Long term planning required in the face of climate change.

The profession has been bombarded with various solutions to combat climate change and global warming. The design response from landscape architects and architects alike has been impressive. 

Oasia Hotel.

While so-called “green architecture” principles can sometimes risk being cliché marketing stunts and ring hollow in terms of solving tangible climate challenges, if done properly these solutions can have a positive net effect to clean and cool the air in cities.

Green buildings trends will continue to impact our cities’ residential buildings. As cities, governments and developers see the economic and climate benefits of these solutions, we will see more green roofs and green facades such as Bosco Verticale/Vertical Forest by Stefano Boeri in Milan or Oasia Hotel in Singapore by WOHA/ STX Landscape Architects. 

Read the WLA story by Martin Barry - “Long term planning required in the face of climate change." 

Harness the power of nature

Dan Menezes knows renewable energy is the way of the future.

The electrical engineer recently started GV Wind and Solar to provide solar installation solutions for small and large-scale operations.

Dan Menezes understands the renewable energy is the way of the futrure.

The Shepparton resident is hoping to raise awareness of this new frontier for the solar industry.

‘‘I work closely with clients to understand their current energy usage,’’ Dan said.

‘‘I then design personalised systems which are suited to their homes and will offer them the best results.’’

With electricity costs rising rapidly, Dan believes renewable energy provides the solution for the future with wind, solar and battery storage solutions available to clients.

Having lived in Shepparton most of his life, Dan has seen first-hand the effect electricity prices can have on people.

‘‘I am here to help people in the Goulburn Valley by offering them my best advice at the best price,’’ he said.

Dan specialises in battery storage solutions which he believes offer people a number of benefits.

The batteries mean people can store solar energy from the day to be used later on that night.

Dan is hoping to eventually have a shopfront to offer his services on a larger scale.

Dan encourages anyone interested to give him a call and have a chat about how solar energy can benefit them.

● Dan can be contacted on 0432 727 377 or via email gvwindandsolar@gmail.com

Story from the Shepparton News - “Harness the power of nature.”

The Dangers Of Climate Change Are Real In This New Comic Anthology

In the past decade or so, a subgenre of dystopian fiction has emerged to confront our changing planet: climate fiction, or “cli-fi.” In stories like Jeff VanderMeer’s “Southern Reach” trilogy, or Kim Stanley Robinson’s New York 2140 and Claire Vaye Watkins’ Gold Fame Citrus, characters confront floods, droughts and other environmental catastrophes.

But, as a recent post on the Smithsonian blog points out, these stories are swiftly becoming not just future possibilities, but present realities.

In an interview with HuffPost, VanderMeer noted that, “the solutions a fiction writer can provide, the speculation, is perhaps edging toward offensive in a policy context ― because we have scientists telling us what we need to do and they are the experts.”

Read the Huffington Post story by “The Dangers Of Climate Change Are Real In This New Comic Anthology.”

Climate change solutions bathed in benefits

Advocates for action on climate change see the solutions as being bathed in benefits.

Most everything proposed by those same advocates is about improving life for all and within and beyond that, protecting conditions that ensure earth is habitable for humans.

The Huffington Post says: “Even though the world's population is set to rise to 10 billion by 2050 from 7 billion today, the tool shows it is possible for everyone to eat well, travel further and live in more comfortable homes, without pushing global temperature rise above 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change said.”

The story headed: “The World Can Live Better And Fight Climate Change, UK Report Says” argues carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced and living conditions for all improved.

Societal ethics and personal morality have important role to play

Climate change solutions are to be found in societal ethics and personal morality.

Much of the world’s existing market system is hierarchical and vertical with mitigation being almost wholly dependent upon a horizontal based system that is about collaboration, and gender equality.

UN climate boss Christiana Figueres says, in an RTCC story, that a climate deal must create an equal economy for men and women.

The story headed: “Christiana Figueres: Climate deal must bring gender equality”, she discusses her determination to put gender equality at the heart of efforts to tackle climate change.