Some good things have happened: Lloyd’s insurers MS Amlin, Arch Capital and Tokio Marine Kiln have ruled out involvement with Adani’s Carmichael coal project;State Bank of India rethinking $1billion loan to Adani; NT replacing diesel generators in 72 remote communities with solar; Coca-Cola Amatil to go 100% renewables by 2030; Cadbury, Pascall and The Natural Confectionery Co are using 100% renewables;Shenhua Mine will not proceed (though millions of dollars of taxpayer money in compensation could have been saved if the NSW government had not allowed renewal of the licence when it expired a few years ago); New York City is suing BP, Exxon Mobil and Shell along with the American Petroleum Institute for “systematically and intentionally deceiving New Yorkers” on climate change issues.
WHAT’S ON
#StopAdani roadshow will be held online 8 June 6pm-7:45pm. To book go to
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stopadani-and-beyond-roadshow-online-tickets-151760859817
Forest Defenders Movie There will be a showing of this documentary which shows the work of Bob Brown’s Foundation in trying to protect Tasmania’s forests. It will be on 6 May at 6.30pm at NSW Parliamentary Theatre. For bookings go to https://www.catefaehrmann.org/forest_defenders_movie_screening
School Strike 4 Climate There will be a rally on 21 May at Sydney Town Hall 12-3pm. Theme is “fund our future not gas”. We’ll be there with our banner. We will catch the 506 bus that leaves from PIttwater Road/Thompson St bus stop at 11.26am, or find us on the 500X 11.14am from Top Ryde if you’d like to join us to the rally.
What are the risks and opportunities for business in a changing climate? NCC will hold a breakfast with guests Matt Kean and Chris Bowen on 19 May at Hilton Hotel 7-9am. Individual tickets $75. For bookings go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/business-breakfast-risks-and-opportunities-in-a-changing-climate-tickets-148554308937
Ryde Council will be holding a Sustainability Festival on Sunday 6 June 10am-2pm at Wilga Park , Cottonwood Cres, Macquarie Park. For more info go to https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Events/Listing/Sustainability-Festival
WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING
Made a submission to Parks Victoria’s Draft Feral Horse Action Plan 2021
Made a submission on NSW Government’s Draft Clean Air Strategy
Made a submission objecting to NSW Government’s proposed Design and Place SEPP
Made a submission objecting to the proposed Biodiversity Offsets Scheme that will make it easier for developers to clear threatened species habitat.
Wrote to John Alexander asking he speak up against gas subsidies in the leadup to the federal budget
NEWS AND EVENTS
Zali Steggall’s Climate Bill Ted O’Brien (a Liberal MP) is the chair of the committee and is due to draft a summary report of the findings from submissions and present them back to the House of Representative. There is no fixed time for this but it is expected before the end of June. Based on the Federal Government’s attitude regarding climate change, it is doubtful a recommendation will be made to have it tabled for debate. Zali is entitled to submit a dissenting report. Here’s what you can do in the meantime.
1. Sign up your personal support for the Bill at https://climateactnow.com.au/
2. Write to your local MP. Tell them you want the Climate Bill to be debated in the House of Reps with a free vote and remind them that your vote at the next election will only be given to a candidate and party who are committed to climate action. Both John Alexander and Trent Zimmermann fall into this category.
3. Write to the Prime Minister in a similar way.
4. Watch out for the presentation of the report into the Climate Bill and be prepared to complain online and in real life if the report fails to represent the balance of expert opinion provided during the inquiry.
Taxing the sun The AEMC is proposing that PV owners be taxed for the electricity they export. Make a submission using this form to oppose this idea which will make electricity more expensive. Closes 12 May
https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/aemc_sun_tax_submissions_2
Agromining Farming plants that contain metals. Could they help power the future?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-09/trees-that-bleed-metal-could-help-power-the-future/100051066
Oceans at equator are heating up and getting too hot for marine life to stay.
https://theconversation.com/marine-life-is-fleeing-the-equator-to-cooler-waters-history-tells-us-this-could-trigger-a-mass-extinction-event-158424
Fossil fuel companies and insurance companies are still forging ahead with destructive projects
Banks continue to finance Whitehaven Mine Sign the letter asking them to explain why.https://www.marketforces.org.au/big-banks-snub-local-farmers-concerned-about-whitehaven-coal/
Woodside and BHP want to develop gas project in a pristine part of WA. Sign the letter http://act.greenpeace.org.au/stop-scarborough-gas-project
Liberty Mutual, an insurance company, is backing a coal mine in Queensland. Email the board members to say no https://lockthegate.good.do/baralaba/emailbaralaba/
Australia Pacific LNG wants to drill gas wells in SE Queensland. Sign the letter asking banks not to fund https://www.marketforces.org.au/australia-pacific-lng-seeks-massive-expansion-of-polluting-gas-drilling/
AGL is Australia’s biggest polluter. Sign the letter asking them to get out of coal fired power stations by 2030. https://act.greenpeace.org.au/DoTheRightThingAGL
Bylong Mine South Korea has announced it will withdraw support for coal. Write to Kepco’s CEO asking it not proceed with Bylong Coal Mine.
