We have a new Council!

Congratulations to the newly elected and re-elected Councillors for Darebin City Council. We can report that in response to DCAN's candidate questionnaire, all of the elected councillors recognised the importance of addressing the climate emergency, and many made commitments to strong action on climate and democratic processes. We are looking forward to working with the new Council on implementing Darebin's Climate Emergency Plan and exploring ways to involve residents better in deliberating on difficult-to-resolve issues. Thank you to all our supporters who participated in election activities. See here for the full voting results. Successful candidates:

Kristine Olaris OAM, ALP, Central Ward
Vasilios Tsalkos, ALP, North Central Ward
Matt Arturi, ALP, North East Ward
Gaetano Greco, Independent, North West Ward (re-elected)
Ruth Jelley, Greens, South Central Ward
Emily Dimitriadis, ALP, South East Ward (re-elected)
Julie O'Brien, Greens, South Ward
Alexandra Sangster, Greens, South West Ward
Connie Boglis OAM, ALP, West Ward

Voices from the frontline of the climate crisis
23rd November Coburg Town Hall 2.30pm

Tiwi woman, Mililma May, and other First Nations leaders are travelling all the way from the Northern Territory to Melbourne to ask us to stand with them in their struggle to stop fracking. Country, precious water supplies and climate are under threat from gas expansion like never before. With the recent announcement of delays in the Middle Arm project, we have a unique opportunity to show the Government that we stand in solidarity with Mililma and Territorians to stop the expansion of the destructive and polluting gas industry. Please come along to this important event. RSVP here. Please also take a minute to sign the online petition against fracking the NT here.

Would you like a sign for your fence or window?

In the lead up to the next federal election, we need to show politicians and leaders in our community how much we want strong action on climate by installing a sea of 'No More Coal and Gas' signs on our fences, in our gardens, street-facing windows and shop fronts. By acting together in the months ahead, we can make sure climate action is firmly on the agenda. Would you like a sign? DCAN is taking part in a National Climate Sign Blitz on the 7th December and we are offering you free signs - complete with delivery to your door! Please contact Katherine to order your sign.

DCAN AGM Guest speaker explains how to use our money as a force for good

Special guest, Kyle Robertson from Market Forces, was a highlight at this year's Annual General Meeting. Market Forces is a dynamic, not-for-profit organisation that has been working with the community for over a decade to shine a spotlight on the financial sector and its investments in fossil fuels.

Kyle outlined three key areas that Market Forces is working on: shareholder action to push for positive changes in company policies, targeting financial institutions to encourage them to divest from fossil fuel companies, and putting pressure on the Japanese Government and Japanese companies to stop their involvement in fossil fuel projects in Australia. Japan imports much more gas than it needs, then exports this to other Asian countries, locking poorer nations such as Bangladesh into expensive long-term contracts. Kyle talked about two recent big wins - the CommBank announcement in August that they will no longer finance coal, oil and gas projects of companies whose policies are not aligned with the Paris emissions targets; and when 60% of shareholders at Woodside's AGM voted against the company's climate plan because it was considered inadequate. If you would like to find out how to be a part of this exciting work sign up here.

DCAN Annual Report 2024

It was another big year for DCAN - ranging from running a home electrification masterclass early in the year with Freedom Energy Homes to holding a candidates' forum and producing score cards for all nine wards in the recent Council elections. We continued to raise issues of concern in our meetings with our local Federal and State MPs, and Ministers Chris Bowen and Tania Plibersek, particularly around the need for a strong Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, including a climate trigger. We held rapid response rallies outside the office of our Federal MP Ged Kearney against new coal and gas announcements and were also involved in national campaigns against fracking in the Northern Territory and Government investment in Middle Arm - a huge proposed project near Darwin which would support the NT gas industry. In addition to providing detailed feedback on Darebin Council's new Climate Emergency Plan, we also wrote several submissions and co-hosted a Climate Resilience Inquiry submission writing party with the Darebin Neighbourhood House Network. We also celebrated a five year milestone for our weekly Chalking and Talking Outreach team's work along the St. Georges Road bike path. Please see here for the full report.

Music for a Warming World Concert

You are invited by NCAT (Nillumbik Climate Action Team) to come and enjoy a wonderful Music for a Warming World concert, multi-media visual experience and journey into the reality and prospects of our warming world. Led by academic/musician Simon Kerr, and featuring professional musicians Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan, Music for a Warming World brings science, joy, grief, and positivity to life.

Stay after the show for a delicious supper, festive season refreshments and social gathering.

Free to attend, but please book here to help with catering. A gold coin donation would be welcome on the night to help with costs, if possible.

