Yesterday, Climate Action Newtown presented the results of just under 1000 conversations on renewable energy with local residents to our MP, Anthony Albanese, asking him to unlock renewables, given the depth of community support. We’re now asking Albo to respond to all of you on these issues.
Conversation Results:
- 78% of residents feel the government is not doing enough to support the development of renewable energy like wind and solar.
- 93% think the government should be implementing strong policy to support new jobs and investment in renewable energy.
- 83% agree that more renewable energy should be introduced to help manage Australia’s energy prices.
- 90% of residents think Australia should develop a plan to move to 100% renewable energy.
- 78% agree that Australia should put a price on pollution as a incentive for renewable energy.
- 85% think that the government should stand up to polluting companies that claim that ‘investing in renewable energy is too expensive and too hard’.
Our conversations form part of the 14,000 conversations undertaken nationally by groups involved with the 100% Renewable campaign.
Read the 100% Renewables campaign full report here.
Photos from our presentation:
Messages to Minister Albanese
We also invited you all to ’send a message’ to our MP, which many of you took as an opportunity to ask for action and investment, and better representation of your concerns.
Get on with it!
- “The Government are not investing enough in renewable energy to create jobs and build the industry as a viable alternative.” Nick, Newtown
- “Act now before it’s too late, this issue is bigger than the next electoral cycle.” Justin, Enmore.
- “Man up and pull your finger out!” Ron, Enmore.
- “We need action now! It is the greatest moral challenge of our time!” Phil, Stanmore.
- “Take action now or there won’t be any future.” George, St Peters.
- “Please take a lead and guide Australia as much, as possible, into a cleaner energy production industry. Surely it can be done.” Marion, Sydenham.
Lead and represent us!
- “One of the key reasons you are in Government is because Australians want action now on climate change.” Martin, Newtown.
- “100% renewable energy is possible. The community wants 100% renewables. We demand action from all levels of government to make genuine policies to achieve this now.” Catherine, Newtown.
- “Lack of action on climate change will affect how I vote.” Annie, Marrickville.
- “More people are behind renewable energy than the government believe.” Nat, Newtown.
- “Listen to the people not corporates.” Denise, Ashfield.
Australia has clean renewable energy resources!
- “Aren’t you embarrassed that countries with less sun than us are doing more?” Joe, St Peters
- “We’re not utilising our resources!” Geoff, Dulwich Hill
- “We have the resources, why not use them?” Willis, Ashfield
- “Australia is perfect for solar – it’s a no brainer.” Eoin, Stanmore
The carbon price revenue must fund renewables!
- “Invest in the technology – the carbon tax must be reinvested in renewables.” Emma, Newtown.
- “We should have a price on pollution if a large amount goes to renewable energy.” Phillip, Stanmore.
- “Can’t put a price tag on our future!” Eloise, Newtown.
- “If carbon tax is a cash grab then it’s no good, but if it’s genuine, then it should be supported.” Gareth, Stanmore.
Stand up for the people and not the big polluters!
- “Corporations should be paying for pollution. Don’t give in to corporations.” Anthin, Marrickville
- “It’s time the government put the future first and not the mining industry.” Tahnee, Ashfield
- “Get serious about renewable energy and don’t be afraid of upsetting big industry. Time to lead.” Jess, Petersham
- “Do more research on science and stand up to polluting industries.” Rebecca, Marrickville.
Our doorknocking and market stall conversations have formed part of 14,000 conversations undertaken nationally by groups involved with the 100% Renewable campaign. Those 14,000 face-to-face conversations about renewable energy show overwhelming support for renewable energy among ordinary Australians.
Last week, representatives from the 100% Renewables campaign traveled to Canberra’s Parliament House to present their report on those 14,000 conversations to the members of the Multi-party Climate Change Committee.
Readthe 100% Renewables campaign full report here.
There are also more photos from the presentation and further discussion of the report on the 100% Renewable campaign facebook page.
You may have read the newspaper reports over the weekend and yesterday that say the next 48 hours of carbon price negotiations are crunch time. Today the Government, Greens and independents are sitting down again for their final stretch of negotiations.
