Climate Change Forum Live Blog

You can join us for the climate change live blog – 3pm to 4pm

Click Here

If you’ve missed it you can still see what was said and see what was uploaded and the results of the polls posted.

Network Update: including Earth Charter

The Brimbank Climate Action Network has been very busy over the past week for a few reasons; so here goes:

Climate Change Forum live blog: There has been a growing amount of interest in this forum. And it seems that a lot of locals really appreciate being able to participate without having to travel somewhere or organise the kids or do anything special other than to log on.

When: Tomorrow (Sunday 28) – 3pm to 4pm
Where: On here – the Network’s site

Prof. Garnaut Open Letter: The Network has enthusiastically supported the open letter to Prof. Garnaut calling for greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions instead of very weak targets recommended in his report to the Government. In addition the Network is a signatory to this open letter.

Download the Letter

Earth Charter: The Earth Charter isn’t new and it isn’t as well known as the Kyoto Protocol. The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, peaceful and sustainable global society in the 21st Century. Upon being invited to consider the Charter and to become a signatory, BrimbankCAN has become a signatory.

The best part is that individuals and organisations can be a signatory to the Earth Charter.

Open Letter to Garnaut

The Brimbank Climate Action Network (BrimbankCAN) has joined with local community climate groups across the country and environment organisations in a last ditch call for the Garnaut Review to take a stronger stand on climate policy.

The open letter signed by 50 climate action groups, state conservation councils and national environment organisation, Friends of the Earth Australia, warns Professor Garnaut that his draft emission targets would lead to catastrophe and calls for urgent modelling of much stronger targets.

Download a copy of the letter below

Open Letter to Prof Garnaut

Please share it with your friends, family and colleagues.

Using energy efficient materials

Here is simple list of things to consider when you next decide to build your own home, office, industrial complex etc. Through some simple measures you can help reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, and your ecological footprint.

1. The term “embodied energy” in materials refers to the processes used to make, transport and eventually dispose of them. Select materials that minimise waste and the use of energy The materials used in the construction of a building can be a significant proportion of the total energy used during the building’s life. Selecting the right materials can greatly reduce your greenhouse gas emissions without adding any significant additional costs to constructing your building.
2. Using recycled materials is an excellent way of reducing the embodied energy in the construction and life of your building project; minimising site waste; using materials that won’t need to be constantly maintained once installed; considering where and how materials are manufactured – ie locally manufactured materials helps local and regional communities and reduces the cost in transportation and emissions produced to transport those materials.
3. Design your building to be healthy and environmentally sustainable by selecting architecture that maximises environmentally sustainable features and; fittings and fixtures that do no emit toxins and emissions during manufacture and then once installed or applied. For example some fibres in carpets could affect people with allergies and or toxins in glues, paints, fillers, etc may leach into the surrounding environment.
4. Get informed about products, materials and retail outlets as well as accredited builders, architects and engineers. You can visit the sites list in our blog roll (see our links on the right). You may also like to visit www.yourhome.gov.au or use the EcoSpecifier developed by RMIT University. Or if you want to get an even closer look you can join one of the tours of the eco-houses built by Victoria University (VU).
5. Poor maintenance can reduce the lifespan and effectiveness of some materials. It is worth considering materials that rely on less maintenance, and it is worth considering this in the design of the building. This can extend to the kinds of fabrics and materials used indoors for fittings and fixtures, including appliances.
6. Ensure that you use accredited builders, electricians and plumbers as well as suppliers of materials, appliances, fittings and fixtures. Again use the links on our site to help you do your home work before you go to work on your building project.

Energy efficient homes, offices, supermarkets, plants and retail outlets can make a huge difference on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted each year. And it is one of the most efficient and effective ways of making a big contribution to reducing our GHG emissions by 60% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

Spring into Spring

Well haven’t we been blessed with some wonderful weather of late. But true to form, Melbourne’s weather can turn in the blink of an eye. So instead of relying on appliances just make sure you dress appropriately.

The day’s have been wonderful with few afternoons spoiled by bad weather. It’s still going to be pretty chilly at night with blustery winds. Like they say wear some layers, including those beanies and scarves. We can’t forget that most of our body heat is lost through our heads!

While we come into our warmer months why not take advantage of the fine days and warm sun (safely!) and walk or ride to the milk bar, to school or the train station or bus stop (or both). Unfortunately for some residents in Brimbank they are forced to rely on using private transport to go about their daily lives.

You can even help warm your house by opening blinds, shades or curtains on windows facing the sun, especially the afternoon sun. (Of course if this isn’t possible then it isn’t possible.) But since the evenings and nights are still chilly don’t forget to shut the blinds, shades or curtains to keep the warmth in.

Brimbank CAN reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we reduce our use of cars, heaters and air conditioners.