Saturday 30 November, 7:30 - 11:30pm
Hurstbridge Community Hub
50 Graysharps Rd, Hurstbridge VIC

Click here for more information.

Climate Choir Melbourne comes to Darebin

"While politicians sit and talk
In far-away Baku
The CO2 goes up and up,
We'll cop this COP-OUT too."
(Tune: While Shepherds watched)

Climate Choir Melbourne have been invited by the Fairfield Traders Association to sing in Station Street on 7 December at 11 am. Come and listen (or even better, join in) as they sing climate-related parodies of your favourite Christmas carols and other traditional Christmas music. Looking forward to seeing (and hearing you) outside Baker’s Delight, 88 Station Street, Fairfield.

No Northern Incinerator Campaign

There is a proposal for Cleanaway to build and operate a giant incinerator - just 15 km to our north to burn 10 million tonnes of rubbish. Obviously this is a horrendous idea that needs to be stopped.
Please sign and share this important new Parliamentary Petition, sponsored by Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny, which strongly objects to this proposal.

See which Councillors have signed the Stop Burning Waste Pledge and why it's so important (Thanks to Zero Waste Australia).

Check out the Facebook page for the campaign here.

Suggested Reading: "Let's Tax Carbon: And Other Ideas for a Better Australia"

In his new book Ross Garnaut, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne and ANU, argues that Australia could become a full employment, renewable energy super power if it started taxing carbon. A levy on big polluters would help Australia become a carbon-free energy giant, lower the cost of living and assist the world to cut emissions.

He focuses on the underpinnings of successful social democracy and traces when economic policy has worked for Australia and when it hasn't.

He also explores the extraordinary low-carbon opportunity that Australia has before it. Getting this right, Garnaut argues, would secure the economic base of Australia's social democracy.

Read an extract here.

Wake-up call: lessons learned from nature’s sculpture landscapes

Solo exhibition of paintings by Megan-Jane Johnstone AO

5 - 16 February 2025

Cato Gallery, Victorian Artists' Society, 430 Albert Street, East Melbourne

Heatwave 1

In the days between 16-24 June 2024, 60 per cent of the world’s population faced extreme heat. The month of June 2024 has since been described as the earth’s hottest on record, with people across Asia, Europe and the Americas facing extremely high temperatures - in some cases exceeding 50C. Scientists warn that new records will be broken as the climate continues to warm. Moreover, the health of people  will increasingly be at risk due to the adverse effects of heating on the brain and nervous system. This work is part of a new series the artist is working on titled ‘Wake-up call’, motivated by her conviction that artists have an important role to play in promoting environmental ethics, noting that art is much more than just presentation. As Australian Professor of Environmental Law, Benjamin Richardson, has correctly contended, art also ‘fuels human imagination, to re-imagine relationships with the natural world, to bring new meanings and creatively forge new solutions’. We need to urgently find creative solutions to protect the earth (and all that depends on it) from the increasingly devastating effects of a warming climate.

Welcome to the October edition of the DCAN Dispatch.

Darebin Council elections

It's been a very busy time for the DCAN team. For the next 4 years, we want a Council that is strongly committed to strong climate leadership and action, and is able to work effectively using democratic processes. So this election we have focussed on testing candidates' commitments to both climate emergency action and stronger local democratic processes, which we see as two sides of the same coin. We developed a survey to elicit candidates' beliefs and commitments, held a very successful candidates' forum (with 20 candidates and five breakout rooms based on wards), developed a scorecard for 9 wards and letterboxed two wards!

Don't forget to vote!

Voting closes 6pm Friday 25 October 2024 so please make sure to post your vote before then! The DCAN climate scorecards for all wards in Darebin are up on our website. You can find the climate scorecard for your ward here. We assessed the candidates against three key criteria: climate emergency leadership, support for strong council climate action and support for accountability and democratic processes. In developing the scorecards we took into account the candidates' official statements, survey responses, responses at the forum and information on their websites. If you would like to read the candidates' responses to our survey please see here.

Candidates Climate Forum

Many thanks to all the candidates and residents who attended the forum, and also a big thank you to the facilitators and note-takers for the five breakout rooms. The feedback from the forum has been very positive. Participants have reported back to us that they felt they "really got to know their candidates" and "it will help me make up my mind on how to vote".

Letterboxing scorecards

As the elections will be a close contest, we chose South East and West wards to letterbox. A very big thankyou to the volunteers who responded with very short notice to letterbox these two wards over the weekend. We are also using social media and our website to promote the scorecards for all wards. Please share these to help inform late voters. You can find all the scorecards on our DCAN Facebook page.

