Global warming and European winter

Over dinner last week, someone at our table was querying why, if the climate is warming, the current European winter is so severe. I found a good blog post with some great graphics explaining why.

New study of public opinion about climate change

"A must-read study published Monday in the journal Climatic Change debunks some pervasive myths about public opinion and climate change. [ ... ]

Here are some of the key findings from “Shifting public opinion on climate change: an empirical assessment of factors influencing concern over climate change in the U.S., 2002–2010″:

• “… media coverage of climate change and elite cues from politicians and advocacy groups are among the most prominent drivers of the public perception of the threat associated with climate change”
• “The greater the quantity of media coverage of climate change, the greater the level of public concern.”
• “New York Times mentions of An Inconvenient Truth significantly boosted the public’s perception of the urgency of climate change (P≤.001). The number of mentions in the New York Times is a proxy for the extent of overall media attention to this film.”
• “Articles in popular scientific magazines do reach significance” in terms of influencing public concern, but it is a modest effect."

The above was excerpted from the Climate progress blog. Unfortunately the study isn't open access (although people at RMIT and other institutions with a SpringerLink subscription can read the full text). However, the blog article is quite extensive.

End of year Lighter Footprints dinner

Thirty of us had a great dinner together on Wednesday night December 7th. A highlight was the range of comments made as we went round the room sharing what had stuck with us as memorable from the past year of working with Lighter Footprints.













 
 
Here are the comments made on the night by Carolyn (convenor), followed by a piece from Sue King.

This year 2011-
So what have been the highlights for Lighter Footprints

• Ok it has to be the year of the carbon tax – I am still finding it hard to believe it actually got through, having braced myself for disappointment – I just knew something would happen which would blow it out of the water. I have been convinced for a very long time now that a price on carbon is key to reforms which are required to change the levels of carbon emissions we have come to see as normal, and I cannot agree with those who believe that because this step is insufficient in itself to turn us around, we should work to see it brought down. This issue will raise itself again in due course when we address the matter of the rollover to an emissions trading scheme. I see a year’s reprieve next year when the reforms will begin to bite, before we need to address the ETS matter.

We contributed to the drive towards this carbon tax in several ways:

• we ran our forums –having direct or indirect relevance to the issue of reform- these still reverberate because of the recordings on the website – thanks to Peter Campbell ‘s videos and photos and to the slides we wrested from the speakers, and Simon Grosser’s persistence in getting them upon our site.
• we ran stalls and some street handouts aimed at support for the carbon tax in the face of the extreme hostility being mounted. We had close to 1000 letters signed and forwarded to members of the multiparty committee on CC to add strength to their arms. And we let the opposition know these numbers.
• we joined the earth ball relay became part of the montage presented to the parliament prior to the passage of the carbon tax package. – also still getting hits on our website – maybe because of the rather nice song we sang.
• we supported several campaigns directly and indirectly related to the carbon tax- the Getup action, the Yes Campaign, and 100% renewables campaign, the EV letter writing campaign – where we continued our commitment to getting letters into papers. We’ve had more success at having letters published than any other CAG in Australia - or so I believe!
• we got a mention in Hansard via Anna Burke who has continued to support us as the kind of local action group that changes the game by being out there supporting the policy for reform.
• we joined the deckchair month of speakers on the steps of parliament– set up by LIVE
• we were invited to speak about ethical leadership at a community level at Melbourne University leadership course at Mt Eliza.

What else have we done?

• we ran our monthly meetings with speakers at most of them- - variety being the key! – Plants and CO2,; Planning for cities here versus US; latest BZE plan and a run down on their stationary energy approach; The Pacific Islands dilemma with CC, and one of the very nice outcomes from that being Yea High school connection with one of the islands schools; how do we go about working with our local Council and possibly assisting candidates who want to stand; and more
• we also ran monthly small group meetings which became the drivers for what we asked of the rest of our group – the key to our success is the work of these beavers the Fed/State Politics group and the Local gov/ community group (the latter tending to be more ad hoc)
• we helped to run the national climate action conference which was held at Melb Uni in April this year
• we joined CANA
• we improved the website
• we made good links with Boroondara Council, and the Whitehorse Council
• and lots more! – like our recent Kris Kindle stall, and the general wonder of finding friendships with people of like mind.

Overall a big year. An unforgettable year.

So let’s now go round the table and hear from others about the things they have gotten out of belonging to this group this year – give us an example of something you have enjoyed doing and felt was worthwhile – that had an impact. Can be quite small, and it doesn’t matter if it has already been mentioned – if it was true for you too, then tell us. Tonight we’re not going to explore the “how might we have done this better theme”- we have an strategic planning day coming up to air some of the things we’d like to improve. This is our celebration time. What did we get out of this year.

CI
7/12/2011

It was a time to revisit what we have achieved and to remember where we came from.

