Dr John Iser from Doctors for the Environment, who is also a Climate Reality Project coordinator, is our guest in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse on 8 June 2016 for a conversation around how doctors respond to and act on the climate emergency.
We also talk with Alison Marchant from Frack Free Moriac, who helped organise an anti-fracking protest in Melbourne on 7 June 2016, we have Ruth Mundy in over skype from Wellington in New Zealand, and we listen to a great clip with Francesca Fiorentini from Al Jazeera’s youth channel AJ+.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 125:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes or via your own podcast/RSS software
Guest in the studio:
• Dr John Iser, Doctors for the Environment and Climate Reality Project
Interviews:
• Alison Marchant, Frack Free Moriac and Lock the Gate
• Ruth Mundy, singer
Youtube-clip:
• Francesca Fiorentini from the Al Jazeera channel AJ+ youtube-video ‘Is it too late to unf**k the climate?’
LISTENER SERVICE:
Audio excerpts
Pre-recorded interviews in this Sustainable Hour
Alison Marchant
» Right-click to download the audio file (MP3)
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Ruth Mundy
» Right-click to download the audio file (MP3)
Ruth Mundy sings ‘Love in the Time of Coral Reefs’
Published on youtube.com on 5 May 2016.
» More around arts and climate
LISTENER SERVICE:
Content of this hour
Links, excerpts and more information about what we talked about in this Sustainable Hour
HEALTH AND CLIMATE:
Doctors divest
“Climate change threatens global public health, and therefore both the WHO, the World Medical Association (WMA) and National Medical Associations of Great Britain (BMA) as well as many other health professional associations recommend to divest fossil investments. As doctors we are in a position to understand these things, and therefore we have a special responsibility to act.”
Jan-Helge Larsen, Danish doctor
European doctors enter the fight for climate safety
Doctors around the world are beginning to speak up and call for climate action: at annual general meetings in their own pension funds.
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PETITION:
HESTA: Divest from fossil fuels
HESTA is investing our money in harmful fossil fuels. If you’re a HESTA member, ask them to divest and help create a healthier future! Find out more:
» www.healthyfutures.net.au/hesta
PETITION:
FIRST STATE SUPER: Divest from fossil fuels
First State Super is investing our money in harmful fossil fuels. If you’re an FSS member, ask them to divest and help create a healthier future!
» www.healthyfutures.net.au/first_state_super
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HEALTH AND CLIMATE:
Significant lack of policy direction and leadership
Federal Election 2016: Time running out for politicians to explain how they will protect people from worsening health impacts of climate change
Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are among the health professionals demanding all political parties explain how they plan to protect the health and well-being of all Australians under worsening climate change. Their responses will be compared on a scorecard that will be distributed to thousands of voting health professionals across Australia.
Surveys from the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) have already been distributed to the Liberal Party, The Nationals, the ALP, The Greens, the Democratic Liberal Party and the Nick Xenophon Party in the lead up to the July 2 election. Among other issues the survey assesses political support for the creation of a national climate and health strategy, greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, phasing out of coal and unconventional gas mining, and a national moratorium of new mines.
CAHA President Dr Liz Hanna said: “The health sector is already under immense pressure, and increasing heatwaves, fires, floods and storms will place even greater demand on frontline, acute and community health services. We are the ones responsible for looking after people who become injured, sick and traumatized – and we are seeking assurances from all political parties that they are doing everything they can to protect people.”
CAHA Executive Director Fiona Armstrong said: “In places like the United States there is long-term and detailed plans and preparation underway to support the health care sector and protect people’s health from the adverse effects of climate change. Yet in Australia there is a significant lack of policy direction and leadership from most political parties. It’s just not good enough.”
The 2016 Climate and Health Scorecard
The Climate and Health Alliance has released a scorecard rating the policies of Australia’s main political parties on climate change and health. Most political parties in Australia do not have a clear commitment to tackling the risks of climate change on health and wellbeing, recent polling and policy analysis shows.
» Climate and Health Scorecard
» The online survey is available at www.caha.org.au
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HEALTH AND CLIMATE:
Climate change learning modules on Cities and Health
Did you know that there are two specialised introductory learning modules available as part of the Introductory Course on Climate Change?
These modules, a) and b) , were developed with support from UN-Habitat and WHO respectively. They are self-paced and free of charge.
Additional certificates are available for those who complete the (English), and then either specialized module.