Donate

If you can spare a few dollars towards covering the cost of layout and printing of scorecards it would be greatly appreciated! You can donate here.

Your voice can help stop fracking in the NT

Right now fracking for gas in the Northern Territory threatens water, country and our climate. Gas companies have just started drilling gas wells in the Beetaloo Basin south of Darwin, and plan to frack them in the coming months during the wet season. Victoria has banned fracking to protect its water and agriculture. Now it’s time to demand the same for the NT. Our Federal Labor MPs in Victoria can help make this a reality. Add your voice to the petition calling on Victorian Federal Labor MPs to take action to stop fracking in the NT. To learn more check out this video and head to this link.

SAVE THE DATE: Don't Frack the NT
Coburg Town Hall - Saturday 23rd November, 2.30-4.00pm.

This important meeting will include a panel discussion with NT Traditional Owners, medical professionals and community members about the proposed gas hub at Middle Arm in Darwin. Middle Arm would receive gas from environmentally disastrous and climate-wrecking fracking projects in the Beetaloo Basin and elsewhere in the NT. The meeting will discuss how we in Melbourne can support frontline communities in the NT. There will be a smoking ceremony and performances by Aboriginal Elders.
Please save the date now, and invite friends and family to come along too.

DCAN AGM & Guest speaker - Market Forces

Please join us for a cuppa and talk with special guest Kyle Robertson from Market Forces. Market Forces believes that the banks, superannuation funds and governments that have custody of our money should use it to protect, not damage our environment. Kyle’s research at Market Forces focuses on Australian banks and the financial sector’s ongoing investment in the fossil fuel industry. Kyle has a Master of Environment and Sustainability from Monash University. He will talk to us about their current campaigns and how we can get involved. When: DCAN AGM 7pm, 14th November. Where: The Bridge Darebin, 131 Shaftesbury Parade, Thornbury.RSVP here.

Thinking of upgrading your hot water service?

Are you planning to upgrade your hot water system? This is your chance! Energy Freedom Homes (EFH) are offering 20 exclusive spots for testers to try out a new online course - normally priced at $20 - completely free!

Energy Freedom Homes (EFH) were DCAN's partners in the highly successful home electrification masterclass which ran in February this year. Since the masterclass, EFH have been working on a new approach to help homeowners who would like to upgrade their hot water systems with energy efficient systems.

Choosing a hot water service? We know how overwhelming it can be - so many options, confusing information and the risk of choosing the wrong product or installer. But with this course, you can avoid those mistakes. You can follow a simple process with clear videos, interactive tools, and expert, independent guidance to help you make confident decisions.

Ready to upgrade? Email Jay at Energy Freedom Homes today to secure your free spot and make upgrading your hot water system easy.

The People’s Blockade and Canberra Wave, November 19-28

Described as one of the most significant climate uprisings on the planet, this year the People’s Blockade will be in two parts:
Part 1 at Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle from November 19 - 28 and Part 2 at Parliament Lawn, Canberra from November 26 - 28.

For more information and to register your interest go to the Rising Tide website.

Suggested Reading: "Highway to Hell, Climate Change and Australia's Future"

In this powerful essay, esteemed Australian climate scientist and lead author for the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report, Joëlle Gergis, depicts our likely future in vivid and credible detail.

Working from the science, she discusses the world’s and Australia’s efforts to combat climate change. She outlines how far Australia is from keeping its promises to cut emissions. She takes aim at false solutions and the folly of “adaptation” rather than curbing fossil fuel use. This is an essay about government paralysis and what is at stake for all of us.

Read an extract here.

Welcome to the September edition of the Dispatch

Let’s elect a new Council committed to strong climate action!

Darebin Council elections will take place on 7th-25th October by postal ballot. DCAN is working hard to try to ensure that our new Council is willing and able to act strongly on the climate emergency.

As in previous years, we are sending out a questionnaire to all candidates, asking about their commitment to climate action. After the difficulties that the current Council has experienced resulting in monitors being appointed at great expense to ratepayers, we are also asking about their views on good governance and involving the community in deliberations on complex issues, through processes like Citizens Assemblies.

Candidates’ responses to our questionnaire, along with their candidate statements and other public statements, will be used to create scorecards for each of the 9 wards. The scorecards will be on DCAN’s website and will be published widely.

We will be holding a Candidates Climate Forum on 3rd October at 7pm on Zoom. There will be a breakout room for each ward, so residents can ask questions of their own candidates. Register now! Please make sure you know what ward you are in before coming to the meeting so you can go to the right one. Find out which ward you are in here.

Welcome to the August edition of the DCAN Dispatch.

