Opportunities and challenges: Where to from here?

Labor was returned with a very large majority, and Greens hold the balance of power in the Senate. We have read through some expert responses and given you a comprehensive look looking at opportunities for climate action and potential challenges in what could be a groundbreaking term.

In many it ways it is up to us to seize the potential of the next three years.

We’d love you to get involved!

Check out the amazing work of our volunteers, and our friends, Chisholm CAN, and Menzies for Climate in the following pages for volunteer images, events, videos and more.

• Kooyong campaign page and Kooyong Candidate Forum blog
• Chisholm campaign page and Chisholm Candidate Forum blog
• Menzies campaign page and Menzies Candidate Forum blog

Head to our Take Action page to sign up for the Forests Working Group, or for ETG (Energy Transition Group).

It’s just the right time to accelerate climate action! We’d love to hear from you – add your suggestions and indicate your areas of interest on our volunteer page.

One of our key demands must be nature protection – as a first step add your name here.

 

Federal Campaign: Yes to renewables and No to nuclear

 

On energy, voters have decisively rejected the Coalition seven reactor plan, solely funded by the taxpayer, for up to $600bn, despite a massively funded anti-renewables and disinformation campaign mounted by groups such as Advance and Better Australia. 

Voters chose progress on renewables, and support for solar PV and household electrification, attracted by the new 30% discount for household batteries.

The LNP had emphasised gas expansion, and the shift to nuclear would have capped renewables at 54%.

Labor now has huge majority in the lower house, and, with the Greens, will have a progressive majority in the Senate. However this reduces the power of progressive Greens and climate Independants to push back against coal and gas expansion, or accelerate the transition to clean energy across sectors in line with science.

As impressive as the Labor majority is, it arrived on the back of preferences, hiding the continued drift away from major parties (Labor’s primary vote was only 34.4%) to smaller parties and community independents.

Given what seems to be almost a progressive supermajority, the new government has a historic opportunity to to be ambitious and enact a bold progressive agenda. As Ebony Bennett from The Australia Institute said “now the only thing standing in the way of Labor implementing its progressive platform is Labor”.

“But this is an unprecedented opportunity for Labor to be ambitious and to enact the kind of progressive changes that it has historically been defined by – like Medicare and the NDIS. Labor could make childcare universal and free, like public school.

 

It could end native forest logging like Victoria and Western Australia already have. It could stop wasting billions of dollars subsidising the fossil fuel industry each year. Like the Morrison government during COVID, it could lift Australians out of poverty by increasing unemployment benefits.”

Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, The Australia Institute

 

Find out more: 28 May – Post election wrap on Zoom

Where are we headed? How can we accelerate clean energy and climate action?

Come to our post-election directions online event with:

• Annika Reynolds – legal expert and ACF’s National Policy Advisor
• Leigh Ewbank – acting Deputy Director at Solutions for Climate Australia

RSVP here!

There is no doubt our climate is changing and we need to act today.

Globally, April 2025 was the second-hottest April on record, continuing the long sequence of months over 1.5 degree C above pre-industrial temperatures. 

We know the cause of our heating planet.  We have burnt too much fossil carbon based fuels.

To preserve a liveable planet we must stop burning fossil fuels as quickly as possible.

Green electrons matter as well as climate votes.

Our task is not just to shift votes for much faster climate action, but also to directly shift energy to green electrons, away from gas, and accelerate this shift. 

In the following sectio, we survey expert responses on the opportunities that this second term of the Albanese government affords the climate movement, including suggestions on what we can do in Melbourne’s east.