Climate Change and Cities
This module introduces the theme of climate change in urban areas. The module covers how cities are affected by climate change and how cities are contributing to climate change. In addition, the module looks at how climate change adaptation and mitigation can be considered in urban planning and identifies concrete measures. Several examples of how cities can play a transformational role in addressing climate change are presented.
Climate Change and Human Health
This module introduces the theme of climate change and human health. Human health is directly affected by the weather, climate variability, and climate change. The module explains how mitigation and adaptation policies and measures in health and related sectors can benefit the human health. Several examples of how countries are responding to the health challenges posed by climate change, including taking advantage of the opportunities, are presented.
All Modules are also available as downloadable powerpoint presentations that can be used for offline study or training purposes. The modules also contain links to other UN resources on climate change.
Please access these modules .
To know more about our recent activities, please visit .
About UN CC:Learn
UN CC:Learn is a partnership of more than 30 multilateral organizations supporting countries to design and implement systematic, recurrent and results-oriented climate change learning. At the global level, the partnership supports knowledge-sharing, promotes the development of common climate change learning materials, and coordinates learning interventions through a collaboration of UN agencies and other partners.
At the national level, UN CC:Learn supports countries in developing and implementing national climate change learning strategies. Through its engagement at the national and global levels, UN CC:Learn contributes to the implementation of Article 6 of the UNFCCC on training, education and public awareness-raising, and the 2012-2020 Doha Work Programme.
Funding for UN CC:Learn is provided by the Swiss Government and UN partners. The Secretariat for UN CC:Learn is hosted by the UN Institute for Training and Research, UNITAR.
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ARTS AND CLIMATE:
Coalition of creative people taking action on climate change
The creative industries can make a unique contribution to the global sustainability challenge.Creativity is part of every society and culture, generating communities of shared identity and experience. Globally we have huge potential to inspire positive and sustainable change through the millions of livelihoods and billions of participants involved in our work.
This coalition originated as a call to action presented at the 2015 international climate talks, COP21. With the world’s first universal agreement on climate change now in place, the real work begins.
The pledge
We can bring about positive change faster together, by combining our collective strengths to amplify concerns and celebrate solutions.
We will:
• Take action ourselves to make our work more sustainable
• Speak out and up, using our voices to accelerate positive change
• Jointly support one another, sharing campaigns and knowledge
• Use our creativity to find, and scale, solutions
» Sign the pledge on: www.creativeclimatecoalition.com
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ARTS AND CLIMATE:
Change the world with your song
Two and a half years ago after a festival stall in Eltham, Victoria, the “Change the world with your song” competition was born, designed to generate wider interest in important issues, through people talking, writing and singing about them.
The competition is:
• built around four themes: Environment, War & Peace, Social Justice and Political Satire;
• with three age categories: Primary School, Secondary School and Open Age;
• with the three winners in each age category having their songs recorded on a compilation album/CD.
Entries opens 1 June and closes on 15 August 2016
Support the competition by:
• Promoting this competition among your friends, colleagues and contacts
• Entering the competition
Keen to help out?
We need:
• More artists, bands or groups for the compilation album/CD
• Help with the finishing touches to our web site; this is mostly compiling information and pics regarding local or global campaigns to add to our themes pages.
• More people who are skilled at music production that want to be involved in the album production, recording, arranging, sessional players etc.
• Help with prizes (money, services, items, vouchers)
» www.changetheworldwithyoursong.com
For more information about arts and climate, see for instance:
» Climarte – Arts for a safe climate
» Green Music Australia
» Culture|Futures
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CLIMATE EMERGENCY:
‘Is it too late to unf**k the climate?’
Published by AJ+ on youtube.com on 9 December 2015
» AJ+ is “a global news community for the connected generation” with over 200,000 subscribers on youtube.com. It highlights human struggles and achievements, empower impassioned voices, and challenge the status quo. See more
» Francesca Fiorentini’s Twitter account
“In an emergency, which I really do believe we’re in when it comes to the climate, everything changes. In an emergency you all jump in and do whatever you can – nobody really cares if it’s an equitable distribution of effort. Those who can do a lot do a lot, those who can do a little do a little – you just get on with it.”
