How do we make Geelong into a more sustainable city? Ask the residents! “Sustainability is on everyone’s mind,” Simone Boer tells us, the project leader of Geelong Council’s ‘Our Future’ project. She is our guest in the studio in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse on 26 October 2016 together with Rusty, manager of the Pushy Library, keen to help ‘upcycle’ the city planners’ crystal ball, and Michael Martinez, CEO of Diversitat, the owner of The Pulse, and now in the process of divesting.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 145 on 94.7 The Pulse:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
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Three year birthday
On 30 October 2013 at 11am, three years ago now, the first ‘Sustainable Hour’ was launched on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong, Australia.
OUR FUTURE:
“Sustainability is on everyone’s mind”
“There has been a very, very big emphasis on sustainability and resilience,” Simone Boer told us, when we asked her about which kind of submissions and conversations people were delivering to the ‘Our Future’ project.
In today’s Sustainable Hour, we get an update on Geelong Council’s ‘Our Future’ project from it leader, Dr Simone Boer. With 60 meetings and events lined up, and so far 1,800 online responses, it is time for us all to join this conversation about our city’s future and what we think it could look like.
‘Our Future’ is asking: What will our community look like and feel like in 30 years? How will we interact? How are we happy? And what do we need to do to be happy? How are we healthy? And what do we need to do to be healthy?
Geelong in 2046 is obviously a clean, green and all-electric zero-carbon city, if you ask us at The Sustainable Hour. People who have engaged in the conversation so far seem to generally agree with that vision – and they have also have been looking at various active life styles, and at those social connections that people make.
“What is coming out quite strongly is that people would like to have a big discussion around topics such as diversity and creativity,” Simone Boer tells us. “And there has been a very, very big emphasis on sustainability and resilience. Sustainability is on everyone’s mind.”
“To actually go out and speak with 25,000 people, from a local government perspective, this is a very ambitious target. We are reaching one in ten people in the municipality. This is leading practice. We have gone beyond ‘best practice’ and we are leading practice,” said Simone Boer.
» Read more on www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ourfuture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfy1XhpeFKo
Get involved
Below are some of the ways you can help your networks have their say about the future of Greater Geelong:
Online toolkit
Supporting information for you to share with your networks is now available online with
· fact sheets on the indicators of a successful community
· information on the global shifts which will impact our future
· a gauge so people can rank how Greater Geelong is currently performing
· a conversation guide to help you have informal conversations with your networks or run more formal workshops
· the survey so you can print it out or email and distribute.
Hardcopy toolkits
These will be distributed to all Our Future partners and stakeholders over the next few weeks. They contain everything you need to have conversations about Our Future at work, home or with your community, sporting or social networks.
Facilitators available
If you would like to run an Our Future engagement workshop at your workplace, Council can facilitate for you! Email your request to ourfuture@geelongaustralia.com.au
Our Future video clip
Our Future has produced a two-minute short video clip which explains the Our Future project. You are welcome to use this at any presentations you give and share with your networks.
Upcoming community sessions
Our Future will be running a series of community sessions for people who prefer to have the Our Future conversations in a facilitated setting. You can register to attend.
Don’t forget the power of social media!
Show your support for Our Future by sharing the website link on your social media accounts. Post photos of your workplace holding Our Future conversations and let people know about this great opportunity to have a say about the future direction of Greater Geelong. Don’t forget to tag #CityOfGreaterGeelong so they can see your work.
Website
The Our Future website has undergone significant transformation, with a visually appealing and functional online survey and vision board forum now in place. Please share the link and encourage people to complete the survey. www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ourfuture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwsusVukikg
Ford: Imagining the City of Tomorrow
Published on youtube.com
More about ‘Our Future’ on this website
» The Sustainable Hour – 8 September 2016:
City looks its future in the eye – on Threatened Species Day
Simone Boer and Tim Hellsten from City of Greater Geelong explain about the exciting ‘Our Future’ project
» Mik Aidt – 29 August 2016:
What’s Geelong’s future? Here’s inspiration from Denmark
Presentation at the Geelong Green Drinks on 24 August 2016
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Diversitat divests
“I’ve got a real problem with the Adani coal mine, and I think many Australians have. At some point we have to say, enough is enough. There is a climate emergency happening. It is real. The science is in many, many years ago. So we need to take some leadership on that.”
Michael Martinez, CEO, Diversitat, in a conversation about about why his organisation is planning to divest
» Learn more about divestment on www.climatesafety.info/divestmentday2016
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LISTENER SERVICE:
Content of this hour
Links, excerpts and more information about what we talked about in this Sustainable Hour
100% renewables roadshow
Its time to get this show on the road!
Duration: 1:30 minutes. Published on youtube.com on 24 October 2016.
» Read more here: www.solarcitizens.nationbuilder.com
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» Sign the campaign on www.communityrun.org
…and read more here: www.climatesafety.info/publicbroadcasters
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World Medical Association passes Fossil Fuel Divestment resolution
Wonderful news from the health sector over the weekend! The World Medical Association has urged its 122 global members to divest and invest.
