Delivering your climate message to Minister Combet

Last week we asked you to send in your climate change ‘message in a bottle’ for the Oxfam team to use in Cancun to demonstrate to government delegations that the global community wants action on climate change.

We also took your messages direct to the Australian government. Last Friday, UN Climate Tracker Phil Ireland had a meeting with Minister Combet where he handed over each and every one of the messages you sent to us via Oxfam blogs and via Twitter.

Here’s a snap shot of some of the messages Phil shared with Minister Combet as he headed into the final hours of negotiations in Cancun:

• There is only one thing standing in the way of action on climate change, and that is a lack of courage and leadership from governments.
  – Simon Jones
• Please act now for the generations who will follow us
  – Lynn Gauntlett
• Do the world a favour – act to stop climate change. Save lives and save our environment.
  – Amelia
• Have the courage to make a difference, Mr Combet.
  – Tom
• The climate won’t wait while you negotiate. ACT NOW!
  – Laura

Here’s the response that Phil received from Minister Combet upon delivering your messages:

“Thank you very much for all of your messages of support. It is great to see such strong public support.

The UN climate talks are critically important to not only Australia, but countries around the world. Australia has a lot to lose from a changing climate as do many of our near neighbours, especially our Pacific Island friends.

The Australian Government is playing a very constructive role at these talks and we are pushing hard to make progress in a number of very important areas. You should all be very proud of the work that our Australian delegation is doing.

Apart from our engagement in these talks the Government is also working very hard domestically to play our fair role in tackling climate change.”

– Australian Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet

Thank you again to everyone who sent in their climate message. By sharing your concerns with us, UN Climate Tracker Phil was able to sit in a room with Minister Combet knowing that – although several thousand kilometres away – the support from thousands of Australians stood with him.

It is these demonstrations of support for strong climate action, that will make it increasingly harder for our government to continue with their current polluting policies. We need to ensure that our political leaders deliver on promises to cut pollution, make clean energy cheaper and to support developing countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change they are already facing.

Stay tuned for more from UN Climate Tracker Phil on the outcomes from Cancun and his meeting with Minister Combet.