~ Margaret Hender
American governor:
“A World War II-style mobilisation to cut carbon pollution”
With 2016 on pace to follow 2015 as the warmest years on record, “don’t think you’ve got a handle on it. Because you don’t,” California Governor Jerry Brown warned the international political and business leaders at an annual gathering in California of energy leaders representing 23 countries and the European Commission.
As much as the world needs cleaner-burning gear, Brown said, it also needs a grim coming-to-terms with what he said should be a World War II-style mobilisation to cut carbon pollution.
“The political mind is not there yet,” the California governor said. “The hour is late.”
» The Associated Press – 2 June 2016:
Global Energy Leaders Look to Nitty Gritty of Climate Accord
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“Our efforts to deal with climate change have been betrayed”
Malmcolm Turnbull – back in 2010
POLITICS AND CLIMATE:
Turnbull’s hypocritical turn-around on climate
How disgusting and wrong is this? Take a look at what Malcolm Turnbull was saying back in 2010, calling out “political cowardice the like of which I have never seen in my lifetime before” – and then hold it up against what this same man is doing today, six years later, as he is now holds the position as nation’s prime minister and actually has the option to show exactly the kind leadership and courage which he was calling for in 2010. Who has come out as the real coward here?
“Climate change is real, it is affecting us now, and it is having a particularly severe impact on Australia. And yet, right now, we have every resource available to us to meet the challenge of climate change except for one: and that is leadership. Our efforts to deal with climate change have been betrayed by a lack of leadership, a political cowardice the like of which I have never seen in my lifetime before.”
“There is no reason – no political, moral, economic or ethical reason – for this extraordinary abandonment of responsibility by the Government. What we have instead of leadership is cowardice. What we need to become truly a low-emission economy is courage and leadership.”
~ Malcolm Turnbull speaking at the Deakins, on the Politics of Climate Change, 2010
» See the video recording of Turnbull’s full presentation on www.wheelercentre.com
» Read more about The Wheeler Centre
Excerpt from Turnbull’s 2010-speech published by The Australian Labour Party
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“Our efforts to deal with climate change have been betrayed by a lack of leadership, a political cowardice, the like of which I have never seen…”
~ Malcolm Turnbull, 2010
POLITICS AND CLIMATE:
Environment minister: See this as “some crazy random event”
The Australian Minister for Coal – the so-called ‘Environment Minister’ – Greg Hunt has warned that we “mustn’t be too quick to ascribe the events in Sydney to a changing climate.” Just listen to this minister’s incredible words of wisdom for the Australians:
“We need to be careful to not see climate change in every single weather event. It’s not in this storm, it’s not in the previous devastating flooding, it’s not in the extended bushfire season, it’s not any of these single events. Sure, were you to map out all of these events and the weather extremes in general – it’s definitely there – but that takes the kind of forethinking and analysis that we believe is not fiscally prudent to do. Also, it bums me the heck out.
“Instead we should continue to see this as some crazy random event – just like we’ll see the next one and the one after that. Heck, I’ll probably be back in a month telling you this exact same thing.
“I wish there was something I could do to change this – and luckily for me there is – so my wish is granted. Though, whether or not I’m going to act upon that is an entirely different matter.”
Seriously, Mr Hunt? Is talking like this supposed to be called ‘leadership’? Leave alone ‘responsible leadership’ by a minister who was sworn in to “well and truly serve the people of Australia”, as he and his colleagues in the government were when they took on their jobs?
American president Obama once said, and we couldn’t agree more: “Any leader willing to take a gamble on a future like that, any leader who refuses to take this issue seriously or treats it like a joke, is not fit to lead.”
» SBS – 22 April 2016:
Australians recovering their fifteenth once a lifetime disaster
» RenewEconomy – 2015:
Obama says leaders not taking climate change seriously not fit to lead
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GEELONG & SURF COAST:
Survey: What are your thoughts on solar?
This Geelong and Surf Coast solar survey is designed to help ReEnergise Geelong better understand the issues that affect the uptake of rooftop solar and to ultimately identify how renewable energy can be boosted in our region.
The feedback received from the survey will help ReEnergise Geelong build a community action plan to power up the region with renewables. It’s important to reach a good cross section of the community, so please fill it out, and also: share this with your friends and networks.
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ACT ON CLIMATE:
Kids and teenager petitions
Save Our Spaceship! Aussie kids ask for urgent action on climate change now!
