Gippsland Climate News

There has been a mushrooming of community based ‘voices’ groups around the country, most of whom have climate action as a priority platform. These include the ‘Voices for Monash’ group that recently advertised for a candidate and now has one. Many of these candidates – mostly, but not all, women – are being financially supported by Climate 200 * helping to overcome many of the disadvantages that all independent candidates face. Most of these candidates have strong platforms on climate change and/or renewable energy.

ABC journalist Rio Davis noted, “Voices for Monash has picked a candidate to run in this year’s Federal election. Phillip Island lawyer Deb Leonard will run in the seat of Monash on a platform of climate change action, establishing an independent corruption agency and promoting inclusive governance.”

For a number of reasons there has been a collapse in support for the LNP in the polls and the election will be called within three months. The Omicron strain of the Covid pandemic has certainly ‘thrown a spanner in the (political) works’ with a rapid spike in infections, an increasing death toll, overwhelmed testing facilities and health workers, and shortages in chemists and supermarkets. Until now, the nation has been sympathetic to our politician’s attempts to follow ‘best science’ but the decision in NSW, with Federal government support; to ‘let it rip’ has lost much of that.

The Climate 200 organisation is only supporting independent candidates in coalition held seats. Besides climate, other issues of concern include integrity of parliament and women’s issues. Many of their candidates also have strong ‘liberal’ credentials (in the true sense of the word) and have support from the centre and conservative side of politics. The support from Climate 200 is mainly financial, but includes legal and political advice.

There are a number of ‘wild cards’ in this election including how influential the Murdoch factor will be, and the effect of Clive Palmer’s advertising campaign. I suspect that they lose as many votes as they gain, especially in their association with the anti-vaxxers. Also a disastrous performance by the Liberal Party may lead to a long awaited split, if two or more of their safe seats fall to the climate independents or voices candidates.

In Monash it is difficult to predict at this early stage how Deb Leonard will go. The burgeoning publicity associated with the high profile candidates popping up across the country, and the good work of independent MPs Helen Haines and Zali Steggall, must be in her favour. Further the current sitting member’s stance on vaccination is controversial and probably disadvantageous. Also at the last State election the seat of Bass, part of Monash, returned an ALP member, making for a very interesting ballot. Perhaps this will be the climate election we have been waiting for?

*I am a financial supporter of this organisation.

(excerpts from an essay*)

The Carboniferous Period 359 – 299 million years ago (mya):  For over sixty million years the Earth was covered with tropical forests where the first land lizards crawled from the seas and the air teemed with flying insects. From these forests the air was enriched with oxygen and coal laid down.

Gippsland brown coal …was laid down between 50 to 15 mya. The land was covered with tropical rain forest until about 20 mya when a cooler drier climate occurred effecting the distribution of tree species.

During the 1700s the industrial age was born with the mining and burning of coal predominantly used to manufacture iron and steel. Later in the 1800s oil and gas were mined, initially for lighting and heating and later for motor vehicles and transport.

Over the past half million years CO₂ levels have fluctuated between 150 ppm and 300 ppm in a fairly regular cycle, ascertained by ice core samples. More recently however we see that CO₂ concentration has exceeded 400 ppm and steadily rising. Scientists attribute this to the burning of fossil fuels. We see a rise in mean ocean temperature, receding polar and glacial ice, rising sea levels and more extreme weather (floods and forest fires). Marine plankton and forests are the natural removers of CO2 from the atmosphere. Increased world human population, industrialization, wars and deforestation further aggravate the situation.

This presents chemists and engineers with a huge problem: what to do with the emitted carbon dioxide? The solutions are (i) Let it enter the atmosphere to be dealt with naturally (ii) Store it deep underground in stable rock formations. Neither of these solutions is satisfactory. Firstly, we have committed ourselves to zero emissions by mid-century via the ‘Paris Agreement’ and the follow up ‘Glasgow Accord’. So option (i) is out of the window.

