Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

4 March action: tell Premier Dan it’s time to build renewables, replace Hazelwood

February 23, 2016 at 5:16 pm morelandclimategroup Leave a comment

Build renewable energy – Replace Hazelwood
Taking a strong message to Victorian cabinet ministers in the leadup to the May 2016 Victorian State budget
Event: 7.45-9.00am Friday 4 March at cnr Nicholson and Park Sts, North Fitzroy,
plus statement delivery to Jane Garrett, Minister for Emergency Services, 31 Nicholson St, East Brunswick
Register on Facebook Event

On the morning of Friday 4 March, Climate Action Moreland friends and supporters will be taking a strong message to local member and cabinet minister Jane Garrett. It is the first of ten such actions focussing on senior state government ministers telling them its time to act on climate change, energy sources and coal.

It’s time for the Victorian government to fund an ambitious program to build renewable energy and commence the closure of Australia’s dirtiest coal-power stations in the May 2016 State budget, consistent with the Premier’s ambition for Victoria to be the leader in climate policy.

On 27 November last year, 60,000 Victorians made the Melbourne People’s Climate March the largest such event in the world leading into the Paris climate talks. They demonstrated their loud and passionate support, reflected in polling across the nation, for action to build a renewable-energy economy.

Victoria lost billions of dollars worth of wind projects as result of the federal government cutting the Renewable Energy Target, and the industry is stalled nation-wide.

Oversupply from brown-coal generators into Victoria’s electricity market is depressing the wholesale price and is a disincentive to large-scale renewable investment. Power station closure is central to ambitious renewable energy goals. Major players in the industry including AGL, Origin and Energy Australia are all calling for rationalisation of the coal generators.

The responsible course of action for the State government is to outline an agenda for a smooth transition towards clean energy and a transition plan of new jobs and industry for the Latrobe Valley by gradually withdrawing coal generation and creating room for new renewable energy investment.

The world has just experienced the hottest year on record, and in Victoria and around Australia heatwaves are becoming more extreme and frequent, as is the bushfire risk. Keeping Victoria liveable demands strong action now to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

We cannot wait. Figures such as Al Gore, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and leading scientists are telling us that we need emergency-scale action if we are to restore a safe climate before heat extremes, drought and food insecurity, and rising sea levels imperil are way of life.

People want strong action government to support and kick-start new renewable investment in Victoria.

It’s time to act, Premier!

Public support to close Hazelwood, Build Renewables

Lots of support on the day was garnered from the many cyclists using the Nicholson Street crossing. View photos below:

Entry filed under: campaigns, Event, Hazelwood, Politician education, Replace Hazelwood. Tags: Dan Andrews, Hazelwood, Jane Garrett, renewables.