Five years ago we set up Lighterfootprints with Carolyn at the helm. Carolyn wrote a letter in the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood news expressing her despondency at Al Gores Inconvenient Truth and sending out pleas to like minded individuals in a call, albeit a quiet call, to action.

The group is not run as a traditional association, with committees etc handing down the next years plan, it is a collective of people bringing their own passion and ideas and allowing them to follow their interests motivated to make their footprints and those of others lighter than they are. Carolyn is the hub of all of this and with her, the spokes of our wheel turn.

At our annual dinner everyone got to chance to articulate to the group what they had felt were the successes of the year. This ranged from the carbon tax and our efforts to support it, kids activities at Maling Road, letter publishing in the Herald sun, local government engagement, forums allowing politicians to articulate their position, a talk about low lying islands, talk about urban deforestation, , joining the climate action groups network, becoming well known, and markedly improving our website.

It is our individual and collective actions which are going to drive us forward, with our passion forged together I believe that we can all do great things and small things, the more that we try, the more that we will discover within ourselves what we are capable of and whilst the impact of our efforts might never be quantifiable if we stay true to the principle of a lighter footprint then every action might reduce the momentum of this greatest threat, not only to humanity but everything living which shares this earth.

People have gone on to do bigger things like setting up a climate health alliance, designing a carbon management diploma, lecturing in sustainable energy policy writing magnificent songs and surely others, it is hard to keep track of exactly what people end up doing, in our free spirited and passionate group.

Since Al Gores call to action 5 years ago the face of our Earth has changed in its attitude to climate change. Every action we take slows the momentum of this moving force, we hope that it is enough. What we do know is that the more of us that are on this side, the side of hope, the more we can achieve to save our beautiful Earth

Sue King
Member of Lighterfootprints

Lighter Footprints joins CANA

CANA (Climate Action Network Australia) is a network of over 70 Australia non-government groups working for action on climate change. It is the Australian arm of Climate Action Network International.

In November this year CANA approved Lighter Footprints as a member, which gives us access to the latest climate change science and policy and campaigning in Australia and internationally. CANA has access to the civil societies activities at the international climate change negotiations.

In addition we became part of the processes established to work on joint domestic and international advocacy with other CANA members, and can participate fully in the annual conference.

Our membership means that we support the objects of CANA:

1. To provide a forum for members to work together on campaigns and projects to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to ecologically sustainable levels; 
2. To formulate and promote policies to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and to ensure that Australia is part of the international agreements to make the pollution reductions necessary to avoid and mitigate climate change; 
3. To encourage co-operation and develop strategic alliances to help advance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; 
4. To encourage the active involvement and interest of the Australian community in campaigns to reduce Australia’s impact on the atmosphere; 
5. To represent Australia and contribute to the objects and purposes of the Climate Acton Network International as documented in the CAN Charter
   http://cana.enviro-geek.net/sites/default/filesCANCHARTER.pdf

For further information on CANA see www.cana.net.au

Why do people reject science?

Excerpt from an article by Stephan Lewandowsky:

"What does Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity have to do with the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)?

What does acid rain have to do with the fact tobacco smoking causes lung cancer?

What does Reye’s syndrome have in common with the CFCs that caused the hole in the ozone layer?

And what do all those issues have to do with the fact our climate is rapidly changing due to human greenhouse gas emissions?

The answer is that in all those cases, solid scientific evidence was met with vociferous opposition.

The historical evidence is overwhelming that some of that opposition has been organised by vested interests, often successfully delaying political and regulatory action that posed a perceived threat to corporate profits. The peer-reviewed literature has clearly identified the subterfuge, distortion and manufacture of doubt with which vested interests delayed the control of tobacco, CFCs and sulphur emissions."

Lewandowsky is principally looking at the reasons why people tend to resist the science of climate change. Read the rest of this very interesting article at Climate Spectator.

HRL Court Challenge

Several of us attended the demonstration outside the high Court in King St this week in support of the case being run by Environment Victoria and others challenging the EPA's support for the new HRL coal fired/gasfired power station

Below is the EV email on the event 23/10/2011 and links to their website:

Legal Challenge against HRL started today

At 10am this morning, the legal challenge from Environment Victoria, Local’s Into Victoria’s Environment, Doctors for the Environment and individual Mr. Martin Shields against the EPA got underway in earnest.

Thanks to those of you who made it along at lunchtime today to show your support for this challenge by environmental groups. With people coming from Ballarat to Wonthaggi, it was a fun, positive reminder that all parties challenging the EPA approval of HRL on environmental grounds are joined in their actions by supporters from across the Victorian community.

Check out the pics here today >

Thank you also to everyone who has been helping with the petition. We are about half way to the goal of 10,000 hard copy signatures, so please keep ‘em rolling in!

