WHAT’S ON
StopAdani From 10 August, StopAdani is running a campaign called Stop the Money with the aim of putting pressure on two Korean investors who are considering refinancing Adani’s port. For information and how to participate go to
https://www.stopadani.com/stopthemoneyweek
“Fund our Future not Gas” The School Strike group will be hosting a webinar about the Federal government’s plan to fast-track gas mining to get the country out of the Covid-19 crisis. It will be held on 13 August 6-7.30pm. To register go to
https://actionnetwork.org/events/webinar-build-our-future-national-day-of-action
School Strike The next School Strike will be held on 25 September. For details of how you can participate go to https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/buildourfuture
Webinar on PV “sun tax” The Australia Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is again considering charging the 2.5million households and businesses with rooftop solar for exporting their clean energy to the grid. Interestingly, this doesn’t apply to electricity generators using fossil fuels. Solar citizens is holding a webinar on 14 August 6-7pm. Sign the petition https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/stop_the_sun_tax then register for the webinar at https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/sun_tax_webinar
Spring Garden Competition Ryde Council will be running its annual Spring Garden competition for residents in the Ryde Council area. There are numerous categories including one for children. Entries close 20 September. For information and entry https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Events/Spring-Garden-Competition
WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING
Made a submission to IPC objecting to Vickery mine extension
NEWS AND EVENTS
Australia’s major banks still investing in fossil fuels Since 2016, the four major banks have invested in projects and companies that expand fossil fuels. Send a message to the banks https://www.marketforces.org.au/pariahprojects/
Macquarie Bank is still supporting fossil fuel investment and has no plan to stop
https://www.marketforces.org.au/macquarie-fails-to-commit-to-coal-and-gas-phase-outs/
Australia is the world’s biggest fossil fuel exporter Nothing to be proud of. A report from UNSW highlights our irresponsible position. https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/07/09/australia-export-fossil-fuels/
Matt Canavan says there’s no subsidising of fossil fuels. Here’s what ABC’s Fact Check says https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-29/fact-check-matt-canavan-fossil-fuel-industry-subsidies/12496310
Adani has a debt problem Adani is looking to refinance its Abbott Point coal port. Sign this letter asking banks not to refinance. https://www.marketforces.org.au/adani_fails_finance_aapt/
The planned coal fired power station in India that will use coal from Carmichael mine is facing opposition from the locals https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-10/adani-godda-power-plant-threatened-by-land-owner-court-action/12439624
Ethical investing Here’s a guide to how to do it and why it’s a good thing
https://renew.org.au/renew-magazine/community/what-is-ethical-investing/
Student suing federal government A law student is suing the federal government because it didn’t disclose the risk to “safe” investments because of climate change. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-22/student-sues-australian-government-over-climate-change/12480612
Coal Have look where our energy comes from in NSW https://reneweconomy.com.au/graph-of-the-day-map-of-nsw-generation-wind-solar-hydro-coal-and-gas-95142/
Coal generation in Australia declining https://ieefa.org/coal-generation-in-australia-drops-below-70-of-national-electricity-market-for-first-time/
Coal plants are closing around the world https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/world-global-coal-power-capacity-has-fell-in-2020/12523904
Australia second worst in the world for climate action https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-ranks-second-worst-in-world-on-climate-action-outside-top-50-on-clean-energy-90879/
Gas Why mining gas is bad for the climate and economy https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/why-is-gas-bad-for-climate-change-and-energy-prices/
The secrecy of the government’s push for a gas-led recovery is concerning https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jul/30/australian-pms-department-refuses-to-release-covid-19-commission-documents
Ring the PM’s office and voice your opposition to gas https://www.aycc.org.au/tell_scotty_no and/or sign this petition https://act.greenpeace.org.au/NCCC
and/or this petition https://fossilfuelwatch.good.do/stopthegas-firedrecovery/emailscottmorrision/
Biogas Using food waste to produce energy https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/06/we-pay-a-tax-to-produce-clean-energy-the-queensland-pig-farmer-who-is-leading-the-way-on-climate-action
BZE Million jobs plan BZE launched its plan at the end of June. Very comprehensive and achievable. Have a look at what it involves. https://bze.org.au/the-million-jobs-plan/
Is your super at risk? Super funds need to move away from investing in fossil fuels. https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/super-returns-at-risk-from-climate-inaction-study-finds-20200622-p55517.html
Which Super funds don’t stack up. https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/personalfinance/just-a-handful-of-australia-s-50-largest-super-funds-have-a-good-track-record-on-issues-like-climate-change-here-s-who-doesn-t-stack-up/ar-BB15e0qT
How nature can protect us from climate change Here’s six ways nature can help us. https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/six-ways-nature-can-protect-us-climate-change
Rock dust on croplands could drawdown atmospheric carbon https://www.miragenews.com/rock-dust-on-croplands-could-draw-two-billion-tonnes-of-co2-from-atmosphere/
It’s time to get emotional about climate change Here’s how. https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/rebecca-huntley-on-why-it-s-time-to-get-emotional-about-climate-change-20200625-p5561z.html
Misguided ideology needs to be dropped if we’re to address climate change
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/07/08/properly-addressing-climate-change-requires-letting-go-of-misguided-ideology/
Electric vehicles Following a survey last year, Ryde Council has bought two electric vehicles and is deciding where public EV charging stations will be installed. https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Environment-and-Waste/Sustainable-Living/Sustainable-Transport/Electric-Vehicles/Electric-Vehicle-Charging
NSW government considering electric car usage tax – a great way to discourage the uptake of electric vehicles https://www.drive.com.au/news/nsw-government-considers-electric-car-usage-tax-123850.html
ACT to trial electric cars to help stabilize power grid https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-08/act-hooks-electric-vehicles-up-to-power-grid-in-research-trial/12436224
Electric cars are on the rise https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/news/report-says-electric-vehicles-on-the-rise-47536709
Electric buses https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/unsw-ebusco-agreement-to-bolster-greener-transport-440833283
How to put more electric vehicles on Australian roads – a video https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2020/jul/29/the-green-recovery-how-to-put-more-electric-cars-on-the-road-video
Clean air Sign this letter asking Matt Kean (NSW environment minister) to implement a Clean Air Plan (already three years overdue)
https://www.envirojustice.org.au/projects/tell-matt-kean-to-implement-a-clean-air-strategy/