As at 28 March 2023 CO2 reading was 418.6 parts per million. Source NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Safe level is 350 parts per million
SOME GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED historic agreement to protect the world’s High Seas has been agreed to by 190 nations; more European ESG funds cutting ties with Adani Group;Labor has agreed to a Greens’ push to block coal and gas projects from accessing its $15bn National Reconstruction Fund or logging native forests; Queenslanders would be banned from dumping solar panels in landfill within the decade; Verra’s rainforest flawed carbon credit methodologies will be phased out by mid-2025;
WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING
Wrote to Jerome Laxale with questions about Government’s Safeguard Mechanism.
WHAT’S ON
NAB The Beyond Coal group is organising action against NAB and its ongoing support of fossil fuel mining, starting with Whitehaven Coal. Here’s a comprehensive guide to how you can send an email to NAB executives asking them to stop funding this and future projects. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R94wPJ2syCj4DFadMjiu_6_VNYt9tlzY8_ct34a8ml0/edit
Smart Energy Event will be held on 3-4 May at the ICC in Sydney. It is a free event but you will need to register. https://eventfrog.eventsair.com/smart-energy-conference-exhibition-2023/reg/Site/Register
Sustainability Festival will be run by Ryde Council on Sunday 4 June 2023 from 10.00am – 2.00pm at Ryde Park to celebrate World Environment Day.
Fear and Wonder is a podcast series sponsored by the Climate Council that talks to scientists about climate change. To listen and subscribe go to https://shows.acast.com/fear-and-wonder-stories-from-un-climate-experts
NEWS AND EVENTS
IPCC report says governments are not moving fast enough to meet their commitments. And Australia’s federal and state governments are continuing to support more fossil fuel projects. So much for listening to and acting on the science! https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/03/20/climate-change-ipcc-report-15/
Here’s some great infographics about climate change as related to the IPCC report. https://twitter.com/KHayhoe/status/1637875896433385481
Electrify Everything! Listen to this inspirational podcast where Saul Griffiths explains how households can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions.https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/saul-griffith-s-electrifying-mission-/102093408
Great Koala National Park the new NSW government has committed to establishing this but large areas of native forest in the park area are at risk from logging. Sign the letter to Penny Sharpe to urgently protect these areas from industrial logging and establish the Park as quickly as possible. https://wilderness.good.do/GKNP/2023sharpe/
NSW Forests more than half have been lost since 1750. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/24/more-than-half-nsw-forests-lost-since-1750-and-logging-locking-in-species-extinction-study-finds
Kelp Forests are vitally important for a healthy ocean and the myriad of creatures living in it. This is a global initiative to protect kelp forests. For information and what you can do to help go to https://kelpforestalliance.com/
Coal Mine Tracker here’s how many are on the books for approval. Sign the letter to Tanya Plibersek asking she stop approving more coal mines. https://australiainstitute.org.au/initiative/coal-mine-tracker/
Australian government issues:
Safeguard Mechanism What does the new deal mean? Here’s an explanation. https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/safeguard-deal-caps-cuts-pollution-despite-no-ban-hard-choices-for-govt-on-gas-coal/
Fracking Beetaloo Basin Tamboran Resources has monster fracker is on its way from the United States. Sign the petition to stop this going ahead. https://act.350.org/sign/sign-now-stop-mega-fracker/ Here’s a video explaining what this machine is. https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/gas-and-fracking/share-mega-fracker-video/spread-the-word-about-the-mega-fracker#accordion-module-content-59663 A recently obtained report shows that Traditional Owners will NOT benefit from fracking despite what companies and governments have promised https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/concealed-government-report-reveals-traditional-owners-are-unlikely-to-gain-from-fracking/y701xak14
No new coal and gas sign the petition to the PM https://act.350.org/letter/write-pm-no-more-coal-and-gas/ and add your name to this open letter from scientists and climate groups asking for a halt on new coal and gas https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/scientists_open_letter
