Climate Action A Campaign Manual for Greenhouse Solutions

by Diesendorf, Mark

• ISBN13: 9781742230184
• ISBN10: 1742230180
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-07-01
• Publisher: University of New South Wales Press

Summary

Responding to the global flowering of commitment to environmental issues, this handbook shows activists and citizens how to pressure governments and businesses to create a framework for large and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. With examples of climate-action movements in the United States, the UK, and Australia, this manual draws inspiration from these successes. In presenting these positive case studies of grassroots social movements that brought about change, the guide refutes the myths disseminated by vested interests and the greenhouse mafia who are trying to undermine effective action.

Author Biography

Mark Diesendorf is deputy director of the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of New South Wales. He is a former president of the original Australasian Wind Energy Association, coordinator of the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Climate Change Program, and president of the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics. He is the author of Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. viii
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Units and conversion factors	p. xii
Abbreviations	p. xiv
Threat and hope	p. 1
The threat	p. 2
Solutions	p. 3
Barriers	p. 5
Hope	p. 6
Who is a climate change activist?	p. 7
Making democracy work	p. 8
Greenhouse gases cause global warming	p. 9
Why this is an urgent problem	p. 12
Why climate action is an ethical imperative	p. 16
Plan of the book	p. 17
Greenhouse Mafia and their fallacies	p. 20
Driving forces of emissions	p. 21
Vested interests - Greenhouse Mafia	p. 23
Fallacies about greenhouse science	p. 31
Fallacies about greenhouse solutions	p. 32
Conclusion	p. 60
Technologies for stopping global warming	p. 62
Solutions for energy	p. 63
Transport solutions	p. 74
Solutions for agriculture	p. 77
Sustainable energy scenarios	p. 78
Treating climate action like a wartime emergency	p. 84
Conclusion	p. 86
Essential policies for the 21st century	p. 88
Key government policies needed	p. 90
Set strong greenhouse targets	p. 92
Set targets for energy efficiency, renewable electricity and renewable heat	p. 94
Ban new conventional coal-fired power stations	p. 96
Impose a carbon price that increases with time	p. 97
Allocate individual carbon rations	p. 106
Terminate subsidies to fossil fuels	p. 107
Implement additional incentives for renewable energy	p. 108
Set regulations and standards for energy efficiency	p. 112
Foster a socially just transition	p. 113
Build infrastructure	p. 114
Fund research and innovation	p. 115
Terminate logging of native forests	p. 116
Cut agricultural emissions and increase biosequestration	p. 116
Train the workforce	p. 117
Stabilise population, growth	p. 119
Create a socially just, steady-state economy	p. 120
Policies for local government	p. 124
Conclusion	p. 125
Strategies for defeating the Greenhouse Mafia	p. 126
The power of organisation	p. 128
Developing goals	p. 132
Developing strategy: SWOT analysis	p. 135
Developing strategy: Midwest Academy Strategy Chart	p. 136
Coalitions, alliances and networks	p. 138
Organisation of groups	p. 147
Role of organiser	p. 151
Motivating people	p. 152
Movement Action Plan	p. 154
Climate action movement	p. 159
Conclusion	p. 164
Winning campaign tactics	p. 166
'Framing' the campaign	p. 168
Lobbying decision-makers	p. 171
Educational activities	p. 175
Media and other communications	p. 180
Nonviolent direct action	p. 183
Legal action	p. 189
Setting up alternatives	p. 191
Choosing tactics	p. 192
The struggle for a sustainable future	p. 195
Riding on trust and ripe conditions in the UK	p. 200
Burgeoning grass-roots power in the USA	p. 204
Notes	p. 208
Glossary	p. 228
Key readings and websites	p. 235
Index	p. 238
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