October 2020 Newsletter

The budget brought no joy for those who want to see Australia move to a zero emissions economy by 2050 (preferably earlier).  The government has shown its commitment to fossil fuels by considering renewables a “mature technology” no longer requiring support (as compared to the subsidies of over $20billion per annum given to the fossil fuel industry).  There was also no money for electric vehicles or charging network despite the billions given to road infrastucture. Please contact your federal MP, particularly if they are a Coalition member, and let them know your disappointment.
We have written to John Alexander voicing our concerns.
For further details on the budget you can read this article
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/06/australia-federal-budget-2020-disappointing-environment-budget-lacks-new-funding-for-australian-renewables

WHAT’S ON

Fight for Planet A: Bennelong’s Climate Challenge. On 13 October at 7pm there will be an online discussion by Jo Taranto, a local environmental campaigner, about her involvement with the ABC series. Tickets are free but you must register by going to http://cclbennelong.org/fightforplaneta.

#StopAdani There will be an on-line protest on 28 October to pressure Lloyds to not insure the Carmichael mine.  For details and to register go to
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SKE7yeK8xhXsQOkNqccQh8fZkOJ_ibjvmCRYEazj2Aw/edit#

Senate vote on CEFC and ARENA The Senate will shortly be voting on the government’s proposal to use these clean energy organisations’ funds to prop up gas projects. Share the campaign by tweeting about it using the hashtags #keepitclean and #poweruprenewables and send a note to Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) and Angus Taylor(@AngusTaylorMP) using those hashtags.

Climate Bill  Zali Steggall’s Climate Bill will be presented to parliament in November.  We encourage you to contact your federal MP and ask they support the bill.  You can also go to Zali’s website and show your support. https://climateactnow.com.au/

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING 

Made a submission opposing CEFC money being used to prop up gas projects.

Following our meeting with John Alexander, we have sent him a lot of information regarding the dangers of a gas-led recovery and the clean energy alternatives.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Adani Adani is still looking for an insurer.  W R Berkley is an insurer active in the energy and construction sectors.  Sign the letter asking them not to insure the Carmichael mine. https://www.marketforces.org.au/wrb-adani/
Then you can sign a letter to the remaining Lloyd’s insurers who still have not ruled out insuring Adani.  https://www.marketforces.org.au/only-9-lloyds-insurers-left-refusing-to-answer-adani-questions/
Adani has been forced to pay for the haulage of coal from its mine by creating a company called  Bowen Rail Company.  However, banks may not be aware by funding this company they are supporting Adani.  Sign the letter. https://www.marketforces.org.au/adani-forced-to-haul-its-own-its-own-coal-driving-up-the-cost-of-carmichael/

Government’s gas recovery Here’s a detailed explanantion why it’s wrong, so wrong. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/17/scott-morrisons-gas-led-recovery-what-is-it-and-will-it-really-make-energy-cheaper

School Strike students are asking you, your business or organisation to stand against a gas led recovery and call on the Federal government to #FundOurFutureNotGas https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/pledge
Then have a look at the outcome of their 25 September strike
https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/buildourfuture

Here’s some uplifting videos  from the recent Global Smart Energy Summit.
Mike Cannon-Brookes, Osher Günsberg and Dan Ilic https://vimeo.com/463333080
Audrey Zibelman and Dr Cassandra Goldie https://vimeo.com/463314442
Bill McKibben and Blair Palese https://vimeo.com/463405477

Green recovery  Have a look at this series that covers a wide range of possibilties for a green recovery in Australia. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2020/aug/20/the-green-recovery-how-australia-can-close-the-recycling-loop

Triple switch  Change your bank, your super and your electricity supplier and stop supporting fossil fuels. https://www.tripleswitch.org/

Carbon accounting  Want to reduce your carbon footprint? Read on
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-08-20/carbon-accountancy-ride-climate-environment/12513398

