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Citizens Climate Campaign	Archive Take Action Now
The Senate Will Be The Key	Walk Against Warming - Sydney, 2006 photo by Gemma Romuld

As the election nears, climate change will come into sharp focus.

One week before the election, the UN's peak scientific body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will deliver its final report before next month's United Nations climate talks in Bali.

It is expected to show that the amount of greenhouse gas pollution in the atmosphere is already higher than predicted and we are now crossing the threshold into dangerous levels (Sydney Morning Herald 3.11.07).

Australia is on track for its emissions to rise to 127% of 1990 levels by 2020.

"According to the best scientific opinion, the real political leadership on climate change will be required not over the next century, but over the next 2 terms of the Federal Parliament.

"Unless there is a clear path by 2012 showing how the global community can slash its greenhouse footprint, the UN's peak scientific body believes we will lock ourselves into irreversible, dangerous climate change, making large parts of the planet uninhabitable before the end of the century" (SMH 3.11.07).

How the next Australian prime minister achieves the necessary reduction in emissions is likely to dominate his time in office.

The Prime Minister's ability to control the Senate will be vital.

Because only half the current Senate will face election this year, the big vote for the Coalition in 2004 means they are well placed to continue to control the Senate, even if they lose government.

Australians may wake up on the Sunday after Election Day with a new prime minister but one who has his hands tied by a hostile Senate.

Labor's Julia Gillard has acknowledged that it is mathematically inconceivable that Labor could win enough seats to control the Senate.

The smaller parties will therefore be the key to the balance of power in the Senate.

We Campaign committee members will be using our Senate votes to support candidates from the smaller parties which are indicating the strongest positions on climate change – The Greens, the Australian Democrats, the Climate Change Coalition, and the Socialist Alliance.

Instead of sending an email, you might like to:

When talk of the election arises with family and friends in the next few weeks, check that they understand the importance of their Senate vote.

The smaller parties, with limited funding, have difficulty getting their messages through to the general public. Check out their websites to find out about their policies, and consider offering some help, by letter-boxing in your neighbourhood, or handing out 'How-to-Vote' cards on Election Day.

Regards from the Citizens Climate Campaign Committee