Option (ii) seems plausible at first until we examine it closer. Is there such a thing as ‘stable rock formation? True, we have mined water, oil and natural gas that was held deep underground for millions of years but can we risk a situation of a sudden outpouring of millions of tons of CO₂ at some future date? This might be caused by earth tremor or fracking or some other human activity long into the future when this storage has been forgotten.

The only clean hydrogen is that procured by simple electrolysis of water using solar electricity, producing both hydrogen and oxygen. As described earlier in this piece, coal, oil and natural gas were laid down over hundreds of millions of years. To return carbon to our atmosphere in just a couple of hundred years does indeed spell catastrophe for the biosphere. But it is of no use to blame past generations when Eco-science was in its infancy or poorly understood. With our current knowledge we must forge new ways to solve these environmental problems to preserve life on this planet as we know it.

*this is from a long article – an extension of an earlier blog on the same subject. The author noted that the dual thrust of his article included the danger of reducing oxygen in the atmosphere as well as increased carbon dioxide and asked that the full article be provided on request. Make the request here.

First Published in the Bass Coast Post

MORE than 250 people braved strong easterly winds on the Inverloch surf beach on Wednesday January 12 to call for urgent action* to save the disappearing sand dunes. 

​They formed a line marking out where the dune face was in 2012 – now 70 metres out to sea – providing a graphic illustration of the rapid retreat of the dunes over the past 10 years.​

Philip Heath from the South Gippsland Conservation Society (SGCS) said Rally Round the Dunes was a chance for locals and supporters to show much they valued their beach.

While a long-term costal hazard adaptation plan is being developed, SGCS is calling for interim measures – sand renourishment and an extension of the existing wet sand fence – to protect the beach before predicted heavy swells wreak more havoc in autumn.

Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan told the rally the Inverloch beach was the “canary in the mine” for coastal erosion caused by climate change.

Calling for urgent action from the state and federal governments, he said the issue had to be tackled in a bipartisan manner.

SGCS and Friends of the Earth will present a petition to the Victorian Parliament in February.

*an earlier blog discussed the merits of short term versus long term action. See here.

Sometime ago the man who brought a lump of coal into parliament – varnished so he wouldn’t get his hands dirty – and now our prime minister, declared that Frances was his favourite climate change protester. Frances has been standing by the roadside to the entrance of parliament house in Canberra with her sign during sitting weeks – so she has had a relatively quiet year. This was in an article by Daniel Hurst in the Guardian that had the PM praising Frances the roadside protester in Canberra and condemning Extinction Rebellion (XR) protests that used graffiti at his residence and parliament house.

By comparison the dramatic XR protests Morrison objected to went ‘viral’ and got considerable media and international coverage whereas beyond those driving in to parliament house and Hurst’s article the protesting of Frances would have gone unnoticed. Frances’ sign urges that a strong ‘climate target’ will lead to a strong economy and it was noted that she was initially demonstrating with XR members. The words of Morrison compared to that of Frances are somewhat pathetic. She stated that we should end fossil fuels and take the science seriously, but as has been shown by our actions (or inaction) at COP 26 Morrison was not listening.

Similar demonstrations to that of Frances have been taking place in Bairnsdale for well over a year. Every Friday afternoon (with a few exceptions like covid lockdowns) Tony and Angela carry out their “Fridays For Future” demonstrations on the Princes Highway. They have been ably supported, on and off, by a dozen or so volunteers including yours truly, though in my case mostly off. Their signs ask drivers to “Toot for Real Climate Action”, call the “Climate Emergency”, and have aligned with the Fridays for Future movement instigated by Greta Thunberg.

And similar roadside protests over a long period have been taking place at Bega, Warrnambool and probably other places. All protesters want concerted climate action and to do this a small step forward will be the removal of the PM and his party from the halls of power. Perhaps then, Frances, Tony, Angela and others of their ilk will experience some reward for their efforts, and no longer be Morrison’s favourite demonstrators.

