Our campaigns
Current Campaigns->
On this page you will find ongoing campaigns which Climate Change Balmain Rozelle is supporting.
Climate Change Balmain Rozelle communicates and coordinates with other environmental campaigning organisations to select areas where we can engage our own supporters in effective actions.
Stop Expanding Coal Mining in NSW
What is this campaign about?
In 2024, NSW is facing at least 14 proposals to expand existing coal mines. Together these projects would add 2 Gigatonnes (2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent) of greenhouse gases – most when the coal is burnt, much of it overseas. The mines also pollute locally, as they allow fugitive methane gas to enter the atmosphere. Finally, these mine expansions are threats to water, air, agriculture, and the native plants and animals affected by land clearing. Many of the operations, such as the monster Hunter Valley Operations project near Singleton, are owned by foreign companies, and are seeking a licence to mine for decades ahead.
We are calling on the NSW government to leave a positive legacy for NSW by putting climate action first and scrapping pro-coal policies that facilitate mine expansions.
What is Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle doing?
CCBR, as part of the Lock the Gate Alliance, will be advocating for the NSW government to:
● refer any coal mine expansion proposals to the Independent Planning Commission, as promised by the Labor Party before the 2023 election
● ensure by setting clear criteria that applications to expand mines are not classed as “modifications” to avoid scrutiny by the Independent Planning Commission
● withdraw the Strategic Statement on Coal, a policy document negotiated by John Barilaro's National Party, which is hindering fair assessment of coal mining impacts
● acknowledge that expanding coal production is inconsistent with the government's own Climate Change (Net Zero Futures) Act 2023, which recognises that "action is urgently required", and commits to reducing NSW greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2035.
What you can do
Sign the petition to Premier Chris Minns and relevant ministers: Don't pour fuel on the climate fire
Subscribe to CCBR e-newsletter for updates on this campaign
Join CCBR so that, through the ccbr-forum, we can keep you in touch with actions and opportunities for letter and submission writing.
Climate Action Now: visibility!
Two thirds of Australians rate climate change as an important issue when they vote – including a majority in every seat in Australia. Many of them want a simple action to show their support for strong action on climate change.
Something like a simple physical sign.
Why does this campaign matter?
People sometimes think they are on their own in their concern about our climate crisis. In a busy world with new issues coming up, and with a press sometimes influenced by fossil fuel interests, it’s also possible for climate action to be pushed aside by other issues. As we approach the next election, this visibility campaign aims to keep the issue front of mind for both voters and political representatives, and to create a space where people can feel confident about raising their voices for action.
in 2022-23 Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle has partnered with the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), the Nature Conservation Council (NSW) and other non-aligned action groups to get signs onto front fences, into windows, onto cars – anywhere where individuals and households can show they are more than ready to see real action.
Thousands of these rolled out across Australia in time for the 2022 Federal Election. Now it is the turn to remind NSW political candidates that we continue to call for real, urgent action in the decade to 2030!
What you can do
Don't forget to give a thumbs up to anyone you see displaying the sign!
If you would like a sign to display at your home, email us at ccbalroz@gmail.com with name and contact number to arrange pickup in Balmain. In the Subject line, write "CAN sign".
Next car ...an EV
The CCBR EV working group aims to
Accelerate the displacement of fossil fuel modes of transport by electric vehicles (EVs) in the Inner West area of Sydney
Support community and government initiatives which facilitate EV usage
Ensure equity of access to EV uptake is a key perspective for any strategies
Although our primary target is fully electric EVs, we also consider alternative transport solutions (hybrids, e-Bikes, scooters, etc).
Why does this campaign matter?
Transport is Australia's third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Sydney’s Inner West Council aims to make Council’s own operations carbon neutral by 2025, and for community emissions to reach zero by 2050. While many residents in this Local Government Area would like to see more EVs (including bikes and scooters), we have identified some unique barriers to their uptake. CCBR is working to provide awareness-raising and support for addressing these barriers and facilitating both resident and commercial EV use.
Some perceived barriers
Range anxiety
Infrastructure*
Price**
Lack of information
Lack of motivation
Lack of choice
Supply
Some questions are answered in our downloadable fact sheet:
read our EV FAQ sheet or download PDF
* Inner West Council support strategy
**Federal govt support (tax break)
**NSW govt support (cash rebate)
What you can do
We need your input!
We'd love you to share your war stories or EV experiences (even if you suffer from EV envy). Or your ideas, or questions. At any time, if you have something to say about clean transport, please feel free to contact us by email at ccbalroz@gmail.com.
Join our new Facebook Group: Sustainable Transport for the Inner West for regular updates and discussion.
EV charging across the pavement
How to do it - legally. ***
If you have an EV and you park on the street outside your house, you might need to run a charging cable from your house across the pavement. To do so legally, you need to get a (free) permit from council. One CCBR member (in Inner West Council) did just that - and here is how he did it.
***Feb 2024: Since writing this, it seems that Inner West Council has stopped issuing permits. The situation remains unresolved with no clarity on whether a permit is actually needed or not.