Vanessa Morris Executive Officer, SEE-Change ACT

 “ This is an emergency, and for emergency situations we need emergency action”  Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General  This emergency will not be solved by traditional political compromise or incremental change to business-as- usual.  Climate change is the world’s slow motion Pearl Harbour. We must work together now as we have in the past in wartime.

 The problem is political, not economic or technical.  The denialists and the special interest lobbies are currently in control of the global response  The Australian community is concerned but confused.  Our federal politicians are responding to the lobbyists and the confused public, not the scientific imperatives.

 Current global greenhouse gas concentration is:  387 ppm CO2 rising 2ppm annually  455 ppm CO2e - including other gases  Current political negotiating range based on:  atmospheric carbon stabilisation at: 450 – 550ppm CO2e  Risk assessment: Based on earlier IPCC modeling  450 ppm is presented as equating to 50% probability of a 2 degrees C global mean temperature warming above pre-industrial  Would you fly in an aircraft with a 50% chance of reaching it’s destination?

 Current global negotiations are based on outdated science  Latest science suggests 2 degrees C temperature rise will be catastrophic  Non-linear effects are already occurring at 0.8 degrees C rise  tipping points may be already committed  we are probably well into the danger zone already  The new objective, for a safe climate  restore Arctic summer sea ice  stabilisation target - around 300ppm CO2  This requires developed world emission reductions of:  45-50% by 2020  % by 2050  The solutions are available, given the will

 We cannot wait for clean coal technology or nuclear.  This transition must be very rapid and as equitable as possible.  Canberra capable of enormous reduction in energy use and significant transfer to solar.  The feed-in tariff mechanism and subsidies can be grasped immediately.  Opportunity for Canberrans to be involved in the transition individually and in cooperation.

 Energy efficiency target of at least 30% in the next three years, is totally feasible  We should grasp the solar option. It is available NOW  Homes, schools, religious and public buildings.  The price of electricity will rise as it must.  Economic equity can be managed in many ways.  The greatest imperative is to commence the transition.  Ambitous targets by time of Canberra’s centenary 2013

 Religious building rooves to become symbols to the community  Groups using their collective capacity to bulk buy, install and feed-in to the grid at competitive cost.  Involving their congregations in discussions of solar options.  Dealing together with the Heritage Question

 Sponsored by The Australian Youth Climate Coalition and World Vision.  Open to young people aged  A choice of 3 world scenarios 550, 450 and <<450  Voting their preference online this week  Engaging in the science and a consideration of their future  SEE-Change letter to every school and college principal in the ACT

 Climate change will disproportionately affect the poor.  The rich have greater capacity to act now on solar, and the incentives are right for them.  Solar panels vs luxury cars  We need to involve everyone young and old in a consideration of the consequences of further delay.  Mass action on solar by Canberra citizens will focus political will and help move us towards carbon neutrality.