Archive for the ‘Opinion’ Category
Where to find Australia’s Climate Change Leaders (psst – it’s not Canberra)
Posted in Movements, Opinion by CarbonetiX on August 17th, 2010
Image: Linfox
If you are sick of the climate change talkfest in Canberra and looking for the kind of leadership where actions and results do the talking, jump on tram 59 going past Essendon, put your bike on the train and head on past Frankston to Hastings, or catch the Epping line train and get off at Preston.
Your first stop is near Essendon airport, with a brisk ten minute walk to the offices of Linfox. You’ll get a clue of what is happening when you notice that the trucks won’t be idling in the car park. In a training room there is a group of drivers, listening to a burly presenter talking about the likely impacts of climate change if we do nothing. David McInnes, Group Manager Environment and Climate Change, then takes you aside and quickly goes through the ten principles of fuel-efficient driving that the drivers are learning in the Eco Drive training. He explains that “Linfox takes the position that climate change is real, that it is most probably caused by human activity, and that Linfox sees that it has a responsibility to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.” To reduce its emissions Linfox have been following a eight step cultural change process developed by Harvard academic John Kotter.
Since 2007 Linfox has quietly gone about creating a sense of urgency in the organisation about the importance of reducing its carbon footprint, then acting on that sense of urgency. Without quite knowing how it would do it, its board of management set a target to reduce greenhouse emissions per km by 15% by 2010. As a result of this leadership stand, late last year Linfox announced that it had reached its target early, and had in fact achieved a 28% saving, translating into substantial savings in diesel costs. McInnes is quick to point out that “this has required significant investment, but that to date the savings outweigh the costs.” He attributes the saving to cultural change, and how thousands of drivers changing how they drive has slashed their diesel use. Linfox has now set a target of reducing its emissions per km by 50% by 2015, and is willing to go beyond business as usual with the additional investment that will be required to achieve this.
Your next stop is Westernport Secondary College. You catch the train to Frankston then ride your bike for an hour to Hastings, or else then catch the Stony Point line train and walk for ten minutes to the school from Hastings station.
Assistant Principal Hannah Lewis greets you and shows you round the school. You see how the old centralised heating system is now idle, replaced with energy efficient gas space heaters in each classroom. Light fittings have been “de-lamped” – that is, a fitting with two fluorescent tubes has had one removed and a reflector put behind the remaining tube to increase its light output. She explains how “a lighting assessment has ensured that de-lamping has been undertaken selectively so that illumination levels are still in accordance with the Australian Standard.” This low cost measure has resulted in a halving of energy use in those light fittings that have been de-lamped.
Ethical Consumer Group Meal & Movie Nights: August
Posted in Events, Movements, Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on August 11th, 2010
Source: Ethical Consumer Group
Thursday 12th August, Yarraville
Capitalism: A love story
Is capitalism the only way? Is it the best way? This film by Michael Moore centres on the financial crisis of 2007–2010 and the recovery stimulus, and the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans. Topics covered include Wall Street’s “casino mentality”, for-profit prisons, Goldman Sachs’ influence in Washington, DC, the poverty-level wages of many workers, the large wave of home foreclosures, and the consequences of “runaway greed”.
Friday 20th August, Blackburn
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba’s economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanised, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. A practical example of options and hope for our time.
Dinner 6.30 – 7.30pm – byo ‘food and thoughts’ to share, Movie begins 8.00pm. Wrap up by 10.30pm.
The Ethical Consumer Group meets once a month to discuss aspects of living out sustainable alternatives in a consumerist culture. Join us for “Meal and Movie” (.. or just movie). Visit the website for more information.
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Sustainable Shoppers Guide to Rainwater Tanks
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on June 4th, 2010
Source: cuttings, the Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) newsletter
From Cuttings, May 2010:
As summer becomes a distant memory and the weather begins to cool, many of us have been privy to an unusual phenomenon… rain! With all the wet stuff about, and some governments altering their water restrictions, we do tend to forget about water conservation and rain water harvesting… but, let me assure you, this is the time to think about it, not just in the warmer months! In fact, autumn and winter are excellent times to seriously consider installing rainwater tanks. If you have a rainwater tank in place now, think of all the H2O you’ll have ready to go come spring … it’s kind of like a ‘layby lifeline’ for your patch!
But with the huge range of tanks out there, heading out to buy a tank can be incredibly daunting. Luckily, SGA have come to the rescue, and have put together a ‘Sustainable Shoppers Guide’ to help you make the right rainwater decision for your place. So here is a swag of information on a number of commonly used, currently available rainwater tanks and their features, be they good, bad and ugly. Bear in mind that new products are released all the time, so, if the tank you are interested in ain’t on the list, just let us know, or pop on the forum and have a yarn!
