Yarra Climate Action Now!

YCAN!’s inaugural Idiot of the Month award goes to…(drum roll please)… Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi from South Australia, for posting the following comments in a blog last week:

"I remain unconvinced about the need for an ETS [emissions trading scheme] given that carbon dioxide is vital for life on earth, the earth hasn't warmed since 1998 and many of the predictions made by climate change alarmists -- including Al Gore and Tim Flannery -- have been demonstrably false."

Unfortunately, Senator Bernardi doesn’t provide any details on the predictions he says are false. The claim that global warming stopped in 1998 is a classic cherry pick that climate change deniers use. Click here for a detailed response to this claim and the graph below says it all really. The Garnaut Review also examined this claim by asking statisticians to review global temperature data and ascertain if the warming trend stopped in 1998. They concluded that it hadn’t.




And finally the brilliance of the comment, “…carbon dioxide is vital for life on earth…”. This was the clincher. This comment cemented the judges’ decision to award Senator Bernardi the coveted prize. It displays such an acute lack of critical thought capacities as to render us at YCAN! almost speechless. By using Senator Bernardi’s insightful theory, we can hereby declare that all flood and bushfire prevention and recovery activities are a waste of time and money, as water and heat are vital for life on Earth.

Is Senator Bernardi unfit to represent the fine people of South Australia? We think so, and we hope the voters in SA will agree. In the meantime, we recommend that Malcolm Turnbull arrange some science classes for his colleagues.

Who will it be next month? Send your nominations to YarraCAN@gmail.com

“The surrender is virtually complete. Our biggest polluters have won, and the rest of us will be paying for it under a joke of an emissions trading scheme that encompasses a significant transfer of wealth to our largest polluters.”

Bernard Keane, crikey.com.au

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme released today by Kevin Rudd, represents a total capitulation to the forces of short term greed and inaction.

The emissions target of 5 per cent reduction on 2000 levels by 2020, rising to a 15% cut in the event of a global agreement, is not even close to what the science says is necessary to avoid runaway climate change – a catastrophe which will claim hundreds of millions of lives and impoverish everyone else.

According to the latest science there is already too much carbon in the atmosphere. Emissions need to go as close to zero as possible, as soon as possible, with measures then taken to remove carbon from the atmosphere to appropriate levels, generally estimated to be around 300-325ppm CO2 – for more information on this, click here or visit the IPCC website.

The weak emissions target also marks Australia’s return to pariah status in the international policy arena on climate change. A 15 per cent target is a joke for a wealthy country such as Australia, and this target will help to sabotage any slim chance that the world community had of negotiating a decent emissions reduction agreement in Copenhagen in 2009.

This agreement not only ignores the science, but it also represents a massive transfer of wealth to big business, via free permits and compensation. Power generators, including coal-fired power stations, will share in $4 billion of “compensation”. This was a mistake made in the European emissions trading scheme, which resulted in massive windfall profits for power generators and price rises for consumers. The Federal Government is aware of this but has obviously decided to repeat the same mistakes the Europeans made.

There will also be a free permit bonanza, with emissions intensive trade exposed firms getting up to 90 per cent of their permits for free.

It is also an immoral policy which will see the poorest people of the poorest countries suffer first, even though they are not to blame for the world’s historic greenhouse gas emissions.

This cannot be allowed to stand. This is a suicidal and irresponsible policy and the Rudd Government is betraying the Australian people. The Rudd Government spin is that they are negotiating the middle ground between environmentalists and industry. In reality, they are ignoring the science and not being truthful with the Australian people on what the true consequences of their weak policies are.

This policy has come about because of a lack of strength and leadership in the government, but also because the public is not actively demanding a science-based climate change policy. The only way we can turn this ship around is to get off our bums and hit the streets.

We need you to join us.

Read Michael Green's article in the Saturday Age about our climate action movement by clicking here.

The Climate Emergency Network has initiated a project to model economy-wide solutions to produce a 10 year transition to a safe climate economy across Australia. The project is called Plan Z.E.D. Zero Emissions Decade .

