Today we talk about gas! If only we didn’t have to! But…..
😡😡😡 Just prior to the release of the Australian budget, the federal Resources Minister announced the “Future Gas Strategy”. 😡😡😡
This announcement broke in the last two days of a national “Rise Up” campaign, when thousands of people were calling on the Labor government to stop coal and gas, stop subsidies, and improve our environment laws to take account of the heating climate (Check out this video of the Brisbane rally - make sure you turn up the sound!).
The Strategy generated an instant outcry from the environment and climate world. Even economists, businesses, and some government MPs (not the ‘important ones’ mind you) spoke out against it. You can see it shredded here with this analytical debunking.
Without even reading the gassy details, I personally see this as the biggest betrayal of the people by a federal government which touted its climate action credentials to win the last election.
This sense of betrayal motivated me to take part in a protest sit-in at the Federal Treasurer’s electorate office. It was good to be with other people who were equally angry and frustrated. We all see that the fossil fuel industry can always rely on the government to bail them out of anything that threatens their obscenely big profits, or looks like an effective policy or law which would deliver us from climate chaos.
If you have missed the story behind the future gas strategy, there is a really good analysis from the ever reliable Australia Institute. My fav. quote:
“In this absurd landscape, expanding fossil fuel use is the path to “net zero”; burning far more gas and producing more greenhouse emissions is the answer to the climate crisis; and ramping up gas exports, which have hiked domestic prices and damaged local manufacturing, is the way to produce new “green” industries.”
But, the Rise Up events were not all just venting frustration and disappointment. I met two young people who are just setting out on their empowering adventure of taking action. I was hugely impressed by these highly motivated people working in science and engineering disciplines. We are stronger together!
Enough of the sour taste of gas!
It’s always heartening to find positive stories amongst the challenges. So here’s some sugar hits of good news to take away the bitter taste of the future gas strategy.
The Vergemont Cattle Station is 352,000 hectares, the size of Yosemite National Park in the US. The deal was made possible with both Queensland state government funds and a whopping $21 million anonymous donation from a philanthropist.
And
TV reality show, ‘MasterChef’ has been referred to ACCC because of its ‘greenwashing’ claims about ‘renewable gas’! The climate-conscious champs at Comms Declare (marketing and advertising professionals avowed to never work for fossil fuel assignments) put the case that:
“Hundreds of thousands of MasterChef fans are being deceived into thinking that the gas used in the program is good for the planet.”
And the good work of Comms Declare doesn’t stop there. Together with like-minded professionals of good conscience they stopped AMPOL sponsorship of the annual Walkley Awards! Boom!
And more GOOD breaking news…
Issue 41 Our Sweltering Summer petitioned Qld’s water minister, Glenn Butcher, to reject Glencore’s proposal to capture CO2 emissions and pump them underground into the Great Artesian Basin. Last Thursday, the Qld Government rejected the Project! Agforce, a key opponent of the project, says that nonetheless, the EPBC Act still needs fixing (an ongoing theme for Climate Club Qld).
Go you good things!
So what simple ways can we push for change and feel like part of a global community of everyday people? Check out these…..
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
Methane is a super pollutant greenhouse gas, 86 times more toxic than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period. Coal and gas extraction release huge amounts - but miners never fess up to the amount! Their disclosures are all voluntary - and guess what, can be up to 20 times less than actual emissions.
Action: Take TWO MINUTES to demand Minister Bowen fixes Australia’s broken methane measurement rules?
Still on methane - now you can share this information with your own MP. An ABC investigation has revealed that Adani, Whitehaven and Anglo-America are dangerously under-reporting their emissions and super-polluting methane leaks, and the Government does nothing about it.
Action: Use this form letter to let your MP know that Australia has a serious methane problem and needs to create a strong methane action plan.
ANZ has finally ruled out funding fossil fuel projects directly - but they are still a huge lender to companies that expand fossil fuel mining. This ends in the same result - easy money to dig up and burn coal and gas and trash the climate. It’s time to stop funding climate change.
Action: Use this form letter to ANZ telling them to rule out finance for companies expanding fossil fuels! (Also featured in Issue 44)
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
Ever wondered what citizen science is all about? And what it’s got to do with climate? Well, across the globe there are tens of thousands of projects that you can join to help build our understanding about the causes and effects of climate change, whether for 1 minute or for days at a time. There are so many projects to join - take a 15 minute scroll through to see if anything catches your eye!
Action: Check out the Australian Citizen Science Project Finder and Zooniverse to find a project to join.
Walk one of the 80 🚶🏽🚶🏽🚶🏽ClimateWatch 🚶🏽🚶🏽🚶🏽trails to help track how species are changing over time.
See what the 292 volunteers on the ⚡⚡⚡AtmosEleC⚡⚡⚡ project are doing to help understand how climate change and atmospheric electricity are connected.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
If you’re in the Toowoomba region, why not join the United Nations World Environment Day celebrations with workshops, stalls, children’s activities, speakers’ corner, displays, guest speakers, dance and music!
Action: Get along on Sunday 2 June from 10am to 4pm. At beautiful Lake Annand Park on the corner of Long and Mackenzie Streets, South Toowoomba.
Can QLD get to 100% renewables sustainably? Have you had a conversation with someone about transitioning to renewables and they've agreed renewables are great, but are challenged by the scale of 100% renewables? Join guest speakers to explore how we can solve BIG questions, such as whether we have enough materials and resources, and if we can resource a transition in ways that nature and communities thrive. This also has a regional flavour for North Qlders.
Action: Register to join this online event on Monday 3 June 7pm - 8pm (Held via Zoom with link emailed to you one day prior to the event.)
With the transition to clean energy well underway, we can see enthusiasm and misinformation vying for our attention. How do we cut through the noise and get well informed, balanced input?
We have talked previously about reputable sources of information such as The Climate Council, Australia Institute, and The Conversation. For an energetic, clear, well-informed take on clean energy technologies from an engineer’s perspective, I’d recommend Engineering with Rosie, an Aussie YouTube channel. Rosie has a PhD in mechanical engineering and 18 years of experience working as a professional engineer developing new energy technologies. Check out her recent episode on nuclear energy.
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action.
See you in two weeks
Malcolm
plus Robyn, Ron and Jan - The Climate Club Qld team
We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Meanjin - Brisbane. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded - always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
To help keep these newsletters useful, we’d love your feedback and you can always get in touch by email climateclubqld@gmail.com or check out the simple info on our About page.
Love the citizen science link, thanks, and the sit in photos! Thank you, you good people! I’ll also look forward to hearing in engineer podcast.