Moreland Says #StopAdani: outside Westpac then Commbank Coburg on May 12
CommBank, dump Adani, dump Coal. Photo: Julian Meehan
Climate Action Moreland has joined the #StopAdani campaign(1) under the name Moreland Says #StopAdani.
We will be holding an action outside the Coburg Westpac branch (482 Sydney Rd) on Friday May 12 from 12.30pm to say thankyou to Westpac for adopting a climate policy, while not perfect, effectively rules out funding the Adani Carmichael mine and any Galilee Basin mines.
(Facebook Event)
We intend to follow this with a protest outside of CommBank Coburg branch. The Commonwealth Bank still has no policy that explicitly rules out new fossil fuel projects including the Adani project. The bank has been silent on funding Adani.
After making our presence felt outside Commbank, we will march to Peter Khalil’s office (if he doesn’t attend).
Our aims are two fold:
- to put pressure on CommBank to publicly commit not to fund Adani’s coal project, and
- for our Federal Labor MP Peter Khalil to come out in public opposition to Adani’s coal project
We are seeking endorsements from local groups. Endorsing groups will be invited to provide a speaker at this event.
A peek at Moreland’s draft Urban Forests strategy
Moderating the urban heat island effect with summer temperatures and extreme heat effects increasing has become a priority. One of the best ways to moderate urban heat is through increasing the urban forest canopy. Unfortunately while public tree planting has increased, urban consolidation and development has resulted in a decline on private property.
Last Council meeting considered a draft Urban Forest Policy. The community consultation for Moreland’s Draft Urban Forest Strategy will run from May 1 to May 29. See Moreland Council Meetings page for Agenda for 8 March 2017 (from pg 98) for version presented to council or download it here (PDF 48MB) (This may not be final version)
We will put more details on our website and FB page when available. See a recent report on combatting the urban heat island effect here.
One of the issues that needs to be tackled is public education on trees on private property. A register of important trees is also needed. How the policy integrates with draft Urban Food policy regarding orchard trees is also an issue.
Summary (provided by MCC):
The draft Urban Forest Strategy 2017-2027, will guide the future management of Moreland’s urban forest, aiming to create a municipality where healthy trees and vegetation are a core part of the urban environment. The Strategy aims to deliver practical measures that guide the planning and protection of vegetation across Moreland. The term “urban forest” includes vegetation in both public and private spaces, such as home gardens, nature strips, street trees, balcony plants, rooftop gardens and green walls. It also includes public parks with trees, shrubs, grasslands and wetlands. In summary, the City of Moreland’s:
* Overall vegetation canopy from the urban forest is 14%;
* Public land contributes 5% of total municipal urban forest cover; and
* Private tree canopy has declined by 24% since 2005.
The Strategy aims for a 50% increase of canopy coverage within the public realm by 2030, through the strategic planting of larger canopy trees within streetscapes, parks and natural resource management areas.
Art meets climate change in Flow Exhibition at Counihan gallery
Looking for something to do in the middle of Brunswick during April to Sunday 21 May 2017? The Counihan gallery on Sydney Road next to the Brunswick Town Hall has the Flow exhibition in which artists engage with the climate issue.
The exhibition is part of CLIMARTE’s ART+CLIMATE=CHANGE 2017 – a festival of exhibitions and events harnessing the creative power of the Arts to inform, engage and inspire action on climate change.
Counihan Gallery In Brunswick is located at 233 Sydney Road (inside Brunswick Town Hall) and is open 11 am – 5 pm Wednesday to Saturday and 1 – 5 pm Sunday. Entry is free.
Are you joining the scientists for the science march in Melbourne?
On Saturday, Earthday, scientists are on the march, including in Melbourne. They are asking for science to inform public policy, for the media to take note and respect the science, instead of giving equal time to charlatans and deniers under the label of ‘balanced debate’. We have seen cutbacks in funding for science research here in Australia, and are witnessing a major attack on government scientific organisations with the Trump regime in the United States.
It’s time to take to the streets in support of our scientists. This march is in support of science and science research in all it’s various disciplines, including climate science.
Join us at the march in Melbourne, 1pm State Library in Melbourne.
Share on social media your #marchforscience pics to your friends interstate or overseas.
Hope you attended, the weather turned out just right for the march, with some eloquent speakers. Read the storify: Melbourne Marches for science and See John Englart’s photo gallery on Flickr
In Moreland we are asking our Federal MP to help #stopAdani
What every Federal MP needs: concerned citizens lobbying them on climate
A little friendly protest will take place outside the electorate office for Wills MP, Peter Khalil
When: Friday 17 March at 1.30pm at 3 Munro St, Coburg.
Join us for a while if you are in the local area.
We think all our Federal MPs and Senators should be working to stop the Adani Carmichael coal mine from going ahead.
Peter Khalil has already signed the Climate Emergency declaration and is making climate change one of his 6 focus areas.
The Carmichaeol coal mine is a huge carbon bomb. Once built it will lead to coal extraction, transport to the coast, across the Great Barrier Reef, to coal plants across Asia adding to greenhouses gases and climate change. If it goes ahead it would effectively counter any emissions reduction we make with renewables or energy efficiency or waste reduction.
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Mandatory garden space for urban housing developments and combatting the urban heat island effect
Saving the trees in backyard gardens in our cities is critically important to slow the increasing rise of temperatures in the urban environment. Under the refreshed Plan for Melbourne, the State government is bringing in new minimum mandatory garden rules for housing development. The real issue that no-one is discussing, is how to encourage the increase in the private forest canopy in our cities.
Rising temperatures due to climate change are making our cities hotter. Climate change is amplifying the urban heat island effect. All the built surfaces in the city are absorbing heat during the day and creating a substantial increase in urban temperatures as compared to similar rural areas. This is particularly exacerbated during extreme heat events and heatwaves and poses a major heat health threat to the population.
Increasing tree canopy cover and increasing soil moisture in the urban environment are major methods for reducing the urban heat island effect.
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Celebrate Victoria’s climate change act, but we still need to do so much more
The Victorian climate Act has passed state parliament. (See this Storify)
Victoria is back on track taking climate action with the passage of the upgraded Victorian Climate Change Act through parliament with support of the Greens and cross bench MLCs Fiona Pattern (Sex Party) and Western region independant James Purcell. The Liberal and National Parties opposed the Act and have vowed to abolish any Victorian renewable energy target. (See storifys on two of the LNP blockers: Bernie Finn and David Davis)
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said, “Victorians accept the science and know that climate change is not only real, but that government, industry and the wider community must work together to fight it.” Ms D’Ambrosio has been doing an incredible amount of positive work on energy and climate change for Victoria as the Minister.
Victoria becomes the first Australian state to legislate for net zero emissions by 2050. The action was taken note of by the UNFCCC.
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