Your local climate action tool kit  As a follow-up from the ABC’s Fight for Planet A programme, here’s a guide to help you take up the climate challenge in your  local area.
https://www.abc.net.au/tv/pdf/Fight_For_Planet_A_Good_for_the_Hood.pdf

Investing in renewable energy in Australia and around the world
Queensland will invest $145 million to kick-start three Renewable Energy Zones. https://reneweconomy.com.au/palaszczuk-announces-investment-in-three-queensland-renewable-energy-corridors-68164/
In addition, there is $500m to help Queensland reach its 50% renewables by 2030.
Victoria will be holding a reverse auction to increase renewables by 600 MW
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-renewables-help-drive-victorias-economic-recovery
ACT government to build first renewable energy powered all-electric hospital https://reneweconomy.com.au/act-government-to-build-first-all-electric-hospital-powered-by-renewables-76968/
Germany over half of its energy came from renewables for the first 9 months of this year. https://reneweconomy.com.au/renewables-deliver-over-half-of-german-electricity-in-first-nine-months-coal-plunges-83744/
South Australia  for the month of September 73% of its power came from wind and solar. https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-wind-and-solar-served-stunning-73-of-demand-in-september-53751/

AEMC wants to tax PV owners The AEMC (Australian Energy Market Commission) is considering charging PV owners for exporting their energy to the grid (but not big coal and gas electricity suppliers).  Sent this letter to the NSW Environment Minister asking him to reject the proposal. https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/email_energy_minister_to_stop_sun_tax

Methane emissions in Sydney and Melbourne  You’ll be surprised where they’re sourced. https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/sydney-awash-with-leaks-as-research-shows-the-climate-cost-of-gas-20200828-p55qd5.html

Electric vehicles  Fonzarelli is an electric motor bike manufactured in Australia https://www.fonzarelli.co/
Lithium mining  – the mineral Australia could mine and process for the electric vehicle revolution https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/10/how-australias-white-gold-could-power-the-global-electric-vehicle-revolution
Norway is a leader in the electric car uptake. Watch this video from The Australia Institute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps6Rx3B8P8U&list=PLgXQ0oSpA60z4BO-_qhN1iropemoS-Rtk&index=6&t=0s
Electric cars have significantly lower impact on the climate according to a recent report from Europe. https://cleantechnica.com/2020/09/02/electric-vehicles-have-significantly-lower-impacts-on-the-climate-new-in-depth-report/
AGL to launch a subscription service for EV’s https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/09/agl-bets-on-electric-vehicles-subscription-service-to-boost-australias-uptake

Proposal for a Sovereign fund  A new group has been set up that is calling for a sovereign fund, similar to the one Norway has, to invest in battery metal mining and upstream chemical processing to take advantage of the boom that will coming with lithium mining. If you want to know more, go to https://www.canwedigit.org/

Fossil-free steel making Sweden has just completed the construction of a steel manufacturing plant that will not use fossil fuels. (We have passed this information on to John Alexander). https://reneweconomy.com.au/world-first-fossil-free-steel-manufacturing-plant-completed-in-sweden-36577/

Australian Climate Roundtable This alliance of Australian business, environmental, farmer, investor, union and social welfare groups came together in 2014 to look at how to deal with climate change. (We have sent this link to John Alexander) https://www.australianclimateroundtable.org.au/
Farmers believe the National Party is out of touch on climate change.https://www.theland.com.au/story/6910324/nationals-out-of-touch-on-climate-change-as-farmers-bear-its-brunt/

Australian Scientists being muzzled Scientists say they are being pressured to stay silent https://theconversation.com/research-reveals-shocking-detail-on-how-australias-environmental-scientists-are-being-silenced-140026

RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABILITY

Microrecycling  UNSW has is developing techniques to extract valuable materials from complex waste items and reform them. Exciting! https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/article/microrecycling-science-revolutionising-recycling-and-manufacturing-876604594

Recycling disposable coffee cups  Research is being done that incorporates these landfill items into new road surfaces. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/20/this-man-turns-discarded-coffee-cups-into-roads