Your successful efforts so far means that talk of a clean energy finance corporation is now on the table – a proposal that even weeks ago had no guarantee of getting interest.
But while this is a step in the right direction, Labor and the Greens are yet to agree on whether or not any money from the carbon price, even if it goes to a clean energy finance corporation, will fund renewable energy at all!
We want to ensure that the Climate Minister knows we are still expecting that the carbon price package will deliver for renewable energy. Can you ring and email Combet’s office today and let them know?
Minister for Climate Change Greg Combet
Canberra office: (02) 6277 7920
Email: [email protected]
Suggested talking points for the call:
- We support the proposal to establish an independent finance fund with the carbon price package.
- However, the fund alone is not sufficient. It must have carbon price revenue committed to it – at least $2-3billion revenue each year as recommended by Professor Garnaut.
- The government needs to ensure the revenue stream is for renewable energy technology only. Not gas and not so called clean coal.
- Ensuring renewables in the carbon price deal will help win popular support so please stand up to the big polluters and make sure you invest in renewable energy.
Even if you’ve called before it would really help if today you could call again. If Combet gets hundreds of calls today, he will well and truly know the strength of community desire for renewable energy. If we don’t call, all he hears is the chorus of big industry and polluting companies trying to make sure any carbon price money raised goes back into their own pockets.
We’re on the home stretch here, now we just need to give them both barrels whilst we can!
After months of negotiations, the carbon price talks are at the pointy end, with negotiations now around whether Australia’s biggest polluters will start to take responsibility for their carbon pollution and whether Australia will begin the shift to a clean energy future.
During the carbon price negotiations you might have noticed Minister Combet and Treasurer Swan increasingly refer to the potential for the carbon price to deliver ‘clean energy’.
However, if you’re a keen observer you might also have noticed that when Minister Combet and Treasurer Swan talk about clean energy they mostly mean gas.
Gas is not clean energy. It is a finite resource, uses massive amounts of resources to extract and its continued exploration and expansion is increasingly threatening some of Australia’s most pristine environments.
Coal seam gas in particular is in no way clean – and poses a huge threat to our farmland, water tables, health and regional and rural way of life.
Renewable energy, on the other hand, is clean, safe and will never run out. Renewable energy uses the sun and the wind, hot rocks, waves and tides to create clean, safe power that will never run out. It is also the only source of power that gets cheaper the more we install it and therefore the only power source suitable for managing energy price rises in the short, medium and long term.
Putting a price on carbon could see billions of dollars of revenue raised from polluters and invested back into renewable energy. But it will require a commitment from our decision makers to see this happen.
Right now the government is pushing for money for a proposed finance corporation to go to gas and so-called “clean coal” instead of renewable energy. There is also still no committment for carbon price revenue being invested back into renewable energy.
Can you help us tell the government that the only source of clean energy is renewable energy – and that we want the carbon price to deliver renewables, not just more gas? Click here to add your voice so that our leaders hear our message.
And did you know…?
31 European countries have had a price on carbon since 2005!
And major US states such as California (which has a bigger economy than Australia) have moved to put a price on carbon pollution. China will run a pilot in key provinces, as part of its current five year plan, and India already has a coal tax that works similarly to a carbon price. Even NZ has already priced pollution!
Reducing pollution could create more than 770,000 extra jobs by 2030!
Research shows that Australia could create more than 770,000 extra jobs by 2030 by taking strong action now to reduce pollution. The jobs identified are not just “clean energy” jobs, but new jobs in traditional industries such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing and the services sector.
Source: ACTU & ACF, Creating Jobs – Cutting Pollution Report, 2010.
You won’t pay, big companies will.
A price on pollution is NOT a direct tax on you. It’s not like the GST and it won’t be added to your annual tax bill. It’s actually a tax levied on Australia’s 1,000 biggest polluting companies – to encourage them to stop putting carbon pollution into our skies and instead invest in cleaner ways to do business.
All from http://www.sayyesaustralia.org.au/learn/, and a more detailed fact sheet is available here.
So what can you do?
