Recent research conducted at the Australian National University reveals the important and irreplaceable role forests play in mitigating the effects of climate change. The ‘Green Carbon’ report has revealed that Australia’s temperate forests are among the most carbon-rich in the world, and are a key component of our national carbon accounts. The native forest logging industry is a far bigger cause of climate change than is currently recognised. Australia will not be able to achieve the deep emissions cuts necessary to check dangerous climate change unless native forest logging is significantly reduced or stopped entirely. From a carbon perspective, continuing to woodchip these publicly-owned forests makes no sense for Australia – either financially or environmentally. One of the shortcomings of the Kyoto agreement is that forests are given no carbon value. If the world is serious about keeping rising global temperatures in check then it is absolutely vital that the next climate agreement (Copenhagen, 2009), closes that loophole by recognising the role forests play, how they are accounted for, and whether and how emissions from logging will be measured. There is an urgent task to ensure that the role forests play in the global carbon cycle is elevated in profile at international meetings. The Wilderness Society is taking the ‘Green Carbon’ science to international negotiations in an effort to stop the wholesale destruction of the forests all over the Earth. Amelia will present on key findings of the ‘Green Carbon’ science, discuss the policy implications at domestic and international levels, and talk about how you can help to protect our forests – vital carbon banks.