Posts filed under ‘news’
Merri-bek residents call for Peter Khalil to advocate for a National Energy Transition Authority
Climate Action Merribek is one of 70 organisations supporting a Unions Australia submission to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a National Energy Transition Authority in this years budget.
Looking at energy transitions overseas and locally, it is clear that workers and local communities fair best when transition plans are drawn up particular for regional circumstances and co-ordinated between business and all levels of government, with buy-in and engagement by workers and local communities. Here in Victoria the State Labor Government established the La Trobe Valley Authority to help with the energy transition.
Climate Action Merribek has supported just transition for workers and communities facing the phaseout of fossil fuel energy and rise of clean energy.
On April 5th members of Climate Action Merribek presented the submission with a covering letter to the office of Peter Khalil. We called on Wills MP Peter Khalil to support this initiative by Unions Australia, to lobby in caucus for the establishment of a National Energy Transition Authority, and to keep us informed of his advocacy.
(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…)Scientist open letter for no new coal and gas delivered to Wills MP Peter Khalil
On 10 March Climate Action Merribek Convenor John Englart delivered an open letter from scientists and climate experts to Peter Khalil’s office on Sydney Road Coburg.
118 scientists and climate experts have now signed this open letter. Climate Action Merribek signed in support via email on 23 February 2023. Some 50 Civil Society organisations have also signed in support of this open letter.
Peter Khalil has failed to consult, engage and listen to constutents and groups working in the climate space in his electorate of Wills over the proposed Safeguard mechanism. He has long promised to initiate an advisory committee on climate and environment which has failed to come to pass.
(more…)Vote for our Drinking water Fountains in Shopping Strips Community Submission to Merri-bek Council capital works 2023/24
We have made a submission for Merri-bek Council Community Budget engagement focussed on provision of public drinking water fountains in Merri-bek’s shopping centres. It is one of 26 projects that is being put to the community to vote up. People have 3 votes to allocate among the projects. Voting closes 12 March 2023 at 11.59pm. Merri-bek Community Budget submission projects
Last year Merribek Council opened up for community submission projects for the 2022/23 Capital Works program, setting aside a limited portion of funds for the projects voted up by the community.
We have provided some essential background reading in this blog on our interactions with Council on campaigning for more public water fountains, since a Council Resolution initially raised the issue in 2014. This is a small but important piece of climate adaptation to public infrastructure to meet the challenge of staying healthy and hydrated as temperatures warm due to climate change and we experience more extreme heat days and heatwaves in our urban environment.
(more…)Petition: Cooling standards needed for Victorian Renters
Sweltering Cities have launched a petition to the Victorian Government to incorporate minimum cooling standards in rental accommodation.
As temperatures rise we are experiencing more extreme heat days and heatwaves.
Add to this the crisis in housing with more and more people renting.
Many rental properties are simply not safe to live during extreme heat. Sweltering Cities conductyed a survey which revealed Nearly half of renters surveyed reported they left their home to find a cooler location during heatwaves, compared to just 14.5% of homeowners.
(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…)Growling Grass Frog wetlands habitat at Moomba Park under construction by Merri-bek Council
The excavators have been busy during January and February 2023 at Moomba Park in Fawkner. They are creating a series of six connected ponds. Street stormwater will be piped by gravity from Somerlyton Cresent to feed water into the ponds, which will flow through the system before going under the Merri Creek Trail to enter Merri Creek.
The 6 ponds will provide breeding habitat for the endangered Growling Grass Frog. It will also naturally filter the stormwater before it enters Merri Creek. Construction of the wetlands is due for completion in May 2023.
The Merri Creek (and other creek systems) are an important hotspot for biodiversity, and they also contribute through the running water and vegetation in moderating urban heat in the municipality.
(more…)Northern Transport Corridor and the 2022 election results. Time to upgrade, extend Upfield line to Wallan
Congratulations to Tim Read, Anthony Cianflone, Kathleen Matthews-Ward election to parliament for Merribek
For the first time the three State MPs representing Merribek have all signed a climate emergency declaration. Congratulations to Dr Tim Read, Kathleen Matthews Ward and Anthony Cianflone. We look forward to working constructively with you in the next parliamentary term for ambitious climate action and rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for Victoria.
We also think there is a lesson here for Labor, reflected in the election results, in the lack of addressing public transport upgrade in the northern transport corridor, for duplication and extension of the Upfield line to Wallan.
Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 