 

Expert responses to the election results

Climate Council

The Climate Council found that support for renewables over nuclear was consistent across Australia, with exeption of Coalition voters which are now very much in a minority

The Climate Council found that the prospect of nuclear power was a key voter concern which increased through the election period, especially for women

The Climate Council highlighted four major findings

• A clear choice to “keep powering on with renewables and storage“, with nuclear “bombing at the ballet”. In seats with off-shore wind projects, Labor increased margins despite considerable anti-wind campaigns. By 2028 our main grid will be “two thirds powered by renewables, making this switch unstoppable”.
• There has been a fundamental shift in Australian politics with climate change a permanent “fixture”, where a large voting block “prioritises climate champions.” Pro-climate independents won an increased share of the primary vote (3.8%) and the Greens hold the balance of power in the Senate.
• The LNP is unlikely to be re-elected “until they have credible climate and energy policies“.
• Australians have given the ALP its “strongest mandate since World War II to roll out more renewable power and storage, better regulate polluters and set new, stronger climate targets.”

Read the full report here.

Climate is still a top voting concern in every generation, despite the cost of living crunch

The Australia Institute

Climate and nature crises won’t pause while politics plays out.

The Australia Institute highlights five priorities for the next Parliament if we want a liveable Australia.

No new coal and gas projects:
“Every new fossil fuel project locks in emissions for decades. Every year we delay deeper cuts, we shrink our chances of a liveable future. Australia does not need to approve new gas and coal projects for energy. In fact, most of Australia’s gas and coal is exported to other countries. But no matter where in the world it is burned, it still contributes to the climate change Australians want to avoid.”

Treat environmental protection as a national security issue:
“Australia has a particularly poor track record of safeguarding biodiversity. Invasive species, land clearing and climate change have resulted in substantial habitat loss.” The cost of restoring and protecting the environment has been estimated at “$1–2 billion a year, with one estimate placing it as high as $16 billion a year for extensive restoration of bushfire-damaged areas.” However this is very little compared to our elective defense spend of “AU$55.7 billion in 2024–25”.

The Australia Institute recommends direct spending rather than complex market-based schemes for a biosphere that is foundational to our health and our security.

End native forest logging:
The logging industry is not bound by our environment laws, and it costs more to keep alive than to end it. “The native forest logging industry has collapsed in most Australian states. Where it survives, it is kept afloat by government subsidies.” Protecting our native forests would play a very significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

End the free ride for polluters:
“Polluters — particularly fossil fuel companies and industries driving deforestation, industrial agriculture, and mining — are directly responsible for climate change, biodiversity loss, and negative health impacts.”Right now, the cost of this damage is “overwhelmingly paid by the public, not the industries responsible.” Over 70% of Australians support a polluter pays mechanism.

“Australian experts, including organisations like the Superpower Institute, have developed detailed models for updated carbon pricing that the next parliament could adopt. These proposals are designed to drive down emissions, raise revenue, and ensure that industries causing environmental harm contribute fairly to Australia’s future resilience.”

Climate adaptation – plan and build for a different Australia:
Preparing for a warming climate is “no longer optional”, we have decade of warming locked into the system. Efforts have been sporadic and underfunded, “A basic first step would be to release the 2023 Office of National Intelligence Climate Risk Assessment report — Australia’s own classified advice on the external risks of climate change.”

Dutton’s ‘ one tune’ division and animosity didn’t work for Australians

For most of the election period it seemed that LNP climate policies were locked inside a right-wing media bubble, rather than being informed by the electorate. Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, The Australia Institute gets right into it: “Egged on and amplified by the Murdoch press and a host of right-wing lobby groups, Dutton’s instincts to announce Trump-like policies to sack half of Canberra’s federal public service, blame immigrants, delay climate action with his nuclear distraction and lean hard into the culture wars – decrying the need for Welcome to Country at Anzac Day, ‘wokeness’ in school curriculums and universities – led the Coalition to its worst defeat in decades.”

However Labor’s “landslide” is actually something more complicated. With a primary vote of only 34.7%, two thirds of the country voted for someone else – Labor’s victory was delivered through preferences. ‘in future, the electoral threat to Labor’s majority is likely to come not so much from the Liberals, but from the Greens and independents”. Without the threat of right wing Liberals, Labor could be pushed to be bolder on a progressive agenda.

Read more here

“For the second election in a row, voters have delivered a progressive super-majority to Parliament and now the only thing standing in the way of Labor implementing its progressive platform is Labor.”

Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, The Australia Institute

Climateworks 

Australians have returned an expanded Labor Party government alongside a suite of climate progressive independents. With Greens in the balance of power in the Senate, Labor should be able to build on its first term climate legislation.

Anna Skarbek and Anna Malos from Climateworks put forth a list of five big ideas for a bold progressive agenda.

• An ambitious national emissions reduction target for 2035
• A firm plan for Net Zero – sector planning: “getting there will require innovation and investment across the economy” and a review of the Safeguard Mechanism.
• Bidding to host COP31 – with high expectations from Pacific co-hosts
• Getting on with the clean energy transition
• Progress on clean energy exports

“The next three years will provide vital opportunities and they must be seized – for the sake of our energy bills, our economic prosperity and Australia’s reputation on the world stage.”

 

Renew Economy

Can we aim higher asks Giles Parkinson, editor and publisher of Renew Economy. “The thumping victory to Labor, unimaginable just months ago, or even while chomping on the democracy sausage on Saturday afternoon, means that the Australian federal government now has a clear mandate to do something great – accelerate the transition to renewables and get really serious about climate targets.”

“Australia has rejected the Gina Rinehart vision of a nuclear-powered, iron-domed Australia living in climate denial and perpetual fear.

 

The foot soldiers Australia’s richest person sent into electoral battle, armed with real and imaginary MAGA caps, have been dispatched by voters. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has lost his seat, and energy spokesman Ted O’Brien very nearly did.”

Giles Parkinson, Renew Economy

Read more here. 

Labor won the election. It was a mighty victory now it is time to win the future.

Luke Menzel, CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council, writing in Renew Economy lists some of Labor’s achievements – the Climate Change Act, “an overdue refurbishment of the basic governance architecture of Australian climate policy. The revamped Safeguard Mechanism, vehicle efficiency standards and the Capacity Investment Scheme were all complex and critical reforms, shoring up decarbonisation effort in key economic sectors.”

However, Menzel also details misses. The national gas strategy was punted to the States, the National Energy Performance Strategy “was little more than a pamphlet”. The Commercial Building Disclosure program, successful “at driving down emissions in offices, is yet to be expanded to other building types.” Labor’s forward planning on climate and energy pretty much was summed up in the $2.3 billion household battery program will help, but not so much for renters and low income. On targets and sector planning Labor played it safe. Meeting a fair share 2035 emissions reduction target of 70% is possible but new industries don’t materialise out of thin air – we would need to start now.

Menzel warns against coasting, delivering the things that are already on the go and taking its time: “That would be a fatal mistake”

“This historic election gives Labor the political space to do the heavy lifting, to work with business and households to drive down our domestic emissions, with the confidence there will be the time to bed down new policies and programs so that voters see the benefits.

 

It also provides the opportunity to match the Future Made in Australia rhetoric with the serious dollars necessary to secure the clean export industries of the future… Put simply, this victory provides the Labor Party with a once in a generation opportunity to lock in an economic transformation that would dwarf the achievements of Hawke and Keating in the 1980s.”

Luke Menzel, CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council

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Opportunities

Rolling out more renewables and storage

The election result has sent very strong signals to continue with Australia’s clean energy transition, and increase the pace in line with the science. Renew Economy canvassed this new, powerful mandate for rolling out more renewables.

“This result sends a clear and unequivocal message: Australians will back and support policies that recognise the economic opportunities which come from acting on the existential threat of climate change. It shows that any party which seeks to govern this country must have a serious and credible plan to confront the climate crisis.”

 

“In a turbulent world, Australia remains a strong, principled and pragmatic voice. We must now use that voice to back science, seize the green energy opportunity, and strengthen our role in the world with compassion, ambition and purpose.”

Andrew Forrest, speaking in Renew Economy

 

Build enough, fast enough

The clean energy transition is well underway, but are we moving fast enough? Giles Parkinson, writing in Renew Economy says “Australia is now at 40 per cent renewables, aiming to double that to 82 per cent renewables by 2030. South Australia, already at more than 70 per cent wind and solar, aims to reach 100 per cent “net renewables” by the end of 2027”.