The first shipment of brown hydrogen from the Latrobe Valley received much publicity in the media. A Renew Economy article headed that the gas was the wrong colour and called it ‘blue’ hydrogen whereas for a number of years I have been calling it ‘brown’ (see here and here). The problem of course is that it is still ‘fossil hydrogen’ and is in no way a solution to solving the planet warming.

Renew Economy noted “The 116-metre ship features a 1,250 cubic metre storage tank for transporting liquid hydrogen. The vessel will transport its first batch of hydrogen between the Port of Hastings in Victoria to Kobe in Japan. The ship’s arrival marks a major milestone for the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain and Australia’s emerging status as a hydrogen exporter.

The economy of this project is simply absurd without massive government subsidies (from Japan too?) and the ability of the company to write off much of the expenditure. As many have noted, to have any ‘green’ credentials whatsoever, the commercialization of the project is reliant on the distant, unproven and expensive carbon capture and storage.

The shipping of the brown hydrogen from Westernport was part of, at best, a misguided action to keep industry and utilize the brown coal resource in the Valley. The ship has a carrying capacity of about 90 tons*. The pilot plant was scheduled to produce three tons of hydrogen at a total cost of over $100 million per ton and assuming the ship is carrying the full planned production it constitutes less than 3% of  a load. Making it a rather expensive public relations exercise.

Karri Giles of the Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council in a media release noted that this was a trial run and that the “bad news is that the whole process is energy intensive and that the hydrogen “has [to be] trucked to Hastings and converted to liquid, by compressing to -250 degrees centigrade. The hydrogen must be kept at this temperature as it’s shipped to Japan” – energy that is still mainly supplied by our dirty, greenhouse gas generating, brown coal power. The hydrogen process will only be carbon neutral or ‘green’ when all the steps of production and distribution are supplied by renewables.”

Guest blogger Chas Rose noted that the “trial is hardly a ‘world first’ as the majority of hydrogen (∼95%) is (and has been for decades) produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming or partial oxidation…” and the “whole scheme has already been highly politicised in the Latrobe region…and the promise of new jobs is welcomed. However ‘renewables’ are the way to go if we are to meet our obligations under the ‘Paris Accord on Climate’ to which Australia is a signatory. Hydrogen (plus oxygen) can be made simply by electrolysis of water.” The “politicians “still don’t get it!” he added.

Green hydrogen will be produced by surplus renewable energy at or near a port capable of handling large shipments such as Portland. The production cost of this energy will be nearly zero. The Valley pilot plant and the Hastings liquefaction plant are already stranded assets.

*71kg per cubic metre

East Gippsland Climate Action Network Pre-Election Special 2022

Newsletter printed and distributed on Gunnai-Kurnai Country

This year will be one of the most important we have experienced. Why? We have a chance to elect Federal representatives who will push for a liveable future for Australians and support the world to achieve the safest possible global heating ceiling. If we do not get politicians prepared to take the urgent action required our future could be dire.

Government plans to delay action.

Our Federal Government went to the recent COP26 meeting in Glasgow with a plan that if applied across the globe would result in more than 3ºC of heating. Scientists have clearly stated that we need to aim at keeping heating below 1.5ºC if we are to enjoy a lifestyle similar to now.

When this election is called we all need to look at the politicians standing. Key questions will be:

• What they are offering to control Climate Change

• Will it be enough to keep our future generations safe.

You can look at a sitting Members of Parliament’s record on voting here. You can compare Darren Chester’s voting record with the policies proposed by other candidates standing in the Gippsland electorate.

A good climate policy will include quick, effective actions: Cut all fossil fuel use as fast as possible. Unproven technologies take time to be invented, tested, developed and built. Scientists are clear that we have a small window to get really serious changes happening.

More renewables – fast! Renewables are proven, reliable and amazingly cheap to build and even more so to operate. South Australia recently powered the state with renewables for more than a week.

