Home → Live → My House → Climate Action

We're taking climate action and so can you!

Climate Action

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

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

What have we done so far?

 

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Declared a climate emergency

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Reduced our greenhouse emissions from our operations by 44 per cent since 2010

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Replaced 6,000 street lights with more energy efficient alternatives

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Installed 2,758 solar panels on 30 of our buildings

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Planting 2,700 trees each year to increase our tree canopy

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Running education programs and events to support the community to adapt to climate change

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Offering to enter into Environmental Upgrade Agreements with commercial building owners to make sustainable upgrades to their operations

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Providing a residential kerbside food and organics recycling collection service to reduce emissions created by food breaking down in landfill

  • Mar 12, 2020

    Have introduced full electric vehicles to our fleet

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!

climate

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

Buy less stuff and think about repairing, swapping or borrowing before you buy something new

Take public transport, cycle or walk when possible

Consider using a car sharing service or car pooling

Reduce your home's emissions 

  • Consider solar power for you home
  • Remember to switch off lights and other devices at the socket when not in use
  • Swap your halogen or fluorescent lights with LED lighting
  • 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.

Eat less meat

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

 

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

 

 

Choose sustainable transport

  • Take public transport, cycle or walk when possible
  • Consider using a car sharing service or car pooling

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.

 

Take community action

 

More information