If you would like to keep you up to date with the case as it unfolds over the next four weeks. EV will be writing blogs, facebook and twitter. You can help us build the momentum of this campaign by sharing info and comments about the case online (please tweet using the hashtag #stopHRL).

Get the thrills and spills from today’s proceedings - check out today’s blog from EV’s Safe Climate Campaigner >

Thanks again for your support thus far… and wish us luck!

Josie Lee
Safe Climate Campaigner
Environment Victoria

OFFICE HOURS: 9am-5pm Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
PHONE: (03) 93418118 EMAIL: josie.lee@environmentvictoria.org.au
RECEPTION: (03) 93418100 FAX: (03) 93418199

STREET ADDRESS: Level 2, 60 Leicester Street Carlton, Victoria 3053
POST: PO Box 12575, A'Beckett Street, Melbourne 8006

Say Yes Earth Relay

Say Yes Earth Relay: Melbourne

Launched on Thursday, 15 September

Over the coming few weeks, as the price on pollution is debated in Parliament, Victorian communities will come together to take part in the Earth Relay - a series of actions to symbolise support for action on climate change.

Melbourne, Environment Victoria and friends

Like the passage of the Olympic flame to the site of the Olympic Games, communities across Victoria will be passing a human sized earth globe from suburb to suburb and town to town. And after travelling across the state, the globe will be taken to Parliament House, Canberra to send the Victorian community’s message of hope for the future.

So get involved in this important moment in history. Hop here to find out when the Earth Relay is coming to a suburb or town near you  www.environmentvictoria.org.au/earth-relay

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Canterbury, Lighter Footprints hold 'the Earth'

Lighter Footprints were a link in the Earth Relay heading for Canberra organised by Environment Victoria. We had it for one brief hold on the afternoon of Tuesday, 11 October.

The purpose was to support the passing of legislation to begin the process of reducing our carbon emissions. This piece of legislation is the crucial start to a long process, without which we will struggle to change the direction of growth of emissions and global warming - with its devastating consequences.

Jade Invargson-Favretto accompanied us with her inspiring song 'Beautiful Earth'.

Jade Ingvarson-Favretto sings 'Beautiful Earth'

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Here are more photos from the Earth Relay (11 October) which was organised by Environment Victoria, photos below taken for them by Rodney Dekker (see our collection of his photos from the Pacific Islands on our blog dated 14 September).

Plant responses to global change: consequences for food security

A presentation from Ros Gleodow Assoc Prof from Monash University, at the August Lighter Footprints meeting.

Ros outlined her research into the impact of climate change (increased CO2, temperature and reduced water) on certain plants.

In general in high C02 conditions, the plants produce more woody growth, and fewer leaves, and those produce less protein (associated with the ease of producing carbohydrate so less enzyme required) and a slowing of the expected growth as the amounts of CO2 increase, as plants adapt.

Climate Change in the Pacific Islands

The Oxfam Photographic Exhibition of the Pacific Islands
was launched at Q.P.O. in Kew, Victoria Australia on September 14.

Named 'Land is Life,' the exhibition contains photos taken by Rodney Dekker of Tuvalu and Kirabati. It was MC'ed by Carolyn Ingvarson of Lighter Footprints.This exhibition demonstrates that climate change is already having an impact on daily life.

Kiribati and Tuvula photo exhibition

As part of the program, Jade Ingvarson-Favretto sang her original song 'Beautiful Earth'. Jade's song matched the mood of this occasion, watch the video below. Other special guests included Josh Frydenberg (Federal Member for Kooyong) who launched the Exhibition, and Oxfam CEO Andrew Hewett who sponsored it.

From left: Andrew Hewett CEO of Oxfam, Josh Frydenberg Federal Member for Kooyong, MC Carolyn Ingvarson Convenor of Lighter Footprints, Ethan McGrath and Emeretta Cross Representatives of the Pacific Islands.

Public Forum: How to live well with a price on carbon

Lighter Footprints Forum

HOW TO LIVE WELL WITH A PRICE ON CARBON

A panel discussion on why and how we can live in these changed times.

Wednesday, August 10th
Chandelier Room, Hawthorn Town Hall, Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

The forum was opened by:

Cr Nicholas Tragas - Councillor for Maranoa Ward and Mayor of Boroondara 

Three speakers brought different perspectives: government, climate/energy expert, and community leader, they then responded to questions.

Anna Burke  - MP for Chisholm

Alan Pears - RMIT, Sustainable Solutions

Dr Brett Parris - Monash University

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Carolyn Ingvarson

Cr Nicholas Tragas



Anna Burke



Alan Pears



Dr Brett Parris



Q&A

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Alan Pears - slides - price on carbon forum Aug 2011

Brett Parris - slides - price on carbon forum Aug 2011