Hello Visitor,
Certainly, Ballarat has had a long, warm, dry spell for the latter half of summer (and continuing into autumn). But we were not alone - last month was the warmest February on record globally, making it the ninth month in a row with record temperatures for the time of year.
Global sea surface temperatures are also at their highest ever recorded, data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service shows.
The data shows February was 1.77C warmer than the pre-industrial average for the month, from 1850 to 1900, and 0.81C above 1991-2020 levels. The global average temperature for the past 12 months – between March 2023 and February 2024 – was the highest on record, at 1.56C above pre-industrial levels.
That puts the world temporarily above the 1.5C threshold beyond which, over the long term, the worst impacts of climate change are expected.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/07/february-warmest-on-record-globally-copernicus-climate-change-service
However, we are making some progress. It was good to see that last week’s heatwave pushed wind and solar to record highs, and the renewables share reached 70 pct of the National Electricity Market (NEM) with household PV panels providing half of this renewables share. It is expected that as early as next year we may have periods where 100 pct of the NEM is provided by renewables.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/heatwave-pushes-wind-and-solar-to-record-highs-as-renewables-share-reaches-70-pct-of-nem/
But despite the progress by the power sector – for a couple of years now, Australia’s total emissions have essentially stopped falling. While the power sector continues to fall, heavy industry, transport and agriculture are rising. Unfortunately, climate change is an urgent problem demanding immediate and deep cuts, and right now we’re falling short of what is required.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-emissions-are-stuck-despite-best-efforts-of-renewables/
Campbell Mercer (President, March 2024)
BREAZE Activities / In the news
Ballarat Green Drinks kicked off in February with a very informative discussion with a panel of 5 people talking about their EVs (Electric Vehicles)
Smart Living Ballarat also returned in February with a discussion about how to keep your cool in the heat of the summer.
BREAZE on 3BA Sue Broadway had a great chat with Brett Mac about using your heatpump for cooling, general maintenance of your appliance, and also spoke about BREAZE’s programs for this year including Green Drinks and Smart Living Ballarat .
Buninyong Sustainability Festival This festival just goes from strength to strength. Hopefully you had a chance to drop in on the BREAZE stand and say hello!
Container Deposit Scheme Exciting news, BREAZE has signed up with the Vic State Governments Container Deposit Scheme. In this way BREAZE supporters and also members of the public can donate towards BREAZE to assist us to implement our programs and events.
There are a couple of ways you can connect to have BREAZE receive donations when you use the CDS deposit points.
Currently you must use the CDS VIC West App to donate to a chosen Not for Profit or Charity.
Open the CDS Vic West app and create your personal profile (download the FREE app HERE or here https://onelink.to/cdsvic)
Look us up under the “Charities” Menu on the home page of the app
Find BREAZE under the Environment group, or select from the campaign of “Electrify Everything”.
Scroll down and press “Set as Payout” on our campaign/charity page
Scan the app at the machine & start returning bottles and cans
Press "TRANSFER" on the machine screen when finished!
Upcoming Events
28th March 2024: Ballarat Green Drinks – Usually Third Thursday of the month @ Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant St., Ballarat – but this month it’s the fourth Thursday. Coming up next at Ballarat Green Drinks - Gib Wettenhall talks trees and biorich plantation - it's all about habitat and native timbers and how landowners can build resilient landscape. Book now via https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1158413
6:30-8:00pm, Bunch of Grapes Hotel, 401 Pleasant St, South, Ballarat
Join us for drinks/dinner, great talks and conversation.
Wed March 27th, 2024: Smart Living Ballarat - Fourth Wednesday of the month. 12:30-1:30pm
Sebastopol Library Meeting Room. Join us this month to talk seed saving with John 'Ditchy' Ditchburn!
BREAZE on 3BA: 22 March @ 10:15 am. This month we have Peter Reid talking about Solar Vic VPP (Virtual Power Plant) – The pilot program has now been completed. What is a VPP, implications and next steps
Board meetings
Paid up members are invited to attend BOARD meetings - every third Monday of the month – contact
Have you considered taking a position on the BREAZE Board for 2024? We have a number of vacancies for ordinary board members to support our work to facilitate, encourage and educate the wider Ballarat community towards a goal of zero emissions by 2030.
BREAZE volunteers engage in advocacy, community education, fund raising and project management, for the installation and provision of renewable energy sources, along with improving energy efficiency across all sectors — to move the community towards a zero emissions future. At present the Board meets monthly via Zoom. Minimum attendance is six meetings a year.
We welcome anyone with a passion for Climate Change Advocacy, and volunteers with experience in the following are especially encouraged:
Project management,
Renewable energy sector,
Media/communications
Marketing
Information technology
Event management
Fund raising
Writing grant applications
Appy via the Seek Volunteer Platform or email admin@breaze.org.au More information from Campbell on 0457581632
BREAZE volunteer and/or Board Member, Breaze | SEEK Volunteer
https://www.volunteer.com.au/volunteering/161811/breaze-volunteer-and-or-board-member
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