Posts filed under ‘climate change info’
The Adaptation Game: A Merri-bek Climate Drill
On Tuesday May 30th Zero Carbon Moreland is putting on a short film and discussion at Brunswick Town Hall about the Adaptation Game.
It is a screening of a short film (less than 15 minutes) and also hear from TAG participants how it affected them and how working together we can prepare for predicted climate related risks.
Be great for you to come along and be part of the discussion after the film on how people can get involved in local groups.
When: Tuesday May 30th
Time: 6.00-7.30pm
Where: Brunswick Town Hall, 233 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
Register for free: events.humanitix.com/the-adaptation-game-film-screening
Catering provided
May 19, 2023 at 2:08 am morelandclimategroup Leave a comment
Raising climate issues at Glenroy Festival
Today we were at the Glenroy Festival with a stall in conjunction with Neighbours United for Climate Action, Newlands Friends of the Forest, and The Climate Action Game.
Beautiful sunny day. Just as well, as we didn’t have the 30kg weights per leg to put up our stall marquee.
We talked to a lot people highlighting the Climate Carnival event (FB) on May 6-7 in Brunswick East, and the next session of the Adaptation Game to be held at CERES on June 18.
We had the seven figures from the latest IPCC climate Report Summary for Policymakers as A2 posters people could look at.
Also information on the environmental and health impacts of Synthetic turf, and Melbourne Airport 3rd Runway expansion.
(more…)Our Big 4 Banks still subsidising climate chaos says report
The Banking on Climate Chaos 2023 report has been published and shows the big 4 Australian Banks: the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ Bank, NAB Bank and Westpac Bank are continuing to approve loans for fossil fuel expansion. Climate Action Merribek was one of many civil society organisations that endorsed this report.
In the league table of worst banks globally for financing fossil fuels, ANZ ranks no 44, Westpac 53, Commonwealth 54, and NAB 56.
All 4 banks have set net-zero 2050 climate targets, but given continued financing of fossil fuel expansion one must question whether this is greenwash target setting. The following details are gathered on the big 4 Australian banks.
See also Market Forces: Australia’s big four banks face human rights complaint over Santos Barossa financing (4 April 2023)
(more…)Labor & Greens Deal on Safeguard Mechanism a bare start for climate action, far from perfect in meeting science or climate targets
On Monday 27 March both the Climate minister Chris Bowen and Greens Leader Adam Bandt announced a deal had been reached on the Safeguard mechanism. The Liberals have completely dealt themselves out of all negotiations, even though the Safeguard mechanism was originally devised by Minister Greg Hunt as part of the Abbott Coalition Government.
The deal is far from perfect and does not match the science of no new fossil fuel projects, although it lets both the Labor Party and the Greens (and Teal independents) claim some success.
The originally proposed Safeguard mechanism proposal targeted the top 215 carbon polluters with a moving cap on emissions, a yearly emissions reduction of 4.9 percent, with polluters able to access Safeguard mechanism credits or Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) for up to 100 percent of their yearly emissions reduction commitment. Questions about the integrity of Carbon offsets was also debated, as well as the need for actual emissions reduction done at point of source.
(more…)Delivering IPCC report to Peter Khalil MP to #SafeGuardOurClimate
Merribek citizens delivered the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment synthesis climate report to Labor MP for Wills Peter Khalil office on Friday March 24. Along with this report a transcript of the UN Secretary General’s speech launching the report was also handed over, as well as a statement from 6 Pacific nations calling for the phaseout of coal and gas. (see below for full details)
Peter is now part of the Federal Government. But he has had little discussion with climate and environment groups in his electorate over climate policy, particularly the implementation of the proposed Safeguard mechanism. He had promised the establishment of a Wills Climate and Environment Advisory Group since his re-election in May 2022.
(more…)Protest at Peter Khalil ignoring constituents on climate policy
At short notice climate activists set up a protest outside Peter Khalil’s office on Sydney Road on Thursday March 16.
