June 2015 newsletter

Burning forests and RET The Abbott government is planning to allow burning of native forests to count towards the RET. Sign the petition to the senators to say no. http://www.nature.org.au/get-involved/take-action/keep-our-forests-out-of-the-ret/

Germany ramps up building codes. Once again Germany understands the importance of strengthening building codes for energy efficiency. http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/guest-blogs/german-building-codes-keep-ratcheting

Divestment! Norway’s parliament unanimously voted to sell its country’s pension fund shares in companies that mine and burn coal. This is the largest fossil fuel divestment ever, with a staggering $8.8bn being moved out of the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel industry. Tell your super fund to follow Norway’s lead. Click here to email your fund today.

Adani and Standard Bank Britain’s Standard Bank is working with Adani to lend the billions required to allowing mining in the Galilee Basin and ship the coal through the Great Barrier Reef. Click here to tell Standard Chartered to say no to this climate and Reef disaster.

Sydney’s water catchment area and PEL 2  PEL 2(Petroleum Exploration Licence) is owned by AGL to mine CSG in Sydney’s water catchment area. Anthony Roberts is currently reviewing this licence but has forgotten to ask what you would like to happen. Go to the link and have a look at the massive size of area involved and then sign the petition www.landwaterfuture.org.au/pel2action

Texas –land of renewables? Georgetown in Texas will be powered by 100% renewable energy within a couple of years. Why? Because it made economic sense. It joins a number of other cities in this oil rich state to make the change. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/06/11/3666649/georgetown-texas-one-hundred-percent-renewable/

Commbank protests Were you part of one of the 100 protests outside Commbank branches against the funding of the Adani mine? Click here to watch the highlights from Raise the Heat and get that tingly feeling.

Imagine! Tathra’s solar farm The township of Tathra on the south coast of NSW has launched its 30kW solar farm. It is one of the Australia’s first and largest community owned farms. Be inspired by what a small community can do to combat climate change. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/30kw-community-solar-farm-australias-largest-to-date-completed-in-nsw-96810

Renewables overtake fossil fuels. The world is adding more renewable capacity each year than all fossil fuels combined. Read on http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-14/fossil-fuels-just-lost-the-race-against-renewables

Battery storage revolution. There is a revolution in battery storage as more companies get on board to store energy from solar panels. http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/australia-primed-as-heartland-for-batterystorage-revolution-20150529-ghba6h.html

What’s On

Frackman! Screening at Roseville Cinema (112 Pacific Highway, Roseville) on Wednesday 24 June at 6.30 pm. BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE

Ryde Council Garden competition. There is a new category Native and Habitat friendly gardens. See Council’s website for details. www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/springgardencompetition

National Parks Association (NPA). The NPA has many organised bushwalks that you may be interested in to see our beautiful National Parks. For information go to www.npansw.org.au/index.php/bushwalking