The World Medical Association recommends that its national medical associations and all health organisations:
• Continue to educate health scientists, businesses, civil society, and governments concerning the benefits to health of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advocate for the incorporation of health impact assessments into economic policy.
• Encourage governments to adopt strategies that emphasise strict environmental regulations and standards that encourage energy companies to move toward renewable fuel sources.
• Begin a process of transferring their investments, when feasible without damage, from energy companies whose primary business relies upon extraction of, or energy generation from, fossil fuels to those generating energy from renewable energy sources.
• Strive to invest in companies upholding the environmental principles consistent with the United Nations Global Compact, and refrain from investing in companies that do not adhere to applicable legislation and conventions regarding environmental responsibility.
» Read more on www.wma.net
Sydney divests!
Sydney City Council has passed its motion to divest from fossil fuels. A huge shout out to the amazing 350 volunteers who worked so hard to see this moment and a big shout out to Lord Mayor Clover Moore for helping to make it happen!
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Supersmall batteries
UK-based start-up energy company UltraCap are in the final stages of developing a lightweight electric vehicle battery.
The company is hoping to replace current chemical-based batteries that are used in electric vehicles like the Tesla Model S with a series of ceramic dielectric capacitors. The final prototype battery from UltraCap will weigh less than 20 kg while delivering five hours of consecutive driving. In contrast, current Tesla Model S 70 kWh batteries weigh 535 kg.
According to company founder Professor Vladimir Krstic, the ultracapacitor-based battery would be able to charge within minutes, and the company is working towards even greater miniaturisation.
» Source: www.engineersaustralia.org.au
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Coal power will not solve global poverty
“Coal is good for humanity,” said Tony Abbott. Coal will be important “for many, many decades to come,” says Malcolm Turnbull. But… for the six months straight, solar has provided the United Kingdom with more electricity than coal…
Wow. For six months straight, #solar provided the UK with more electricity than coal https://t.co/PwBDxs7s6i pic.twitter.com/Rg6Sh6pVx0
— Climate Reality (@ClimateReality) October 25, 2016
…and international development organisations warn leaders: Coal power will not solve global poverty
A new paper ‘Beyond Coal: Scaling up clean energy to fight poverty’, led by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), CAFOD and Christian Aid, sets out how coal is given too much credit for fighting extreme poverty while better, cleaner and cheaper energy options exist to provide energy access and lift people’s incomes.
The paper argues that while the coal industry claims that expanding coal use is critical to fighting extreme poverty and improving energy access for billions of people in developing countries, the opposite is true.
• The paper ‘Beyond Coal: Scaling up clean energy to fight poverty’ has been authored by Oxfam and 11 other organisations.
• A Frequently Asked Questions series on coal and poverty is available on the ODI website for further information.
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Speaking of Point Henry
Alcoa has released the Point Henry 575 draft Concept Master Plan for community feedback.
Kate Betts from Alcoa of Australia writes:
“In December 2015, Alcoa launched a process seeking the community’s input on the future of Alcoa’s 575 hectares on the Point Henry peninsula. The 11 month community engagement program and Shared Vision developed with the community has been a key input in the development of the draft Concept Master Plan.
The draft Concept Master Plan represents an integrated and holistic approach to the potential future uses of Alcoa’s landholdings. It provides a vision that guides the possible future transition of Alcoa’s landholdings over the next 15 to 20 years, and unlocks the Point Henry peninsula’s potential by connecting Geelong:
• to a new coastal destination;
• to Point Henry’s unique landscapes; and
• to a diverse range of sustainable living opportunities.
The draft Concept Master Plan has sought to balance and consider a range of influencing factors such as the Shared Vision, opportunities and constraints of the land, relevant market data, anticipated supply and demand for specific land uses in the region, environmental attributes, commercial viability, and ready access to existing and planned infrastructure.
The Concept Master Plan is expected to inform the State Government’s Moolap Coastal Strategic Framework Plan (Moolap Plan) and is a combination of the Conserving, Tourism and Living scenarios outlined in the Moolap Plan discussion paper released in July.
Share Your Views
Alcoa welcomes feedback from the community and key stakeholders on the draft Concept Master Plan, which can be downloaded from here.
To learn more and share your views with Alcoa you are invited to drop in to an upcoming consultation activity:
Thursday 3rd November, 10am to 1pm
Eastern Hub
285A McKillop Street, East Geelong
Friday 4th November, 12pm to 2pm
Foodtruck Friday
Little Malop Street, Central Geelong
Friday 11th November, 11am to 3pm
Newcomb Central Shopping Centre (outside Woolworths)
71 Bellarine Hwy, Newcomb
Monday 14th November, 5pm to 8pm
Eastern Hub
285A McKillop Street, East Geelong
You can also complete the online survey.
The feedback received during this phase of community engagement will help inform the final Point Henry 575 Concept Master Plan to be released by Alcoa early 2017.
