Zero Emission Network

This is the temporary website of WarrandyteCAN [Climate Action Now]

Zero Emission Network is happy to provide this service to our member groups.

OBJECTIVES
The principal objective of WarrandyteCAN is to communicate to our community the urgent need to take immediate action on climate change, to raise awareness and empower people to act to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

BROWN MOUNTAIN ANTI-LOGGING CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDS
It is great to see that when people feel passionate enough to act that they CAN make a difference. Warrandyte CAN are delighted to have supported this campaign and are thankful for everyone that came along to our fund raising night for this great cause. Well done. The Press release from Environment East Gippsland, announcing the result, is below.

Environmentalists Hail Court Win
Michelle Draper, August 11, 2010 - 7:49PM, AAP

Logging in an environmentally significant old growth forest in Victoria will remain banned until the state government implements a host of measures to protect endangered species. Victoria's Supreme Court has upheld the ban preventing logging at Brown Mountain in the state's far east under an injunction, while a number of surveys on endangered wildlife are carried out.

In a decision hailed as a victory by environmentalists, Justice Robert Osborn also ordered special protection zones and "habitat retention" areas be created at Brown Mountain, north of Orbost in East Gippsland before logging can start. Anti-logging campaigners Environment East Gippsland took action in the Supreme Court last year to stop the state-owned timber agency VicForests logging at Brown Mountain. Logging was due to start at the site last September but it was halted until the outcome of the Supreme Court trial, which took place in March.

In a pivotal point for the environmentalists' case, video footage of an endangered long-footed potoroo was captured at the site and formed a key piece of evidence in the trial. The decision will benefit several threatened and rare species including the potoroo, greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders, the spot-tailed quoll and two species of endangered frogs, the giant burrowing frog and the large brown tree frog.

Wednesday's decision means VicForests will be legally obliged to take further action to protect endangered species, along with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, before logging can take place. Unless VicForests complies with the requirements to establish the special protection zones and habitat retention areas, logging at Brown Mountain would be illegal, Justice Osborn said. Greens leader Bob Brown labelled the ruling a "breakthrough". "This is breakthrough territory for this whole nation," Senator Brown told reporters outside the court.
"It is now up to the legislators in Melbourne and in Canberra to follow through and not leave it to the courts but to represent the people of Australia by legislation with teeth in it to protect our forests and our wildlife." Environment East Gippsland spokeswoman Jill Redwood hailed the decision as a win and said it sent a strong message to the DSE and VicForests.

"This is a huge win for not just Brown Mountain, that's just the tip of the iceberg, but old growth forests right across the state," Ms Redwood said. Ms Redwood said the decision was significant because pre-logging surveys had not been required previously.
She said if the surveys ordered by Justice Osborn were carried out correctly then endangered species would certainly be uncovered in the logging areas. Justice Osborn ordered habitat retention areas be created for potoroos found at the logging site while special protection zones should be established for the gliders and further surveys for the frogs.

"In order to give effect to these conclusions VicForests should be restrained by injunction from harvesting until the relevant steps have been completed," Justice Osborn said. Reviews of management areas that are currently under way for powerful owls and sooty owls should also be completed, he said. VicForests director of strategy Nathan Trushell said the organisation wanted time to digest the 232-page judgment. "Clearly the injunction remains until a number of conditions that need to be met to the satisfaction of the Department of Sustainability and Environment are met," he told reporters.

ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS REPORT PRESENTED IN WARRANDYTE. July 21.
Here is proof that if the Willpower is there, Australia can achieve 100% renewable energy in 10 years.
It’s not news to say that the climate community is experiencing enormous frustration in achieving action towards establishing a clean energy future. One group, Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) has decided to tackle the debate by demonstrating to Governments and the public, how possible it is to change to renewable energy and in a very short timeframe. Last week Warrandyte was fortunate to hear the ideas and plans firsthand, at the invitation of WarrandyteCAN.

The coal, oil and gas industries are financially able to lobby Government in a way that scientists and community groups are not. The ”Can’t Do Campaign”, waged by the coal lobby has been very successful in perpetuating the fallacy that renewable energy can’t supply the base load power needed and it’s too expensive to move away from the status quo anyway.
In response, BZE has brought together what they unofficially call the ‘Can Do Campaign” to show what’s possible. Co-ordinated by BZE and the Climate Emergency Network with partner Melbourne Energy Institute - comprising a large number of concerned scientists, engineers and economists - they have modelled the needs and capabilities of renewable energy, with amazing results. They’ve proven that it’s actually possible to achieve the complete switch to renewable power in just a decade, Australia-wide. The model is based on using the naturally occurring sources of solar and wind energy because they’re already fully costed, proven and operating in many countries. They chose not to include other renewable energy yet, such as geo thermal, until they’re fully proven as viable and cost-competitive.

A powerful case is made demonstrating how in a decade, 100% renewable energy can be achieved with existing resources and at a manageable cost. The study explores every aspect of the ‘stationary energy sector’ (ie the electricity power generation industry) to show how it could be transformed nationally. Specific reports on the transportation and building industry and other sectors are due to follow from next year.

UPCOMING SPEAKER EVENTS

PEAK OIL Expert Phil Hart discusses the dwindling supply of cheap oil in the face of growing demand, the consequences and the transition ahead. 23rd September, Community Centre 8.00 pm.

Summary: The scientific consensus is that we are entering the Age of declining reserves of cheap and easy-to-extract oil. Data on exact reserves is hard to get, but the informed community believes we are somewhere in the midst of ‘Peak Oil’ now. Certainly recent drilling disasters suggest it is so, with oil companies like BP forced to drill the more difficult and costly known oil fields. The tragic spill three months ago, at the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is a good example of what can go wrong as we push the barriers on new technology to maintain supply.

A discussion on oil’s dwindling supply in the face of growing demand, the consequences and the transition away from our reliance on oil will be the subject of the next climate change information talk hosted by WarrandyteCAN (Climate Action Now). Phil Hart, a Petroleum engineer and member of the Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO) will speak on Thursday 23 September at the Community Centre in Warrandyte @ 8.00 pm. Phil started his career in the oil industry working with BP in oil drilling off the coast of the UK. He is an active spokesperson on the study of peak oil and has his own business in planning for sustainable transport solutions. He spoke earlier this year at a seminar arranged by Manningham Council. No bookings are required to attend the talk at Warrandyte and entry is free but a gold coin donation is most welcome towards arranging and promoting future events.

Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of easy-to-extract oil is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline due to the high cost of drilling. The emerging impact of the depletion of the world's oil production will be highlighted by escalating prices due to production cost blowout. With 90% of our transport fuelled by oil and wide use of oil in food production and everyday household products, the world will then rapidly need to access alternate power and product substitutes. Questions such as whether time will allow for the transitioning to renewable transport power and other technologies and how we avoid the potential economic recessions likely from the price volatility remain unresolved. Directly linked to climate change through the important role of renewable energy sources, this is a topic to important to ignore. More information can be obtained from Wayne Rankin, WarrandyteCAN 9844 4438

MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT

To all those who’ve shown interest in WarrandyteCAN, thank you. Effectively you’ve put your hand up to say ‘I want to do as much as I can to reduce carbon emissions locally and to influence the broader debate on climate change’.
Well done. WarrandyteCAN emails its members and supporters on upcoming climate related events. If you wish to join our supporters list or preferably become a member, just download and complete the membership application form below. Members are encouraged to participate with the Committee in identifying, planning and actioning events and activities. You would be warmly welcomed if you would like to get actively involved in WarrandyteCAN. Contact Wayne Rankin, President, to discuss on 9844 4438. WarrandyteCAN make a Difference.