Blog
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...
Build your confidence. Climate Conversations with Climate for Change.
Are you a bit nervous about talking about climate to friends and workmates, especially to those who seem to be doubtful, worried or disengaged? Climate for Change (C4C) have been pioneering an award winning conversation format that really works. We met at The Marwal...
Community batteries are coming. Are you ready?
COMBAT ready? Community batteries will soon be appearing in our suburbs. In this blog we provide information about the role of community batteries.
Stunning lineup at Lighter Footprints Music Benefit at the Gaso
Music for climate at the Gasometer Hotel A packed Gaso Hotel was treated to 5 very impressive performers last Thursday night. The night was billed as an Earth Fest benefit with proceeds going to climate action group, Lighter Footprints. What a night! We review the 5...
Climate Targets & Tariffs: Australia on the World Stage
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...
Earth Fest this Thurs 6: Lighter Footprints benefit at the Gaso!
It's on this Thursday 6th May - doors open at the iconic Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood at 7pm, with a stunning lineup of some of Melbourne's best young talent, in a benefit concert to support local climate action. We are delighted to invite you to 'Earth Fest’, a music...
Earth Day – then and now
Did you know the first #EarthDay was held in 1970? Sustainability expert and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Peter Newman reflects on what’s changed and what still needs to be done to address climate change by 2050. Peter Newman is the Professor of Sustainability...