Submissions by the Energy Transition Group
About the Lighter Footprints Energy Transition Working Group The Energy Transitions Group meets fortnightly with a focus on pulling together energy data, latest innovations and submissions to government and making climate solutions accessible to a variety of...
Protected: Fundraising progress 2023-2024
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Monique Ryan: the First Year
Dr Monique Ryan MP was elected to Parliament on 21 May 2022. She rode a teal wave of optimism for action on climate change, integrity in government and gender equality. A full house at the Balwyn Park Centre came to hear Dr Ryan’s reflections on her first year...
Reducing Australia’s Emissions: The Dirty Dozen Campaign and The Safeguard Mechanism
An informative and enjoyable event On Wednesday 26 April, Lighter Footprints hosted an informative meeting on Reducing Australia’s Emissions in Kew, Melbourne. It was good to meet face-to-face over drinks and nibbles and to be updated on the Dirty Dozen campaign...
In discussion with IPCC authors: Two brilliant recordings
IPCC Webinars Lighter Footprints is pleased to share two recordings of recent webinars on the latest IPCC Synthesis Report and Summary for Policymakers released 20 March 2023. This is perhaps the most important synthesis report in the IPCC cycle because the next one...
We need real emission reductions, not offsets
What’s wrong with land-based offsets? The important Land Gap Report gives a definitive, quantitative ‘no’ to reliance on land-based offsets given that offsets: take up too much land – Cumulative land-based solutions would add up to 1,200 million hectares...
Can we rely on land-based solutions to offset burning fossil fuels?
Image source and acknowledgement: The Land Gap report The pressure on land in carbon dioxide removal In response to climate change, governments are increasingly relying on land for carbon dioxide removal. This is particularly true in Australia, notorious for its use...
Report on the Hawthorn and Kew State Candidate Forums
Democracy in action The two recent candidate forums organised by Lighter Footprints in the Victorian electorates of Hawthorn and Kew were fine demonstrations of democracy in action. Voter appreciation was evident in the near-capacity attendance. Candidates had their...
Saving forests, Ditching gas
Two major environmental concerns leading up to the November state election for friends and members of Lighter Footprints are stopping logging in Victoria’s forests and getting off gas. On Wednesday 28 September, Lighter Footprints welcomed Chris Schuringa, the...
CARBON CREDITS: Dodgy offsets or the real deal?
Photo credit: Jaccob McKay/Unsplash The following is a summary of the Lighter Footprints event “CARBON CREDITS: Dodgy offsets or the real deal?” held on Wednesday 27 July 2022. The recording is available here. Moderator Tim Baxter, Senior Researcher for...
Carbon credits and carbon markets
As countries move to decarbonise their economies, companies are trying to offset their emissions by buying carbon credits. You can think of carbon credits as a “permission slip” to emit up to a certain set amount of CO2e that year. Most of today’s interim solutions to...
The 2022 Kooyong Candidates Forum
On Wednesday 27 April, a packed hall of around 500 people (plus 200 more on Facebook Live) heard from candidates Dr Peter Lynch (Labor), Mr Piers Mitchem (Greens) and Dr Monique Ryan (Independent) how they would represent the voters of Kooyong with a particular focus...
OUR TAXES AT WORK – Incentivising Fossil Fuels
Expanding gas production in Australia mostly now means unconventional gas, from fracking or horizontal drilling. This photo shows coal seam gas wells in Queensland, where producers talk about eventually drilling 40,000 such wells, with detrimental effects on water and...
The Big Switch- Australia’s electric future
Introduction In his book, “The Big Switch- Australia’s electric future”, Saul Griffith tells us that he wrote this book because the world has a climate emergency and he, as an innovative engineer, wants passionately to help solve it. Benefits here would...
Climate Change and Action: An Overview
I hope that this op-ed will help readers understand the basics of climate change on planet Earth; the solutions for mitigating it; and inspire their passion for doing so. Background- our wonderful luck and responsibility in being part of Earth’s evolution of life Our...
The health impacts of climate change
Source: Lens, Monash University, “Bushfire smoke, air quality and the risk to your health” Health impacts of climate change are happening everywhere. It is happening now and is getting worse. The World Health Organisation has declared climate change to be...
Climate Change and National Security
The Australian Security Leaders Climate Group (ASLCG) is a non-partisan network of Australian security and policy professionals that is working to reframe the climate debate and make climate an immediate security priority in Australia. The Australian Security...
Floods and climate change
A woman trapped on the roof of her car awaits rescue during the 2010-11 Toowoomba flash flood. Attribution: Kingbob86 (Timothy) Unprecedented but not unexpected We have all been struck by the devastating flooding in Queensland and New South Wales. Stories of lives and...
Climate change and food security
A farmer prepares his field for the planting season near Nathenje on the outskirts of Lilongwe, Malawi. Australia is using its expertise and experience to help improve food security in African countries. Attribution: Stephen Morrison/AusAID Food production is a...
Touring Tassie in a Tesla
Touring Tassie in ‘Tezzie’ the Tesla As Australia’s EV uptake begins to gather speed, my family feel privileged to be among thousands who purchased a Tesla Model 3 last year. It was the first brand new car we have ever owned. The lure of going electric and optimising...
Reasons to Vote Climate
HERE ARE FOUR A strong economy needs a healthy climate Climate change is a serious health issue Climate change is a security issue Life on Earth depends upon a healthy climate CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ECONOMY Good management of the economy requires good management of...
Protecting Victoria’s Forests
The Great Forest National Park, worth fighting for with Dr Chris Taylor and Sarah Rees You can also download Dr Chris Taylor’s slides here, Sarah Rees slides here, watch the event again on Youtube or Facebook Live, read more about our presenters here, and check...
We need a renewable-energy future for the sake of our kids
Woodside’s intent to develop its Scarborough gas reservoir is deeply at odds with its commitment to net-zero by 2050 and the company’s stated imperative to act on climate change. Contrary to comments made by Woodside’s acting chief executive Meg O’Neill recently on...