UN resolution on climate justice The United Nations has adopted a landmark resolution to establish for the first time countries’ obligations to address the climate crisis, and the consequences for inaction. However, Australia will not commit to stopping new fossil fuel mining, which is a major request from Pacific governments. Could Australia be punished for exporting apocalyptic quantities of fossil fuels? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/01/australia-joins-vanuatu-bid-for-international-court-to-rule-on-obligation-to-prevent-climate-harm
Cultural burning a much better strategy to deal with the risk of wildfires https://theconversation.com/cultural-burning-is-safer-for-koalas-and-better-for-people-too-200997
Solar farms can help save our native wildlife https://theconversation.com/win-win-how-solar-farms-can-double-as-havens-for-our-wildlife-194920
Santos Sign the petition to federal and state politicians asking Santos’ Narrabri project does not go ahead. https://www.lockthegate.org.au/santos_narrabri
Green Hushing Companies are now changing tactics and are moving away from Greenwashing to avoid scrutiny of their inadequate climate change policies. https://www.theage.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/radio-silence-replaces-greenwashing-claims-20230320-p5ctl8.html
Bushfire smoke is eating up the ozone zone Ozone layer protects us from ultraviolet-B radiation. https://theconversation.com/bushfire-smoke-eats-up-the-ozone-protecting-us-from-dangerous-radiation-the-damage-will-increase-as-the-world-heats-up-201375
Macquarie Island Marine Park Federal Government is considering increasing the size of this park. Sign the letter to say you support this proposal https://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/actions/protectmacquarie/
WA south coast sanctuary sign the letter to the WA government asking a sanctuary be established in this area. https://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/actions/southcoastmarinepark/
Is your super fund invested in Adani? Global equity fund GQG bought up $US1.9bn of Adani stocks in four Adani Group companies, including Adani Enterprises – the owner of the Carmichael coal mine. CBUS Super, Australian Super and REST are clients of GQG. Maybe it’s time you voiced your concerns to your super fund. Or change your super fund.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Using solar panel waste to build better batteries. Scientists from Deakin University are testing how to extract silicon. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/case-study/using-solar-panel-waste-to-build-better-batteries-1050139210
Improving the grid to cope with increased renewables – are superconductors the way to go? https://theconversation.com/a-tenth-of-all-electricity-is-lost-in-the-grid-superconducting-cables-can-help-199001
Rooftop solar in Australia about to overtake coal as Australia’s biggest source of generation capacity https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-01/rooftop-solar-to-overtake-coal-as-australias-main-power-source/102033740
Household battery uptake in Australia is skyrocketing. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-30/australian-household-battery-uptake-surges-to-record-high/102160138
RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling soft plastics at present is voluntary and obviously hasn’t worked. Sign the letter to Tanya Plibersek asking her to replace the current voluntary approach with regulation of the industry. https://www.boomerangalliance.org.au/please_dont_go_soft_on_plastics
Making aviation more sustainable here are three options to reach net zero emissions https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/sustainable-aviation-fuels-net-zero-emissions/
Polyester textile recycling. University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Enzyme Innovation is looking at enzymes to deal with this textile waste.https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/case-study/-plastic-eating-enzymes-to-help-combat-textile-waste-947021135
Compostable textiles? Standards Australia has accepted a proposal for how this could be done for biodegradable textiles. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/mar/22/compostable-textiles-australia-world-first-standard-for-composting-biodegradable-fabric-material
Recycling shoes TreadLightly will recycle a number of shoe types. For information about what shoes they recycle and where you can drop them off go to https://treadlightly.asga.com.au/
Recycling takeway coffee cups Penrith Council is using these in road construction. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/case-study/this-morning-s-coffee-cup-could-become-tomorrow-s-road-667908574
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
We need strong car fuel efficiency standard Sign the petition. https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/email_labor_back_strong_fes
Sign this petition to state car member groups such as NRMA asking for their support for stronger fuel efficiency standards https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/contact_aaa_groups_about_fes
Electric Utes good for the whole week! https://theconversation.com/electric-utes-can-now-power-the-weekend-and-the-work-week-199600