Blog
Climate Change and National Security
While national security may not be the first concern that comes to mind in terms of climate risk, the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group (ASLCG) has significant concerns about the security implications of climate change in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Successive Australian governments have underestimated climate risk.
Floods and climate change
The PM, Scott Morrison, declared the recent catastrophic floods a national emergency and called it an unprecedented “1-in-500 year event” that “no-one was predicting.” But was it? Was the government warned? What is the science behind this extreme recent flooding event? What are the chances of it happening again? And how should Australia respond now?
Climate change and food security
The impact of climate change on the food supply is being felt in Australia and around the world. For adaptation and mitigation to be effective throughout the food system, enabling conditions need to be created through policies, markets, institutions and governance. Adaptation is not sustainable without deep cuts to emissions and government leadership.
Superpower 2022 with Simon Holmes à Court
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...
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...
Clean energy and VoteClimate in Chisholm!
Chisholm Federal seat is so quiet on climate and creating clean jobs With a razor thin margin of 0.57%, the Chisholm Federal Seat is poised on a knife edge. Chisholm is probably one of a the critical seats where a win for a climate candidate could have a very...
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...
Joint Statement on Victoria Getting Off Fossil Gas
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...
#VoteClimate action!
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, opposing...
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. For many people, it would take many hours to research these issues. This is where access to trusted information, for instance from...
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...