Promos
Climate Action Summit
Posters
Get the word out about the Summit. Make some copies of these files and pretty up the signposts and shop windows of your little part of the world with our happy green people.
A3 Poster - print quality (pdf - 3.2Mb)
A4 Poster - print quality (pdf - 2Mb)
Or use this jpg files to email to your friends.
Poster - email quality (jpg - 533Kb)
Press Release
Country Victorians speaking out about climate change
People from across Victoria will be gathering in Daylesford on Saturday March 21st as part of a Regional Climate Action Summit.
The summit has been organised by local sustainability groups from Ballarat, Daylesford, Bendigo and Castlemaine who are frustrated with the lack of commitment from the Federal Government to address the climate emergency.
Dean Bridgfoot from the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group said: “The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) being reviewed at the moment locks us in to a 5% target for emissions reductions, with a maximum 15% possible by 2020. The legislation makes all sorts of concessions to the big polluters whilst it’s the average person who will pick up the cost. Meanwhile the scientists are saying we need a 40% target to stop dangerous climate change. None of this adds up in my book.”
Lisa Kendal, a mother of two and member of BREAZE in Ballarat agrees: “After so much promise last year it seems our leaders are now paralyzed and unable to act with the urgency that the climate emergency demands. Across the region thousands of people are doing their part; they’re reducing their energy use, putting in solar panels, buying Greenpower and living more sustainably. Anyone who’s experienced this drought and the recent bushfires knows that climate change is already affecting us. I’m going to Daylesford because I don’t want it to get worse for our children” she added.
Frustration has been building amongst regional Victorians with recent government decisions to downgrade or limit support for renewable energy. The very disappointing emission reduction target announced as part of the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which potentially disadvantages voluntary emissions reductions is also counterproductive to the work they are doing.
“People in Portland are taking action already but they are very frustrated that government incentives for households are getting smaller and smaller, and that those incentives might even help subsidise the big polluters like the coal industry.” said Peter Reefman, local builder and member of the Portland Sustainability Group. The Portland Group is working with over 80 householders and 14 schools helping them install solar PV on their roofs.
“We know that we need renewables, locally grown food and healthier, more people friendly cities and towns, “said Nada Smark, grandmother of eight from Castlemaine. “All of the groups involved in the summit have been working to bring that about. I want to see lots of people at Daylesford to help our politicians understand that they can help us create that kid of community too” she concluded.
The Daylesford summit starts at 9.30am at the Daylesford Town Hall and finishes with a “C’mon Kevin C’mon” video shoot. Everyone is invited to come and catch up on the latest information on climate change and most importantly, get fired up and plan local events that build a momentum for change.
Details can be found at www.rvcas.org.au or by ringing the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group on 54706978.
The Regional Victorian Climate Action Summit is supported by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions, Bendigo Sustainability Group, Hepburn Renewable Energy Association and the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group.
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Media Spokesperson
Dean Bridgfoot dean@rvcas.org.au or 54706325 (h) or 54706978 (w) 0448 327791 (m)
Contact for photo/video opportunities and interviews prior to and on the day
Wrap up of the day
For the first time, five regional environmental groups worked together to host a forum to inform, engage and to inspire people to take action. The summit enabled participants to share ideas before focussing on key areas for a safer climate.
Councillor Rod May opened the day, which was also attended by Councillor Sebastian Klein. In Cr May’s opening address, he made reference to the motion that has been accepted by Hepburn Council that acknowledges climate change and peak oil and said ”Council is ready to work with the community to address these issues locally”.
Karen Corr, from the Bendigo Sustainability Group, shared her experiences and the outcomes of Australia’s Climate Action Summit that was held in February 2009. 300 people representing 160 environmental groups came together at the action summit in Canberra, which was the inspiration for the Daylesford event. Ms Corr spoke of the ”climate emergency” and the importance of engaging members of all communities to be actively involved in reducing their carbon emissions as well as demanding green jobs and renewable energy from government.
Topics discussed at the Action Summit in Daylesford included supporting local food production and agriculture, strengthening local sustainability groups, ways to communicate environmental messages to the public, strategies to encourage renewable energy and engaging young people and grandparents to get involved. One group is planning a hunger strike later this year to demonstrate concern for the planet.
Participants attended for a variety of reasons. Anneke Deutsch from Elevated Plains said ”climate change is the most important and urgent issue facing our world today”. Ms Deutsch has made a personal commitment to promote renewable energy and speak up against investment in further coal-powered power stations.
Dallas Kinnear from Daylesford said “I fear for the future of my ten grandchildren, who will have to deal with the consequences of our present inaction.” Ms Kinnear has worked in the environmental area over many years and attended to ”help to mobilise people to press governments to take immediate and stronger action to avert an ugly climate change future.”
Karen McAloon from Mount Franklin said that she “was interested in new ways to outreach into the general community to demonstrate our concerns about climate change and what we can achieve in a positive and constructive way.” Ms McAloon will build on the contacts she made at the summit to share resources and work more strategically for a safe climate.
The day concluded with the making of a music video message for Kevin Rudd titled ’C’mon Kevin C’mon’ that parodied 1970’s Australian cricket - complete with streaker. The video will be used to encourage Australia’s Prime Minister to take real and effective action to address climate change.
The commitments and actions from the summit are being collated and will be available at www.rvcas.org.au.
The summit was supported by the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association (HREA), the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA), Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions (BREAZE), the Bendigo Sustainability Group (BSG) and the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG).
HREA is Hepburn Shire’s Sustainability Group and is committed to working with others to cultivate sustainable community, including reducing carbon pollution. More information about HREA, upcoming events and useful links can be found at www.hrea.org.au.
