MICHAEL KIELY, Woolgrower and Carbon Consultant, and Candidate for Climate Change Coalition in the NSW Elections for Legislative Council says there are 10 Fundamental Facts About Climate Change which are not understood by today's politicians:

1. Most of the responses to Climate Change being considered will not stop the global mean temperature rising through the critical levels.

2. If we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today there is already enough CO2 in the atmosphere to cause climate chaos. It is the `legacy load' of 200 years of industrial emissions.

3. "Clean Coal" and nuclear power cannot capture existing CO2 in the atmosphere. They can only prevent future emissions.

4. Solar and wind power cannot capture existing CO2 in the atmosphere. They can only prevent future emissions.

5. Forests can absorb legacy load CO2, but there is not enough space on earth to plant enough trees to absorb the world's emissions. We would need 7 planets.

6. Soil is the largest carbon "sink" over which we have control. It holds twice as much carbon as the atmosphere and twice as much as all the vegetation on earth, including forests.

7. 60% of the earth's surface is used for agriculture. This soil can remove more CO2 from the atmosphere faster, sooner, and more economically than trees or any other method.

8. Simple changes in land management can immediately start the process of CO2 removal. These changes can be made immediately if farmers are paid carbon credits at the prices traded on the European Climate Exchange.

9. A 1% increase in soil carbon in 10% of Australia's agricultural soils would remove 10 years' legacy load of the nation's emissions.

10. The land management tools for increasing soil carbon also restore the land, prevent erosion and salination, improve biodiversity, and increase productivity. They are also the most effective means of coping with reduced rainfall and higher temperatures due to Climate Change.


Protecting the Family Farm - Soil Carbon Credits

"Soil Carbon Credits offer farm families a revenue stream that will last long enough to restore the natural resource base on which their livelihood depends.

"Soil Carbon Credits will give the much maligned farm sector a lead role in the global climate crisis.


For more information phone Alexandra Morphett - Media Officer  02 499 8 6168 - 024998 6286 -
email: admin@climatechangecoalition.com.au

Patrice Newell

We've formed the Climate Change Coalition to accelerate action by politicians from all parties on the most urgent and important issue in human history.

While the Coalition is not itself a political party it supports many Independent candidates who are committed to its platform.

Climate change is no abstract scientific or environmental issue. It impacts on every part of our daily lives. It is personal, local, national and global.

The time for denial is over. The political posturing and games must end. We must unite to ensure urgent action so that our children and grandchildren can have a sustainable future.

While we might be divided by ideology, religion, geography, history, class or self interest, we must come together to ensure the survival of our planet.

It is vital that the Climate Change Coalition's values be represented in the New South Wales Parliament.  All legislation needs to be assessed and scrutinized to evaluate its impact on climate change.

Members of Parliament who support the Climate Change Coalition are committed to asking two key questions about each piece of legislation that comes into the New South Wales Parliament. Does the proposed law address climate change? How can it be amended to make it better?

We recognise that there are MP's on all sides of NSW's politics intent on doing the right thing. They are often prevented from speaking out by party policy or pressure groups.  We will work with them to get a freer debate - to produce the dynamics of the "conscience vote" across the legislative spectrum.

Further, the Climate Change Coalition will work with any group, organization, or individual to form alliances and encourage political creativity. There is no guide book to what must be done. There is no precendent for this crisis.  It requires entirely new scientific, communal and political approaches.

Whatever our differences on other issues, whether we're left wing or right wing or middle of the road, is irrelevent.  We must work together. Now.

Patrice Newell

for more information about the Climate Change Coalition see  http://climatechangecoalition.com.au