New Climate Emergency Plan for Darebin!

DCAN congratulates Darebin Council on the unanimous adoption of the new Climate Emergency Plan. DCAN took an active part in the community consultations and provided detailed feedback on draft versions of the plan. While it is disappointing that our request for stronger emission reduction targets was not agreed to, we are pleased to see some of the key points we advocated for included in the plan. We are very excited about the setting up of a new 'concierge' service which will offer tailored household support to help residents find their way in switching from gas to electricity and renewable energy. We are also very pleased to see the expansion of the Solar Savers Scheme and new community education programs on electrification and energy efficiency. We look forward to working with Council to help implement the plan. View the new plan and learn more here.

Commbank walks away from climate wrecking clients

Australia’s largest bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, made a huge announcement last week, declaring it has made the decision to no longer provide finance to oil and gas producing companies that don’t have a Paris-aligned transition plan.

This is a significant win for our climate, and starkly contrasts with ANZ, NAB and Westpac, which are gearing up to loan hundreds of millions more to one of Australia’s most notorious climate wreckers. According to Market Forces, ANZ, NAB and Westpac are days away from finalising a $750 million loan to Santos.

Click here to tell ANZ, NAB and Westpac to cut ties with Santos.

On Wednesday 21 August at 12pm, a community rally will be held outside the head offices of ANZ, NAB and Westpac in Melbourne to pressure the banks to ditch this loan to Santos. As much support as possible is needed to ensure the message gets through to the banks. For more information and to register for the rally click here.

More confrontational messaging needed for the climate crisis

In a recent article, eminent climate activists David Spratt and Ian Dunlop refer to polling in 26 countries which shows that only 60% of Australians now believe that climate change is human-caused (down 6% from 18 months earlier and 13% below the global average). Only half of Australians thought that the costs of climate disruption will be greater than the investments needed for transition to a sustainable society.

Spratt and Dunlop attribute this to the “softly, softly” approach by the Albanese government which focuses on renewable energy and avoids talking about “doom and gloom” climate impacts. They note the lack of climate leadership by the government and its 'capture' by the fossil fuel industry, reflected in the recent approval of numerous new fossil fuel projects.

Spratt and Dunlop argue that people need to be told the truth - that climate change impacts will be existential - and note that this approach has worked in Quit Smoking campaigns, the Grim Reaper AIDS advertising, and the brutal honest communications about Covid.

A great resource for this sort of emergency messaging is the booklet by Jane Morton Don't Mention the Emergency, which frames the problems and gives very helpful tips on communication. Another useful resource is DCAN's list of suggestions for taking action.

Writing to decision makers matters

There are so many topics, and so many politicians, that writing to them sometimes seems too much for an ordinary busy person. Fortunately, the team at Climate for Change has made it pretty easy to write letters on many topics.
They have recently added the topic of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), or more accurately Carbon Pollution Dumping (CPD).
Carbon Pollution Dumping is central to the Government’s Future Gas Strategy. It is also detrimental to the environment, expensive and reliant on government subsidies. Investing in CPD only delays our transition to renewable energy. Nevertheless, in the 2024 budget the government allocated $36.2m over four years to “enable industry to move carbon dioxide to geological storage sites.”
All these facts, as well as how to write a letter on 25 topics, and who to, are here.

Launch of Hot Planet Matchmaking Service

Have you or your friends been thinking about getting more involved with climate and environmental action in our local community? Here is a fun way to find out what's on offer. Our good friends over at Neighbours United for Climate Action (NUCA) have come up with a very creative way of matching people with the local climate, sustainability or biodiversity group that suits them best. Please come along and bring your friends to the celebratory launch of the Hot Planet Matchmaking Service to learn more about what each group, including DCAN, is doing in the local community and get involved!

WHEN: Mon 2nd Sept 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: Leinster Grove Community Hall, 99 Leinster Grove, Thornbury
RSVP here.

Five years of Chalking, Talking and Picking Up Litter

For five years, weather permitting, at 10 a.m. on Thursdays, a small group of DCANers have been meeting on the St Georges Road Bike Path somewhere between Miller Street and Merri Parade. We remind everyone that the climate emergency is ongoing and an increasing threat. We get lots of positive responses and support from the people of Northcote and Thornbury. And then we go for a chat and a coffee at a local cafe.
Over the years different folk have joined us and this nice little local action will continue to welcome all newcomers for a long time to come. Please contact Linda if you would like to join us. Cheers, Linda and Lesley

Hoddle Street Climate Mural

Yarra Climate Action Now has teamed up with a group of climate activists to create this spectacular mural on the corner of Hoddle and Perry Streets, Collingwood, just south of Johnston Street. The activist group have become experts in applying for council grants and working with numerous artists, including John Lawry who has painted many stunning murals around town. The mural can even be seen from the nearby passing trains! DCAN members are part of the maintenance crew.
If you have a wall which might be suitable for a future project, please get in touch.