Oh, and remember, with all tanks, it is recommended that you get a licensed plumber to install your tanks… it’s the only way to claim any Government rebates on the purchase price of your water holding wonder!
Go to “Tanks A Lot – The Sustainable Shoppers Guide to Rainwater Tanks” to see the results.
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Electric Cars: Not good enough
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on April 29th, 2010
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
“There’s no quick fix to either the energy shortage or climate change. In the longer term, we’re all going to have to use less energy, and that means smaller houses, less plastic junk that we don’t really need and less wasted trips in our cars.”
From Electric Cars a Major Environmental Threat:
Despite their ‘green’ image, electric cars are often less efficient and more polluting than the petrol cars they replace, according to a major report released today [23-03-10]. The 168-page report, titled The Emperor’s New Car, is described as a ‘long-overdue reality check’ by its author, car expert Clive Matthew-Wilson. The report was prepared in consultation with several internationally-recognised energy experts. Matthew-Wilson, who edits the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide, says: “The car industry is selling a false image of efficient, environmentally-friendly electric cars powered by ‘green’ energy. In reality, electric cars often aren’t very efficient and aren’t very green.”
The report was highly critical of the iconic Tesla electric sports car, which has become the international symbol of chic, environmentally-responsible motoring. “The Tesla is actually not very efficient at all. Most of Tesla’s publicity focuses on the efficiency of its electric motor. What they don’t tell you is that its batteries are heavy, inefficient and that Teslas are frequently powered by electricity from highly polluting power stations.”
“Despite what most people believe, a high percentage of the world’s electricity is produced using dirty fuels like coal. This isn’t going to change anytime soon; in fact, the widespread introduction of electric cars will probably increase the world’s reliance on coal in order to keep up with the increased demand for electricity.”
“Claims that electric cars are ‘emissions-free’ are simply a lie; they merely transfer the pollution from the road to the power station. Not only will electric cars not reduce emissions, they may actually increase emissions, because burning coal to make electricity to power an electric car creates more pollution than if you simply powered the same vehicle using petrol.”
“Renewable energy sources may be growing fast, but they’re still a tiny percentage of the world’s electricity supply and they’ll stay that way for the foreseeable future, because renewable energy sources tend to be far more expensive than fossil fuels.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Target: Advocacy update
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on April 9th, 2010
Source: Zero Carbon Moreland
Image: richardmasoner via flickr CC
The Federal Government has recently announced proposed changes to the national Renewable Energy Target (RET). Those changes are aiming to provide more support to Australia’s fledgling wind energy industry and also address issues with the existing Solar Credits Scheme. MEFL has expressed concerns with the current Solar Credits Scheme, and therefore we welcome these proposed changes.
The proposal removes small-scale renewable energy, such as roof-top solar electricity and solar hot water, from the main RET. Instead all small renewables will become part of the Small Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). For homeowners, the SRES provides greater certainty as well as ensuring that your investment in renewable energy is additional to the national target, which is a very good thing! For more information on the changes, visit MEFL’s Advocacy Blog.
What if they held a Climate Summit, and nobody came?
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on January 8th, 2010
Source: PostCarbon Institute
“How about next time we take the lead; we show not just from our Powerpoints and placards that another world is possible, but also that by staying home and working with those around us to start practically building a low carbon economy, loft by loft and street by street, that a leaner, lower carbon future could be, and will be, fantastic.”
From “What if they held a Climate Summit, and nobody came?” by Rob Hopkins
So Copenhagen has been and gone, with no meaningful agreement being reached, and now the politicians and lobbyists have headed home having failed to do anything meaningful to address this staggeringly pressing challenge. Hugo Chavez came up with the quote of the fortnight when he observed “if the climate was a bank, they would already have saved it”. The gathering of the environmental/climate change movement in the Klimaforum with its dedicated bringing together of green luminaries and activists failed to have any meaningful impact on the proceedings, as did the mass street protests, designed to shame delegates into meaningful action and to draw a line in the sand. In short, the responses that the alternative movement/protest culture/social justice movement usually rolls into action when such events take place, didn’t work. So, might we do things differently next time?