Petitioning the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, Malcom Turnbull
Are you a teenager? Then you should also consider signing this teenager climate emergency petition:
www.fedupthemovement.wix.com
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ACT ON CLIMATE:
Documentary about permaculture and simple living
Published on youtube.com on 3 June 2016
‘A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity’ is a feature-length documentary that follows a community in Australia who came together to explore and demonstrate a simpler way to live in response to global crises. Throughout the year the group built tiny houses, planted veggie gardens, practiced simple living, and discovered the challenges of living in community.
This film is the product of hours and hours of footage that Jordan Osmond shot during that year-long experiment in simple living.
Website: www.happenfilms.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jordosmond
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jordosmond
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jordosmond
For more ideas for action, see www.simplicityinstitute.org
» You can download the film at www.happenfilms.com/a-simpler-way
MISC:
In other news
Our notes of the week: interesting news stories, op-eds and coming events
Sydney storm
“In 2011 an Australian government report found that more than $AU226 billion worth of Australian homes, offices blocks, roads, rail and other built infrastructure would be potentially flooded or eroded with a sea level rise of 1.1 metres, which is the high end scenario they examined for 2100.
The inevitability of more coastal storms with climate change places enormous responsibility on our governments to finally get their act together and prepare a responsible integrated coastal strategy to prepare for our future.
There are no excuses for inaction anymore. No national coastal strategy for a $226 billion risk is just irresponsible.”
» Continue reading on www.abc.net.au
“Stormageddon” shows glimpse of new normal in warming world
If the brutal bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef was not enough to bring home the need for drastic and urgent action on climate change, this weekend’s wild weather all along the East coast and Tasmania should be. Upping the ante on France’s “worst floods in 100 years”, “stormageddon” swept through NSW over the weekend, with floodwaters reportedly taking three lives, and waves up to eight metres high erasing beaches and doing severe damage to property and infrastructure.
Images of the battered coast are dominating coverage, but flooding and high winds throughout NSW have compounded storm damage, which manifested immediately in insurance company stocks drops of more than 2.5 per cent. The storm comes as heat records were again broken for Autumn, hinting at a severe future that lies ahead if we continue to burn fossil fuels and worsening global warming.
The Tree
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https://twitter.com/ReclaimAnglesea/status/741785010433187840
The Great Barrier catastrophe
As Australia interferes with UN reporting of threats to World Heritage sites, the Great Barrier Reef’s fate is increasingly dire if not already sealed.
» The Guardian – 7 June 2016:
The Great Barrier Reef: a catastrophe laid bare
» The Saturday Paper – 4 June 2016:
The real story on the Great Barrier Reef
“You can’t be taken seriously on saving the Great Barrier Reef when you remain committed to opening up new coalmines, which will sign the death warrant of the Great Barrier Reef. You can’t be taken seriously on dangerous global warming and its impact on the Great Barrier Reef when you are committed to taking those huge fossil fuel donations, opening up new coalmines, slashing the renewable energy target.”
Richard Di Natale, leader of the Australian Greens
#Climate scientists have warned us about coral bleaching for years. It's here. https://t.co/g36qEs5gBX #globalwarming
— climatehawk1 (@climatehawk1) June 12, 2016
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American coral reef dissolving
For those still resistant to the idea that the world is warming dangerously because of greenhouse gas emissions, despite such evidence, there should be another reason to worry now. The largest coral reef in the continental US, off Florida, is dissolving into the ocean in some areas. The acid doing the damage comes from carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning. Then there should be worries about air pollution, from the same source. The World Health Organisation announced it is up 8% in last 5 years, and is now the single biggest killer in world.
Jeremy Leggett – 5 June 2016:
State of the Transition, May 2016: Talk of twilight
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How autumn smashed records in Australia – and had the biggest anomaly for any season: https://t.co/vyWt04b6Yi pic.twitter.com/wnbkIrWLe6
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) June 1, 2016
POLITICS AND CLIMATE:
Three types of pollution
“If this federal election is to prove a turning point, both in our emissions but also in finding the political will to solve global warming, we need to tackle at least three types of pollution, each with a different source.
Firstly, there’s the most obvious pollution. Australia’s climate pollution is climbing again after the Coalition’s axing of our carbon laws. Our most polluting coal-burning power stations here in Victoria have increased their pollution since the carbon price was scrapped. (…)
The second type of pollution we need to deal with is the pollution of our politics. For too long in Australia, both sides of politics have avoided the difficult but necessary decisions due to the power of vested interests. (…)
Finally, and perhaps most difficult of all, we need to deal with the mental pollution that clouds our judgment about what is necessary and possible in tackling global warming. The last five years have damaged public trust and confidence in political decision-making. It is difficult to think of a policy domain where public confidence is lower than in climate policy.”