Climate Groups in Merri-bek have accused The Wills Labor MP of failing to consult, engage and listen to local groups and constituents on climate policy, particularly the formulation of the current Safeguard mechanism and use of carbon offsets, along with no proposal by the Labor Federal Government to stop the 113 new coal and gas projects in the development pipeline.
Peter Khalil promised after the last election in May 2022 to establish a climate and environment citizen advisory group for his electorate. We are yet to see any progress on this, despite several interactions asking about progress.
The IPCC 6th assessment reports, the International Energy Agency, and the UN Secretary General have all called for all new coal and gas projects to be stopped. Scientists have highlighted that emissions from present fossil fuels in production are likely to already push us beyond the 1.5C temperature target as laid down in the Paris Agreement in 2015.
The current proposed Safeguard Mechanism that applies to the 215 major polluters, allows for companies to buy 100 percent of carbon credits instead of doing actual point of source emissions reduction. It allows Fossil fuel producers under the scheme to buy offset credits rather than reduce emissions.
(more…)Tackling Urban heat at CB Smith Reserve with more trees
Merri-bek Council have started work in tackling the urban heat of the CB Smith Reserve car park in Fawkner by providing more spaces for canopy trees to be planted.
Asphalt surfaces commonly heat up to 60 degrees Celsius during warm summer days. That acts as a heat bank which then radiates during the night keeping the local area at elevated temperatures during the night. This can affect nearby residences. A spot temperature reading was taken on 17 February of the asphalt road in front of the community hall with a spot temperature reading of 58.2C A concrete section of the road at the same location was 51.2C Ambient air temperature in the shade was 38C.
(more…)State of the Climate 2022 and the Victorian Election
The Bureau of meteorology and CSIRO released on Wednesday the latest State of the Climate Report.
It outlines in stark detail many of the climate impacts we are already seeing with bushfires and floods, and extreme heat. This affects our economy, society and environment. We now live in the Age of Consequences.
As people go to vote this week and Saturday they should consider these impacts and the candidates and parties they are voting for. Who has the most ambitious climate targets?, who has detailed climate action plans to reduce emissions? and plans for climate adaptation to deal with the problems already baked in?.
Climate Action Merribek has assessed candidates for the electorates of Brunswick, Pascoe Vale and Broadmeadows. We urge you to preference those candidates who have signed the Climate Emergency Declaration and the Forest Pledge and have committed to increasing climate action.
(more…)Submission: Setting Victoria’s 2035 climate target
What should Victoria’s 2035 emissions reduction target be? We strongly believe it should be science based taking into account our carbon budget with global equity considerations. The Victorian Government called for submissions by June 5, 2022. Our submissions concentrated on Transport, as we see that is a major policy blind spot with regard to public transport, active transport and aviation.
- Victoria’s target for 2020 was to cut emissions by 15-20% below 2005 levels. That target was achieved two years early.
- Victoria’s target for 2025 is to cut emissions by 28-33% below 2005 levels.
- Victoria’s target for 2030 is to cut emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels.
Read our submission for 2025 and 2030 targets in which we argued for at minimum the emissions cuts identified by the Combet review matching the science: of at least 43% by 2025 and 67% by 2030 to have any chance of limiting warming to 1. 5°C. (Download PDF version)
The next short-term target, for 2035, must be set by 31 March 2023. An independent panel of experts will advise on a target for 2035, the best action to reach that target and what the pathways to net zero emissions by 2050 could look like. The Panel will prepare a report with their advice to government by 1 March 2023.
(more…)Regenerating Australia at Merlynston: visioning a net zero future
On a Friday afternoon and evening threatening rain 80 people came together at Merlynston Progress Hall in North Coburg to watch the film Regenerating Australia by documentary film maker Damon Gameau (FB).
It was a capacity crowd for this community hall. We advertised to Come early for dinner from 5pm-6pm as Tuka Tuka KothuRoti Man was attending to supply some delicious food. The food met our expectations. Our choir entertainment had to sadly cancel due to isolation requirements.
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Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 