Welcome to the September edition of the DCAN Dispatch.

Help make climate and nature a central issue in the state election

With the state election coming up on November 28, it's time for all of us to start thinking about how we can maximise the opportunity to get candidates elected who care about a safe climate and protecting nature.

As usual, we will be holding a Candidates Forum (late October) and we will be producing scorecards for both the Legislative Assembly (lower house) and Legislative Council (upper house) which rate all candidates/parties on their climate policies. Please let us know if you would like to help letterbox or give out scorecards at railway stations and/or polling booths by filling out this form.

Order your fence sign now!

Now is also the critical time to get out our house/fence signs. If you would like one, please contact Katherine, who can arrange pick up or delivery to your address. Email Katherine or phone 0402 451 236.

Polluters Pay motion passed by Darebin Council

The Polluters Pay Darebin group, made up of DCAN members and some friends from Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and Extinction Rebellion, is delighted to report that at its August meeting the Darebin City Council voted unanimously for a Polluter Pays motion.

This means Darebin is the first Victorian metropolitan council, along with 11 other councils around Australia, to formally call on the Federal Government to make the big coal, oil and gas export corporations pay a levy to create a Climate Compensation Fund to cover the rising costs of climate damage from which communities like ours are suffering.

The Polluters Pay team would like to thank Councillor Julie O’Brien for her support and putting the motion to council, also Councillor Kristine Olaris OAM for seconding it, as well as all the councillors for supporting it. We also thank the 400+ people who signed our petition.

There were many learnings from the campaign to get Council to support this motion. If you would like to know more click here.

If you’d like to help us in supporting better, fairer funding so local councils can work to protect us from the worst impacts of climate change and work towards the election of a state government that will take climate change seriously, please consider joining us in a more active role.

DCAN joins call for government action following Nepal-Tibet flood disaster

DCAN extends our deepest sympathy to all the families and friends of those affected by the Nepal-Tibet flood disaster. The human cost of this tragedy is immense, with over 1,386 deaths and another 84,000 people affected.

Scientists have attributed the floods and other similar events recurring across the Himalayas and other mountain ranges to global warming that is melting glaciers and thawing permafrost.

At the same time the UN has warned us that the world is on track to exceed the warming limits set out in the Paris agreement, pushing us into unchartered and more dangerous conditions.

DCAN has joined a coalition of Australian climate and human rights organisations, together with representatives from Australia’s Nepali, Tibetan and South Asian communities, to send an open letter to the Albanese Government demanding three urgent actions - stop approving new fossil fuel projects, pay Australia’s fair share of climate finance and end all fossil fuel subsidies.

Every new coal and gas project adds to the climate crisis which is causing untold deaths and loss of livelihoods and homes for communities who have done nothing to cause it.

Donate to the Nepal emergency appeal here.

DCAN calls on Ged Kearney MP to work harder for stronger climate action

DCAN’s MP Engagement Working Group recently met with local Federal MP for Cooper, Ms Ged Kearney, to discuss a range of urgent climate issues.

Concerns raised by DCAN included the destructive fracking for gas in the NT’s Beetaloo Basin, the proposed pipeline to bring the gas to the east cost for export and the proposed drilling for gas close to the precious Scott Reef off the WA coast, which would be an ecological and climate disaster.

We also discussed the recently released UN Environment Program report, which confirms that we will overshoot 1.5C of warming - meaning that all new or extended fossil projects must be rejected by the federal government. We asked Ms Kearney to lobby hard for developing a roadmap to speedily phase out fossil fuel exports.

We also noted the dangers posed to the climate (as well as human wellbeing overall) by AI and hyperscale data centres. We asked Ms Kearney to support a moratorium on any new data centre approvals until strong laws are in place to minimise the risks. We also asked her to insist that any new data centres should be powered by 100% new renewable energy.

We discussed many other topics such as the review of the Safeguard Mechanism, the need to create more national parks, issues around the toxic infrastructure left behind when offshore projects come to an end, and Australia’s responsibilities to our Pacific neighbours. You can read a detailed report about the meeting here.

At the end of the meeting, we expressed the hope that the climate chaos becoming more obvious across the globe will spur greater leadership on climate action by the federal government. If you are interested in joining future meetings with our local state and federal MPs, please drop us an email.

Pacific Islands Forum calls to keep 1.5C alive

Pacific leaders met in Palau earlier this month for the Pacific Islands Forum and issued a call to keep 1.5C alive.

Pacific ministers criticised Australia by name at the Forum, and Vanuatu's Ralph Regenvanu said the least we should do is stop expanding our fossil fuel industry. The Climate Council has counted 37 new, expanded or extended coal, oil and gas projects which have been approved since the Albanese government came to power, and Palau's President puts our fossil fuel exports at roughly 4.5% of global CO2 emissions.

The United Nations Environment Programme report released this month confirms the world will overshoot the 1.5C target, and even the best case scenario will peak at 1.8C.

"For the Pacific, overshoot is not a line on a graph," said Dr Rufino Varea from the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN). "Every fraction of a degree carries consequences for our reefs, our food and water, our economies, our homes and ultimately our ability to remain on our islands."

To understand the full impact of global warming as it happens, follow our fellow climate activists in the Pacific such as @pacificclimatewarriors on Instagram or PICAN on Facebook.

GIMME 5! for happy healthy communities

Sunday 20th September 2-4pm, 49-53 Murray Rd Coburg.

DCAN is proud to support this community event to discuss how we can make our streets safer for bicycle riders, families and kids in the Preston and Pascoe Vale electorates.

We know that moving around by bike is cheaper and important for physical and mental health, connection to community, independence and resilience as well as a great way to lower emissions.

Share local stories, meet election candidates & hear about what you can do to help create happy, healthy communities and support the Gimme 5! Campaign. The campaign calls on the state government and election candidates to support dedicated funding to build and develop the Strategic Cycling Corridor network in Victoria.

This will be a relaxed family-friendly community meeting with colouring-in and badge-making activities for younger kids. Register for this free event here. Can’t attend on Sunday but care about safer streets? Use this handy link to send a quick email to your local candidates. It only takes 2 mins!

Do you know someone good with bikes and people?

Darebin Men's Shed in East Reservoir is looking for a volunteer to be part of their Bike Linx program. Bike Linx gives donated bikes a new life by servicing and refurbishing them for sale and distribution within the local community. If you enjoy bikes, working with your hands and being part of a community program, express your interest at [email protected].

Support our work in 2026 and beyond

Help spread the work about climate action

Please join us on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky. Every like, comment, and share helps amplify our impact and spread the word about climate action in our community. Email us if you would like to join the DCAN social media team. We would love to have you onboard.

Want to know more about DCAN?

Why not come along to one of our monthly meetings? We usually meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7.00pm at the Bridge Preston. Please drop us an email at [email protected] to let us know that you are coming so we can welcome you and give you an agenda ahead of the meeting.

Our next meeting will be at 7:00 pm on October 8th, 2026 in the Waratah Room at the Bridge, 261 High, Preston.