Dear Prime Minister Scott Morrison,

We are women and girls of Australia and the world dismayed and appalled at your disinterest at COP26 in Glasgow to set the ambitious 2030 targets we need. We continue to call on you to cut emissions by 50% by 2030 and to show detailed plans to meet them. 

The science is clear. The Australian Government must devise a strategy and enact policy to cut emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030. 

We are calling on you to take this decisive action on the climate crisis for the sake of children everywhere, for future generations, and for us all.

Come the next election that's what we will be voting for.

(Scroll down to see full letter)

SIGN OUR OPEN LETTER

OPEN LETTER FROM WOMEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, SCOTT MORRISON MP

Dear Prime Minister Scott Morrison,

We are women and girls of Australia and the world dismayed, appalled and deeply concerned at your disinterest at COP26 where you set no ambitious targets. We continue to call on you to cut emissions by 50% by 2030 and to show detailed plans to meet them.

We are calling on you to take this decisive action on the climate crisis for the sake of children everywhere, for future generations, and for us all.

You were the outlier at COP26 in Glasgow, in the company of the worst-performing nations of the world.

In the past two years alone we have seen catastrophic weather events as a result of human-made climate change and the warming of our planet. The severity and frequency of these weather events - bushfires, droughts, floods, extreme heatwaves - will continue to rise if we do not take the necessary steps towards reducing our country’s carbon footprint decisively and swiftly. 

The science is clear. The Australian Government must devise a strategy and enact policy to cut emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030. 

The economics are also clear. Modelling shows we can create an economy that takes full advantage of solar and wind and bolsters job markets at the same time. We can leave coal, oil, and gas behind - a trend we are already seeing around the world as coal becomes economically and environmentally unviable. If we don't do this now, our economic future will be perilous as others take over these opportunities.

Time is running out but we do have the solutions. If we pivot the Australian economy now with heightened purpose, we can play a leading role in a renewable future.

Public sentiment is clear. The people of Australia, across multiple sectors and for many years now, have been calling for action, from school children to University campuses, professional bodies to whole industry sectors, people from all walks of life and across the entire political spectrum.

Of 5000 women we surveyed: 

  • 96% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they worry for the future and wellbeing of children alive today and for future generations in a world increasingly under stress from climate change.
  • 33% of women under the age of 30 said they were reconsidering having children, or more children, because of concern about an unsafe future from climate change.

These are alarming statistics. We cannot understand why, despite great global and national clarity on the threats and opportunities presented by the Climate Crisis, no substantial action has yet been taken by the Australian Government.

Our children should not have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. Their memories of childhood should revolve around playing with their friends and having fun - not living in fear and protesting a government that refuses to take responsibility. 

We are daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers calling on you to stop selfish politics, step up now and address the Climate Crisis as the existential threat it is. We are asking you to put our children’s needs and those of future generations ahead of the needs of one or more political parties and deal with it in a bipartisan manner.

This is an emergency.

Signed

Women of Australia and the world.

 

[Natalie Isaacs, 1 Million Women Founder and Caroline Pidcock, 1MW Chair are seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to hand over our open letter and signatures (first names only)]