“Bowen’s big challenge to deliver that federal target is to ensure that enough wind and solar gets built in time, and at scale. Challenges remain in equipment supplies, inflation in civil construction costs, and securing a skilled labour force – and the likes of Barnaby Joyce in the principality of New England will not easily give up their fight.

 

Bowen’s focus will be making sure that the Capacity Investment Scheme delivers wind, solar and storage in the right timeframe, but even that won’t be enough to reach the party’s target.”

Giles Parkinson, Renew Economy

Capitalise on increased business certainty

The Clean Energy Council says the election result is a “vote of confidence by the Australian people in the nation’s clean energy future.”

“This election was a referendum on renewable energy. The Australian people have reconfirmed their strong support for wind and solar backed by batteries, pumped hydro and a small amount of gas.”

Kane Thornton, Chief Executive, Clean Energy Council

The Clean Energy Council looks to improved business certainty “underpinned by a range of policies including the Capacity Investment Scheme, accelerating the upgrade of Australia’s electricity networks and passing the Future Made in Australia Act.”
“It’s now time to leave the politics behind and get on with the job,” Thornton said.

 

Achieve periods of 100% renewables

Giles Parkinson and Sophie Vorath point to an important milestone in the clean energy transition, achieving periods of 100% renewables: “The grid has to be capable of reaching periods of 100 per cent instantaneous renewables, or even more if excess power is to be stuck in batteries or pumped hydro.”

AEMO has flagged system strength as a sticking point, and is not convinced that grid forming inverters are sufficient on their own “so is looking in the interim to spinning machines, syncons, gas turbines that don’t burn gas, and repurposing existing machinery to do the job. That may be easier said than done, given shortage of new turbines and absence of market signals. Cue intense debate with the inverter community over what that technology can really achieve.”

 

Improve social licence

Even though the Coalition lost the election resoundingly, in some regions like New England and Riverina their vote went up, where there is considerable concern about the impact of wind, solar and transmission projects.

From Renew Economy: “We may have finally achieved broad support, and finally killed the disingenuous nuclear strategy but it’s not enough,” Shane Quinnell, the head of development at WestWind Energy said on LinkedIn. “We have to move the needle on social license in the regions. We have to start working together to collectively create better value for landowners, neighbours and communities. We need to deliver real and tangible benefit – in whatever form that specific region needs.”

“The Nationals still hold many of the regional seats where the regions are hosting the key energy transition infrastructure.  That means Regional Australia matters.”

Stephanie Bashir, Nexa Advisory

Andrew Bray, the national director of RE-Alliance, says in Renew Economy that politicians of all leanings “now have a chance to ‘reset and come together,’ to ‘stop the politicking’ and work with communities in renewable energy regions to ensure that projects are done right”, minimising impacts on nature and community. Bray is a fan of Local Energy Hubs, that “ensure regional communities have the information and resources to participate in and benefit from the energy shift that is underway across the country.”

 

Energy market redesign

Giles Parkinson and Sophie Vorath explain more about the urgent need for energy market redesign, aligning market rules and price signals with the necessities of a modern, distributed two way grid.

“No one pretends anymore that the market rules are “fit for purpose”, having been run down by the pace of technology change, slow moving regulators, and the stubborn resistance of legacy companies determined to protect their turf and their revenues.”

Giles Parkinson and Sophie Vorath, Renew Economy

Tim Nelson, is the head of the panel looking at changes to Australia’s electricity market. “Nelson’s team have already signalled two priority actions are solving the issues of “tenor” – having enough revenue certainty over a longer enough period to land reasonably priced finance – and providing the market signals to bring dispatchable capacity on line, possibly without having a capacity market, per se.

There may need to be fundamental changes in the shape of the market “particularly in light of the rise of consumer energy resources, and the unpleasant feeling from consumers that they are still being ripped off, even when they are providing the bulk of their own electricity needs.”