The aim is to provide detail of paths that can lead to rapidly achieving a safe climate economy, within a decade. Climate Emergency Network believes it will be valuable for people and organisations to know about such paths:

• to influence how people think about climate change policy and action.
• so that a real transformation of the Australian economy can be undertaken urgently .

The project will be undertaken in four stages.

Stage 1
The first stage will be undertake by the group Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) who have been working for well over a year on a near-zero emissions/10 year transition plan for Victoria. BZE will extend their current Victorian to cover the whole of Australia. It will also the establishment of the infrastructure to enable Australia to make a fully effective contribution to the draw down of all the excess CO2 in the air as past as possible.

Specifically, the Plan will outline:

• A staged execution plan for Australia to transition to a zero carbon economy by 2020 (utilising only currently proven, viable and costed technologies & practices)
• The costs and benefits of Australia pursuing a zero carbon target
• The necessary policy options and resources to achieve a zero carbon economy that will produce the best possible outcome for Australia
• The sectoral and regional implications of Australia progressing to a zero carbon economy
• The economic and strategic opportunities in Australia taking a lead role within the global context of carbon constraint

The Plan will consist of individual reports into the following sectors of the Australian economy:

• Stationary Energy
• Transport
• Land Use (Agriculture, forestry & carbon drawdown)
• Housing and Commercial Buildings
• Industrial Processes
• Export Revenue
  

The Plan will be developed with the intention of protecting and enhancing the key economic, social and environmental parameters of Australian society including; maintaining a high standard of living; security of energy and food supply; access to mobility; and comfort and well being for all.

Stage 1 is due to be completed by early 2009.

Stage 2:
In stage 2 the Climate Emergency Network will conduct an assessment of the BZE Australia-wide plan so that CEN can have an accurate view about how robust and viable the plan is for achieving a safe climate economy within a decade period. This component of the overall project would try to elicit information on the strengths and weaknesses of the BZE plan, and would be designed to draw out potential solutions to identified problems.

Stage 3
Climate Emergency Network will take the analysis further by numerically modelling the energy and financial implications for the structure of the economy.

Stage 4
Climate Emergency Network will actively use the results.

Funding
While most of the work already done and being offered by BZE is by energetic and committed volunteers, we do need some funds to employ people for project management, and to support administration, report writing and research. This will also mean the project can be done both more efficiently and in the shortest time frame possible.

Funds are being provided through fundraising efforts of CEN. To date a single generous donation of about $25,000 has given a big impetus to starting Stage 1. As well local fundraising in Melbourne has provided about $3500.

However more funding is needed for the completion of stage one in the shortest time possible and to be certain of employing highly regarded project evaluation experts in stage 2 and skilled modellers for stage 3.

We would therefore ask you to seriously consider making a contribution to the success of this project by digging deeply. Remember all sizes of donations are valuable – as they were in Obama’s campaign in the US! We estimate we will need at least $100,000.

Make your Donation: Click here.

OR

Make a donation and give it as a Xmas Gift: Click here.

• Give a Xmas Gift to your family or friends by making a donation to Plan Z.E.D..
• We will send you a special Climate Emergency Network –
  All We Want for Xmas …..is a Sustainable Future Xmas card with a record of your donation - to give as a gift.
• Don’t forget to fill in all the details for mailing or emailing the gift Xmas card recording your donation to Plan Z.E.D.
  

All We Want for Xmas …..is a Sustainable Future

Using bulk purchasing and the Federal Government (means tested) rebate for rooftop solar panels, up to 200 Yarra home owners can purchase 1kW solar photovoltaic systems for their homes for $2,830. Your household must be earning less than $100,000 to be eligible for this offer.

This deal has been brokered by the City of Yarra and further information is available at:
http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Environment/Solar.asp

You must sign up before 31 January 2009.

A great way to lower your electricity bills and produce clean energy.

Draft Yarra Environment Strategy: Towards Local Sustainability

Yarra’s draft Environment Strategy: Towards Local Sustainability is on public exhibition until 15 August 2008.

