"We must go to zero emissions and start removing existing atmospheric carbon straight away if we are to avoid dangerous run-away climate change," said Philip Sutton to rapturous applause at the Edge theatre, Federation Square on Friday. Mr Sutton said we are facing a sustainability emergency and that we must "institute the structural reforms required as a society to immediately take all sectors to zero emissions."

The Director Strategy, Green-innovations and president of the Sustainable Living Foundation, called for a "Sustainability Emergency" to be declared in regards to the current climate crisis. Describing the current situation, he said "The planet was like a plane carrying all the world's people and biodiversity
and the plane had a 1 in 100 chance of crashing." An unacceptable risk.

The zero emissions target was a new idea introduced to the 500 strong audience attending the stimulating debate on Friday evening at the Sustainable Living Festival. When Philip raised the bar, the spontaneous applause eclipsed the response of anything else seen so far at the festival.

While some of the other panellists were teetering at the edges, Philip Sutton courageously reported the true state of the sustainability emergency.

Mr Sutton will be joining Adrian Whitehead, Matthew Wright and Chris Taylor at their presentation "Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change - Zero Emission Minus Option" at the Think Tent presentation space at 3pm today to explain the science behind why we must go beyond zero emissions and how we will go about getting there.

**More information on the Sustainable Living Festival

**A concept, discussion starter on going near zero for Victoria's stationary energy sector is available here.

For comment ring:
Adrian Whitehead - 0403 735 118
Matthew Wright ­ 0421 616 733

www.beyondzeroemissions.org

Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent Zero Emission Minus Climate Change campaign.

Vote No Howard while Reactor is Core Promise

7 February 07

Today, yesterday's climate change deniers have appeared, pretending to be at the coalface fighting the fire that's now burning their electoral chances.

Leading the charge (or should he be charged?) is John Howard who after flatly denying human-induced climate change for the past 10 years is now trying to trick the Australian public into voting for him on the back of dangerous greenhouse gas producing nuclear power.

Howard says that nuclear power is the only solution to eliminate emissions from the Australian energy sector. BZE lead campaigner Adrian Whitehead strongly refutes this: "Nuclear power is not a solution while renewables are available now. Nuclear power is not even ready to install and the so called 4th generation nuclear power plants are not out of the research stage and most estimates from the nuclear industry themselves put them at 15 to 20 years away before they'll be ready."

"If in 15 years they are ready to roll, then it will take up to 6 years to actually build one as we don't have any expertise in this absurdly complicated technology. We will be lucky if we have 15 years to totally transform all our sectors to zero emissions and beyond if we are going to avoid run-away climate change," said Mr Whitehead.

Matthew Wright, BZE researcher, when asked about Howard's so-called solution said, "Nuclear power creates huge greenhouse emissions throughout the complex nuclear cycle which includes processing, reprocessing, transport, embodied energy and disposal (most of this incidentally is not properly costed and is unsafe) meaning that nuclear power does not even stack up against gas-fired electricity when compared for greenhouse gas intensity."

"If you were to go down the non-renewable track, you'd certainly choose gas over nuclear as the plant is available now, can be installed now and is much safer," said Mr Wright.

Beyond Zero Emissions is advocating a complete transition to renewable energy sources which, unlike nuclear power, are available today. John Howard is strongly advocating nuclear power which benefits the continuation of the dirty business of Rio Tinto and BHP.

Rio Tinto, BHP and the mining and resources sector have far too much political clout in this country and are trying to get in first with dirty nuclear and coal geosequestration technology to ensure their ongoing business model. The adoption of large-scale renewables poses a serious threat to them and they will stop at nothing to prevent risking their bottom line and huge profit margins.

Nuclear power is uneconomical, being much more costly than wind power backed up with gas and existing hydro. In fact nuclear power is so costly that no insurance company in the world will insure any nuclear power plants. In Britain, France, Germany and the USA, liability for any accidents is borne by the state.

Now that the winds of change have hit public opinion, polling from NSW is coming in showing that the number one issue in voters' minds for the upcoming state election is climate change.

Obviously it will also be the number one issue at the federal election.

Due to massive exposure in the popular media, the public is becoming seriously informed on this issue and their concern will certainly lead to a political upheaval. "The Australian public will no longer tolerate being hoodwinked and tricked into so-called solutions that are just an excuse to exploit the planet to the point that it will no longer be inhabitable for most of the life on earth," said Mr Wright.

The coming federal election will change the political landscape in this country, as families look for parties that are willing to advocate for the required change to protect their children's future. Climate change is now so serious that a dollar-conscious public is now willing to forgo some perceived economic prosperity for the safety of knowing that somebody is looking after the risk associated with dangerous climate change that is about us. This is a huge about-face from a hip pocket conscious public that voted the Howard government in at the last election around the idea that the Howard government would deliver lower interest rates.

Matthew Wright summed up by saying, "I don't believe John Howard will drop the nuclear non-solution and that will ultimately be the end of his long run as Prime Minister. John Howard grew up on a petrol station and now it will be his allegiance to the fossil fuel industry that will burn him. To solve this one, to provide the leadership for the rest of the world, Australia will need leaders who are unencumbered by links to old industries, who can see a renewable future and who care about their family and every family in Australia."

For comment ring:
Adrian Whitehead - 0403 735 118
Matthew Wright ­ 0421 616 733

www.beyondzeroemissions.org

Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent Zero Emission Minus Climate Change campaign.