 

The clean energy transition is the easiest and fastest way to drop emissions

Anna Skarbek and Anna Marlos from ClimateWorks, writing in The Conversation, explain that energy produces 70% of Australia’s emissions. “Tackling this means reducing emissions from electricity through renewable generation. Elsewhere in the economy, it means switching from gas, petrol and diesel to clean electricity.”

“The government’s plan to reach 82% renewable energy by 2030 remains crucial. Australia’s electricity system is expected to reach around 50% renewable energy this year. But there is more work to do.”

Anna Skarbek and Anna Marlos, ClimateWorks

A review of the National Electricity Market is due this year. ClimateWorks suggest that recommendations could include:

• Policies to follow the Capacity Investment Scheme, a measure to boost renewables investment which will be rolled out by 2027.
• Faster transitions could be modelled within the Australian Energy Market Operator’s next Integrated System Plan – the nation’s roadmap for guiding energy infrastructure and investment.
• ClimateWorks states that “Labor has scope to improve energy efficiency, and better match energy demand and supply – especially at times of peak energy use. The government’s commitments to subsidise home batteries, and expand the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, will help achieve this.”
• Australia’s electricity grid “needs to be double the size of what’s currently planned, to power the entire economy with clean energy.”

Climate targets

It is time to set science-based climate targets.  

At least a 75% reduction by 2035! 

By September of this year, all signatories to the global Paris Agreement must set emissions reductions targets out to 2035, explains Anna Skarbek and Anna Malos in the Conversation.

Labor is waiting on advice from the Climate Change Authority before setting its target.  The authority’s initial advice last year suggested a target between 65% and 75% based on 2005 levels. Some countries have already set their target The United Kingdom, for example, will aim for a reduction of at least 81% by 2035 based on 1990 levels.

Luke Menzel, writing in Renew Economy, notes that a 70% target, would see us cutting 27% in five years, with much of the heavy lifting already have been done through renewables replacing coal. “Post 2030, that way of cutting carbon will be largely tapped out. That means any sort of ambitious 2035 target will need to be delivered through a big ramp up on the demand side of the energy system, especially energy efficiency and electrification.”

“We will need a massive scale up in efforts to get households and commercial buildings off gas. We will need to support for manufacturers and food processors using low temperature process heat to electrify.

 

We will need an ambitious energy efficiency target to manage the new load we’re putting on the grid. We’ll also need big reforms to our energy markets to value energy flexibility to help keep energy bills low as we work through this transformation.”

Luke Menzel, CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council

 

Going for zero right here at home

Our electorates Kooyong, Chisholm and Menzies voted for climate action

Our homes can be real zero far sooner than 2050

Making your home more energy efficient and electrifying  will keep you more comfortable, safer and save you money.

• It is at least three times as efficient to generate heat for hot water and home heating using electric heat pumps than burning gas.
• State rebates are available for replacing gas heating and gas hot water with electric heat pumps.

 

 

Our electorates can be renewable energy and storage hubs

Solar panels on our roofs coupled with a home battery could enable our households to achieve nearly zero emissions before the end of this, the 48th, term of Federal Parliament.

Home battery scheme

Labor has a $2.3 billion home battery scheme on offer.  Solar households and businesses will be able to take advantage of a roughly 30 percent discount on the cost of a battery.

• More batteries will help with grid stabilisation and lower power prices for all.
• Labor’s scheme aims to increase the number of home batteries from 320,000 now to 1 million by 2030.

Read more about the $2.3 bn battery scheme here.

 

Accelerate the shift to clean energy exports and clean manufacturing

Anna Skarbek and Anna Malos explain that we can leverage our clean energy export advantages as the world transitions to net zero, building on the Future Made in Australia agenda and ensuring Australia makes the most of its competitive advantages.

“This will include:

• leveraging a strong reputation as a reliable trade partner
• capitalising on our world-leading solar and wind energy resources to produce low-emissions goods for export
• developing the industry around critical minerals and rare earths needed in low-emissions technologies
• helping metals and minerals sectors achieve net-zero emissions pathways.”

