Hello Visitor,
In this eNews please find an invitation for all members and friends to join our on-line AGM for Michael Lord's superb presentation on Beyond Zero Emissions 'Million Jobs Plan' and Mary Debrett's comprehensive report on an extraordinary year as well as the latest in our program of Green Drinks events and a note about an EV Bulk Buying Scheme
 BREAZE 2020 AGM
At the BREAZE AGM this year – 16 November – we were very fortunate to have BZE’s Michael Lord as guest speaker. Michael who is the Head of Research at Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) and author of the Million Jobs Plan – BZE’s detailed plan for a clean recovery https://millionjobs.org.au – is also, fortuitously a Ballarat local, and so was able to add a local flavour to his discursive account of the various ingredients of the Plan. He recommended improved cycling infrastructure and energy efficiency housing retro-fits as two elements of the Plan with particular relevance for Ballarat. To questions regarding how the Plan’s various recommendations were travelling in terms of take-up, Michael noted influence will not necessarily be acknowledged but that various recent green initiatives by state governments are evidence the message is getting out – a renewables-led clean recovery can simultaneously reboot and decarbonise the economy. Great to see some members taking the opportunity to log on to hear the talk.
BREAZE Board Changes
The 2020 AGM saw some board members departing - many thanks for all your contributions – Barbara Whitfield, Jeremy Hunt and Barry Sullivan.
We also saw some new additions and changes in office holders. Paul Tant has taken over the BREAZE Treasurer role from Peter Reid, (who will be remaining on the Board). Another new Board member, Jakki Mikus has taken on the role of Chair of the BREAZE Public Fund, a role previously filled by outgoing Board member, Jeremy Hunt. Many thanks are due to Jeremy for all his work in this important role. Welcome too, to Suzanne Nunn and Sally Missing.
The 2020-21 BREAZE Board :
-
-
- President, Mary Debrett
- Secretary, Pat Hockey
- Treasurer, Paul Tant
- Chair Public Fund, Jakki Mikus
- Paul Duggan (Smart Living Ballarat coordinator)
- Therese Footner (Advocacy Group Coordinator/Chair)
- Tony Goodfellow (Green Drinks Coordinator)
- Emily Lee
- Sally Missing
- Suzanne Nunn
- Peter Reid (Project Manager, GRE & Pinarc)
- Simon Reid
- Madeline Townsend (Membership Officer)
November Member Activities
Climate/Environment News
Some devastating initiatives for the environment in Canberra this past month. My take on the three worst and three best–in no particular order–below:
Three worst
-
1. BoM/CSIRO State of Climate 2020 – Climate Change is here- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-13/bom-and-csiro-state-of-the-climate-2020/12871690?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_content=facebook&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&fbclid=IwAR3VKAJLkm3xsyMSutKRS-InUBxqkIKCEPf0_eOu7k7m7L6ovm1KHc7-5uM
-
2. Australia’s climate record labelled embarrassing – https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/18/australias-climate-record-labelled-simply-embarrassing-and-among-worst-of-g20-nations?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR222XBpYkEdwPRNGeZHx1Qt05ypuNhnhPEM719nzZ9k4ClB1z6PZ28bT-E
-
3. Climate change is bringing a rising humanitarian crisis - https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/we-are-not-winning-red-cross-warns-of-human-crisis-from-climate-change-20201117-p56f9z.html?fbclid=IwAR1jxk0ES6c8lvXAElM9yGMnWOq5H_bccFUDYtCrgk9_eEm9us5lre7k_WI
Three best
-
1. Victorian Government’s Energy Efficiency Package - https://reneweconomy.com.au/victoria-fast-tracks-rooftop-solar-and-battery-rollout-part-of-800m-energy-savings-package-87407/?fbclid=IwAR1DNKXZggS-eCh-26o3SklPhBwJtSLsJCvUXm1LuXFI8DmIs8lhV7tCGDY
-
2. Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Bill referred to House Standing Committee on The Environment and Energy, triggering public enquiry – submissions close 27 November – please consider making a submission – even very short ones count. https://www.zalisteggall.com.au/submissions_are_open_for_climate_change_bill_inquiry?fbclid=IwAR0unAzutyTYwgXZW2s5cA_zdTpTscIUwC-SsAcRInEGheeMafULMDsvHJc
-
3. Hunter Valley to become NSW’s next Renewable Energy Zone - https://reneweconomy.com.au/nsw-to-transform-hunter-coal-region-into-states-next-renewable-energy-zone-83085/?fbclid=IwAR2iY0NI8vBBBraA9XgRWPuWzp_LYdi3o3ShrTcHDBKjKqIArQTj4Qocw2Q
To all BREAZE friends and members, when choosing Christmas presents for loved ones, please consider a donation to BREAZE’s One Dollar, One Watt – the gift that keeps on giving: to the environment and the community - https://breaze.org.au/one-dollar-for-one-watt
All the best
Mary
Mary Debrett
President, November 2020
|
7:30 pm Wed 25th November
Trace Balla is often found sketching in nature, riding her bike, dancing, and growing vegies in her garden in central Victoria. She loves to illustrate and write songs and stories, and inspire others in their creativity and care for the planet.
