Existential climate-related security risk: A scenario approach is a new report by David Spratt and Ian Dunlop. The foreword is by retired Australian navy admiral, Chris Barrie AC.  The authors use a scenario analysis approach to vividly convey the catastrophic impacts we could face by 2050 if we are slow to act on the climate emergency. The report has had more than half a million views within the first week, indicating the level of concern about the risk we face of the collapse of human civilisation.  

Leading the Public Into Emergency Mode: Introducing the Climate Emergency Movement is an update on the influential paper by Margaret Klein Salamon from Te Climate Mobilization in the United States. It was originally published in April 2016, and it introduced a new paradigm for climate action: emergency mode. Margaret argues that, in order to protect humanity and the living world, the climate movement must tell the truth about the climate emergency, and act as though that truth is real — employing emergency communications, militant tactics, and demanding an emergency mobilization from the government and all society, as the policy response. In the three years since publication, her recommendations have been largely adopted by several new climate groups — Extinction Rebellion, School Strikers, Sunrise Movement, and more — leading to tremendous breakthroughs. This 2019 update combines the theoretical discussion of emergency mode with an overview of the young but fierce Climate Emergency Movement.

As climate catastrophe looms ever closer, some opinion leaders still hold fast to the view that we must not mention the seriousness of our plight for fear of demoralising people.

But how could we explain to our children, in some dystopian future of runaway global warming, that we held back from telling the truth at a time when human action could still have made a difference? It’s time to talk honestly about the climate emergency and what we need to do to save human civilisation and the precious eco-systems on which we depend.

Download ‘Don’t mention the emergency?’ and give a copy of the booklet to others in your local networks.

Contact the author, Jane Morton at [email protected] if you would like her to lead a group discussion on climate emergency messaging, or if you would like hard copies of the booklet for an event.

"Climate change is now reaching the end-game, where very soon humanity must choose between taking unprecedented action, or accepting that it has been left too late and bear the consequences” says Hans Schellnhuber in the foreward to a new groundbreaking critique of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) written by David Spratt and Ian Dunlop. What Lies Beneath - The Understatement of Existential Climate Risk is essential reading for everyone concerned about the lack of action on climate change and what we are up against.

Here's our Vote Climate scorecard for the Batman by-election which is being held on the 17th March 2018. This election will be very close and every vote will count. Please help us get the message out - we need strong political representatives and parties who will take action on the climate emergency. Send us an email to find out where you can pick up the scorecards and maps for letterboxing. 

Eight of the twelve candidates in the Northcote by-election are supporting the call to declare a climate emergency: Bryony Edwards (independent – Save the Planet), Lidia Thorpe (Greens), Clare Burns (Labor), Joseph Toscano (independent), Russell Hayward (independent), Nevena Spirovska (independent), Nina Lenk (Animal Justice Party) and Laura Chipp (Reason). 

The campaign is supported by eminent people from across the political spectrum including John Hewson (past Liberal opposition leader), Carmel Lawrence (past Labor premier of Western Australia), Rob Oakshott (past federal independent) and Christine Milne (past leader of the Greens). Read more here. 

Join the campaign by signing on here. 

We are joining with 11 other community groups to hold a candidates’ forum on Thursday 9 November from 7pm till 9pm at the Northcote Town Hall. The Northcote by-election will be a close contest between Greens candidate Lidia Thorpe and Labor candidate Clare Burns, and both of these candidates are confirmed for the forum. All the other candidates are invited as well. The forum will be chaired by eminent human rights lawyer and former Victorian Public Advocate, Julian Gardner and will include two songs from special guest, singer and songwriter, Shane Howard. There will be one hour for questions from the floor. Show the candidates that you care about climate action, by coming and asking a question. Invite your friends via Facebook 

On Sunday 12 November, from 6.00pm to 8.30pm, join us for a unique, highly entertaining musical journey telling the story of our changing climate. Music for a Warming World uses original folk, reggae and world music, combining it with stunning immersive visuals making it a truly memorable and inspiring event.
The evening will be a fundraiser for our Vote Climate campaign in the Northcote by-election. The music will be following by finger food, drinks and a raffle. Tickets are $30 and bookings are essential https://www.trybooking.com/SJGI. The venue is the St Andrews Fairfield Uniting Church, 85 Gillies Street, Fairfield.
Can’t come to the fundraiser? We would appreciate a donation via our Paypal account. We need to raise about $1500 to pay for printing and house signs.

Politicians from each of the major parties receiving 18,101 signatures calling on the national Parliament to declare a climate emergency. Steve Posselt (in dark blue) handed over the signatures on behalf of grassroots climate groups across Australia. The presentation came at the end of Steve's two month journey paddling his kayak from Ballina to Canberra. Along the way Steve also collected signatures and spoke with many people who are concerned about the lack of national action on climate change. 

Darebin Climate Action Now is continuing to help collect signatures.  We are working towards a national target of 100,000 signatures so that the petition can be presented in the House of Representatives. Add your name by signing the petition here.

DCAN supporters pitched in to help gather 1,300 signatures on the Climate Emergency Declaration Petition at the Sustainable Living Festival in February.