|
Hi ,
Despite an aversion to targets, our Prime Minister, when nudged on by G7 world leaders, seemed very close to declaring Australia’s support for net zero by 2050. So it was disappointing to see coal-mine supporting Barnaby Joyce returned as Leader of the National Party and therefore also Deputy PM. The world is switching to renewables regardless of Australia's position. However without effective federal legislation and targets it's going to be unplanned, patchy and chaotic here in Australia. Hang onto your hat and look out for your neighbour!
|
|
|
Personally, I think Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Bill offers us a sensible way forward that can also end the climate wars that have negatively impacted federal politics and eroded people's faith in democracy. It’s now crunch time for the Bill. After six months work by the Energy and Environment Committee, their report will be presented to parliament in coming weeks. Sadly despite receiving 6,500 written submissions, our constitution does not require the government to debate the report’s findings! So even if you’ve never been inspired to write to a politician before ~ this is a watershed moment. I urge you to take action and demand a vote for the Climate Change Bill!
|
|
|
The Great Barrier Reef has held World Heritage status since 1981. In 2019 our own reef authority downgraded its condition from poor to very poor. Given recent bleaching events and widespread loss of coral, it’s disappointing but appropriate that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee intends listing the Great Barrier Reef as "in danger".
|
|
|
Always focused on positive local action, Geelong Sustainability is delighted to be partnering with The Good Car Company to facilitate Geelong’s first community bulk-buy of second hand electric vehicles. Knowing 18% of Geelong’s emissions come from cars, it’s an obvious climate solution. Even if you’re not ready to make the switch yet, grab this amazing no obligation opportunity to take an EV for a spin. I’m booked in and looking forward to this new driving experience!
Regards
Vicki Perrett, President
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don’t miss your chance to be part of our region’s largest community bulk-buy solar program. Discover how to reduce your power bills whilst powering your home or business with your own clean, renewable energy. Attend one of the final webinars to find out more and ask questions:
- For Residents: Thurs 8 July, 6.00 - 7.00pm
- For Businesses: Tues 13 July, 3.00 - 4.00pm
|
|
Register for a webinar here
|
|
|
|
Geelong’s Electric Vehicle Community Bulk-Buy is now LAUNCHED!
- Watch an edited recording of the Launch here. It’s got lots of great info to get you started thinking about an EV, whether new or second hand.
- Book a free 45 minute test drive with a local EV owner at: goodcar.co/geelongtestdrive.
- Note Thursdays is Ladies Day. Women can exclusively book a test drive with our female test drive facilitators, either Kanako or Julia at: www.goodcar.co/geelongtestdriveforwomen
- Attend the EV Show n Shine on Saturday 10 July between 10am - 1pm at the Hall of Agriculture, Geelong Showgrounds. Come along to:
- Get transparent information on how to choose the right EV for you
- Find out about the cars available through this bulk buy scheme
- Check out cars locals have previously bought from The Good Car Company
- Chat with local EV owners about their experiences and advice about owning an EV in Geelong
- Sign up for GCC's free course to have all your EV transition questions answered at: goodcarco/geelong
Help us spread the word so we can start to decarbonise transport in Geelong!
|
|
|
Like to learn how to write to and engage with politicians? Join this monthly beginner’s session and turn climate concerns into effective action.
When: Wed 21 July, 3.00 - 4.30pm
Where: online in our Zoom room
RSVP: Email Karen Lamb kjlamb99@gmail.com for the Zoom link or more info. Can’t wait, check out the great resources on the Climate for Change website.
|
|
|
When: Sat 3 July, 7pm
Where: Peter Thwaites Lecture Theatre, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds
Tickets: $16.50 book/wait list via Eventbrite - Watch trailer
The film was made by People for a Living Moorabool (PALM) and Sheoaks Films in response to the dire condition of the Moorabool River. Hopefully they'll arrange another screening as this showing is now booked out with a wait list.
|
|
|
When: Fri 6 Aug, 9am - 3pm
Where: RACV Torquay Resort, 1 Great Ocean Rd, Torquay
Tickets: $195 - $295 book via Eventbrite
In 2021 the forum returns to a face-to-face format (hopefully). It will be MCed by former ABC broadcaster Jon Faine with special guests: journalist George Megalogenis and urban researcher Prof Billie Giles-Corti. Be sure to book early as it’s always a sellout! More info
|
|
Advocacy Meeting re. Climate Change Bill
When: Wed 7 July, 5.00 - 6.30pm
Where: Beav's Bar, 77 Little Malop St, Geelong
RSVP: Email Robert if attending
Following their recent visit to see Zali Steggall in Canberra, the A Different Approach Committee (ADAC) group is hosting an informal free get together to discuss and explore advocacy approaches.