Mark Wakeham
» The Age – 2 June 2016:
Climate fatigue is the biggest threat to our future
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ELECTION AND CLIMATE:
Australian leaders discuss climate change
How it sounds with Australia’s two main candidates, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, talk about climate change.
In the first free-to-air leaders’ debate of the election campaign, the debate turned to the environment, with the leaders asked “Do the two of you agree that what we actually need to achieve on climate policy on the next term of government is bipartisanship?”
Malcolm Turnbull responds first, saying he is committed to action on climate change, “but I believe we should move with the global community rather than taking unilateral action that will not influence global action”.
Bill Shorten in response: “Malcolm, whatever happened to the old Malcolm Turnbull on climate change?”
Mr Shorten added that “we will have our policies based upon the best evidence of the scientists, not Tony Abbott and the climate change sceptics of his backbench”.
» Read Stephanie Anderson’s report on www.abc.net.au
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ELECTION AND CLIMATE:
Why has climate change disappeared from the Australian election radar?
Half way into the election campaign, it is looking ever-more likely that climate change is to be placed way down the order of business – at least for the major parties.
The contest over climate change that characterised the previous three federal elections seems to have disappeared off the political radar despite the issue being more urgent than ever.
There is the truly frightening climate spiral developed by Ed Hawkins from the University of Reading. It shows what an El Nino amplified global temperature has climbed to. The spiral assumes a tight-knit but ever-expanding ball until April 2015, when the spiral line starts to separate dramatically from the ball. This year it careers dangerously close to the 1.5℃ threshold.
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ELECTION AND CLIMATE:
Shifting voter attitudes on climate
Have Minister Greg Hunt’s strategies worked on the Australian electorate? Not according to a ReachTEL poll of 2,400 respondents on 9 May 2016, which revealed that 56% believed the government needed to do more to tackle global warming.
64% said they would be more likely to vote for a party that has a plan to source 100% of Australia’s electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar and hydro in the next 20 years.
Whether the Labor Party has the courage to come out and challenge the Coalition to a contest over climate remains to be seen.
The Greens, for their part, are making many more inroads into this election than the last. The Greens know that for under-30 voters they are already matching the primary vote of the major parties, and that a core platform of strong action against global warming is a big part of this support.
Whether the major parties can ignore this support that springs from climate will be one of the biggest gambles of this election.
Excerpt of article by David Holmes, who is Senior Lecturer in Communications and Media Studies at Monash University.
The article was published on TheConversation.com.
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CLIMATE EMERGENCY:
The world will punish a climate criminal Australia
By Dr Gideon Polya, Melbourne
A catastrophic plus 2°C temperature rise is now unavoidable and Canadian earth scientists have estimated that the result of burning the world’s total fossil fuel reserves would be global mean warming of up to 10°C [1, 2].
In 2016 we are seeing record atmospheric CO2 pollution of 400 parts per million (ppm) that is increasing at a record rate of about 3 ppm per year, worst ever coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, worst ever seasonal melting of Arctic ocean sea ice and the Greenland ice sheet, devastating wild fires in Canada linked to global warming, and record temperatures of 50°C or more in some South Asian cities [3].
Australia ranks third worst in the world in terms of income-weighted annual per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution but its Coalition Government has approved the world’s biggest coal mine and the Labor Opposition wants a coal to gas transition whereas gas leakage means that gas burning can be dirtier GHG-wise than coal burning [4, 5].
The world will punish a climate criminal Australia.
Science-informed Australians who care for children and future generations will utterly reject the anti-science Lib-Labs (Coalition and Labor), vote 1 Green and put the Coalition last.
