Make Your Climate Action Count
ATA members, along with millions of other Australian individuals, households and businesses, have been undertaking their own action to voluntarily reduce their carbon footprint over many years – purchasing GreenPower, installing solar PV and solar hot water, buying carbon offsets for their flights or vehicle emissions and investing in energy efficiency.
And while we have all been calling for and enthusiastically supporting government action to respond to the challenge of climate change, under the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) legislation, these important voluntary actions will not actually reduce Australia’s overall carbon emissions.
Many households and businesses and even local governments have been striving to work towards ‘carbon neutrality’ in their communities. As an example, the Cities for Climate Protection program saw over 230 councils across Australia set their own goals for emission reductions, both those caused by the council itself and from the entire local community. Most of these goals have been more ambitious than the proposed target set by the federal government.
Under the CPRS, very few of these actions will have any impact at all on Australia’s overall level of emissions. This is because the CPRS will lock in an emission reduction target over time, denying the opportunity for us to push beyond this mandated level. The majority of voluntary actions that we do will simply free up carbon permits for someone else to use, and at a cheaper cost.
ATA strongly believe that the CPRS cannot solve the climate crisis on its own. We exist because of our 5,000 members across the country who are striving to achieve greater levels of sustainability, and as a result, ATA believes that there is a significant opportunity to tap into the desire of people to engage with the climate issue. We believe any national policy should encourage individuals, householders and small businesses to go beyond the efforts required by any mandated national targets.
As it stands, the CPRS is telling us that the Government doesn’t agree with us. That Canberra believes that people’s actions don’t matter.
What can you do?
Send an email or write a letter to senior politicians calling on the government to fix this problem.
The federal government, the opposition and the minor parties and independents recently debated the CPRS in parliament, with the bill being voted down. At this stage, it is very likely to re-appear for a second vote in November, and all parties are currently attempting to negotiate over the proposed design. You can help to ensure voluntary action is part of the solution by emailing or writing to relevant politicians.
In particular, you might consider emailing:
- Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister via his website.
- Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change via her website.
- Greg Combet, Assistant Minister for Climate Change – greg.combet.mp@aph.gov.au
- Malcolm Turnbull, Leader of the Opposition – Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au
- Andrew Robb, Shadow Minister for CPRS Design – andrew.robb.mp@aph.gov.au
- Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for the Environment – Greg.Hunt.MP@aph.gov.au
- Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator for South Australia – senator.xenophon@aph.gov.au
You can write your own message, or if you would like, use the suggested points below:
- I believe Australia needs to act strongly and urgently to prevent dangerous climate change. Government policies are extremely important, but should not be the only solution to the problem.
- I want to play my part and cut my own carbon emissions. I’m worried that the government’s current policies will prevent me from having any impact.
- I understand that, if the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is passed without any change, then any attempt I make to lower my own carbon emissions will simply allow a big polluter to pollute more, and at less cost.
- Many businesses and households pay good money to ensure their own activities don’t cause climate change. If people wish to contribute a greater amount to the government’s efforts to reduce emissions, they should be encouraged. Instead, the government’s policy will make those efforts pointless.
- I want to see the federal government implement an ambitious policy with tougher targets and ways for everyone to make a difference.
- I want the power to choose to pay extra for clean energy through GreenPower and for all of this to actually further reduce Australia’s emissions – rather than being a cross-subsidy to big polluters.
- I hope the federal government will change its scheme to give individuals and businesses the freedom to go above and beyond the government’s policy.
Ask your local council to pass a motion supporting a change in the CPRS. Local councils are working hard to reduce emissions, and should be encouraged to continue this effort.
For more information
Contact ATA Policy Manager, Damien Moyse, on 03 9631 5417 or