https://lockthegate.good.do/kepco/postcard/
Federal Government
Federal budget Sign the letter asking your federal MP to speak out against subsidising gas https://fossilfuelwatch.good.do/nogasbailouts/contact_mp/
Desperate to push for gas, the government tried to bully AEMO https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-12/four-corners-gas-plan-pressured-experts/100055730
Climate change is a security issue but the government continues to ignore it
https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-a-security-threat-the-government-keeps-ignoring-well-show-up-empty-handed-to-yet-another-global-summit-158702
Let Josh Frydenberg know we don’t want funding for coal and gas projects.
https://act.350.org/letter/email-treasurer-frydenberg-ditch-gas-fired-recovery/
EV policy is hostile and stopping the uptake in Australia https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/not-even-tesla-can-overcome-australia-s-hostility-to-electric-cars-20210414-p57izn.html
Government can’t hide its inaction with US https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/morrison-government-cant-conceal-inaction-on-climate-from-us-with-smoke-and-mirrors/ar-BB1fEmlJ
Australia increasingly isolated on climate change https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/20/no-action-on-anything-australia-increasingly-isolated-as-us-and-others-ramp-up-climate-ambition
US will challenge countries investing in new coal
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/20/secretary-of-state-antony-blinken-countries-investing-new-coal-will-hear-from-us-climate-action
Sussan Ley, the environment minister, says climate change is not part of her portfolio – apparently that’s Angus Taylor’s job.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/17/environment-minister-sussan-ley-says-climate-action-not-her-portfolio-in-stoush-with-states
SA forced into gas deal with federal government https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-18/energy-and-emissions-reduction-deal-south-australia/100077114
Government to fund CCS that’s our tax money funding an unproven technology!
https://theconversation.com/hydrogen-and-carbon-capture-receive-extra-funding-as-morrison-prepares-for-biden-summit-159361 Now sign the petition https://fossilfuelwatch.good.do/nogasbailouts/contact_mp/
The true cost of fossil fuel subsidies https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-26/scott-morrison-climate-change-fossil-fuel-subsidies-net-zero/100094506
Government disbands the National Covid Commission which was all about gas and dismissive of renewables. Some interesting analysis here https://www.themandarin.com.au/155531-pm-disbands-covid-19-advisory-board-declares-emergency-response-over/ and here https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/03/18/covid-commission-discussions-still-secret-why/ and here https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/08/01/new-mode-covid-19-board/159620400010184 and here https://reneweconomy.com.au/covid-commission-advised-morrison-to-underwrite-gas-pipelines-but-ignored-green-jobs-48758/
Labor Party – Federal and State
Still says coal important for decades Labor’s shadow resources spokesperson from WA Madeleine King, says coal mining still important beyond 2050 (report in The Australian)
NSW Opposition leader Jodi McKay won’t support moratorium on coal
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/mckay-says-coal-is-a-given-with-labor-s-candidate-for-upper-hunter-20210413-p57isp.html
Why we have to cut our emissions by 2035 Read the latest report from the Climate Council – sobering reading https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/net-zero-emissions-plummet-decade/
Sustainable housing and buildings A vision for the future https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2021/april/1617195600/anthony-ham/green-house-effect
Torres Strait Islands and climate change Sign the postcard asking Warren Entsch to lobby the federal government to protect Zenadth Kes which is part of his electorate. https://ourislandsourhome.com.au/send-a-postcard/
Saving koalas Sign these petitions: https://www.nature.org.au/get-involved/take-action/koalas-need-trees/ and https://agreennsw.good.do/strengthenlaws/action/
Adani Dow Jones Sustainability Index has removed Adani Ports from its listing. Sign the letter to the remaining bankers and investors to walk away from this project https://www.marketforces.org.au/adani-ports-removed-from-dow-jones-sustainability-index/
Financing fossil fuel projects Seven European countries will halt Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) to fund fossil fuel projects. These are the top funders for Australian gas projects. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-9467559/Seven-European-countries-halt-export-finance-fossil-fuels.html
It makes no sense NSW government sets target of net zero emissions but still supports coal mining. Go figure.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/19/how-can-nsw-allow-new-coalmines-while-committing-to-net-zero-emissions-its-bizarre Yet another mine has been approved. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/26/nsw-planning-body-gives-green-light-to-hunter-valley-coalmine-expansion
Some good news stories
Solar is insanely cheap energy https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/25/insanely-cheap-energy-how-solar-power-continues-to-shock-the-world
Reaons for optimism https://theconversation.com/more-reasons-for-optimism-on-climate-change-than-weve-seen-for-decades-2-climate-experts-explain-159233
Corporations are moving ahead of government in action https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-26/business-climate-change-action-leaves-morrison-behind/100094616
RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Single use plastics to be phased out by 2025 (still too slow!) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/16/single-use-plastics-to-be-phased-out-in-australia-from-2025-include-plastic-utensils-and-straws
Recycling unwanted apparel Couriers Please has a service where it will collect these items from households and forward them to where they will be given a new life. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/case-study/courier-service-helps-aussies-recycle-unwanted-textiles-455034595
Recycling electronic applicances The Reconnect Project takes unwanted items such mobile phones, laptops and tablets, repairs them and then gives them to those in need. For more info go to https://thereconnectproject.com.au/
PDK: A new recyclable plastic Researchers have developed a new plastic that can be endlessly recycled. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/pdk-the-new-plastic-with-indefinite-recycling-capabilities-711187053