time to restore a safe climate

Yesterday I attended the launch of the Transition Decade, a collaboration between Friends of the Earth, The Climate Emergency Network, Beyond Zero Emissions, Sustainable Living Foundation, Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Environment Victoria, and many others.

Samantha Dunn and Richard Di Natale, Greens Senate Candidate for Victoria, at the launch of the Transition Decade at the Melbourne Town Hall.

The Transition Decade seeks to mobilise community collaboration and action to see cuts in carbon emissions at a state, national and local level. This comes after we have seen failure at all levels to deliver even small cuts in carbon emissions and the failure of Copenhagen negotiations to produce any meaningful outcome.

Climate Scientists tell us that the time to act is now, we only have the smallest of windows to restore a safe climate.

We have the knowledge, the technology and the capacity to restore a safe climate, but there is very little political will to take real action on climate change.

Victoria is well positioned to capitalise on new jobs, skills, technologies and markets in a low carbon economy.

There will be regions of Victoria which are vulnerable to a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme, where businesses and community will need support for the transition to a low carbon economy. I am committed to seeing their needs supported as these communities transition to a new economy.

Political will is a key driver to change to restore a safe climate, time and time again many speakers spoke to this at the launch of the Transition Decade.

There is no time to waste, it’s time to act now before it’s too late, we all have a part to play to restore a safe climate.