President's July Report

This month there have been some interesting developments in climate policy and the clean energy transition with the Environment Council of Central Queensland taking the government to court over the climate impact of 19 planned big coal and gas projects. In the words of one expert the court case could be ground-breaking, 'forcing the consideration of climate change in assessments of fossil fuel projects under Australia's federal environment laws for the first time. It will be a test for the new Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek to whom the ECCQ have also written, in an appeal for a review of these projects in the light of the evidence of climate change and its environmental impacts. Read more about it here and  here   

 Perhaps the worst news of the month has been the US Supreme Court's recent ruling, reducing the efficacy of the Environmental Protection Authority as a means of containing greenhouse gas emissions. Read more here and here.

 On the bright side Australia's new Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, recently announced a review of the national carbon offsets scheme in response to questions around the scheme's integrity. The review is to be headed by former Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb. Read more about it here

MEMBER ACTIVITIES

Smart Living Ballarat

Hosted by Ellen Burns on Wednesday 20 July from 12:30-1:30,  this month's online talk will be "Smarter Ways to Stay Warm This Winter!" - discussing ways to stay warm while lowering your power bill. There will be tips for new builds, renters and renovators! Log on to the Zoom link via Smart Living Ballarat Facebook. Register here via SLB Facebook  If you miss it, you can still catch it on the Smart Living Ballarat Facebook page. 

Ballarat Green Drinks

We are currently planning the Ballarat Green Drinks schedule for the rest of 2022 - for the third Thursday of the month  – and will keep you posted. 

BOARD ACTIVITIES

While the CPH program is now officially ended, BREAZE Inc volunteers will continue to work with the Grampians Community Power Hub Project  Manager, Sowmya Nagaraj on final reporting for Sustainability Victoria and finalising feasibility studies on projects across the Grampians Region. Please consider signing our petition seeking an extension of the CPH program funding -  if you have not already done so. 

Board members Sally Missing and Pat Hockey are continuing with planning for a forum on Environmentally Sustainable Design to be held later this year. 

This year the BREAZE Public Fund has funded the installation of 6kW rooftop solar on a new Ballarat accommodation unit built by McCallum, which provides Disability Services and Coordination in Ballarat and St Arnaud. The Public Fund has committed to fund-raising for the installation of similar capacity on McCallum's other two new accommodation units. Many thanks to all those members who have made donations to BREAZE. You are helping to make a difference. 

This year the BREAZE Inc. Public Fund is also planning to establish a revolving fund, which will make no-interest loans to not-for-profits to install/access renewable energy and energy efficient appliances with re-payment set in terms of anticipated cost savings - as part of the Social Solar program.

Board Meetings

If you have a passion for climate action and ideas about how you can help BREAZE achieve its mission, please note BREAZE members are welcome to attend monthly Board meetings. Any member interested in attending should email me – 

All the best

Mary