The critically-important COP26 climate summit is underway. And, unfortunately, Prime Minister Scott Morrison chose to stick with the weak 2030 target set by Tony Abbott over half-a-decade ago.
Not only does the PM's refusal to deliver deep emissions cuts this decade leave Australia open to ridicule on the global stage, it leaves communities exposed to intensifying heatwaves, droughts, extreme weather, and rising sea levels.
The Act on Climate collective will not be deflated by the Morrison government's failure of leadership. It will fuel us as we head towards a Federal election and another big year on the campaign trail.
Here’s a quick update on our efforts in October and upcoming actions...
MORRISON GOVT FAILS CLIMATE TEST AT COP26:
Despite the valiant effort of supporters like you who emailed and called Scott Morrison's office in the lead up to COP26, the PM held a Parliament House press conference on Tuesday 26 October to confirm there will be no increase to Australia's 2030 climate target.
After years of undermining national efforts to tackle the climate crisis, the Federal Coalition announced its long overdue commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 and released a climate plan that has been described as a "pamphlet."
But what does the Prime Minister's climate plan mean for climate politics and policy in Australia?
Friends of the Earth has organised an online forum to unpack the details of the "plan."
Join veteran climate and energy reporter Peter Hannam; Climate Council analyst Tim Baxter; unionist Hannah Warne-Smith, and Act on Climate coordinators for a discussion about climate policy and politics. Presenters will identify the new challenges, emerging threats, and next steps for the climate movement.
REGISTER here for the Zoom link.
COMMUNITY ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE FED GOVT'S CLIMATE FAIL:
Testament to the community's commitment to climate justice, there are already several actions being organised to send a message to the Morrison government.
Act on Climate is working with community allies Lighter Footprints and ACF Chisholm to organise actions at MP offices as part of a Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.
We'll make our presence known outside the offices of Gladys Liu, Dr. Katie Allen, and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg... Will you join us?
Chisholm - Gladys Liu MP
11:00am - 11:30am
Click here to register.
Higgins - Dr. Katie Allen MP
1:00pm - 1:30pm
Click here to register.
Kooyong - Treasurer Josh Frydenberg
3:00pm - 3:30pm
Click here to register.
Workers for Climate Action have organised a COP26 Speak Out at the Liberal Party's Victorian headquarters on Friday 5 November. And there's a COP26 Global Day of Action in Melbourne organised by Uni Students for Climate Justice on Saturday 6 November.
Now that the COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, let's show Federal government MPs that we demand better.
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH LAUNCH 'CLIMATE IMPACTS @ WORK SURVEY': 
On October 27, Friends of the Earth supporters came together with comrades from the union movement for the launch of the Climate Impacts @ Work Survey: a new project coordinated by FoE campaigner Anna Langford with six Victorian unions and RMIT university.
The project will conduct pioneering research into the ways that workers in a diversity of industries are already experiencing climate impacts on the ground in their workplaces.
Special thanks to Colin Long (Trades Hall), nurse Sasha King (Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation), Godfrey Moase (United Workers Union), and FoE campaigns coordinator Cam Walker for joining us on the night to share their thoughts on why workers must be at the core of climate action.
Celebrate the launch on social media.
ACT ON CLIMATE NOMINATED FOR 2021 PREMIER'S SUSTAINABILITY AWARD:
Friends of the Earth are honoured and excited that Act on Climate's People’s Climate Strategy for Victoria project is a finalist in the 2021 Premier's Sustainability Awards.
Winners will be announced in an online ceremony on November 23. Until then, check out these posts on Facebook and Twitter celebrating the project.
WIN FOR OUR CLIMATE - VICTORIA RECORDS 25% EMISSIONS CUT:
The same week that the Morrison government delivered a climate pamphlet, Victoria's latest greenhouse gas data showed the state delivered a 25 percent emissions reduction between 2005 and 2019.Given all that effort, it's no wonder that we continue to see renewable energy break records.
"Australia’s main grid hit a record share of 35 per cent renewables in the month of October," reports RenewEconomy, "just pipping the previous record set a month earlier, and well on the track to deliver on the federal government’s forecast of 69 per cent renewables by 2030."
RenewEconomy also reports that rooftop solar has helped Victoria achieve a new record for minimum demand on Sunday 31 October.
Hats off to all the community members campaigning for ambitious climate and energy policies... It's working!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
The Climate Justice event calendar is jammed packed this month. We'd love to see you at the following:
- Nov 4 - Firestorm Emergency: Aftermath and Survival: Movie and panel discussion, Kooyong Votes Climate
- Nov 4 - Unpacking Scott Morrison's Climate Plan, Friends of the Earth
- Nov 5 - Global Day of Action for Climate Justice: Community Action at MP Offices, Friends of the Earth
- Nov 5 - COP26 Melbourne Speak Out, Workers for Climate Action
- Nov 6 - Moreland Climate Cup - Race to Zero Emissions, various climate groups in Moreland.
- Nov 6 - COP26 Global Day of Action - Melbourne, Uni Students for Climate Justice
- Nov 24 - Climate Hopes and Reflections – An evening with your State MPs, Lighter Footprints
- Nov 26 - The latest on climate science & what it means for workers in the Bendigo Region, Bendigo Trades Hall
And remember, you're always welcome to join us for our weekly Act on Climate meetings. We're holding online meetings via Zoom in 2021, so please register for the Zoom link via our events page.
That's all from us for now. See you on the campaign trail...