Greater Shepparton declares a climate emergency

Greater Shepparton City Council has declared a climate emergency and will spend the next 10 years targeting zero emissions.

A four-way tie between the eight councillors in attendance at Wednesday’s council meeting was broken by a casting vote from Mayor Seema Abdullah, as Cr Les Oroszvary was absent.

Councillors Dinny Adem, Dennis Patterson and Chris Hazelman all voted with the mayor in favour of the declaration. Under council policy, the mayor has the privilege to break the deadlock, allowing her to vote twice in favour of the declaration.

Cr Adem said taking into account the coronavirus pandemic it might seem inappropriate to declare a climate emergency. But he pointed out the hypocrisy in accepting scientists’ concerns regarding the coronavirus but rejecting scientists who have concerns regarding climate change.

‘‘At this crucial time of human history we all turn our eyes and ears anxiously, yet confidently, to the medical scientists whose knowledge and advice we trust in,’’ he said.

‘‘Yet for our less instantiations seemingly inconceivable looming crisis such as climate change, we discuss, debate and even dismiss; yet inevitably and incrementally we adapt.

‘‘Along this journey we question the science from eminent experts of the same calibre we are currently entrusting our lives with right now. I truly believe we are the frog in the pot at this instance.

‘‘. . . climate change is something we still have the ability to affect. We as Australians, we and every other nation must act now.

‘‘Proactive social behaviour changes accompanied with political foresight and leadership will flatten the climate change curve.’’

Cr Patterson admitted he wasn’t originally going to vote for declaring an emergency but announced he had changed his mind.

The word ‘emergency’ played a role in the council nearly rejecting the declaration of a climate emergency.

The four councillors who voted against it — Bruce Giovanetti, Shelley Sutton, Kim O’Keeffe and Fern Summer — all said using the word emergency was ‘‘alarmist’’ and would instil fear in the community.

The four said the council was already making progressive moves to combat climate change and agreed it needed to continue reducing emissions.

‘‘I have had a lot of people in the community speak to me and say they don’t want an emergency,’’ Cr Sutton said.

‘‘I think if we keep going, doing what we’re doing — we’re planting trees, putting solar panels on roofs — we’re doing a lot of things in this space that we should continue to do.

‘‘It’s not an emergency at this stage. The coronavirus is an emergency, a car crash on the causeway is an emergency but I don’t think climate change is an emergency.

‘‘I think it’s something that is happening, maybe, and it’s something we should be doing. I think the weather patterns have changed and I don’t really know whether by us declaring an emergency anything else is going to happen.’’

Cr Sutton said the council could stick to reducing emissions without declaring an emergency.

She said declaring a climate emergency would cause added stress for the younger members of the community.

In response, Cr Adem said the wording was taken out of context.

‘‘In this context the word ‘emergency’ isn’t something comparable to my hair being on fire right now; this is putting a title on a movement,’’ he said.

‘‘Climate emergency is about a movement around the world. It starts small, swells, evolves and it’s about changing the hearts and minds of people to understand this is not an emergency that’s today, tomorrow or next week but it’s all pushing and leading towards a drastic situation in five, 10, 20 or 30 years down the track.’’

Chief executive Peter Harriott told the council the decision to include the declaration motion was on the request of community members.

‘‘A report has been prepared in response to people from the community who asked council to consider it. We did what we normally do, put a report together and present it.’’

By accepting the staff recommendation, the council will adopt a 2030 zero emissions target and now must develop action plans to ensure it sticks with its plan.

“……..Climate change is something we still have the ability to affect. We as Australians, we and every other nation must act now” - Dinny Adem.

Story from The Shepparton News - Council declares a climate emergency

Advice on automated and zero emission vehicle infrastructure

The Victorian Government has requested Infrastructure Victoria provide advice on the infrastructure required to enable the implementation of automated and zero emissions vehicles in Victoria.

Infrastructure Victoria has released a report outlining future scenarios for automated and zero emissions vehicles in Victoria.

Read the report and watch the video from Infrastructure Victoria - “Advice on automated and zero emission  vehicle infrastructure.”

Ireland Demonstrates Climate Leadership with €22 billion Investment Plan

The Government of Ireland has announced it will invest €22 billion to transition the country to a low carbon and climate resilient society, aiming at almost zero emissions by middle of the century.

Ireland demonstrates leadership with regard climate change.

According to the country’s National Development Plan published this month, the funds are to be primarily deployed to reduce carbon emissions from transport, agriculture and the energy sector, along with flood defenses.

“While Ireland clearly faces a very significant task in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, the current profile of which reflects the particular structure of our economy, action can be taken now to position Ireland to harness significant benefits from realising a low-carbon economy,” the report says.

Read the United Nations Climate Change story - “Ireland Demonstrates Climate Leadership with €22 billion Investment Plan.”

Mount Lyell copper mine owners aim for zero emissions at restart following million-dollar upgrade

Copper Mines of Tasmania (CMT) has an ambitious plan to make Mt Lyell on Tasmania's west coast Australia's first zero emissions mine when it reopens.

The 134-year-old mine is looking to electric vehicles,
 hydro and geothermal to reach zero emissions.

The Mount Lyell mine has been under care and maintenance since 2014 and was the site of three fatal accidents over the past 4 years.

CMT general manger Peter Walker said the company has spent $100 million since 2014 maintaining the mine and is spending a million dollars on feasibility studies investigating mine modernisation.

He is not aware any other mine in the world has reached that target, but he said is a unique opportunity because of access to Tasmania's hydro power.

Read Sally Dakis ABC News story - “Mount Lyell copper mine owners aim for zero emissions at restart following million-dollar upgrade.”

Zero is humanity's most important number

Z

ero has become the most important number for humanity.

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. and Tom Weis write about write about the spiralling importance of zero on EcoWatch.

They say: “Currently, the two target dates most commonly cited for achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions are 2050 and 2100.

”Given the extreme weather weirding we are witnessing at current levels of pollution, we shudder to think what 35 years—let alone 85 years—of continued emissions will bring. Everyone can see that the climate is already on steroids and wreaking havoc.”

Read their story on EcoWatch - “America’s Zero Emissions Imperative”.

Environment and farmers' groups call for zero emissions by 2050

M

ore than 50 environmental, charitable and farmers’ organisations have written an open letter to the government urging it to adopt a zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Greenpeace - one of the many
 organizations that have called
 on the Australian
Government to adopt a zero
emissions target by 2050.

The letter, signed by groups such as Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam and Save the Children as well as agricultural organisations and unions, stressed the economic benefits of moving towards renewables.

“Australia and Australian people stand to lose so much from the impacts of climate change; it is in our national interest to be amongst the leading nations to ensure the world limits warming to well below two degrees,” the letter said.

The Guardian reports on this push - “Australian government urged to adopt a zero carbon emissions target by 2050”.

Pathways spell out deep decarbonisation aims for Australia

T

he 'Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation in 2050: How Australia can prosper in a low carbon world' report, released 23 September 2014, presents an illustrative deep decarbonisation pathway for Australia – just one of many possible pathways – developed using a combination of well-established modelling tools to identify feasible and least-cost options.

This work finds that Australia can achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and live within its recommended carbon budget, using technologies that exist today, while maintaining economic prosperity.

Major technological transitions and many activities are needed in some industries, but no fundamental change to Australia’s economy is required. The technologies required for decarbonisation are currently available or under development.

Read the ClimateWorks story - “Pathways to deep carbonisation in 2050: How Australia can prosper on alow carbon world”.