The Kyoto protocol first commitment period for greenhouse gas emissions reductions finishes in 2012. International commitments to greenhouse pollution cuts beyond that time are to be finalised and agreed to at the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen in December next year. The nations of the world will not make dramatic cuts to greenhouse gas emissions unless “everybody else does” --- Copenhagen ’09 will be the “everybody else.”

Scientists have stated that emissions need to start falling by 2015 if we are to have any chance of averting runaway climate change where higher temperatures begin to kill the forests, wetlands and woodlands of the world and as they die, they emit massive more quantities of carbon dioxide the atmosphere and we enter a feedback loop of emissions that are not longer within our control. At the moment, most carbon emissions are in our control.

To achieve this, in the three years subsequent to December 2009, we need to decommission power stations, massively scale back cattle production and fertilisation of crops, build solar thermal and wind generation facilities, and more. If we don’t start decommissioning power stations and making other structural changes in that time, we will precipitate runaway climate change. The forests of the earth will begin emitting carbon as they dry out and die, or burn to the ground, and once that occurs, nothing we do will stop climate change spiralling out of control.

Stay tuned for important community action to call for Australia to commit to immediate and effective greenhouse pollution cuts that everyone can take part in. If you're keen to join a community vigil later this year that will catalyse the nation and doesn't need anyone to get arrested, register your interest by emailing george[at]hcec[dot]org[dot]au

Alternatively, come along to the camp for climate action to get ready and find out more. www.climatecamp.org.au