BREAZE Monthly Update - July 2024
BREAZE activities / in the news
2024-2027 City Partnership
BREAZE is thrilled to announce that we are partnering with the City of Ballarat to support the implementation of the Ballarat Net Zero Emissions Plan. This will be through supporting and activating the community to work towards net zero 2030.
The partnership features three separate programs:-
Ballarat ZNet Sustainability Awards Program to engage all community sectors in the Plan
A Home Energy Efficiency Workshop Program targeted to groups on basis of need
A Home Electrification Program to assist residents to get off gas.
You can read more about this exciting development here
New BREAZE website
In another exciting step forward we’ve migrated our website to a new platform. After a long gestation period and a huge amount of work by the website subcommittee (comprising Mary Debrett, Sally Missing, Pete Morison, Sue Broadway and Campbell Mercer) we’re really happy that it is now live! Not perfect by any means - no doubt a few bugs and missing links despite our best efforts to test everything. (So if you come across an issue please let us know!). We’ll be adding more content as we go. Due to security and privacy issues we cannot migrate our membership from the old platform so we’re asking members to resign on the new website - just hit the “Join” button
Future Gas Strategy?
The Federal Government released their “Future Gas Strategy”. Unfortunately it was a significant disappointment. It supports the continuing development of new gas fields in Australia both now and into the future (beyond 2050!). The development of new gas fields, as proposed, goes against the recommendations of the International Energy Agency (IEA) which has advised that any new fossil fuel development is inconsistent with ensuring global temperatures do not exceed 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The IEA further stated that to maintain any hope of achieving the Paris COP target of a 1.5 degree temperature rise that 40% of the fossil fuel reserves already in production need to stay in the ground. A delegation from BREAZE (Campbell Mercer, Mary Debrett, Sue Broadway) met with the Hon Catherine King (Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) to explain the community’s concerns with this policy. Read more about it here
Green Drinks
In June we had Tim Forcey (of My Efficient Electric Home Facebook site) give an excellent presentation based on his new book. A very active Q&A session followed. Another very successful event with around 50 people attending. See upcoming events (below) for details of this month’s Green Drinks discussion
Smart Living Ballarat
SLB had another great session with a panel discussion about the robust economy that exists beyond money! Trading, sharing, volunteering...there are so many ways that we can give and get back, strengthening our community and enriching our lives without any money changing hands.
In the news….
Gas extraction project's approval near the Twelve Apostles Marine Sanctuary.
In other disappointing news, the Victorian Government gives approval for a new gas project near the 12 apostles in Victoria. Our focus needs to be on getting off gas so that we don’t need new gas projects. Further details (as reported by the ABC) here.
Upcoming BREAZE events….
Green Drinks
This month (18 July @ 6:30pm Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant St) we have Tom Quinn (former Head of Policy and Research at Beyond Zero Emissions) discussing the status of The Clean Energy Super Power initiative. Some of you may recall Tom’s presentation last year in which he shared details of how government, the unions and key commercial interests were keen to progress Australia as a leading renewable energy super power. So 12 months down the road it will be great to find out how this is tracking……
Smart Living Ballarat
Been feeling the cold recently? Well here’s a great session to banish those winter chills. Join Ellen as she shares some of her great tips for staying warm in Ballarat this winter.
Opinion piece
I managed to read a couple of recently published books (is Quarterly Essay a book or a booklet?) which have a very different take on the climate crisis. Joelle Gergis, a climate scientist who worked on many of the IPCC reports, is likely known to many as the author of “Humanity’s Moment” - a book that Joelle felt compelled to write given the ever worsening climate crisis and little effective action being taken (particularly locally - but also globally). In a similar vein, “Highway to hell - climate change and Australia’s future” brings us up to date with where we sit versus what is needed to prevent the worst possible climate outcomes. If you are already anxious / depressed about the climate crisis this book isn’t for you. It does not make for comfortable reading nor does it paint a particularly optimistic outlook. This may be realistic - but I doubt that this sort of messaging actually galvanizes individuals into taking action.
“My Efficient Electric Home Handbook” by Tim Forcey is a very different sort of book. Although at the outset Tim emphasizes the importance of taking action to address the climate crisis the book details practical steps that individuals can take to get off gas as well as upgrading old inefficient electric heating systems (and hot water) and improve the thermal efficiency of their home - with reminders that this will save you money, improve the comfort of your home, and remove the many pollutants that result from burning gas in the home. In many ways a much more optimistic and action oriented book that makes you feel that you can make a difference. Highly recommended
Campbell Mercer (President)