[1]. “Too late to avoid global warming catastrophe”: www.sites.google.com
[2]. Katarzyna B. Tokarska, Nathan P. Gillett, Andrew J. Weaver, and Vivek K. Arora, “The climate response to five trillion tonnes of carbon”, Nature Climate Change, 23 May 2016: www.nature.com
[3]. Andy Rowell, “Scientists Warn Of 10C Warming As We “Dial Up Earth’s Thermostat”, Oil Change International, 23 May 2016: www.priceofoil.org
[4]. Gideon Polya, “Exposing And Thence Punishing Worst Polluter Nations Via Weighted Annual Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Pollution Scores”, Countercurrents, 19 March 2016: www.countercurrents.org/polya190316.htm
[5]. “Gas is not clean energy”: www.sites.google.com/site/gasisnotcleanenergy
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“We are being taken for fools by our leaders”
“We are being taken for fools by our politicians and corporate leaders as they place personal aggrandisement and self-interest ahead of our future.
Climate change is a genuinely existential issue which unless rapidly addressed, will result in a substantial reduction in global population with immeasurable suffering, the beginnings of which can already be seen in the climate-driven refugee crisis engulfing Europe.
Australia, as the driest continent on Earth is not immune. We have left it too late to solve this dilemma with a graduated response; emergency action, akin to placing the economy on a war-footing, is essential if we wish to avoid the worst outcomes.
This is not irrational alarmism, but an objective view of the latest science and evidence, a view which is increasingly aired by responsible leaders worldwide. It is a matter of national survival which conventional left and right-wing politics is incapable of addressing, as recent history and the irrelevance of the election campaign demonstrate only too well.”
~ Ian Dunlop – in Sydney Morning Herald
» Listen to the interview with Ian Dunlop in The Sustainable Hour
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The psychological cost of climate change
“After I had published two or three items [on climate change] on various news sites, I was surprised – actually shocked – to learn that, compared to other topics I have written about – such as international financial mismanagement and the evils of neo-liberalism – very few people read the climate change articles.
To try to find out why this is the case, I spoke with a few friends. Most said the thought of dramatic changes occurring on earth were too overwhelming to deal with. Worse still, they felt they couldn’t have any influence on what will happen. (…)
Interestingly, Willox said the people she interviewed weren’t talking to each other about their fears – which, I think, is similar to the way some of my friends are responding to the emerging crisis.”
» Continue reading on www.rabble.ca
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“Coastal flooding events have tripled in Sydney in the 20th century, and on present levels of climate change, today’s 1-in-100 year flood will occur every day or so by 2100.”
Professor Hughes
“My son’s family is having a baby soon – so these ongoing daily extreme events would be within my grandchild’s life expectancy. Greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for millennia so – with our currently minimal chance from business as usual policy – even worse for my grandchild’s kids.
So this is OUR Legacy – if we vote for a party with leaders who slow investment in renewables here, plus delay international action – by statements such as: “Climate change is crap” – “Wind turbines are ugly” – “It is our moral duty to sell coal” – “Coal will be around for ages” – “The science is not in yet” – “We best have an inquiry” – “It is not our fault if the states approve new coal mines” – “It is not our fault if the CSIRO sack climate scientists” – “None of these things are our fault, our current policies are fine.”
Do we really want leaders, who know what they are doing is morally wrong, but don’t care?
Do we really want leaders, who to go to Paris and promise to be part of the Coalition of High Ambition (rise below 1.5°C), then come home and approve massive new coal mines and more CSG drilling – which they know will make this unachievable?
Do we really want leaders, who just chant meaningless slogans about growth – just to keep their own jobs?”
Howard Witt
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“It’s a “let’s party while we still can” attitude”
“When I was at school in the UK the big uncertainty was nuclear war. I remember talking to my school friends about the Cuban Crisis. We were hoping it would not end in war and our own deaths.
Now at 70, there is certainty; we all know that global warming will be the end. Not a Big Bang but certain, as the planet become more and more unliveable for us and as people take to violence to be the last people standing.
It’s really surreal that our super intelligent leaders don’t seem concerned. It’s a “let’s party while we still can” attitude.
It’s very strange when there are solutions that are 100% do-able
The Cuban crisis was a hold one’s breath situation. No time for citizens to act – we HAD to trust the politicians. Our climate crisis is more drawn out, thank goodness. We HAVE time to get new politicians.
We can start getting better people on 2 July.”