The strategy outlines objectives for 10 key action areas which are:

Community Engagement
Open Space and Urban Bushland
Greenhouse Emissions
Water
Waste
Transport
Built Form
Food
Air Quality

Council Planning and Operations.
The draft strategy includes a detailed action plan, which outlines tasks and projects to be undertaken over the next four years to transform Yarra into a vibrant, liveable and sustainable inner city municipality.

The action plan includes documented programs and targets to ensure that the Strategy is more than words – and is in fact a working document to be implemented by Council in partnership with the community.
You can have your say on the draft Strategy and Action Plan by:

Completing the feedback form, tearing along the perforated line, taping or stapling the form to make a reply paid envelope, and mailing it to Council by putting it in a letterbox (no stamp required)
Emailing your comments to the Coordinator of Council’s Environmental Sustainability Unit, Silvana Predebon at Silvana.Predebon@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Calling Silvana on 9205 5753 or mailing your comments to PO Box 168, Richmond VIC 3121

Climate Emergency Network
General Meeting
Sunday May 25: 11.45am to 5 pm (incl. lunch break)
Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St Abbotsford. Melway 44 G5

The Climate Emergency Network (CEN) is a not-for-profit, non-politically-aligned network of
community organisations that are campaigning for all governments to recognise and declare a state of climate and sustainability emergency in order to ensure we have a safe climate future for all people, all species, and all generations.

The network aims to bring together the many Climate Action Groups and community organisations across the nation to work strategically together towards this goal.

The network has been established only 3 months and has over 70 members in Victoria, representing many existing Climate Action Groups. We welcome new people and groups to join the network.

Please come along to meet with members of the Network.
• Hear how the work of the Network is developing and become involved in jobs and projects needing
workers!
• View the latest version of the Climate Code Red slide show.
• Learn how to train as a presenter of the slide show and Climate Code Red emergency message.
• Hear how your Climate Action Group can become involved in a project to meet with your Local
Community Leaders.
• Hear about plans to meet and discuss the Climate Emergency message with key policy makers and
influential members of our society.

****Feeling creative??? The network is seeking ideas for a logo. We invite everyone to bring along their suggestions on the day. We will decide on a basic concept or logo with the option to pass them onto a graphic designer for development****

We would appreciate a donation to contribute to room hire expenses.

Lunch:
We will have a late lunch break about 1.30pm to 2pm. Food is available at the Convent Cafes or
BYO.

Getting there... by public transport:
Via Train: Victoria Park on the Epping/Hurstbridge line is the closest railway station. Buses 200, 201,
205 and 207 run along Johnson Street.
Via Bus: Catch the Garden City/Bulleen Bus 203 from the city in Lonsdale St, this will run along
Johnson St. Get off at Clarke Street Bus Stop. (Make sure you are going in the Kew Junction
direction). Turn left from Clarke Street into St. Heliers and follow the sign to The Collingwood
Children’s Farm. The entrance gates of the Convent are on the right before you reach the Farm.
Getting there... by bike or foot: The Capital City cycling and walking path passes the site.
Getting there... by car: Enter Clarke St from Johnson St, then left into St. Heliers Street. All day parking is available on the north side of St Heliers Street and costs $4.00(coins only). There is also 15 minute parking on the street. There is no vehicular access to the Convent site.

To RSVP or for more information contact: climatecodered@yahoo.com

One of the most important documents to be written for the global climate campaign has been released on the web.

The document makes the case that the science is being misread and miscommunicated and that the situation is far worse than most climate commentators choose to explain, it then looks at appropriate goals and solutions and argues for rapid reduction in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations now.

Written by David Sprat and Philip Sutton the document is a must read for any serious climate campaigner.

Down load the pdf from http://climatecodered.net/

Some of you have read the first two parts as Part 1 as "The big melt" and Part 2 as "Target practice".

The authors have asked that people do not email the PDF directly but instead direct others to the website.