Her background is in illustration, community arts, animation, and writing songs and stories, and she enjoys visiting schools and festivals to talk about her work. Rockhopping was the winner of the 2017 CBCA Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers, and was short-listed for the 2018 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature for Children's Literature and for the 2016 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards - 8 to 10 Years.Trace's other books, Rivertime, Shine and The Thank You Dish have all been highly acclaimed. Rivertime won the Readings Children's Book Prize and Wilderness Society's Environment Award for Children's Literature, and was shortlisted for the CBCA Awards in two categories, as well as for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards and the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards. More info http://traceballa.yolasite.com
Free event register https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtduChrjwoH9Ta2VyfwN6unY6PPgz-jzL2
|
This has been a year like no other and many will understandably be glad to see the back of 2020, the year that bought us the COVID-19 global pandemic, with over one million lives lost to date and the health of many left permanently damaged, along with a national recession that has driven many into poverty.
Before all of that started, for those concerned about climate change, 2020 signalled the dawn of the crucial last decade – in which we must rapidly decarbonise the world economy to keep global warming to within 1.5C. While all of our state governments have set targets of net zero emissions by 2050, the more significant targets are those for 2025 and 2030, which are needed to set the right trajectory and which remain outstanding. In Paris in 2015 the Climate Change Authority had recommended a 2030 emissions reduction target of 45-65% below 2005 levels for Australia – our current 2030 emissions reduction target is 26-28% reduction below 2005 levels. By February 2020, Australia’s Climate Council was advising that the science indicates keeping global warming to below 1.5 degrees needs a 75% or greater emissions reduction target by 2030.
Read More
|
Join us online for the 2020 BREAZE AGM to hear Michael Lord, Research Lead with the award winning climate think-tank, Beyond Zero Emissions and author of the much praised Million Jobs Plan.
This comprehensive blueprint for stimulating a renewables-led recovery, scopes jobs across 8 sectors to reveal how public investment in renewables and other decarbonising initiatives can leverage market finance to build back better in post Covid Australia.
Don't sit home alone and depressed about the gas-fired rhetoric coming from Canberra — logon and learn about the alternatives that Michael and the BZE team have identified.
Register via Eventbrite - BREAZE 2020 AGM
|
The Climate Change Bill was tabled in Parliament on 9 November and on 11 November was referred to the House Standing Commitee on the Environment and Energy and will now go to a public inquiry with submissions open immediately, but closing on Friday 27 November
Any individual, organisation or business can make a submission. You can find out more about the Climate Change Bill here.
What does an effective submission look like?
- As long or as short as you like
- Unique, written in your own words. ('Cut & paste' submissions are not persuasive)
- Include things that are relevant to you and reference the key elements of the Bill
- Avoid unsupported claims or emotive language
- If you would like to attend the public inquiry to give evidence, say so in your submission.
- The committee may invite a range of individuals and organisations to appear at the public hearings
What should a submission include?
You can address any or all of the following aspects of the Bill:
- Objectives and long-term emissions reduction commitment
- Why legislating Net Zero by 2050 and regular 5 year budgets is important
- Guiding principles to be applied
- Risk and adaptation assessments for all sectors
- Technology readiness assessment
- Independent climate change commission and skills needed on the commission.
How to make a submission?
- Set up and validate a My Parliament Account, unless you already have one (takes two minutes)
- Go to the homepage for the Bill on the parliament website
- Click on the “Upload Submission” button in the right-hand column
- Under “Submitted Previously” click “Log on” and sign in
- Under “Make your submission,” select the Climate Change Bill, and click Next at the bottom
- Complete your personal or business details
- Select your privacy level
- Upload your document (in one of these formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT)
If you have any problems with lodging your submission, contact the Committee Secretariat: Phone: +61 2 6277 4580
Email:
Once the submission deadline has passed, the House Standing Commitee on the Environment and Energy will meet to review the submissions, discuss their learnings and report back to the House.If you’d like further information about the Act or have any other questions, contact the ClimateActNow team at and we’ll do our best to help.
|
|
