Christine Milne has delivered a clear challenge to the Rudd Government to set an inspiring goal of a zero emissions, safe climate target, or face the nightmare consequences of climate crisis.

"The fact is we cannot keep a safe climate and keep burning coal, oil and gas, and logging our forests. One or the other must go," Senator Milne said.

"That we may be undone by the refusal, for what ever reason, to believe that another world is possible was demonstrated again this week, with Minister Wong saying: 'going further is not possible without causing economic disruption - if it is possible at all.'

"Minister Wong, do you really want "running up the white flag" to be your legacy?"

Senator Milne also set out a positive vision for transforming Australia to a zero emissions powerhouse, creating jobs and improving our well-being as a community.

"Committing to delivering a safe climate means embracing the massive challenge of moving to zero emissions fast, frees you up to unleash human creativity in a wave unlike anything we've seen.

"Just as in 1989 we could not imagine the world of the iPhone and Blackberry, in the next 20 years we can and will create something that now seems impossible."

You can read the speech here, watch the video here, read the press release here and comment on our blog here.