Instructions for the Climate Change Letter

All you need to do is cut and paste the climate change letter below into a word processing application, print, sign and post (You could also choose to email the letter).

You should be able to find the address of your local politician by doing a Google search for the name of your local representative. For greater impact, you could send another copy to a federal politician as well.

Remember to include your address, and date at the top of the letter. Making the letter personal by including local issues is also a good idea.

[your address] [date]

Dear [name]

I am writing to express my concern about the imminent threat climate change poses to our country, to our people and the future of our children. An overwhelming number of scientists agree, and signs abound that climate change is occurring much faster than was initially predicted. We have only a few critical years before the changes become irreversible.

More than 2,000 scientists contributing to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have made it clear that cuts of at least 50% to 70% in global greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to allow our climate to re-stabilise. Therefore, the Government should be making every effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – now.

Specifically, I believe you should act to address the issues below, and I ask you to provide me with information on what the government is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the following areas:

1. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants

2. Reducing emissions from the transport sector

3. Funding initiatives for alternative and renewable energy technology

4. Incentives for the uptake of renewable energy

5. Removal of subsidies for fossil based fuel sources

To secure a future for our nation and our children now is the time to set a new and positive direction for our national energy policy. We need policies that will lead our nation away from fossil based fuels.

Our addiction to fossil fuel harms human health, causes global warming, degrades land and marine ecosystems, and pollutes the earth. We need energy systems that provide clean, renewable, and reliable energy that does not threaten human health or the environment. We do create our futures, and not to reach for it would be a gross abdication of our moral responsibility.

I understand that focusing on climate change is just one of many issues during these challenging times. However, we can not wait until tomorrow we must take strong action now to address the daunting issues that climate change poses.

Sincerely

[your name]