BREAZE September Events and News

Hello Visitor,

In this eNews :

President's September Report
What Do Victorians think about GAS? Environment Victoria Report
Gib Wettenhall on Sustainable building with timber - 21 September Green Drinks
Sustainability for Kids - 27 September Smart Living Ballarat
BREAZE on Radio 3BA: 22 September 10:10am - Oil Sheik to head IPCC's next CoP

President's September Report

Climate in the News this month

Last week the Australia Institute’s Climate of the Nation Report was released– it’s Australia’s longest continuous survey of community attitudes to climate change and certainly didn’t get the coverage it deserves, so worth a look.

This latest report on public attitudes to climate change and climate action indicates widespread ongoing confusion and ignorance, even as the devastating effects of climate change are hammered home around the world on a daily basis. Read the Report here

"In 2023, Climate of the Nation asked for the first time about Australians’ concerns regarding the impact of climate change on the cost of living. Three in four (75%) say they are concerned about more expensive insurance premiums, and the same proportion (75%) are concerned about disruptions to supply chains making it harder to buy necessities.

The top three climate impacts of concern are more droughts and flooding affecting crop production and food supply (80%), more bushfires (79%) and the extinction of animal and plant species (79%).

Australians oppose new gas, coal and oil projects and fossil fuel subsidies"

Just two lines down the summary also notes: ‘56% of Australians know that opening new coal, gas and oil projects will make it harder for Australia to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030’ – which indicates that 44% of Australians do not yet realise this.

Handing the report to Juliana Addison2 copy

With the State Government due to review their Gas Substitution Roadmap in the coming months, Environment Victoria wanted to show the government that Victorians are asking for the Roadmap to be strengthened with setting specific goals and timelines to assist households to get off gas. After surveying over 220 locals and having conversations around replacing gas appliances, a Report – What do Victorians Think about Gas? – was compiled and handed to local politicians recently on the steps of parliament.

Together with a cost comparison report compiled by RENEW, the Report shows overwhelming public support to move away from gas.

In addition it's clear that Victorians will save by switching across to all electric. To find out more about how to save by getting off gas read Environment Victoria's IT’S A GAS: How ditching gas this winter can cut heating bills by 75%

AUTHOR: BREAZE Board member, Sue Broadway also volunteers with Environment Victoria

Gib Wettenhall on Sustainable building with timber - 21 September Green Drinks

2023 Sept BGD Gib Wettenhall

Next up at Ballarat Green Drinks - Thursday 21 September 6:30-8pm - Gib Wettenhall OAM will talk about biorich plantation and sustainable buiding with timber.

An award winning author, with a background in journalism, editing and law, Gib turned to tree growing, managing a biorich plantation at Lal Lal.

The biorich plantation optimises habitat for wildlife while offering resources to landowners for income diversification.

A founding member of the Ballarat Region Treegrowers (BRT) and editor of Australian Forest Growers magazine for 14 years, Gib is committed to sustainable forestry and the ethos of going local and going slow, to minimise energy use and emissions.

As Secretary of BRT, Gib has been involved in a 2021 project fund raising for and overseeing the construction of a 21st century Aussie drop-slab hut by young wood craftsman, Lachie Park, the old slow 'green wood' way, without nails, deploying a minimum of machinery and choosing natural unprocessed products.