Door-to-door Survey

Jobs in Renewables analysis from the ACTU.

'Zero Carbon Vision' (UK)

No New Coal

CCBR actively supports this state campaign initiated by Greenpeace and the NSW Greens.  We continue to fight the recent approval of new fossil-fuel (almost certainly coal) power stations at Bayswater and Mount Piper.  New power stations are not needed with anything like the urgency claimed.

Some Past Activities....

Footprints Ecofestival

Leichhardt Town Hall - 6^th June 2010

Recent heavy rain forced this Leichhardt council event to be relocated from White's Creek to the Town Hall, but it was a great success nonetheless.  The seven CCBR members and supporters that took turns on our stall enjoyed a front-row view of the quality musical acts.  We signed up 30 new supporters, and we hope to see several of them at meetings in future.

Doorknock in Newtown

5^th June 2010

We helped Climate Action Newtown conduct a doorknock survey of community attitudes to political (in)action on climate change.

Of 110 respondents:

•    85% say the Rudd Government is not doing enough to tackle climate change
•    93% believe the government should significantly boost investment in renewable energy and create clean energy jobs
•    92% believe that Australia should develop a plan to move to 100% renewable energy
•    75% believe that the government should stick to its 2007 election commitment to put a price on carbon and make polluters pay
•    75% were more likely or much more likely to vote for a candidate committing to a price on carbon and significant investment in renewable energy

•    95% of swing voters were more or much more likely to vote for a candidate if they were to commit to a price on carbon and significant investment in renewable energy

Meeting with Verity Firth on No New Coal for NSW

23^rd April 2010

The State Government recently gave in-concept approval to extending two coal power plants: Mt Piper, near Lithgow, and Bayswater, near Muswellbrook.  This move is calculated to make the existing plant more attractive to purchasers.  If coal-burning, as is likely, they would emit a combined 22 million tones of greenhouse gases a year: a blow-out in emissions of 15% on national levels and 5% on NSW levels. 

Lucy and Derek of CCBR met with local state MP, Verity Firth, to ask how she reconciled this worrying development with being taken seriously on the issue of climate change.

Importantly, Ms Firth said that in the party room and in Cabinet she does not support coal as an energy source. She stressed that leaving the choice of fuel open to the market was a win for the environmentally minded in the party, since a sufficient carbon price would possibly force the plants to be gas. 

CCBR expressed several reservations, namely: that existing infrastructure is set up for coal already, not gas; that there is still a question mark over if and when we will have a carbon price and how much it will be; and even if they are gas plant the emissions will still blow out by 7.1 per cent (as opposed to 15 per cent).

This brought us to the debate about whether NSW needs more baseload power rather than more renewable energy and energy efficiency schemes.

Unfortunately, Ms Firth was unable to attend a presentation at Parliament House earlier this year by the Institute for Sustainable Futures on "Meeting NSW Electricity Needs in a Carbon Constrained World". (We left a copy with her to share with colleagues.) That research concludes that building new coal power stations is not only the most polluting option but the most expensive, and that even with modest energy efficiency improvements new baseload power stations are not needed in NSW until 2017 at the earliest. That makes it quite premature to commission new plant now.

While Ms Firth's support for more renewable energy and less reliance on coal was heartening, is is disappointing that it has not been enough to sway decision-makers within the party.

One area where Ms Firth might have more influence is with the Premier herself. In June, as part of this No New Coal campaign, Bob Carr and John Hewson will co-chair a public forum on How to Make NSW the Clean Energy State.  Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell has said he will take part, but no response yet from Kristina Kenneally's office. Ms Firth has agreed to follow this up with the Premier. We wish her success.

The last meeting CCBR had with Ms Firth was in 2008, shortly after the state election.  We argued then (in part) for a feed-in tariff to encourage the renewables industry. Knowing that we returned to her office with a feed-in tariff now in place, we are hoping Ms Firth's influence in the party prospers. Watch this space.

The "Age of Stupid"

Leichhardt Town Hall - Oct 13 2009 - 7.30pm - Free!!

    

World Environment Day 2009

CCBR invites you to attend the Sydney gathering on Saturday June 13, 10am in Sydney CBD [venue to be advised ]. Wear red clothing - red is the colour of the climate emergency.

Following the National Climate Summit in February, climate action groups around Australia have co-ordinated these Climate Emergency Rallies in capital cities, including Sydney. This event will coincide with other similar international W.E.D. events.

There will be stalls and invited speakers at the start of the Rally.