Challenges

No new coal, oil nor gas developments

Labor’s approval of 26 coal, oil and gas developments during its last term of Parliament was 26 too many.

We cannot stand by and allow Labor to once again be a home angel regarding domestic emission policy but a “street“ devil regarding fossil fuel exports.

In 2021, Australia was the third largest exporter of primary fossil fuels after Russia and the US, but the second largest when it comes to emissions, given the large proportion of emissions-intensive coal exports.

What will the re-elected Albanese Government do on May 31, when it is due to make an EPBC decision about the North West Shelf gas project, which owner Woodside wants to extend to 2070?

To keep our planet liveable we cannot be opening new coal and gas fields.

• Lighter Footprints will continue to hold our elected representatives to account over coal and gas expansion.
• We will continue to meet with our elected representatives and let them know they need to act to protect our climate.

Be part of our rapid action group to be seen out on the streets with our clear message there can be no more coal and gas expansion! 

Leveraging COP 31

At the time of posting, Australia, in partnership with the Pacific Island nations, is competing against Turkey to host COP 31 in 2026.  

Australia wants to present itself as a good global climate citizen and would be proud to boast that:

• One in three homes in Australia have solar panels
• South Australia now generates over 70% of its electricity from renewable sources and has a target of 100% net renewables by 2027.
• A 2035 target of 75% emissions reduction from 2005 levels and no new coal or gas approvals nor mine expansions would signal sincerity to our vulnerable Pacific Island nation neighbours.

 Read about how there can be leverage from COP31 here.

Nature is in trouble.  We can protect nature.

Our biodiversity is under grave threat from substantial habitat loss.

Invasive species, land clearing and climate change are all threatening our unique natural heritage.

Polly Hemming writing for The Australia Institute says that protecting nature includes no new coal and gas, reforming nature laws and applying the polluter pays principle.

“The logging industry is not bound by Australia’s environment protection laws and can clearfell publicly owned native forests without even having to comply with Australia’s national environment legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act).”

Polling by The Australia Institute “shows that seven in ten Australians (69%) support an end to native forest logging on public land across Australia.”

 

The Safeguard Mechanism will be up for review in 2026-27

The Safeguard Mechanism covers 30% of Australia’s Scope 1 emissions and only applies to projects that are up and running, not in the planning stage. It doesn’t cover Australia’s downstream emissions which are more than double our domestic emissions; emissions originating in Australia are around 4.5% of global emissions and this is only increasing as more countries are accelerating their move the clean energy, manufacturing and exports.

The Safeguard Mechanism, a cap-and-trade emissions trading scheme (ETS), has seen some reductions of emissions from major polluters since it was reformed in 2023 according to the Clean Energy Regulator, although offsets are permissible says the Carbon Market Institute. “Under current settings, baselines for each facility decline at a flat, linear rate of 4.9% annually from 2021-22 to 2029-30. The decline rate for 2030-31 onwards is yet to be determined but baselines will ultimately decline to net zero in 2049-50.”

There will be a review in 2026-27, and it will be up to climate and policy groups and the community to put pressure on Labor, given the strong majority in the lower house.

What can we do now?

Celebrate our wins!

Our volunteer led and staffed Vote Climate campaigns in Kooyong, Chisholm and Menzies were up against massive funding in the form of disinformation and anti-renewables campaigns.

 

The final results were a win for clean energy – voters rejected the LNP seven reactor plan.

A vote against nuclear was

• A vote against a large public spend for a tech heavy, expensive, slow, toxic solution
• A vote for community rights
• A vote for energy self sufficiency and resilience

 

Congratulations to Dr Monique Ryan in Kooyong, Carina Garland in Chisholm and Gabriel Ng in Menzies – the first time Menzies has been represented by Labor.

Forests, urban forests and green spaces

Lighter Footprints takes an active interest in trees in backyards, streets and out yonder.

Victorian forests on private land are still being logged.

The tree canopy in the municipalities of Boroondara, Monash, Stonnington and Whitehorse is diminishing at present but we can change this by acting together.