|
|
|
When: Sun 11 July, 10am - 3pm
Where: Johnstone Park, Gheringhap St, Geelong
Cost: Free ~ More info
Everyone is welcome to attend this free one day event, to participate in activities that share culture, history, story and music on Wadawurrung Country.
|
|
|
The Real Deal Coalition recognises that community power is built from the ground up! The workshops are supported locally by United Workers Union, Australian Conservation Foundation and We are Union (VTHC). The workshops have been organised in response the massive changes in our society and workplaces from climate change, technology and Covid-19. Participants will learn practical community organisation skills and be part of building a positive future for all of us.
When: Sat 7 and Sat 21 August, 9am - 2pm
Where: Geelong Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong
Cost: Free, lunch provided ~ More info / register
|
|
|
The campaign working groups are now established and have lots of work ahead of them raising community awareness about this important issue for Geelong. Like to help and/or get involved? Here's how:
- Make a tax deductible donation. This will fund urgently needed resources and activities such as signage, community events and advertising to help our community understand that Renewables Not Gas offer Geelong the brightest future.
- Attend Viva’s next consultation regarding the gas import terminal proposal (Monday July 12, 5 - 6pm, Geelong West Town Hall) Registrations are essential.
- Sign our petition or learn more about why a gas import terminal is such a bad idea. Over 500 people have signed. Have you shown your support yet?
|
|
A Man from Anakie went to Canberra
Earlier this month, Robert Patterson, a GS member and coordinator of ADAC (A Different Approach Community) accepted a meeting invitation from Zali Steggall ~ so off to the Canberra he went! Zali’s invitation arose from the enormous number of supportive letters she’d received from the Geelong region, including ours. Other national groups such as Farmers for Climate Action and Climate and Health Alliance are advocating for her Bill too.
The ADAC is to be congratulated for sending every federal MP a letter every month since December 2019 – a massive 3160 letters! While inside the bubble, Robert took the Question Time Tour of both houses. He found it quite strange, looking down upon the 227 parliamentarians to whom he’d sent 14 letters. He left eager to keep writing letters and holding our MPs to account!
|
|
- On the topic of taking action on climate change, the ABC’s Australia Talks national survey found that around 80% of us believe Australia has a responsibility to act.
- When asked which energy sources we should rely on more: 83% think Solar, 68% Wind, 62% Hydro, 34% Nuclear, 19% Gas, 17% Biomass, 12% Coal, 6% Other and 3% Oil.
- It’s surprising to see that one third of us back nuclear although when filtered by gender it’s 49% of men and 19% of women.
- When it comes to how much people are willing to spend to prevent climate change: 28% say $100-500, 21% say nothing!, 18% say less than $100, 10% say $500-1000 and 5% are willing to spend $1000-2000.
- On the subject of how we should respond it’s encouraging to see that 45% of people are willing to adapt their lifestyles and reduce energy consumption. However 17% believe that companies and government researchers will develop new technologies to solve climate change. Check out the other climate change survey results.
|
|
|
Add your support to young farmer, Joe Boyle whose family are grain and sheep farmers near Watchem in Victoria. Farmers understand weather patterns and know that climate change is here now. There are incredible economic opportunities for regional Australia in renewables and carbon sequestration. Meanwhile the EU is drafting legislation that will penalise Australia’s farmers over climate inaction. Sign the petition today.
|
|
|
GS is excited that our social enterprise, GreenLight, has been appointed as an intermediary by Sustainability Victoria to help promote their Small Business Energy Saver Program across the Barwon South West region. The Program provides a bonus for small businesses (ie. 1-19FTE employees), discounting the cost to upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment.
- We’re keen to hear from installers and tradies currently doing Victorian Energy Upgrades or others interested in providing future services especially hot water, space heating/cooling and refrigeration upgrades.
- Our GreenLight website will have an expressions of interest registration page for small businesses soon.
- Plus we’ll be recruiting project officers shortly so look out for our job adverts!
|
|
|
Solar Victoria regularly adjusts its rebates often at the start of the new financial year. So note that some rebates are falling soon.