1. Join the Say Yes campaign online on facebook and twitter to check out the photos from the rallies around the country last Sunday, and be kept up to date with future activities.
2. Talk to your family, friends and co-workers!
Share the 7 good reasons poster shown above (download it here), and the more detailed fact sheet, print off the poster pack
3. Stay tuned!
Firstly, a massive good work to those of you who braved the chilly temperatures and came along to our doorknock in Dulwich Hill on Saturday! Here’s a brief report back on how we went.
Results
Between the 13 of us we knocked on almost 600 doors and surveyed 95 residents, with fabulous results:
- a massive 91% want to see price tag put on pollution, to help make the switch to cleaner energy
- and a whopping 95% want the Government to implement strong policy to support new jobs and investment in renewable energy
And we were just one of around 40 groups who went doorknocking across the country, with hundreds of people having the same conversations across every state and territory. Woohoo!
Further details are available in the Media Release we’ve sent out today.
Next Steps
Now you’re probably all wondering what’s next?
Well, whilst we were out in Dulwich Hill, the members of the Multi-Party Committee on Climate Change spent all weekend in negotiations about the carbon price. But at the same time, the Australian Coal Association, along with plenty of other big polluting companies, were up to their usual tricks putting claims on carbon price money that could otherwise be going into renewable energy (see latest media here).
So it’s vital that those key decision makers know that our fellow Australians understand the need for the carbon price to deliver on renewables.
Step 1. Take the following few sentences as inspiration:
I am one of thousands of Australians who believe Australia needs to make the shift to a
clean energy future.I write in strong support of a price on pollution with complementary measures that will help
deliver clean energy, a strong and innovative economy for the 21st century and a safe climate
future for our kids.
Step 2. Add in your own sentiments on the issue.
Step 3. Email your sentiments to the MPCCC members, and our local Federal MP:
- Greg Combet – [email protected]
- Mr. Tony Windsor MP – [email protected]
- Mr. Rob Oakeshott MP – [email protected]
- PM Julia Gillard – please fill in this email form – http://www.pm.gov.au/contact‐your‐pm
- Treasurer Wayne Swan – [email protected]
- Senator Christine Milne – [email protected]
- Senator Bob Brown – [email protected]
- Parl Sec Mark Dreyfus – [email protected]
- Mr. Adam Bandt – [email protected]
- Mr. Anthony Albanese MP – [email protected]
(Click here for this letter in PDF format).
Greens Senator Christine Milne recently told us that our collective voices were starting to be heard – so two minutes of your time will help strengthen the MPCCC’s negotiations and ultimately the carbon price outcomes!
Here’s your chance to have an impact on the future of action on climate and renewables this weekend – by taking part in the National Doorknock Day this Saturday, part of 20,000 conversations nationally.
We know that pollies listen to their communities, and doorknocking is one of the most effective methods of giving those communities a voice.
Plus chatting to other inner westies is not as scary as you might think – it’s easy and fun, check out these videos if you don’t believe us!
RSVP here and meet us on Saturday in Dulwich Hill.
When: 1.30pm-4.30pm, this Saturday.
Where: Morton Park – it’s between Gould Avenue and New Canterbury Rd, Dulwich Hill. Click here for directions.
Transport: If you’re taking the bus, the 428 (Canterbury to City via Newtown) stops on the New Canterbury Road side, or it’s a 10min walk from Lewisham train station.
We’ll provide training & equipment, all you’ll need to bring is comfy shoes and your smile!
If you can’t make it this Saturday, you can still have your say – click here to sign the 100% Renewable petition and send messages to everyone on the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee.
See it is fun! Check it out…
Who fancies a lunchtime trip to Circular Quay tomorrow, to help save solar?
On Friday, the O’Farrell NSW Liberal Government made a decision to retrospectively cut the solar feed-in-tariff, a change that leaves those who invested in solar in order to cut their power bills and do their bit for climate change financially uncertain. It also totally undermines the credibility of the renewable energy sector, and will destroy confidence and certainty, not just for the solar industry in NSW, but all over the country.
If you’re as outraged about this as we are, attend the Solar’s Last Chance Rally, 11.30am tomorrow at Customs House in Circular Quay. Together we can tell the NSW Government to take action and save the solar industry!