Once greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere, the warming they cause is ‘baked in’ for the foreseeable future.

Electrify! Electric vehicles and fully electric homes can make a big impact on reducing domestic emissions.

Look after the workers: Transitioning of coal, gas & oil employees into vibrant new industries.

Make your vote count: Vote for climate. Think carefully and research well before you vote. Ask questions and be involved in making a change. Write to our local parliamentarian Darren Chester and tell him how important global heating is for you. Encourage other candidates to be ambitious on their climate strategy.   

The East Gippsland Shire Council has just called for public comment on their proposed Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022-2032. Here are more suggestions that were part of a submission to the East Gippsland Shire Council in 2015. They are rated according to immediacy, then cost, then ease of implementation. Suggest H(igh) M(edium) and L(ow) priorities. Recent comments are in brackets. Suggestions are as follows:

1. Community energy projects. Coordinate & promote. (M) Low cost and may help invigorate some local communities. See the example of Waubra.

2. Sea-level Rise (L) make appropriate planning for worst case – that is a 2m rise by 2100 and makes changes accordingly

3. Plan long term retreat from coast (L)

4. Encourage the development of Geothermal Energy through the relevant companies and state government departments (M) (incorporate in Aquatic Centres)

5. To examine the possibility of large wind farm developments, possibly offshore? (M)

6. To purchase a fully electric vehicle with solar charging as part of fleet (H) (plan changeover of whole fleet, including garbage trucks, and other ICE vehicles)

7. To co-ordinate with education bodies various means of improving knowledge of students and citizens awareness of climate change and to implement identified approaches where practical. (H)

8. To expand shire gardening and nursery activities including a substantial increase in planting and maintaining trees and shrubs in towns. (H) (greenery helps reduce the “heat island effect”)

9. Tree removal should only be permitted under strict circumstances eg fire hazard. (H) The removal of each tree should be offset either by the remover planting a specific number of replacements or paying the shire to do so. The removed tree should be used for bio-energy (by pyrolysis) if possible. Root systems of dead trees should be left undisturbed if possible. Offsetting should only be used against tree plantations or shire plantings –not against established or natural bush.

10. To remove combustible material near towns as a continuing process by physical removal, heavy grazing, summer green crops, burning and other suitable methods. (H)

The East Gippsland Shire Council (EGSC) has just called for public comment on their proposed Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022-2032 . The following suggestions were part of a submission to the EGSC in 2015. They are rated according to immediacy, then cost, then ease of implementation. Suggest H(igh) M(edium) and L(ow) priorities. Recent comments are in brackets. Suggestions are as follows:

1. Climate Emergency Planning Committee (H) Easy to implement and low cost.

2. Carbon accounting. Appoint a full time Carbon Accounting Officer whose role includes creating carbon budgets for all projects and activities (H) and use as a guide for shire decisions. (part of my platform when I stood for council in 2008)

3. Say no to CSG projects. (H) Easy to implement and no cost. An international carbon budget is necessary to prevent low level runaway global warming. This will mean a substantial proportion of all fossil fuels must be left undisturbed. (now prohibited by State government legislation)

4. Forget about Gas – about to be replaced by renewable energy in the next 10 years (M) Easy to implement at no cost. (and replace gas heating in aquatic centres with geothermal)

5. Various changes to planning to permit suitable developments & changes to housing (H)

6. Vary fees to a) encourage favourable activities and b) discourage others

7. Establish local roadside committees for creating carbon sinks, plantations, bio-energy feed sources on shire lands and roadsides. These management committees should be comprised of interested parties including local landholders and maximize fire protection by grazing, burning, pruning, thinning, establishing plantations for bioenergy or carbon offsets. Management guidelines should include tree planting, tree protection, tree pruning, grazing, mowing, ecological burns, property protection burns, weed control etc. where appropriate. (H)

8. Education a) of council b) of wider public (H) on a) basics of climate change and b) what it means to each and every one of us (immediate & continuing threats including practical responses, for instance where to go in heatwaves when the power system fails).