- Solar panel (PV) rebate will fall from $1,850 to $1,400 from 1 July
- Solar hot water rebate will remain at current level of $1,000
- Solar for rentals rebate will fall from $1,850 to $1,400 from 1 July
- Solar battery rebate will fall from $4,174 to $3500 after all 2020-21 rebates have been allocated
- Solar for Business rebate will fall from $3,500 to $1,750 after first 5,000 rebates have been fully allocated. More info
|
|
|
We appreciate the work of Global-Roam and RenewEconomy in providing this real time fuel mix data. While the uptake of renewables is going well in Victoria, we still have a long way to go to reduce our reliance on brown coal ~ the dirtiest fuel type. If you’d like to be part of the solution don’t miss our residential and business Solar 101 webinars.
|
|
|
You are not truly recycling until you buy products with recycled content. So it’s great to see Barwon South West councils making it easier for residents to source items made from recycled materials. Check out the campaign website and interactive map or follow the campaign on Facebook or Instagram.
|
|
|
This popular annual event encourages us to RETHINK our habits. This July, why not sign up for the Plastic Free July challenge? The website has loads of resources and ideas to help reduce single-use plastic waste everyday at home, work, school, and play.
Sign up here
|
|
- For environmental good - Every day, 27,000 trees are cut down just to make regular toilet paper. That’s neither sensible or sustainable. Whereas bamboo is a grass that grows really quickly making it an ideal source for toilet paper.
- For social good - WGAC donates 50% of its profits to WaterAid to improve sanitation in developing countries. Last year was a bumper year - $8.3m so far
- For community good - The local distribution of WGAC’s toilet paper is our only ongoing fund-raising activity. Thanks to our volunteers, a trinkle of profit helps support our activities.
- For family good - It’s great value with each box contains 48 double-length rolls of tree-free, 3-ply paper ~ enough to keep you well stocked through lockdowns. Premium Bamboo is $56 and Standard Recycled is $47.
Visit our store for more info and to order.
|
|
Sustainable Cities & Communities
|
|
|
Event planning on a hybrid model for SHD2021 is underway. Contact Vicki at shdgeelong@gmail.com if:
- you’d like your sustainable home to be showcased in SHD
- you’ve made or are making the switch to get off gas
- you’re exploring or have implemented co-housing options
- your business is interested in contributing to this important educational event.
|
|
|
AusNet Services has installed Gippsland’s first community battery in Mallacoota, making it one of the first towns to have a grid-connected energy storage system included in its local network. The 1MWh lithium ion battery could power 1,000 average homes for about 2 hours. AusNet contributed $7.5 million to the project which is part of a Victorian Government program to improve energy services in bushfire prone areas. More info
|
|
|
Have you heard about the Doughnut or Doughnut Economics? If not this explainer written by Isobel Bobbera will catch you up.
Kate Raworth’s Doughnut of Social and Planetary Boundaries has become a popular model for sustainable development within a resource constrained world. It responds to humanity’s challenge to eradicate poverty and achieve a prosperity for all within the planet’s limited natural resources.
Raworth proposes that the ‘happy spot’ where economic, social and environmental prosperity and equality can be achieved, is within the doughy part of the Doughnut. If the global community can pull those falling short on life’s essentials out of the doughnut hole, whilst simultaneously decreasing the pressure placed on the earth’s system and natural resources, the ecological ceiling, the potential of a thriving global community and planet could be a reality. Adopted by Amersterdam as its circular economy model, it’s now been adopted by many cities across the world, even Melbourne. Read Isobel’s blog post to learn more.
[Ed note: Isobel Bobbera is a passionate young environmentalist with an academic background in International Development, Sustainability and Primary Education. She’s available for part-time work whilst completing her studies.]
|
|
|
Here's a further reading list of some recent important reports and stories.
|
|
International news
The White House ~ Carbis Bay G7 Summit Communiqué - link
Read the outcomes from the meeting of the G7 leaders who met in Cornwall recently.
SBS News ~ G7 nations back move to make it mandatory for companies to disclose their climate risk - link
The move - backed by Finance Ministers from the UK, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan - would make it mandatory for all major companies to disclose information such as their carbon dioxide emissions.