This is the last chance for the new NSW government to take action and save the solar industry. Their recent inaction and indecision puts 5,400 green collar solar jobs at risk and leaves 20,000 NSW residents stranded. The State’s Solar Bonus Scheme has been frozen, pending a review, which leaves homeowners $25 million out of pocket for systems that may never be paid a feed in tariff.
More than 20,000 consumers are now in the dark while the NSW government reviews its solar policy.
Solar’s Last Chance rally is a call to action for the NSW government who have a responsibility to the hundreds of small businesses, their families, and the wider NSW public who will be hurt by the cancellation of the scheme.
For more info, check out the Australian Solar Energy Society website or the facebook event page.
EDIT, 7th June: Great news! Because of the major backlash from you guys, as well as pressure from the solar industry, the Opposition and not to mention his own backbenchers, Barry has acknowledged his changes to NSW’s solar legislation would not have passed the Upper House and has back down!
It remains to be seen what will happen now, and an ongoing scheme is still needed to save the renewable energy sector from crisis, but it’s a step in the right direction. Tell Barry “thanks but we need more!”
Give him a call on 02 9228 5239, or email him via his website here!
News links: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/07/3237267.htm and http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/ofarrell-abandons-plan-to-cut-solar-tariff-20110607-1fpmz.html
**updated info below – the morning session has been cancelled, but the afternoon session is still growing – are you in?**
Are you tired of the debate on the pollution price being held hostage by radio shock-jocks, ultra-right politicians and climate deniers, spreading fear about taking action on climate change?
Well quite frankly, so are we!
That’s why CAN is taking part in the 100% Renewable campaign National “Doorknock to Unlock Clean Energy” on Saturday 28th May, part of a national effort from community groups across the country to have 20,000 conversations on renewable energy and climate action.
If you’ve been wondering what you can do in the light of such murky public debate on the carbon tax, and lack of action on climate change and renewable energy, here’s your chance!
Never been doorknocking? Well, it’s easy! We’ll provide full training and all the equipment, so all you need to do is decide if you want to go do some surveys in the Inner West and then have a free barbecue lunch, or if you’d rather have a free barbecue lunch and then go do some surveys??
Click here to register your availability for the afternoon surveying session this Saturday 28th May. (Note it will ask you for your phone number, this will not be published but only used for us to keep in contact).
20,000 conversations
In the meantime, we’re heading out nearly every Sunday this month to the Addison Road farmers markets (and some Saturdays at the Eveleigh CarriageWorks markets) to run 100% Renewable surveys with passers-by, and hold a neat letter-writing stall, complete with armchairs!
- Sat 7th, 10am-12pm, Eveleigh CarriageWorks markets – meet near the ramp at the north end of the market hall.
- Sun 8th, 10am-12pm, Addison Road markets – meet at the entrance gate on Addison Rd
- Sun 15th, 10am-12pm, Addison Road markets
- Sat 21st, 10am-12pm, Eveleigh CarriageWorks markets
- Sun 22nd, 10am-12pm, Addison Road markets
- Sun 29th, 10am-12pm, Addison Road markets
If you’ve got a spare weekend hour or two on any of those days and fancy chilling out at the markets, click here to register your availability. Lydia is willing to bribe people with free coffees to get them out of bed on time if need be!
If you can’t make it on any of those weekends, send your letter from the Environment Victoria website to seven of our biggest polluting whingers and tell them you expect them to clean up their act! We’ll be in touch again soon with other ways you can help from the comfort of your couch, armed with just a phone or pen and paper.
We’re looking to green up our local pubs, and we need your help!
Climate Action Newtown will be working with pubs in Newtown, Enmore and Erskineville to save energy and offset their carbon emissions. Wouldn’t it be great if by drinking locally at our friendly local pubs we were also saving the globe!? Cheers for Green Beers! This initiative draws inspiration from the example of the Agincourt Hotel, which allocates 2.5 cents from every beer sold towards offsetting its carbon emissions. For more information or to help out contact Kate Read on 0422 525 685 or email [email protected].