Quentin Farmar-bowers
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ACT ON CLIMATE:
Register your commitment to help Victoria reach net zero by 2050
The Victorian government announced on Thursday 9 June 2016 that it commits to actions that will ensure that Victoria is well positioned to meet current and future needs in responding to climate change. Calling all Victorians:
Kath Rowley, Executive Director, Environment and Climate Change, Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning, wrote:
“The government’s response is a significant step towards restoring Victoria’s status as a leader and model for other governments in tackling climate change. As part of the response, the Victorian Government has announced a long-term emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050, and to meet it a process to set five-yearly interim emissions reduction targets that take into account a range of economic, technological, social and environmental factors. The long-term target and the process to set interim targets will be embedded in a revised Climate Change Act.
The Victorian Government has also launched a wide-ranging pledging program to reduce greenhouse gases across Victoria as part of its commitment to comprehensive action on climate change. Pledges to reduce emissions will be made across government operations, key sectors of the economy, local government, business and community. The Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning is leading a whole-of-government process to develop the first government pledge.”
» See the one minute video:
» Visit www.Take2.vic.gov.au and register your commitment to help Victoria reach net zero by 2050
THE PLEDGE
“Working together, we pledge to play our part and take action on climate change for Victoria, our country and our planet
We are calling on all Victorians to TAKE2 steps:
1. Right now: take the universal pledge
2. In August: share the actions you are taking to help meet Victoria’s universal pledge.
You can pledge as an individual or on behalf of an organisation.
By signing up you are part of Victoria’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
Once you have signed up you will receive updates and tips on actions you can take, as well as hear how others are playing their part.”
» Read Environmental Justice Australia’s response to the Victorian governments new climate policy:
Victorian climate change laws: A state stepping up
Mik Aidt commented on Lily D’Ambrosio’s Facebook page:
“Very grateful to hear a minister talk like this! Good on you, and we hope you will stay strong also when the criticism from the fossil fools starts pounding in.
It is very unfortunate how these issues of energy systems and air pollution have divided the nation – when really what we SHOULD be doing at this point and time, as global temperature graphs are showing us, is working together as a united people, transitioning away from polluting old systems which have no place in the 21st century, just like we have moved on from many other technologies once we found something what worked better.
If the CD-manufacturing industry had had the same political influence as the fossil fuel industry does, we would still be buying their CDs today. And we would be brainwashed to believe the industry’s lies about that music distributed via mp3-files is “unreliable” and “expensive”.
We are confronted with nothing less than a climate emergency, and as the Great Barrier Reef, the bush fires, the drought, the ‘once-in-century-storms’, and many other so-called ‘natural disasters’ (when really they are far from ‘natural’, they are induced by human pollution, and our politicians and their fossil fuel allies are to blame for them) remind us we don’t have any more time to waste.
Please don’t make the mistake to think we need to have grumpy old climate-denying Uncle Joe with us on this – we’ll probably have to listen to his moaning from the corner and in Letters to the Editor for a little while longer, but at some point even he will have to realise that he can’t change the course that the world, now with Victoria included, has set out on to achieve carbon neutrality.
What we do need, however, is to see a federal Parliament united on this issue just as well. That’ll not only be up how Australians put their votes, but will require the creation of an entirely new nonpartisan consensus about the need to act on climate.”
» More on this topic here: www.climateemergencydeclaration.org
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We don’t have to choose between a thriving economy and a livable climate! We're ready for a renewable revolution. pic.twitter.com/cXngAFEH3b
— Climate Reality (@ClimateReality) June 12, 2016
300k+ doctors, nurses, & #health professionals call on G7 nations to speed #coal phase out https://t.co/ar0OBeVPHO pic.twitter.com/oOzb5FG1y6
— GCCA (@tcktcktck) May 18, 2016
It's the middle of a work day in South Australia and renewables are pumping out 83% of the power #saparli #auspol pic.twitter.com/BcXHRB5s6a
— Aus Wind Alliance (@AusWindAll) June 9, 2016
Well done San Diego! Canberra also says @Yes2Renewables with 100% electricity from renewable energy by 2020 https://t.co/B1E17441r9
— Actsmart (@SustainableCBR) May 10, 2016
» www.buildingacircularfuture.com
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Podcasts and posts about climate change
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» The Sustainable Hour is streamed live on the Internet every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm (Melbourne time):
www.947thepulse.com – click on ‘Listen Live’
Podcast archive
Hours and hours of sustainable podcasts
Listen to all of The Sustainable Hour radio shows in full length and in selected excerpts:
» Archive on climatesafety.info
» Archive on itunes.apple.com – iPhone friendly
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“Participation – that’s what’s gonna save the human race.”
Pete Seeger, American singer