Clarence Climate Action advocates for a cleaner future

Clarence Climate Action aims to connect with the people of Clarence to build a community group dedicated to taking positive action on climate through education and inspiration for action on climate change, and through celebration of the positive stories in the community.

The group also aims to work alongside Clarence City Council to advocate for consideration of climate change in all council decisions, not just in terms of climate change adaptation, but also mitigation through actions to reduce fossil fuel emissions in the local area.

Up to date science research states that to stay within a 1.5 degree Celsius temperature rise, or at most a two degree Celsius rise this century, we need zero emissions by 2035.

There is a need for massive energy transformations by this date, including within the next decade.

It is a difficult decision to make — do we want a solid economy or a liveable planet for our grandchildren?

If we move fast now, both can be achieved.

Action close to 2050 will be too late and impossible to meet targets.

Therefore, there is a need for much more ambitious targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

CCA believe that together, everyday people can make a difference.

Not just by reducing our own emissions, but by creating the cultural shift needed to support the transition in our economy.

Talking about climate change is important as research shows that social change happens through conversations.

By reducing our personal carbon footprint and talking to others, we can inspire them to do the same — each Australian has a carbon footprint of 20–25 tonnes per year.

Ways to do this include going without a car or using an electric car, shifting to a plant based diet, or washing clothes in cold water and drying them on a clothesline.

Local governments also have an important role in reducing emissions, and can do several things, such as:

• Install solar on government buildings and provide incentives for households and businesses to install solar systems.
• Electrify vehicle fleets and public transport.
• Expand the infrastructure needed for electric cars and provide incentives to make them more affordable.
• Implement urban tree policies to reduce the ‘heat island’ effect and to drawdown carbon.
• Reduce the clearing of forested areas for development through planning regulations.
• Legislate against single use plastics and improve waste management practices through better recycling and composting.
• Assist farmers to adopt regenerative practices — soils are the greatest carbon sinks of all.
• Preserve and restore wetlands.

CCA welcomes input from any citizen or group within Clarence, and would love to hear stories about individuals, households, schools, businesses and other organisations who are taking positive actions for the climate and local community.

For more information or to become a member, email clarenceclimateaction@gmail.com, or visit clarenceclimateaction.org or the Clarence Climate Action Facebook page.

Eastern Shore Sun, June 2021, page 19