Welcome to the June edition of the DCAN Dispatch.

DCAN joins snap actions against new gas approvals

DCAN and other grass roots climate groups recently took part in snap rallies outside 15 Victorian Labor MP offices to protest the Federal Labor Government's approval of a project in Queensland that will involve the construction of 151 coal seam gas wells. We are deeply alarmed at the Government’s decision to approve yet another climate wrecking project in the middle of a climate crisis. How can we believe the Government is serious about climate action when it continues to approve new projects which will run for the next 55 years? We expect the Government to keep our communities safe and deliver strong action on the climate crisis, not make it worse by approving new coal and gas projects. If you would like to join us in future snap actions, please let us know here.

The human consequences of Victoria's energy supply system

Shelter is a fundamental human need, and affordable energy is necessary to meet that need. The soaring cost of energy is frightening for so many people who live in old, draughty and poorly insulated houses. That is the story of Victoria's housing stock because, until very recently, relevant building codes were absent or inadequate.

Since price rises began, energy authorities have been investigating the social justice dimensions of energy poverty. As energy is now enmeshed in markets, where it is a commodity rather than a service designed to meet needs, the proposed solutions tend to be limited.

• Victoria's Essential Services Commission (ESC) outlines the problem in its Issues Paper on the Energy Retail Code of Practice (see pp.31-35).
• There is a focus on hardship (see pp.2-5) in the Game Changer report of the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). It draws on detailed information from a previous report on Consumer Vulnerability - the archetypes of consumers in hardship are interesting.
• There are also important reports by social justice organisations like the Brotherhood of St Laurence (e.g. its 2023 submission to the national Electricity and Energy Sector Plan).

My Efficient Electric Home Handbook

My Efficient Electric Home Handbook is an essential resource for homeowners and renters. It provides tips and strategies on how to convert your home into an efficient, healthy and comfortable space suitable for our all-electric future. Author of the handbook, Tim Forcey, is a highly regarded energy efficiency expert and has helped over 1,000 households improve their energy efficiency and reduce their emissions. Tim explains best-practice heating and cooling, hot water heat pumps, induction cooktops, draught-proofing, insulation, solar energy and much more. Tim is the founder of the My Efficient Electric Home facebook group which has over 120,000 members and is now sharing his knowledge with all of us through his new book which is available from Darebin library and all good bookshops.

Power up to all-electric information session

The recently reestablished State Electricity Commission (SEC) is running a series of free information sessions to help households go electric. Hear from experts and others who have made the switch to an all-electric home. Learn how to get it right from day one. Online Wednesday, July 24 · 6 - 7pm. Go here for more information and to register.

Living Democracy

Many people feel that our political system is broken, locking us into ecological and societal collapse while giving destructive industries a free pass to destroy all we hold dear.

However, worldwide there are plenty of movements building real democracies. There's the assembly-based model of Rojava, the Kurdish area inside Syria, and the struggles of the Barcelona Commons to implement a better system within the constraints of conventional politics. Tim Hollo’s book Living Democracy: an ecological manifesto for the end of the world as we know it is a treasure trove of information on deliberative and participatory democracy with lots of inspiring anecdotes. You can listen to it here.

There is a growing movement calling for citizens' assemblies. These are groups of randomly selected people deliberating on issues with the help of experts and skilled facilitators. They have been held to resolve some thorny issues. There is a campaign in the UK to replace the House of Lords with a People's House. Find out more: The Extinction Rebellion Guide to Citizens’ Assemblies and Brett Hennig - the end of politicians TED talk

Meanwhile, we are taking rear-guard action to protect the imperfect democracy we already have. In Victoria, Labor and the Coalition got together to impose the move from multi-member wards to single-member wards in council elections, against the advice of election experts, in the hope that this would make it harder for Greens and independents to win. 'Reforms' at the state government level have meant we now have no independents in the Victorian parliament and similar measures are being considered at the federal level. Here's an explanation from Juice Media: Democracy and a thoughtful discussion of the proposed changes at the federal level by Follow the Money: Democracy (Handle with Care).

Could China's greenhouse emissions have peaked?

Good news stories on climate are lamentably rare but, over the last few months, climate scientists and analysts have noticed that China’s emissions of greenhouse gases appears to have peaked even though the Chinese economy continues to grow. Reporter Nick O’Malley notes that this is likely to mean that global emissions have peaked too, and that the link between economic growth and greenhouse gas production, which has persisted from the start of the industrial revolution, may have been broken.

