We're taking climate action and so can you!
Across the globe there's an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We all have a part to play to achieve deep cuts to emissions. It requires a shared effort between residents, businesses, councils and other levels of government.
What is climate change?
It's any change in the climate, lasting for several decades or longer, including changes in temperature, rainfall or wind patterns.
Our climate is changing quite dramatically – it’s getting hotter. The global average temperature has already risen by 1.1°C since the pre-industrial period (1700s).
While the earth’s climate has changed throughout history, scientists agree that the significant changes we’ve seen over the past 100 years or so have been due to human activities. Recent warming is also happening at a rate that is much faster than previous climatic changes.
What's causing climate change?
Since the Industrial Revolution (which began in the mid to late 1700s), greenhouse gases have built up in the atmosphere, which is trapping more heat close to the earth’s surface resulting in warmer global temperatures. This is because humans began digging up and burning coal, oil and gas, as well as scaling up agriculture and tree-clearing (deforestation), and increasing waste (landfill), which are all processes that produce greenhouse gases.
Temperature rise has resulted in warmer average temperatures, heat waves, flooding, poor air quality, species loss, rising sea levels and bushfires.
What does it mean for Moonee Valley?
- Increased frequency and severity of floods, heatwaves and droughts.
- Impacts on wildlife due to heat stress, drought and habitat changes.
- Impacts on health due to changes in air pollution and aeroallergens (such as pollen), vector-borne diseases, extreme weather events and other factors.
- Increased pressure on emergency services and health systems to deal with the health impacts of climate change.
Consider solar power for your home
Switch off lights and other devices at the socket when you're not using them
Swap halogen or fluorescent lights for LED lighting
Choose energy efficient appliances
Purchase renewable power through your energy retailer
Learn more through the home Energy Action Guide
Avoid buying products with plastic packaging and recycle your soft plastic at a RedCycle collection point at Coles or Woolworths
Place your food scraps into your green lid bins or compost
Pack nude food (plastic free) lunches for work and school
Take public transport, cycle or walk when possible
Consider using a car sharing service or car pooling
Take action
We all have a part to play in reducing emissions and it is still possible to limit global temperatures to prevent the most disastrous consequences of climate change.
Don’t leave it too late and be part of the solution and take climate action in 2020!
Reduce your home's emissions
- Watch Council’s Summer Home Efficiency webinar hosted by the Sapien Group.
- Consider solar power for your home
- Watch Council’s solar webinar hosted by Renew HERE.
- Consider a solar hot water system, State Government rebate available here
- Remember to switch off lights and other devices at the socket when not in use
- Swap your halogen or fluorescent lights with LED lighting
- Install sensor lighting outdoors or remember to turn off outdoor lighting when not required
- Select energy efficient appliances for your home
- Purchase renewable power through your energy retailerFind out more through the Energy Action Guide
- Switch to electric. When replacing appliances go for induction cooktops, electric hot water pumps and reverse cycle heating rather than ducted gas systems. More information here.
- Calculate your own household carbon footprint
- Visit the Victorian Government’s Energy Info Hub for support reducing your energy bill.
Reduce your waste
- Avoid buying products with plastic packaging and recycle you soft plastic at a RedCycle collection point at Coles or Wooolworths
- Place your food scraps into your Council green lid bins or compost. Avoid creating food waste in the first place with a few easy steps. Visit the Love Food Hate Waste website for inspiration.
- Pack nude food (plastic free) lunches for work and school
- Buy less stuff and instead think about repairing, swapping or borrowing before you buy something new
Eat less meat
- Raising livestock uses about 70 per cent of agricultural land and generates 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse emissions. By eating less meat and incorporating more greens into your meals you can reduce your environmental impact significantly
- Take up Meat Free Mondays
Choose sustainable transport
- Take public transport, cycle or walk when possible
- Consider using a car sharing service or car pooling
Divest your funds
- Do you know if your savings and mortgage are funding fossil fuel projects? Invest your savings in banks and superannuation funds that protect not damage our environment. Learn more at marketforces.org.au
- Investigate your investments
- You can view our recent divestment webinar by Market Forces here
Take 2- Take the climate change pledge
- More than 12,000 Victorians have taken the pledge and become part of a growing movement working towards achieving zero-net emissions and keeping global temperature rise to under two degrees. Pledge here.
TALK! Have a conversation about climate change
Having a conversation about climate change is a simple way to improve community awareness. Here are some fact to get you started:
- The World is warming- Global average temperatures have been rising for more than 50 years. According to Monash University the number of warm December night in Moonee Valley has increased significantly since 1970, from three to seven night above 15c.
- The intensity of extreme weather is increasing – While extreme weather events may occur naturally, climate change is influencing the frequency and severity of these events.
- Climate change is already affecting our health – heat causes more deaths than any other type of extreme weather in Australia.
- Australia has an important role to play – Australia is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases per person of any country in the developed world.
- Immediate action is critical – The decisions we make now will determine the severity of climate change.
Learn more below
Take community action
- Join or donate to a local environment group such as:
- Moonee Valley Sustainability
- Moonee Valley Sharing Shed
- Moonee Valley Repair Café
- Ascot Vale Boomerang Bags
- Moonee Valley Gardens for Wildlife
- Grassroots Group – Moonee Valley youth climate action group
- Moonee Valley Community Gardens
- Moonee Valley Friends Groups
- ACF Moonee Valley /CERES group
- Australian parents for Climate Action
- Attend a Council Green Living event
- Sign up to our Green Living newsletter
- Support your local schools and businesses to go green
- Write a letter to your local Member of Parliament requesting strong commitments and targets on emissions. Find you Federal MPs HERE and State MPs HERE
We've declared a Climate Emergency
We know there's an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions to avoid the worst impacts of this climate emergency. That’s why in October 2019 we joined 58 councils across Australia and more than 1,000 worldwide in declaring climate change should be treated as a national emergency.
The purpose of the climate emergency declaration movement is to accelerate sustained and meaningful action by all levels of government, and for people globally to engage with the challenge of avoiding catastrophic climate change and restoring a safe climate.
What’s next?
- We're on track to achieve zero net emissions from our operations in 2020
- We're in the process of switching to 100 per cent renewable energy as part of a Power Purchase Agreement with 48 other Victorian Councils
- Working to achieve 30 per cent tree canopy cover by 2040
- Working to achieve zero net emissions for our community by 2040
- Continue to support the community to prepare for the impacts of the climate emergency through education and awareness
Click HERE for a full list of Council’s environmental achievements.
What have we done so far?
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More information
- CSIRO for national climate science and research
- NASA for global warming trends
- BOM for the latest climate trends
- Australian Energy Foundation for home and business energy advice
- Climate Council for climate change communications and advice
- Sustainability Victoria for solar and home sustainability advice
- Australian Psychological Society for information on how to talk to children about climate change
- Visit the Snapshot community climate tool for community emissions data
- Watch councils past Green Living webinars
- Watch ABC’s Fight For Planet A: Our Climate Challenge
- Watch the 2040 documentary via Kanopy (you will need a Moonee Valley library membership)
- Your Home is your guide to creating a comfortable home with low impact on the environment – economical to run, healthier to live in and adaptable to your changing needs.
- Green Action Plan – read more about Councils plan to meet our actions, targets and strategic objectives which were endorsed as part of MV2040 in June 2018.
- ABCs pocket guide to climate change - The first step to being able to speak about climate change is to understand it. Not everyone learned about it in school, so here are the basics everyone should know.
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