Ross Gittins, The Age ~ My new hero, Mathias Cormann, now valiant for truth and on the winning side - link
An ironic article by Ross Gittins about Mathias Cormann's climate change epiphany now he's Secretary-General of the OECD!
|
|
The Environment
Shaimaa Khalil, BBC News ~ Unesco: Great Barrier Reef should be listed as 'in danger' - link
As stewards of this world heritage asset, BBC correspondent, Shaimaa Khalil, has given us a profound reality check. “It's another reminder that if Australia does not get serious about tackling climate change with clear and decisive measures, this will affect its standing in the world, not just diplomatically and economically but culturally too.”
Henry Samuel, Sydney Morning Herald ~ ‘Blood snow’ in the Alps probed as a sign of climate change - link
Snow in the Alps is turning from white to pinkish red, which French scientists warn could be a marker of accelerating climate change.
|
|
|
Elias Visontay, The Guardian ~ The whale sentinel: two decades of watching humpback numbers boom - link
Congrats to local citizen scientist, Wayne Reynolds who for over 20 years has observed and recorded whale sightings off Sydney’s coast as they migrate from the Antarctic to warmer waters off the Great Barrier Reef to feed and breed through the winter.
|
|
Energy policy & decisions
David Carroll, PV Magazine ~ ‘Rapid’ rejection of $50 billion renewable energy hub raises concerns - link
The $50 billion Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) is one of the world’s largest renewable energy projects. Despite WA environmental approvals for Stage 1, the federal government has rejected the project in one month. The image shows the proposed AREH site between Port Hedland and Broome. [Image: AREH/Google Maps]
Last month, federal resources minister, Keith Pitt, also vetoed a $280 million loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to develop a wind and battery storage hub in northern Queensland. There seems to be a worrying pattern!
Graham Readfearn, The Guardian ~ Queensland commits $2bn to boost local renewable energy jobs - link
The QLD government will spend $2bn boosting renewable energy jobs, with plans to build its own hydrogen electrolysers and assemble wind farms and solar panels locally.
Giles Parkinson, Renew Economy ~ South Australia to install free Tesla batteries in homes without rooftop solar - link
In South Australia, the Liberal government has announced a trial to install Tesla batteries for free in public housing without rooftop solar.
|
|
|
Andrew Stock, Renew Economy ~ Reality check from a former energy executive: Nothing about new gas stacks up today - link
His message to all our politicians who think gas is a transition fuel: “STOP digging, and start leading us out of the fossil-fuelled hole our economy risks disappearing into”.
Adam Morton, The Guardian ~ Australian court finds government has duty to protect young people from climate crisis - link
In a case brought by young Australians, it has been recognised in a world-first that the environment minister owes a duty of care to not cause future harm to young people from climate change.
|
|
|
Climate Council ~ Kicking the Gas Habit: How Gas is Harming Our Health - link - report
Decades of aggressive marketing to Australians has led to several misconceptions about gas. We may know it’s a polluting fossil fuel that’s already harming the climate but less well known are its negative impacts on our health especially disadvantaged families and children. This must read report from the Climate Council presents local research findings and sets out 5 recommendations.
Rebeca Leber, Mother Jones ~ How the Fossil Fuel Industry Convinced Americans to Love Gas Stoves - link
Facing more stringent laws, gas utilities in the US responded to this existential threat to their livelihood by launching local anti-electrification campaigns using the tobacco industry’s play book.
Cait Kelly, The New Daily ~ Not cooking with gas: Australia’s first zero-carbon kitchen offers a taste of the future - link
Food comprises about 15-20% of Australia’s total carbon emissions. Lamb and cheese both emit more than 20Kg of greenhouse gasses per kilogram before they reach our plate. We’ve much to learn about sustainable cooking and diets!
|
|
Offshore wind
Giles Parkinson, Renew Economy ~ Two massive offshore wind farms proposed for Bass Strait - link
Two new massive offshore wind farms have been proposed for either side of Bass Strait, bringing the number of offshore wind proposals in Australia to 12. Check out RenewEconomy’s newly launched Offshore Wind Map of Australia
|
|
Transport
Rupert Neate, The Guardian UK ~ Airships for city hops could cut flying’s CO2 emissions by 90% - link
Hybrid Air Vehicles hopes to produce 12 of its Airlander 10 airships a year by 2025, each capable of carrying 100 people on short-haul flights. Illustration: Hybrid Air Vehicles.
BBC News ~ Bus depot bid to be UK's largest electric vehicle charging hub - link
Scotland's biggest bus operator plans to build the UK's largest electric vehicle charging hub, installing 160 charging points whilst also replacing half its Glasgow fleet with electric buses. Fantastic, hope McHarry's follow this lead!
|
|
|
|