It is, after all, what is expected. Activists and experts all head to the venue, with huge carbon implications, in the hope that this is “the one”, new police powers get passed, activists are subject to harassment and intimidating policing (George Marshall’s piece on his Copenhagen experience is well worth a read, especially for his despair at the amount of polar bear costumes on display), the media can run its “climate change demonstrations turned ugly today” stories to divert interest away from the lack of progress, in the fringe event people inspire and challenge each other, and in the main talks, most representatives arrive, as one does at any auction, with their preferred bids and the extra they will offer if pushed already worked out long in advance……
Beyond Hope, to Action
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on December 3rd, 2009
An unusual post for us, here at Sustainable Melbourne, but potentially relevant as Copenhagen takes centre stage.
Image: greenpeace via flickr CC
From the article “Beyond Hope” by Derrick Jensen, Orion Magazine.
THE MOST COMMON WORDS I hear spoken by any environmentalists anywhere are, “We’re *%$#@*”. Most of these environmentalists are fighting desperately, using whatever tools they have—or rather whatever legal tools they have, which means whatever tools those in power grant them the right to use, which means whatever tools will be ultimately ineffective—to try to protect some piece of ground, to try to stop the manufacture or release of poisons, to try to stop civilized humans from tormenting some group of plants or animals. Sometimes they’re reduced to trying to protect just one tree.
Here’s how John Osborn, an extraordinary activist and friend, sums up his reasons for doing the work: “As things become increasingly chaotic, I want to make sure some doors remain open. If grizzly bears are still alive in twenty, thirty, and forty years, they may still be alive in fifty. If they’re gone in twenty, they’ll be gone forever.”
But no matter what environmentalists do, our best efforts are insufficient. We’re losing badly, on every front. Those in power are hell-bent on destroying the planet, and most people don’t care.
Frankly, I don’t have much hope. But I think that’s a good thing. Hope is what keeps us chained to the system, the conglomerate of people and ideas and ideals that is causing the destruction of the Earth.
Diversifying our water supply system: meeting Melbourne’s needs locally
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on November 20th, 2009
Source: Alternative Technology Association
From “A land of droughts and flooding rains: it is time we adapt to this reality” by Anjali Brown, Water Policy Manager ATA
The single most commonly used rationale for the Wonthaggi desalination plant has been the fact that we do not have enough rainfall. A lesser quoted fact is that even in years of drought, 400-500 Gigalitres of rain falls on Melbourne, only to be lost down stormwater drains and flushed out, via our waterways, into Port Philip Bay.
500 gigalitres is more than the city’s total water use and it is double the amount the desalination plant, at maximum capacity, can produce. We cannot and should not be misled by the low rainfall argument or that desalination is our only option. Desalination is a last resort in a long line of alternative technologies that, if implemented, would go much further to securing our water supply. Climate change has reminded us that we live in a country of droughts and flooding rains. In order to respond to these weather patterns, Victorians require a diversity of options. In an uncertain climate, having a range of options is a strength: if one fails there are multiple back-ups.
A crucial area to improve is what happens in the home. Householders with a variety of water supply sources are less vulnerable to the extremes of drought or flood than those who rely solely on the mains water network. This is not simply because they have multiple sources to fall back on in case one goes bad or becomes too expensive, it is also because the experience of using water wisely in the home increases the householder’s understanding of and control over their water supply. In a recent study completed by the Alternative Technology Association, householders who installed greywater systems found their wasteful water habits changed dramatically. They became more aware of what the weather was doing and used their water system accordingly. As their awareness increased, householders relied less and less on mains water. Diversity of household water supply options is key to our water security.
Tackling the Urban Revolution: ABC Podcast
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on October 13th, 2009
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
From “Tackling the Urban Revolution” on ABC Radio National
Urban sprawl is a very Australian phenomenon though opinion is divided on whether its a burden or a blessing. Our cities spread ever outwards, turning farmland into suburbs without access to public transport but allowing new generations of Australians to afford a detached house and enjoy the privacy of their own back yard.
In 2002 the Victorian state government attempted to rein in urban sprawl with a plan called Melbourne 2030 – lines were drawn on a map – called urban growth boundaries – intended to contain the city and preserve green wedges. Infill development around transport hubs like railway stations was encouraged at the same time – to get the city grow upwards rather than outwards.
It didn’t work – six years later the plan was amended and the urban growth boundaries revised so the city could keep spreading. It’s a local example of the dilemmas facing urban planners around the world as the great global migration from country to city continues. Half the world’s population already is already urbanised – by 2040 the proportion will be two thirds – allowing for population growth that’s an additional 2 billion city dwellers in just thirty years.
Listen to Peter Mares in conversation with Jeb Brugmann, author of “Welcome to the Urban Revolution – how cities are changing the world”