Well done council on climate call

The Greater Shepparton City Council must be congratulated on the declaration of a climate emergency. All councillors present at the March meeting were united in the view that our council must continue with strong and decisive action on reducing emissions to address climate change.

However, several councillors struggled with the words ‘climate emergency’ and drew a distinction between the COVID-19 ‘emergency’ and the ‘climate emergency’. However, there are similarities between COVID-19 and climate change and how we need to respond.

It is clear to all that the COVID-19 pandemic is an emergency. The science is complicated but the advice is clear. Unless we take decisive early action there will be a doubling in disease contraction every week and our health systems will be overwhelmed.

Governments have heeded this advice and taken decisive action. This early action has placed Australia in a far better position than many other nations around the globe.

The climate change emergency is no different. The science is complicated but the advice is clear. Carbon emissions are irreversibly warming our planet. Many climate-related events we are witnessing are not normal.

We are seeing unprecedented droughts, bushfires, coral bleaching and cyclones with just the 1°C increase in global temperature measured to date.

It is inevitable we will see a further increase in global temperature to between 1.5-2°C even if Paris carbon reduction targets are met.

A further doubling of the temperature increase to 4°C by the end of the century is possible if there is no action to reduce carbon emissions. A 2°C temperature increase will present many challenges. A 4°C increase in temperature may be more than we can adapt to.

The Paris agreement is about flattening the curve so we can limit temperature increase to no more than 2°C.

Climate change is an emergency. Our council serves us well by adding its voice in joining the 84 councils around Australia and 1482 jurisdictions across the world that have now declared a climate emergency.

All levels of government need to heed the science and take urgent early action to limit global emissions of carbon in the same way we have responded to COVID-19.

A letter to The Shepparton News Editor from Derek Poulton on behalf of Slap Tomorrow.

Climate scientist calls for 'world war type mobilization' to combat climate change

Climate scientist Michael Mann is calling for a “world war-type” mobilization to address climate change.

“We do need a world-war type mobilization and that means putting in place incentives to move our economy as quickly as we can away from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” Mann, a scientist at Pennsylvania State University who is known for taking on climate skeptics, told Hill.TV in an interview that aired Wednesday.

“Now how we do that, there’s a legitimate policy debate to be had about how we do that but there isn’t a legitimate debate to be had anymore about the need to do that,” he added.

Mann warned that lawmakers should take immediate action, arguing that the Trump administration is actively seeking to dismantle 50 years of environmental protections put in place by both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Read the story from The Hill by Tess Bonn - “Climate scientist calls for 'world war type mobilization' to combat climate change.”

Sharma calls for Australia to play a bigger international role on climate.

The Liberal candidate in Wentworth, Dave Sharma, has called for Australia to do more on the international stage to address climate change, declaring this is “where our efforts can have the biggest impact”.

Sharma said a small improvement in the emissions t
rajectories of large emitters such as China would
have much greater impact than anything Australia
could itself do.

These efforts should include trying to turn around the United States’ decision to leave the Paris agreement, Sharma told the Coalition for Conservation on Tuesday night.

As Scott Morrison this week has sought to boost his government’s credentials on the climate issue, Sharma said a small improvement in the emissions trajectories of large emitters such as China would have much greater impact than anything Australia could itself do.

Read the piece from The Conversation by Michelle Grattan - “Sharma calls for Australia to play a bigger international role on climate.”

Can the Dutch model of a cycling city be exported?

Human powered transport, walking and cycling, will be a critical ingredient in helping the world address climate change. A story from the ABC’s “Blueprint for Living” discuses what’s happening in Holland and how we can learn from that.

The Netherlands has much to teach us about creating cycling cities.

Wooden clogs and windmills are stereotypical icons of The Netherlands, but a longer lasting and helpful export may be the idea of a purpose-built city with bicycles as part of the design.

This ‘Dutch model’ is the envy of many city councils who want to make their urban areas more cycle-friendly. But how realistic is it to adapt a city to this eco-friendly way of life?

Is it a question of infrastructure, citizen engagement, or both?

Listen to the Blueprint for Living from ABC Radio National - “Can the Dutch model of a cycling city be exported?”

Saving on power bills and addressing climate change at a local level

Greater Shepparton City Council will install solar panels on two council buildings as a way to save on power bills and address climate change at a local level.

The new panels will be installed on the main council building at 90 Welsford St and at Shepparton Sports Stadium.

Eastbank - one of the two council buildings
to have solar panels installed this month.

Greater Shepparton City Council’s sustainable development director Geraldine Christou said the panels would cost $212 000, forming part of council’s plan to reduce energy by 20 per cent by the year 2020.

‘‘Council is consistently seeking paths to improve the environment we live in and to address climate change.

‘‘By creating a community that embraces sustainable energy, the solutions will provide benefits not only today, but for many generations to come,’’ Ms Christou said.

She said the solar panels had been estimated to save about $30 000 in power costs a year while generating more than 177 000 kWh.

Ms Christou said about 400 businesses around the Shepparton district already had solar panels installed and were greatly reducing power bills and assisting to reduce the impacts of climate change.

The installation of the solar panels will be taking place this month

.

Ms Christou said during this period of construction there may be some noise and restrictions in parking access around council’s Welsford St building and Shepparton Sports Stadium.

Story from the Shepparton News by Laura Briggs - “Council solar upgrade.”

Social enterprise push potential for super funds to address climate change

A social enterprise is campaigning to switch the federal election hot topic of superannuation away from tax to the potential for super funds to address climate change.

The social enterprise also donates to its charity partners, including Friends of the Earth, Nature Conservation Council NSW and Healthy Future, for every switch someone makes. 

The ethical super campaign supports the three funds “most focused on divestment and renewable energy” – Future Super, Good Super and Australian Ethical.

Ethical Switch head of business partnerships Sam Marshall said the ethical super campaign was launched in time with the federal election to push climate change onto the agenda.

Read the PRObono Australia story - “Super Funds Push Climate Change on Election Agenda.”