As a South African citizen seeing that almost 2,000 houses have been destroyed, 25 people and millions of animals have died in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, breaks my heart as many of my family members have emigrated to Australia.

I'm calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to request that the Prime Minister Scott Morrison immediately declare a climate emergency in Australia.

Climate scientists agree that climate change must be addressed NOW, before it's too late. Global warming is already changing the environment, the economy, and people’s ways of living. The changes aren’t over, either, and the more that changes around the world, the more critical it is to understand this complex and important issue. Climate change is a major concern for all of us.

I am deeply afraid that the Australian government is more influenced by large polluting companies and by short term financial gain, than by the virtually unanimous advice of scientists who advise that we must act now to mitigate climate destruction.  

We have been given until 2030 to drastically reduce emissions, lest our world warm to the point where humans face an existential threat.  

President Cyril Ramaphosa you must represent all South Africans, and you have a responsibility to those who are too young to vote and to those yet to be born.  You must act on the will of the majority of South Africans. Those who implore you to act on climate change, on pollution, on environmental destruction.

Adani’s proposed mine will be the largest in Australia and one of the largest in the world. Adani must not go ahead.  We must oppose the opening of more coal mines. We must enact a plan to switch to renewable energy with a realistic goal of 50-100% by 2030.

We request that you help us to declare a climate emergency in Australia.  This would demonstrate a concrete commitment, a willingness to stand together and fight to prevent the largest threat of our times.

Please, sign and share this petition and send a strong message to President Cyril Ramaphosa

Save us from a climate crisis, before it’s too late. Declare a climate emergency, today.