Three hundred climate advocates from across the country have concluded their national climate summit in Canberra vowing to put climate on the election agenda.

Delegates to the summit represented a range of climate groups from every state and territory, and joined with officials from union, religious, and community organisations at Australian National University.

The three day national climate summit mapped out a strategy for the election including a focus on key marginal seats, particularly Green - Labor swing seats, and extensive door knocking and voter engagement.

The summit reaffirmed the climate movement's opposition to the government's trading scheme and set out key policy asks on clean renewable energy, green jobs and the need for an immediate carbon levy.

The coal industry was selected as a key target. The replacement of Australia's dirtiest power station, Hazelwood, with clean energy by 2012 was defined as an election policy test for the Rudd government.

“The community climate movement is in every electorate across Australia, with this new strategy we will be a major force in the coming election,” Moira Williams, spokesperson for the Summit.

“We will harness the strong feeling in the community that after three years Kevin Rudd has not done nearly enough on climate change.”

“The future of Hazelwood power station is a key test of the government's commitment to tackle climate change,” Williams concluded.

“How can the community believe the government is serious if Australia's dirtiest power station is allowed to keep polluting,” Damien Lawson spokesperson for the Summit.

“With carbon trading politically dead, the government's climate policy is in disarray. We will be pushing hard for a new direction.”

A new national Community Climate Network was formalised to implement the summit's strategy and coordinate the climate groupsacross Australia.

Our governments are not providing real climate solutions. Whether it is Rudd or Abbott's plan or Copenhagen we deserve better. This three-day conference will look at strategy, policy and actions for the grassroots climate movement.

There is a growing community movement in Australia that is building people power for immediate action on climate change. Our vision is to work together at emergency speed to restore in a just way a safe climate in time for all people, all species and all generations.

Venue information

The summit is being held at the Acton campus of the Australian
National University (ANU), on the north side of Lake Burley Griffin,
just west of the Civic Centre.

 Plenary sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning will take place in
the Manning Clark Centre, located off Union Court. Union Court may be
reached on University Avenue from Marcus Clarke Street, or on North
Road off Barry Drive.

The registration desk will be located in the foyer of the Manning Clark Centre. Registration will open at 8.15am.

The Monday morning plenary and registration desk will be located at
the Coombs lecture theatre, on Fellows Road near Garran Road. From
Marcus Clarke Street, follow signs to the National Film and Sound
Archive; the Coombs theatre is then on the other side of Liversidge
Street.

 Click here for a map of the campus. The Manning Clark Centre is building 26a and the Coombs lecture theatre building 8a on this map.

We hope to see you in Canberra.

Cheers

Summit Organisng Team