Jun 11, 2023 | Clean Energy, Climate change, Climate Policy, Electrification, Sustainable Building
Sustainable Architecture: Passivhaus (Passive House) vs Passive Solar Buildings This article relates to alterations, renovations and new builds. It attempts to clarify the differences between the passive solar design and Passivhaus design approaches. Many people...
May 8, 2023 | Carbon, Carbon credits, Carbon offsets, Climate Damage, Climate Policy, 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...
Apr 14, 2023 | Biodiversity, Carbon, Climate Policy, Communicating climate change, IPCC
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...
Aug 26, 2022 | Biodiversity, Boroondara Council, Climate Policy, Planning
Canopy tree and climate change in Boroondara. Why should we be concerned? Benefits of Canopy Trees Whether in public spaces or on private land, trees enhance our sense of well-being, help reduce the urban heat island effect and support biodiversity. Canopy trees cool...
Aug 9, 2022 | Carbon credits, Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Economics, Electric vehicle
Overview Labor’s climate bill passes the lower house Amended by Greens and independents to make 43% by 2030 a floor, not a ceiling, Labor’s climate bill passes the lower house, and heads to a Senate inquiry which is due to report by the end of August. The...
Jul 3, 2022 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Lighter Footprints Events, Offshore wind
Lighter Footprints: June 29th on Offshore Wind We were fortunate to have Naomi Campbell, the Development Director of Star of the South and Pat Simons, Yes2Renewables Coordinator speaking at our June 29th event on offshore wind. You can listen to our speakers again on...
May 1, 2022 | Climate change, Climate Policy, Federal election, Lighter Footprints 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...
Mar 2, 2022 | Clean Energy, Climate change, Climate Policy, EV, Lighter Footprints Events
Australia is so well positioned to transition rapidly to clean energy, with vast potential to rapidly clean up our manufacturing and value add clean energy in decarbonised exports. Our energy system is becoming more resilient and distributed, and households are likely...
Feb 16, 2022 | Carbon, Climate change, Climate Policy, Economy, 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...
Dec 8, 2021 | Carbon, Climate Policy, Gas, No category
Victoria is due to release its Gas Substitution Roadmap by the end of the year. A number of climate focused organisations, including Lighter Footprints, have issued a Joint Statement on Victoria Getting Off Fossil Gas. The Lighter Footprints MP engagement group is...
Nov 16, 2021 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, National campaigns, Vote Climate
Australia has been awarded yet another Colossal Fossil, this time at Glasgow, for “appalling performance” on climate. Although moving away from fossil fuels was mentioned in a COP statement for the first time, Australia has helped to water down the text,...
Oct 18, 2021 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, State climate policy
Going it Alone! What States can do for Climate Action The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change gave a presentation on State climate action, opportunities and challenges. This was followed by a panel discussion with Simon...
Sep 18, 2021 | Climate Policy, Lighter Footprints Working Groups, National campaigns, Paris commitment, Taking Action
Australia’s climate ambition has been judged the worst in the UN Australia took an empty promise of net zero in 29 years to Glasgow, with no modelling, new actions or legislation, while platforming Santos at COP26. Despite international pressure, Australia has...
Aug 10, 2021 | Climate Policy, Gas
Summary Analysis of AEMO gas forecasts show there are no supply-demand issues out to 2035. There will be sufficient gas for the Winter peak in 2023 with existing (‘available’) supplies and the additional supply announced from Moomba into the Victorian Northern...
Jul 12, 2021 | Climate change and health, Climate Damage, Climate Policy, Communicating climate change, Lighter Footprints Working Groups, No category, Taking Action
Lighter Footprints is getting out on the streets! Together with our friends at the Kooyong Climate Change Alliance we will be holding street stalls on Saturday mornings, in shopping centres around Boroondara. We will be providing high quality information about making...
Jul 7, 2021 | Climate Emergency, Climate Policy, Communicating climate change, Lighter Footprints Events
At our June 30 meeting, we were pleased and privileged to have Greg Hannan from CitiPower/United Energy and Chris Wallin from the Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) addressing the role of community batteries and Yarra’s current community battery project. A recording...
Jun 28, 2021 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Community battery, Lighter Footprints Working Groups
The regulations covering community batteries are consistent across the National Electricity Market (NEM). However, Western Australia has a separate regulatory framework. This discussion paper focuses on challenges that face community batteries in the eastern states...
Jun 27, 2021 | Boroondara Council, Climate Policy, Environmental law, Lighter Footprints Working Groups, Local government
Local Government Working Group The days when your local council was judged on the basis of “roads, rubbish and rates” have long passed. Local Government is now a significant third level of government in Australia with access to substantial authority and resources. ...
Jun 26, 2021 | Climate change and health, Climate Damage, Climate Policy, Climate psychology, Communicating climate change, Gas
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...
Jun 3, 2021 | Carbon, Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Court action
The world’s premier energy agency, the notoriously conservative International Energy Agency (IEA), has just released a landmark report that marks a huge shift in approach, setting out “an ambitious global energy roadmap” to reach net-zero by 2050. Of great...
May 9, 2021 | Climate Emergency, Climate Policy, Communicating climate change, Denial, Environmental law, Gas, Lighter Footprints Events, Paris commitment
At our April 28 meeting, we were pleased and privileged to have Glen Klatovsky from Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) and Richie Merzian from The Australia Institute (TAI) addressing climate targets and tariffs shortly after the Biden Climate summit. Check out...
Apr 17, 2021 | Climate Policy, Paris commitment
Can Biden shift Australia’s climate approach? By Carolyn Ingvarson – Founder of Lighter Footprints It goes without saying that the US is a very powerful influence on Australia. Formal relations are strong, like the ANZUS Treaty, the Free Trade Agreement, and...
Mar 27, 2021 | Climate Policy, Forests, Gas, Lighter Footprints Events, Meeting with MPs
“Reflections and Hopes: Getting to know our local State MPs” Thank you to everyone who came along to our State MP forum event last November. And special thanks to John Kennedy MP (Hawthorn), Paul Hamer MP (Box Hill), and Will Fowles MP (Burwood) for making themselves...
Mar 4, 2021 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Lighter Footprints Events, Speaker Slides & Presentations
2021: Riding the Clean Energy Wave An insider’s view with Simon Holmes à Court Wed, 24th February 2021 We were privileged to get a general update and some special insights into the Energy and Climate sector in Australia on 24th February from long-time friend of...
Oct 6, 2020 | Climate Policy, Gas, No category, Taking Action
Gasfield south of Chinchilla, Qld. Background The Morrison government established the National Covid-19 Coordination Commission to provide a business perspective to Government on Australia’s economic recovery. There were concerns about member connections to the fossil...
