WHAT’S ON
Rio Tinto Join the virtual rally at 8.30am on 7th May calling on Rio Tinto at its AGM to walk away from the Minerals Council of Australia. For info and RSVP go to
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/virtual-rally-at-rios-agm-tickets-102860516574
NCC Will be running a series of live stream talks about climate change and the environment. The first one will be on 7th May at 5.30-6pm on how to talk about climate change to non-believers. For info and to book go to https://natureorg.nationbuilder.com/cocktails-conservation
Renew group is running a Zoom meeting about Drawdown technologies (which follows on from an item in last month’s newsletter) on 11 May 6.30-7.30pm. To book go to
https://renew.org.au/events/sydneycentral-branch/drawdown-technologies-to-reverse-climate-change/
Climate Strike On 15 May from 4pm you can join a live stream event. For more information and to RSVP go to https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/may15
Stop Adani On 19 May 10-11.30am there will be an online rally calling on Marsh to step away from Adani. For info and to register go to https://www.stopadani.com/marshonlinerally
WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING
We made a submission to NSW Government’s bushfire inquiry.
We made a submission to the federal government’s EPBC Act (environmental law) asking for much stronger laws to protect our fauna and flora.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Plastics review The NSW government is seeking community comments on its plan to reduce plastics. You can read the discussion paper (which gives you the option of making a formal submission) at https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.nswdpie-yoursay.files/4915/8338/7026/19p2034-nsw-plastics-plan-summary.pdf or you can fill in a survey https://yoursay.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-plan/short-survey or you can sign this letter. https://www.nature.org.au/get-involved/take-action/let-s-end-single-use-plastics-in-nsw/ Closing date 8 May
Federal government wants to fast-track weaker environmental laws changes – and the review process has only just started. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/23/coalition-is-aiming-to-change-australias-environment-laws-before-review-is-finished Sign the petition https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/surge/save-our-environmental-laws/breaking-our-environmental-protection-laws-are-under-threat
And this one https://act.greenpeace.org.au/protectourkoalas
Australian Super and Adani Australian Super is a major investor in Marsh, which is Adani’s insurance broker. User this letter to ask this super fund (even if it’s not yours) to walk away from this company. Marsh’s AGM is 21 May
https://www.stopadani.com/australiansuper
Does your super invest in oil and gas? Use this form to ask them to not invest in oil and gas miners like Oil Search. https://www.marketforces.org.au/oil-search-must-abandon-oil-and-gas-expansion/
Coal lobby wants corporate tax cuts AYCC is calling for a Clean Jobs Guarantee. Sign the petition https://www.aycc.org.au/cleanjobsguarantee
Ryde Council to go 100% renewables The Ryde council has voted to use 100% renewable energy by 2030 for all operations and assets it is liable for. This is a great initiative of the council and all the councillors should be thanked for passing this proposal unanimously.
Covid19 and renewables Australian businesses want Covid-19 recovery and cutting carbon emissions to be addressed together.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/05/australian-businesses-call-for-climate-crisis-and-virus-economic-recovery-to-be-tackled-together
Federal government – gas is the answer The federal government (ie Angus Taylor) is pushing for gas to help our economic recovery even though the AEMO says it’s renewables. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/03/trouble-with-gas-the-coalition-is-betting-on-the-fossil-fuel-for-recovery-but-the-sums-dont-add-up
Fall in oil prices stalls Australia’s LNG industry https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/13/australias-booming-lng-industry-stalls-after-fall-in-oil-prices-amid-coronavirus
Gas industry emissions are getting worse. https://reneweconomy.com.au/gas-industrys-emissions-intensity-is-getting-worse-new-report-finds-51992/
Can Australia really grow with gas? https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/falling-for-an-old-flame-can-australia-really-grow-through-gas-20200501-p54ozu.html
Government investing in hydrogen using fossil fuels and taking money from CEFC to fund it https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/04/government-offers-300m-hydrogen-investment-clean-energy-finance-corporation
Coal mines use a lot of water A report from the Australian Conservation Foundation shows that coal mines and power stations use more water than Sydney households. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/04/nsw-and-queensland-coal-industry-uses-as-much-water-as-all-sydney-households-report-finds
Sign the petition asking federal and state governments to move away from coal
https://www.acf.org.au/petition_coal_water
Coal fired power stations emissions Coal-fired power stations are the biggest emitters of toxic pollutants. Environment Justice Australia is launching a complaint in Victoria and NSW about their biggest polluters. Add your name
https://www.envirojustice.org.au/projects/coal-fired-power-stations-once-again-the-biggest-toxic-polluters-in-australia/
There’s some good things happening:
Westpac to shed thermal investments by 2030 https://reneweconomy.com.au/westpac-to-shed-thermal-coal-investments-by-2030-switch-to-renewables-and-evs-77329/ Send an email congratulating them https://www.marketforces.org.au/westpac-sets-thermal-coal-exit-date-re-commits-to-paris-alignment/
NSW government urged to investigate low carbon future https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/never-more-critical-government-pressed-on-low-carbon-recovery-study-20200503-p54pci.html
Clean Energy Council report says jobs are in renewables. https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2020/05/05/jobs-renewables-clean-energy-council/
Is this the beginning of the end of our reliance on cars? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200429-are-we-witnessing-the-death-of-the-car
Three European countries have closed coal-fired power stations with eleven more to follow. https://ieefa.org/sweden-becomes-third-european-country-to-complete-coal-plant-phaseout/
A number of banks in Asia and Europe have said they will no longer invest in coal-fired power plants, particularly in the Asian region. https://ieefa.org/hsbc-closes-loopholes-exits-coal-plant-financing-market/
How Covid-19 has helped the world https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200422-how-has-coronavirus-helped-the-environment
Impact on environment – great infographic https://venngage.com/blog/coronavirus-impact-on-environment-infographic/
How climate change is affecting extreme weather event Have a look at this map https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-how-climate-change-affects-extreme-weather-around-the-world
Green hydrogen versus coal hydrogen And why green is better. Listen to this podcast. https://reneweconomy.com.au/energy-insiders-podcast-why-green-hydrogen-beats-coal-hydrogen-88244/
Ban oil mining in Great Australian Bight – permanently Sign the petiiton calling for a permanent ban. https://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/actions/ban-big-oil-in-the-bight/
Climate app to help you track your carbon footprint Listen to this podcast or read the transcript https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/climate-clever-app-helps-you-measure-and-reduce-your-carbon-foo/