9. Speed up process of establishing a bio-energy plant at the Bairnsdale waste facility. (M) Councillors and council workers to visit functioning plants.

10. Plan for the establishment of micro-grids including co-operating & co-ordinating local communities and electricity suppliers. (M)(Expand on the excellent example of Mallacoota)

Media Release 7.1.22

Voices for Monash (V4M) makes an urgent Call to Action as election looms.

V4M is calling for all residents of the Monash electorate who believe there is an urgent need for stronger, community-driven representation in Federal Parliament, to get on board and join the movement. Residents are invited to play a key part in selecting an independent candidate, who will be supported by V4M members, to stand in the upcoming Federal election.

V4M was formed in May 2021 by a core group of locals dissatisfied with the current representation in the electorate. Foundation member, Farhat Firdous said, “I felt driven to take action last year after witnessing the apparent breakdown in responsible, ethical government in Canberra, and the lack of a representative voice in our community when MPs owe their allegiance to a major political party. I felt we needed a fresh approach to critical issues that affect our community, including climate change, accountability and transparency among our leadership.”

V4M was inspired by the success of other community independents groups, such as our neighbors in Indi, and Zali Steggall’s success in Warringah, ‘Voices’ cross-benchers are committed to working in the interests of their communities and to bringing critical issues and accountability to Parliament. “In Monash, we want what Indi and Warringah have – committed, community-driven representation in Canberra,” Farhat Firdous said. “They achieved success on the back of successful grass-roots campaigns in the local communities of Indi. We aim to do this too.”

Farhat went on to say that although the group had seen a strong growth in supporters over the course of last year, more community engagement from across all parts of the Monash electorate would strengthen the process of electing a suitable candidate to represent residents at the ballot box. She encourages anyone interested to get in touch.

Nominations for prospective candidates are also still welcome but will close on Friday 21 January. V4M members will then be invited to attend a deliberative forum to hear from each prospective candidate before voting to select their preferred representative.

Further information about joining V4M, its values and the criteria for potential candidates can be found at the website and the Facebook page.

Media contact.

Bairnsdale 8.12.2014

So what are some of the worst-case scenarios? 2014 is shaping up as the hottest year on Earth since measurements began. We can expect another long hot summer. This means another torrid fire season. Every time there is a fire or threat of fire in Gippsland the tourist traffic drops. Every time the fire rating reaches code red travel comes to a standstill. The tourist industry is threatened now. Heatwaves and bushfires threaten our power supplies and life itself. The very young, sick and elderly are our first victims of global warming. Make no mistake your family and your family’s future are under threat. As we dally and procrastinate and listen to the climate criminals in the Murdoch media we are moving towards the abyss of low level runaway warming.

And who talks of low level runaway warming? None other than James Hansen, director of Goddard Institute of Space Studies at NASA until his recent retirement – an employee of the organization that put man on the moon and one of the most reputable climate scientists. Low level runaway warming means that whatever actions mankind takes the warming will continue producing a barely recognizable, sizzling world with wars over limited resources, far fewer humans, the extinction of many species, not much ice and no penguins, not much coral and no more clown fish, few forests – an unrecognizable world.

The more slowly we act the more severe the consequences of climate change and the more radical the required action. Urgent action now could possibly avoid the need for a wartime style emergency government bringing with it a loss of freedom and many of the things we take for granted – perhaps even the right to vote. We face stark choices now – principally whether we fully support renewable energy or continue with the old fossil fuel industry. There are many other stark choices related to jobs, food production, clean air, and water.

True leadership in politics is doing something first and then hopefully bringing the people with you. Sometimes this requires great courage and sometimes the leader is isolated. I often quote the maxim of English divine Thomas Norton “Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.” My hope is for true leadership and courage to come to the fore at all levels of politics. Then we can work hard preparing for the worst of global warming.