Issue #7: The beginning of the end for fossil fuels?
You already know what’s really causing energy costs to soar and for energy to be so 'scarce'.
Despite all the smoke and mirrors from the usual suspects in the media and fossil fuel sector, the truth is out there at last! According to the latest from the International Energy Agency (IEA), fossil fuels are 90% responsible for electricity prices increasing. And our forced dependence on them will decline from now on.
While this has seemed obvious for some time, the IEA has been very conservative in the past. So this is big news: we may finally be seeing the beginning of the end of fossil fuel fantasy and misdirection.
Ending our fossil fuel fantasy might be happening here in Australia too. The Environment Council of Central Queensland (ECCQ) successfully bid to have the federal Government review the assessments of 18 coal and gas projects. These include some very significant projects which, until now, have not had the global warming impact of fossil fuels on animals and plants assessed in granting approvals.
“Assessing the risks and harm of new coal or gas should account for all the evidence, including how it would contribute to climate breakdown,” ECCQ president Christine Carlisle said. (BTW Christine, pictured above, does an amazing job not just on this!)
Thirteen of the 18 projects are in Queensland, all listed here. Watch this space to add your voice to the review, as we will get to make submissions down the track.
Here at Climate Club Qld we are super excited to share those future opportunities for you to make a submission, so stay tuned! And subscribed!
In the meantime, we’ve got actions where you can make a difference - with our fortnightly Climate Club Queensland picks. 🌞 🍍
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
Coal miners are struggling to get insurance in Australia due to sustained activism. So far 45 major insurers have ruled out any coverage of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine, and it seems, 41 major insurers have some broader coal exclusion policy in place. Insurance is essential for the mining companies so they are looking at setting up an insurance mutual scheme. We need to shut down that option and keep the pressure up!
Action: Contact the Australian Broker Network using this automated email form, and call on it to commit to not allowing its license to be used by the coal companies fueling the climate crisis.
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
CommBank will soon review its oil and gas lending policy. Since signing up to the Paris Agreement to keep climate heating to less than 1.5 degrees, they have loaned over $14 BILLION to fossil fuel companies! Time for us to call them out.
We can pressure them to rule out new oil and gas financing and create a safer climate for all.
Action: Use this easy email form to send a message to all the CommBank board today.
Remember how Clive Palmer wanted to build a new coal-fired power station in the Galilee Basin, despite Queenslanders, the Government, and the rest of the world trying to move away from polluting, expensive and unreliable coal? Well, he’s resubmitted his application again!
Action: The Qld Government has opened up consultation on the project - this is our chance to stop it once and for all. Email your comments using these simple guidelines to formulate your email.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
If you live round Brisbane or the South East and are curious to know more about electric vehicles, this is for you! Solar Citizens is hosting the Samford Electric Vehicle Experience, a fun free hands-on community event.
Action: Find out everything you might want to know about electric transport – plus the opportunity to take a test-ride!
Be the active voice for your community! Throughout late 2022 and 2023, the Queensland Government wants to hear from you about how they should implement the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan. This will include development of Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (QREZ) regions, partnerships, addressing issues for local workforces in transition to the renewable future, and energy storage needs!
Action: Check out the schedule of face to face events near you OR do the online survey.
Our inbox is always open! To help us keep these newsletters helpful, you can always reply to us with:
Actions you would like us to share (or use this form)
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Fun facts, writing, infographics you’ve seen about climate action
Our excellent friends at Climate Club (NZ - yes, the original one!) have done a thought-provoking little explainer about why throwing soup at art works is worth considering in the context of being catalysts for social change.
Here in Oz, we have satirist First Dog on the Moon with a slightly different approach to the subject! We love First Dog - always has a heart for the planet and the activists!
Whatever you do, be a catalyst for change in your lounge, your neighborhood, your workplace, your playground.
See you in two weeks. I’ll still be here in my back yard trying to be a catalyst!
Malcolm
plus Jan, Robyn and Ron - The Climate Club Qld team
We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Magandjin/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.
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