current form. “The Government has to get serious. All pollution units in Australia, whether bought from overseas, raised in reforestation projects or provided under the price cap must be subject to our emissions cap. Otherwise, pollution will just keep rising and our entire economy will be left behind as nations around the world shift to low-carbon futures.” added Woods.