Join our Forests working group who are tirelessly advocating to protect our city greenery and forests. Tick the top check box on our Take Action page here.

Nature protection:

We must continue to hold our politicians to account for their promised strengthening of nature laws – promised by not delivered, thanks to the power of WA, and behind that WAs omnipresent resources industries.

We’ll be reviewing what we can do support better nature laws. As an accessible but significant step, add your name to this ACF petition: “When nature suffers, our health, livelihoods and economy suffer too. A fresh Parliament is a fresh start. Write your message to Labor now”.

 

Urban Forests: What are they, why they are important, and why they need protection.

Come to our Urban Trees event on Wednesday 23rd July

While Boroondara is fortunate to have a magnificent tree canopy, it is under threat from climate change and development. It is also ageing. Since our last urban trees event in 2022, much has changed. Not only were 2023 and 2024 the hottest years on record, but the North East Link has taken a huge chunk of Boroondara’s mature trees. Illegal tree removals continue, and the Victorian government’s Activity Centres pose a major threat.

• Dr Greg Moore (Senior Research Associate at the University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus)
• Dr Judy Bush (Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne),
• Chris Spencer (Team Leader Arborist, City of Boroondara)
• Amy Shaw (Coordinator Urban Biodiversity and Revegetation, City of Boroondara)

Find out more about urban trees, urban forests and urban biodiversity. Ask your own questions and find out what you can do to help grow Boroondara’s tree canopy and improve biodiversity.

RSVP here

If you live in Boroondara and there is a missing street tree or space for a new tree in your street let the council know today.  You can do so here.

Supporting electrification and getting gas out of our houses 

Join ETG!

Are you seriously interested in energy and practical solutions? Consider joining Lighter Footprints Energy Transition Group (ETG) to learn more about the amazing technology that is available to power our homes and businesses by renewables and storage. Join in fortnightly meetings, and help out with ETG’s roster of research, submissions and practical projects. Tick the 4th check box on our Take Action page here.

If you are lucky enough to have a roof, take advantage of the government incentives to install solar panels and a home battery.

Home Batteries event

Lighter Footprints will hold a home battery information evening on Wednesday 19th June. Full details soon.

Electrify Boroondara

Keep up to date with all things electric by joining the Electrify Boroondara mailing list. Find out more here

 

 

Energy Equity

Lighter Footprints is working hard to achieve energy equity and resilience for all in our community

Renters and low income households are paying too much for the energy they use.  

Lighter Footprints wants to see:

• Mandatory minimum energy performance standards for rental, coupled with renter protections.
• Mandated minimum energy performance standards for appliances
• Tax reform to incentivise repair and replacement of major appliances to be efficient and electric

Read about the Renew Australia For All plan to repower all of our homes here.

 

 

Becoming Climate Champions Project

What is next for Lighter Footprints and our local community to help the transition to clean energy, stop gas in its tracks, protect green spaces and forests and work together for a safer climate future?

Over the next few months, Lighter Footprints will be working hard to

• Listen to your suggestions and recommendations. We’d love to hear from you – add your suggestions and indicate your areas of interest on our volunteer page.
• Find out what you have to offer and what you would like to focus on now
• Find out areas where we can increase our capacity through skill shares and training
• Contribute to a strategic plan to keep supporting climate-friendly representatives and climate projects across all three levels of government
• Branch out in new directions especially in communications, where we are working on training possibilities
• Foster the development of all of our working groups and support groups. Find out more on our Take Action page.

We welcome your ideas, You are most welcome to email our Convenor Jenny Smithers on convenor@lighterfootprints.org

 

Thanks for all of your help!

Lighter Footprints is a people powered grass-roots, community-based, climate action group.

All of your actions ensure that we can achieve more working together for the common goal of keeping our planet liveable.

We are sincerely grateful for all the hard work of Lighter Footprints crew, supporters and allies that contributed to the results last year and this year in local and federal elections. Check out our Kooyong, Chisholm, Menzies and Boroondara campaign pages, and Boroondara scorecard page and blog for more about all your work, with images, links and more!