New signs, reels and radio interview. It all happened last week when news of extreme heat, wildfires, floods and ice melts around the world told us that climate change is happening faster than most climate scientists predicted, and global tipping points are closer than we thought.
The biggest driver of climate change is burning fossil fuels, so phasing them out is the most urgent form of climate action.
Federal and State Governments are approving huge new gas and coal mines to operate for decades, and they are subsidising these industries with over $11 billion per year.
As most of this gas and coal will be burnt in other countries, the emissions won’t be counted in Australia’s target of a 43% reduction in emissions on 2005 levels by 2030. Yet every new mine will increase temperatures in Australia and the rest of the planet, regardless of where the gas and coal is burnt.
Climate scientists say that if leaders act quickly, within this decade, a liveable future for our children and grandchildren is still possible. Stopping new gas and coal mining must be the first step in the urgent response that’s required.
At a recent webinar, the Minister for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek, referred the audience questions about how to stop approvals to the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Bowen.
Plibersek’s electorate office in Redfern is a popular place for rallies as it is easily accessed. But Bowen’s office in West Fairfield is 35km from the city centre and is not near a train station. Determined Nannas decided to take their message directly to him.
Knit-in at Chris Bowen’s office
Nine Sydney Knitting Nannas had a knit-in outside Chris Bowen’s office at West Fairfield on Thursday. In a letter delivered to his staff we called on him to reduce emissions by stopping all new gas and coal projects and to release a declassified version of the Office of National Intelligence climate-risk assessment.
We thought it went well for a first visit. We had a few chats with people in the shopping centre and handed out leaflets before heading off to find out more about the fight to save koalas from residential developments in south-west Sydney.
Proposed Upper Georges River National Park
Our next stop was at Simmos Beach in the proposed expanded Upper Georges River National Park, where we met up with Pat and Barry Durman from Save Sydney’s Koalas.
Pat and Barry have worked hard to protect koalas and their habitat from proposed housing developments at Mt Gilead area near Campbelltown. They have pushed for years to have a koala National Park declared in the upper Georges River area. Now it looks like coming to fruition because Labor put its creation on their platform before the last election.
Oscar Wills, one of the producers on James Valentine’ breakfast show on ABC radio 702, interviewed Pat on the day. Listen to the interview here.
Pat and Barry guided us on a walk through known koala habitat but unfortunately we didn’t see any. They talked about the situation for koalas around Campbelltown and showed us maps of the park.
This was a long day out, particularly for those who had travelled from the northern beaches. But everyone enjoyed it, as we do.
Social media team weekend
Nannas learn to make a reel and have lots of fun doing it.