Under the Paris Agreement, China undertook to reach its emissions peak in 2030, but it appears to have reached this target at least six years early. If it can maintain this trajectory, analysts believe that its goal of net zero by 2060 is credible and achievable, which would give the world a chance of stabilising the climate somewhere near the Paris targets.

Analysts, such as the leading climate scientist Bill Hare of Climate Analytics, think it likely that we have peaked in emissions from fossil fuels and that this is a truly historic moment, but they want to confirm this with emissions data over the next few months. If the trend continues it will show we have reached a turning point – too late and too little but hopefully sufficient to spur even faster global action.

Using Social Media to influence policy

Can you use social media to influence the next decision a politician makes or the outcome of the next election? Here is a revised and refined method called 'Social Jamming’. It is an activity designed to amplify your message by sharing it on as many social media platforms as possible, as many times as possible.

Social Jamming involves going to the politicians' social feed and putting the message you want to get across in a comment on one of their recent posts. They, or their advisors, will see your comment and you have got into their head. Other people will see it as well.

• Keep your message clear, sharp and snappy. It shouldn’t be more than a sentence or two. Hashtags work well, such as: #ClimateAction #ClimateCrisis #NoMoreGas #auspol
• Your message should be positive. Remember, we want the Government’s support to enact new laws, so the best social jamming is firm, but stays kind and respectful - e.g. 'For a safe climate future, we need strong #ClimateAction'; 'Australia needs strong climate laws to #protectnature'.
• Be as relevant to the post as possible. Jamming works best when you comment on relevant posts and accounts, e.g. comment '#NatureLawsNow' on Tanya Plibersek’s posts about threatened wildlife.

Climate Choir Melbourne

Do you enjoy singing? Do you want to remind the public of the need for climate action in a friendly, non-confrontational manner? Climate Choir Melbourne (CCM) could be the activity for you. Come and join several other members of DCAN who sing with CCM.

CCM is a group of singers who are deeply concerned about climate change. We want the government, organisations, and individuals to take emergency action to combat the impending environmental disaster, and singing is our way of campaigning for this cause. We hold no political allegiance. We sing at events organised by other groups and also hold our own pop-up choir events. Events can be on any day of the week and any time - depending on the circumstances. No member is expected to be at all CCM events - sing at the ones you can manage. Our rehearsals are normally on Sunday afternoons every two months in Abbotsford (again, not compulsory, but they help!).

Our Musical Director, Jeannie Marsh, has been performing and teaching music in Melbourne for decades, and has run a number of other community choirs.

Check us out on FaceBook, or on our website, or contact Robert.

That's all for this month - thanks for reading! If you have any feedback on this newsletter, please let us know.

Register for the Cooper Climate Election Forum – Show the candidates that Cooper voters want emergency climate action in this term of government

Welcome to the May edition of the DCAN Dispatch.

RiseUp Cooper - No more gas and coal!

Over 30 Cooper residents braved the rain last week to give local MP Ged Kearney a clear message that there can be no new coal and gas if we want to live on a safe planet. The action was part of the national Move Beyond Coal campaign and came hot on the heels of the devastating Future Gas Strategy announcement by the Albanese Government.

Folk present at the rally spoke up about their despair and frustration but also their determination to keep on fighting to end fossil fuel subsidies, put a stop to any new coal and gas projects and enact strong nature laws. Following the rally DCAN Convenor Ann Sanson presented office staff with a letter of demands. Ms Kearney had been called away unexpectedly from the office and was interstate. You can read the letter of demands here.

Future Gas Strategy

Many of you will have been shocked and disappointed by the Albanese government’s recently announced Future Gas Strategy whereby, in spite of the International Energy Agency’s 2021 Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050 specifically saying there should be no new fossil fuel projects anywhere, Australia will continue to explore for and open up new gas projects. Resources Minister Madeleine King actually predicts, "Gas will remain an important source of energy through to 2050 and beyond.”

The Climate Council calls it “a maddening misstep” and says, “The Albanese Government has a choice: cut climate pollution and seize the decade by scaling up clean energy, or support new gas projects. It can’t do both."

This strategy ignores forecasts of a global oversupply of gas. It flies in the face of the Government’s own plans to develop clean industries. And it sounds more like Scott Morrison’s ‘gas led recovery’, not Anthony Albanese’s ‘renewable energy superpower’. Some DCAN members have responded by attending rallies with Rise Up (see article above) and writing letters to our local MP, Ged Kearney and newspapers.

