2020 is shaping up to be a year of reckoning. A year when we come face to face with the stark reality of the climate crisis.
All the evidence suggests we have to peak global emissions NOW and then completely transform our economy, energy and transport systems to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.
For years I have been feeling almost paralysed in terms of how to respond to this reality. Now the climate emergency is unfolding before us, and I’m looking for a way to deal with the ecological grief that underpins my life, like a persistent drone in a minor key.
I have to try something. Anything. Everything I can possibly do. All kinds of action on climate change. Even if it does all feel pathetically futile and highly unlikely to succeed. In another decade, if nothing has changed, that will be the time to wallow in despair.
2020 will be my year of climate action. Every week I’m going to focus on a different kind of action and this blog is here to keep me accountable.
Will you join me?
The stripes show each year’s departure from the annual average temperature of Australia between 1901 to 2018.
You can download regional versions: https://showyourstripes.info/
Actions
Week 7: Sign the Climate Emergency declaration & listen to the Summit sessions
The National Climate Emergency Summit in mid-February was a crucial gathering of advocates and experts on the climate crisis we face. A key outcome of the summit was the Safe Climate Declaration which you can read and sign on to online. All of the sessions at the...
6: Advocate for the Climate Change Act
Zali Stegall (the independent who ousted Tony Abbott in the last election) is introducing a Climate Change bill to Parliament on 23 March. Zali is calling for a conscience vote by MPs and asking all of us to contact our local members and urge them to vote for the...
5: Get inspired by the National Climate Emergency Summit
This Friday 14 and Saturday 15 February a full house of climate advocates and activists will be meeting in Melbourne for the first National Climate Emergency Summit.Even if you could get to Melbourne, the summit is sold out. But you can watch the plenary sessions by...
4: Make a submission on the Browse LNG project
Woodside are seeking approval of their Browse/Burrup LNG hub projects off the north-west of Australia. For too long, LNG has been mistakenly described as a cleaner fossil fuel, or a transition fuel, but the scale of carbon emissions from LNG projects in WA is...
3: Divest your super
In Australia we are all investors, thanks to our compulsory superannuation system. And by choosing where we put our super we can direct that investment away from fossil fuels.Transitioning to a low carbon future will require investment, and one of the few completely...
2: Contact moderate Liberal MPs
There is an important political moment in Australia right now. A tiny sliver of an opening in the brick wall of climate change denial in our government. If you are interested in some background, this podcast is a fascinating conversation between Malcolm Turnbull and...