Blog
Oct 20: Victoria going it alone – but Feds not off the hook: three 3 minute highlight videos!
Keynote: ''Victorian climate action'', with Minister Lily D'Ambrosio Panel: Lily D'Ambrosio, Simon Holmes à Court, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg The Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change gave a presentation on State climate action,...
Solar Advantage
So what are the benefits of using solar power and just how can you get started? This short article will help you with these questions. You can also check out Yarra Energy Foundation's great summary page on solar here, Interested in a clear summary? Watch Peter...
Areas for State climate action
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 Holmes a...
Meet Our Community
Writer Matilda Bowra, photographer Julian Meehan and IT expert Simon Grosser worked to together to create profiles of the Lighter Footprints community members. Many thanks to Matilda, Julian and Simon for putting together the Community Climate Action page which...
Helping to resource Boroondara’s Climate Action Plan
This is our chance to support increased funds for Boroondara’s Climate Action Plan This guide offers you some quick talking points and sample letters to help with calling and emailing Councillors and staff before October 25 meeting. For more ideas and background...
Boroondara has just passed a Climate Emergency Declaration!
On the 27th of September 2021, at 10.38pm, after substantial debate, Boroondara Councillors passed a Climate Emergency Declaration motion 7 to 4. Councillors who voted in favour: Mayor Thompson, Cr Gault, Cr Addis, Cr Hollingsworth, Cr Biggar, Cr Franco, Cr Gilles...
Putting on Solar – Lighter Footprints Solar Stories
Rooftop Solar PV is now very affordable, reducing your energy bills and lowering your carbon emissions However, for many people wanting to install solar, they often face difficulty in deciding the type and size of solar rooftop installation or finding a reputable...
Lobbying for Australia to step up on climate ambition
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 not...
Boroondara’s New Climate Action Plan
Boroondara passes the Climate Action Plan and a Climate Emergency Declaration Boroondara’s new Climate Action Plan was unanimously passed by Boroondara Councillors on 27th September. The briefing notes note community-wide emissions reduction targets of 60% by 2030,...
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 our...
Act now or face the consequences
For far too long politicians and voters have avoided taking climate action because it is difficult or because they can leave it to future generations. The “too hard” option is now the only option. Massive change is already taking place. We must take immediate action...
Victorian gas – fuel switching and other measures will ensure supply past 2035
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...
Gas Wrap-up and Next Steps
July's meeting looked at Australia's relationship with fossil gas at two scales, firstly, at a mega scale, looking at national and Victorian gas expansion plans with Friends of the Earth legendary campaigner Cam Walker, and secondly in our own backyard where energy...
Getting out on there on the streets!
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...
Join the resistance – to gas
The case against Australia's gas expansion 1) The Australian government is banking on a tax payer funded 'gas-fired recovery' The government has put its 5 Basin gas-fired recovery plan as central to its economic vision for exports, ignoring industry forecasts and...
Where are we now? Cam Walker, FOE legend, on gas campaigning in Victoria
Cam Walker is the Campaigns Coordinator for Friends of the Earth. He was a stand-out leader in Victoria's successful VIcGasBan campaign in 2014, and will be speaking at our meeting on July 28th - RSVP here. On July 1 2021, the moratorium on onshore gas exploration in...
Community battery meeting wrap
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 of the...
Community Battery Challenges
This discussion paper focuses on challenges that face community batteries in the eastern states National Electricity Market.
Local Government Working Group, and what we do
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. ...
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...
Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia exceed taxes received
Australia subsidising fossil fuels – now exceeds $10 billion
IEA’s massive about-face, Big Oil’s bad week, and a landmark win for our kids on climate
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...
Pizza, conversations and climate – May meeting wrap
Lighter Footprints Co-Convenor Mick Nolan was very pleased that we were all finally able to meet together in person. "It was so good to get out to the Guide Hall and speak to people face to face." "The C4C event was a buzz!" said Alison Wright, enjoying meeting...
Methane: Many times worse than carbon dioxide
Natural gas is not a clean option The 29 May episode of the Science Show on Radio National features Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University. "Natural gas has been touted as a clean transition fuel as we move away from coal towards renewables to...
School Strike for Climate – Fund Our Future Not Gas.
Tens of thousands of school kids and their supporters gathered at Treasury Gardens yesterday, Friday 21st and in 47 other places around the country, demanding a future that is liveable, not one ruined by climate damage. This was the first strike after the pandemic...