Proposed Net Zero Authority is too narrow in scope

The Albanese Government has recently introduced two bills to establish a Net Zero Economy Authority. Although it is intended to coordinate the net zero transition, support workers in transitioning away from fossil fuels, and help reach greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, its major focus appears to be narrower - supporting workers attached to coal and gas fired power stations. This is of course important, but ignores many other workers in emissions-intensive industries such as export gas and coal projects, as well as all those working in other areas that will be affected by climate change. The bills ignore fossil fuel subsidies and fossil fuels exports, and would still allow the use of offsets, and ineffective and costly ventures like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

While there is a clear need for a body to coordinate the urgent work of decarbonisation, the Australia Institute’s submission to the Senate Inquiry on these bills noted that “a genuine transition away from fossil fuels cannot begin while the fossil fuel industry is still expanding”.

If you are concerned about the shortcoming of these bills, please contact Ged Kearney MP for Cooper and let her know.

DCAN calls for higher emission targets

The Climate Change Authority's (CCA) recent Issues Paper on emission targets for 2035 has recommended a target in the range of 65%-75% below 2005 levels. The CCA describes this target as “ambitious”. DCAN has put in a submission to the CCA, arguing that this is far from ambitious, and noting that it also ignores the serious under-reporting of Australia’s fossil methane emissions. Our submission calls for a steep increase in Australia’s ambition. We noted how analyses from a number of eminent researchers and research institutes have come to very similar conclusions: that to have even a 50% chance of not exceeding 1.5 degrees of warming, we need to aim for net zero emissions by 2035, with a 75% reduction by 2030 (based on 2005 levels). We also pointed out that these need to be real targets, with real emissions reductions, that the use of offsets should be minimised and that we should not be wasting time, money and resources on expensive and unproven technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage. You can find the submission here.

Darebin’s affordable EV Hub stalled!

This great initiative has stalled, despite Council officers emphasizing that it aligns with the draft Climate Emergency Strategy. We, on behalf of the 1,300+ people who signed our petition, ask why innovator Craig Bishop can’t continue at 2 Wingrove Street, Alphington with his plans for fitting out old cars with EV motors while servicing the vehicles of long-standing customers?

Craig and his family are facing at least two months' lost income because Council has banned him from trading until the end of June when results of a new Expression of Interest process will be known. Craig has repeatedly expressed willingness to create a not-for-profit structure and to focus on community service.

We are deeply concerned about the stresses on Craig and his family due to Council’s actions. Fortunately Craig has the support of our DCAN sub-group and petitioners. We are helping him to write the new EOI and are also lobbying councillors and Council staff so that, in the meantime, he can earn a livelihood.

Please help Craig by calling on our councillors to take action.

DCAN Affordable EV Hub subgroup (Emily, Marion, Jim, Kay and Jude)

Climate Resilience Inquiry Submission Making Party

You are invited to a very special event - a submission-making party for the state government's Climate Resilience Inquiry into how ready communities are to handle climate related disasters.

The Darebin Neighbourhood House Network and Darebin Climate Action Now (DCAN) have joined together to host the event on May 27th from 7 to 9 pm at Span Community House, 64 Clyde Street, Thornbury.

The Inquiry is looking at the impact of climate change on buildings and natural areas, including homes, schools, parks and beaches, as well as how we use these places.

This event is a great opportunity for you to talk about your climate change experiences and suggest ways to deal with these issues.

Come and share your thoughts and ideas with our community in Darebin.

Please sign up for the event via this Eventbrite link.

Any questions? Please contact Carmen at [email protected] or 0410 904 172

Mothers' Rebellion

The Melbourne Mothers' Rebellion has turned one. As always the occasion was marked by singing, sharing knowledge and gaining strength from being together. There were lots of positive interactions with the public and the first birthday/Mother's Day party was deemed a success.

Everyone is welcome to join this on-going climate activism and the subsequent lunch and chats. The next opportunities are at 11 a.m. on Saturday 15th June and 20th July outside the Arts Centre on St Kilda Rd.

To connect with the Mothers*, email here.
Subscribe or join here.
To see what Mothers* around the world are doing click here.

That's all for this month - thanks for reading! If you have any feedback on this newsletter, please let us know.

Rise up Cooper - No more Coal and Gas - 10th May, 4pm

Across Australia, our communities have faced a summer of devastating climate impacts, from cyclones and floods to sweltering heat waves. Yet fossil fuel companies continue to fuel the flames of the crisis, pushing ahead with risky coal and gas. Despite being elected in an historic wave of support for climate action, the Albanese government is failing in the number one test of climate leadership: saying NO to more coal and gas projects.