Alcoa is tremendously proud of its contribution to the Geelong region over more than five decades and looks forward to Point Henry 575 making a significant contribution to the region’s future.”
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Geelong’s first bicycle ‘library’
Rusty is a ‘bicycle librarian’ and manager of the Pushy Library in East Geelong.
These are his five steps of R’s:
R refuse
R reduce
R repair
R reuse
R recycle
Listen to The Sustainable Hour’s previous interview with Rusty about the Pushy Libary
» More information on www.pushylibrary.org
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National Recycling Week highlights recycling options
Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week from 7 to 13 November 2016 is an opportunity to take advantage of the recycling and reuse options available throughout the region. When you recycle, you not only give material a chance to become something new, you divert it from the landfill.
» Read more on www.geelongaustralia.com.au
» Grist – 20 October 2016:
Here’s why it’s so important to buy recycled products
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Circular economy
» The Guardian – 26 October 2016:
Compostable and edible packaging: the companies waging war on plastic
“A new generation of manufacturers and scientists is working to tackle the global plastic waste crisis head on.”
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Visualing our future: NowThis
NowThis produce lots of videos which give you a glimpse of what could be coming soon. Some examples:
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BUSINESS
► This company proves a business can be sustainable and profitable at the same time. The clothing company plants trees for every item they sell — and their strategy is changing lives
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TEXTILES
► Dresses made of cow shit
► This leather is made from pineapples instead of cows
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FOOD
► Packaging of the future will be edible
► This ‘nanofarm’ can grow fresh food right on your kitchen counter
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CYCLING & TRANSPORT
► Cycling Without Age
► Biking is about to get a lot smarter
► This electric tricycle lets you enjoy the conveniences of a car without paying for the gas
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ENERGY & FLIGHT TECH
► This airport runs on 100% solar power
► This plane could change flying forever
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ENERGY & CLEANTECH
► This flexible material turns any surface into a solar panel
► This self-powered car can run on electricity or solar power
► This mini turbine uses flowing water to charge your phone
» See also: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyerinster/estream-a-portable-water-power-generator-fits-into/
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ENERGY & ART
► Not a bit of electricity was used
Theo Jansen’s kinetic sculptures look alive but use zero electricity
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CLIMATE CHANGE
► This entire city in Alaska wants to move because of climate change
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All the above from NowThis Future’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/NowThisFuture
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Electric Vehicles report
The report is launched in Melbourne on Wednesday 2 November 2016.
The short audio clip we played was from this episode of Beyond Zero – Science and Solutions.
» Listen to the Beyond Zero Science and Solutions program on 3CR Community Radio
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Report: One million new jobs waiting for us
“We can create one million new jobs that have a future and are good for our future. Jobs working in clean electricity, water, construction and health. Jobs improving the energy efficiency of buildings, building better public transport and improving our towns and cities,” wrote Australian Conservation Foundation’s CEO Kelly O’Shanassy in a newsletter.
“But if we want these new jobs, we need consistent and reliable policies to address climate change, cut pollution, prepare communities and drive the transition to clean energy. And creating these policies is up to our government.
We’ve just launched our new report, Jobs for a clean energy future, with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). Our report models the consequences of our government’s policy choices and the opportunities they can unleash – or block.
Yesterday, ABC Radio interviewed me and Wendy Farmer from Voices of the Valley about this. Wendy knows Hazelwood is about to close – her husband works there.
Together, we called on our government to make a long term plan to guide communities away from coal and help them prepare for good jobs in the future.”
» Download the report (PDF)
Peter Hannam wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald:
“Cutting carbon emissions in line with the Paris climate goals could generate more than one million extra jobs by 2040 as Australia transforms its energy and other sectors provided policy settings are right, a new study has found.
The ‘Jobs in a Clean Energy Future’ report, using modelling by the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, found the policies needed to reduce 2005 levels of carbon pollution by 80 per cent by 2040 would generate far more jobs than were lost.
The study, funded by the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, estimated the cost across the economy would be $20 billion annually for 20 years. That sum, though, included investments that would have to be spent anyway to replace aging coal-fired power plants.”
» Sydney Morning Herald – 26 October 2016:
Million new jobs in prospect by 2040 even as emissions dive, study finds
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Podcasts and posts about climate change
Acknowledgement
We at The Sustainable Hour would like to pay our respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we are broadcasting, the Wathaurong People, and pay our respect to their elders, past, present and future.
The traditional owners lived in harmony with the environment and with the climate for hundreds of generations. It is not clear – yet – that as European settlers we have demonstrated that we can live in harmony for hundreds of generations, but it is clear that we can learn from the indigenous, traditional owners of this land.
When we talk about the future, it means extending our respect to those children not yet born, the generations of the future – remembering the old saying that…
The decisions currently being made around Australia to ignore climate change are being made by those who won’t be around by the time the worst effects hit home. How utterly disgusting, disrespectful and unfair is that?
Streaming live
» 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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Pete Seeger, American singer