Please join us as we gather together at our local MP's office (Ged Kearney) to give a strong, clear message to the government: No more coal and gas!

When: Friday 10th May at 4pm - 5pm
Where: 159 High Street Preston Victoria 3072
Bring: Signs calling on Labor to "Keep us safe - no more coal and gas"
RSVP: Here

With an upcoming Federal Budget deciding what gets funding, and a looming deadline for Labor to fix our environment laws so they include the impacts of climate change, right now is a crucial moment to rise up and make our demands loud and clear.

DCAN calls on Council to increase climate ambition

In our feedback to Council on the Darebin Climate Emergency Plan, we strongly supported the priority focus on helping the community get off gas. We did, however, raise strong concerns that the emissions reduction targets fall short of what is needed to create a safer climate future for our community. This is the critical decade in which we must make big reductions in fossil fuel emissions so there is no time to waste. Our targets and actions must be stronger than the conservative benchmarks contained within the plan. The Climate Council, for example, has called for a reduction in emissions of 75% by 2030 - much higher than the target used in Darebin's plan.

One of the key initiatives in the Plan that we were very happy to see is the proposal for a service offering tailored household support and financial help for residents to electrify their homes and move to renewable energy. We have called on Council to double the target number of households for this program to 2000 households as it will play a key role in reducing Darebin's reliance on gas. We have also asked Council to develop a large scale communication campaign to enlist the support of businesses and residents to make the switch from gas to electric and for adequate staffing levels to ensure the success of all proposed initiatives. Read our full submission on the Plan here.

Does Japan really need Australian gas?

Australians elected the Albanese Government to take strong action on climate and it has made many welcome announcements to put Australia on the right track. The Government's insistence, however, on guaranteeing continued exports to Japan will result in the opening of new projects such as the Barossa and Scarborough Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects, completely undermining any positive actions. But how much does Japan really need Australian gas?

A 2024 report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows that Japan doesn't need our gas for its domestic consumption, but its companies do want it – so they can export it on to other countries! IEEFA has found that the big four Japanese companies are selling abroad “nearly 50% of the volumes consumed domestically”. The powerful Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants Japanese companies to handle 100 million tonnes of LNG annually by 2030. The Ministry and the big four companies are actively working with other Asian countries to expand imports of LNG. Read more about how backroom deals with Japan have locked Australia into decades of gas and why we should be raising this issue with our MPs.

Help create Victoria's next national park

Only 60 kilometres north east of Melbourne, the Central Highlands of Victoria is home to the world's tallest flowering plant, the Mountain Ash, and one of Australia's most endangered mammals, the Leadbeater's Possum. Despite an end to native forest logging in Victoria, both are threatened by ongoing clearfell logging, 'ecological thinning' and wildfires - which are exacerbated by logging!

The creation of the Great Forest National Park would not only safeguard the habitats of endangered species and protect these critical forests, but also protect carbon stocks, water supplies, and lower the risk of bushfires. Adding a proposed 355,000 hectares to the existing protected forests will combine a number of individual national parks to form the Great Forest National Park.

HAVE YOUR SAY: The Great Forest National Park proposal offers a chance to safeguard this natural wonder for generations to come. Submissions close Monday 29 April. Your voice matters! The Engage Victoria consultation is now open for your feedback.
It’s up to all of us to call for the park, but the people at #GFNP have prepared this handy submission guide to help us.

High Life Expo - Let’s talk about life in apartments and units!

If you live in or own an apartment or unit, the High Life Expo is for you. Learn how to make apartments, units, and apartment buildings more efficient, healthy, and lovely to live in:
· Hear from sustainability and strata experts;
· Learn from other owners corporations, apartment owners, and residents;
· Meet quality suppliers and installers of energy efficiency and sustainable products;
· Find out about government rebates.

Choose the topics that matter most to you: EVs and charging • Electrification • Energy efficiency • Solar and renewable energy • Apartment living for renters • Thermal comfort at home • Better recycling and waste management • Double glazing • Planting for cooling • Building community • Decision making in strata • And more!

High Life Expo | Saturday 1 June 2024 | RACV City Club, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne | A free event | Bookings essential

For details and free tickets click here.

DCAN and Social Media

🌍✊ We all know how powerful social media can be in shaping voting decisions, for better or for worse. Help us to harness that power for positive action on climate change. We are still looking for volunteers to join a DCAN action group who will use social media to spread awareness about climate action and to combat misinformation. If you're passionate about acting for a safe climate and enjoy working with social media, reach out to David Tomkins or Karen Large to get involved! 📢💚
#ClimateAction #SocialMediaForGood #JoinTheMovement