Gippsland Climate News

Excerpts from an article first published in the Great Eastern Mail Dec 1

The people of East Gippsland can be proud to have some very progressive and forward thinking councillors representing them. Recently the council voted to pass a Notice of Motion to seek more information about climate change via a report, and then possibly set up an advisory body to inform their actions… It was considered important that this process would be informed by relevant, publicly available and up-to-date scientific information, and the links to this information be available via Council’s website…

By adopting this Notice of Motion they are showing concern for the people of East Gippsland as well as a desire to assist residents to be properly informed with the latest scientific information. In this way the community will be better prepared to deal with climate change impacts, and less traumatised by them… In April 2020 a community petition was presented to Council asking them to declare a Climate Emergency.

One Councillor has admitted to not having a good knowledge of the science and issues associated with climate change but has stated that it appears to be a matter of both importance and concern for many of the constituents represented, especially young people. This approach, of separating personal opinion from the needs and wants of the community, is to be applauded and shows care and concern as well as a desire to genuinely reflect the electorate. 

One issue that has been brought to the attention of Council, and likely to become very pertinent during the next few months, is the need for an active and up-to-date Council Heatwave Plan, as required as part of Emergency Management. The current plan appears to be somewhat outdated and has no provision for community access to “Cool Zones” or “Hot Day Out Centres”…

Heat is not equitable. Renters and those who cannot afford air-conditioning, or even to run air-conditioning, are the most severely hit. Power outages are also a possibility resulting in widespread heat exposure of people living in specific areas. Small children, the elderly, and those with disabilities or complex medical conditions are very vulnerable to the effects of heat stroke and heat related illnesses… The effects of heat stroke can creep up without warning and can have severe and irreversible results.

The Bureau of Meteorology are predicting severe heat for the summer of 2023-24, and 2023 is likely to be declared the hottest year on record. Modelling shows that days when temperatures reach above 35 degrees Celsius are likely to double in the next 6 years in some places in Gippsland. As temperatures rise due to the changing climatic conditions it is important for all people living in warm climates to be informed, aware, and prepared. In some situations this will mean having a Fire Plan or even a Flood Plan, but everyone needs to have a Heatwave Plan and know where they can go to stay cool during excessive heat if staying at home is no longer an option.

The full article can be read here

Republished from the Baw Baw Sustainability Network Newsletter Dec 23 –Jan 24

Numerous reports are noting the coming squeeze on gas supply with some calling for increased gas exploration and mining and others for efficient electrification. Prices are rising sharply prompting more and more people to electrify. Even those who are unconcerned about climate impacts of fossil fuels are choosing to move away from gas.

Here’s how we made the change to an all-electric home at a unit in Melbourne.

We started with a gas storage hot water system that was ageing, a gas space heater and a gas cooktop- very similar to many Victorian homes. Gas supply charges are costing $355 per year and usage charges around $500 per year.

Step 1:

– was easy! There is also a heat pump single split system that heats and cools so the gas space heater is not needed. Just heat with the more efficient electric appliance. Cost- $0

Step 2:

– replace the ageing gas storage hot water system with a very efficient Reclaim heat pump from Earthworker. Their system is top of the range with 80% less energy used to heat water compared to an electric storage heater, plus a stainless steel tank. It should last many years.

– Cost- around $5000 installed. The plumber also disconnected and removed the space heater. There is a pre-existing solar system facing west so we set the timer on the hot water system to operate from 1pm, so ongoing energy cost for hot water is close to zero.

Step 3:

– replace the gas cooktop with induction. We went with a Miele cooktop- there are many different brands and choices of configuration, size etc. This step took a lot longer while we ummed and aahhed about a kitchen renovation but it’s finally done. Cost, about $2000.

Step 4:

– the most satisfying: ringing the gas retailer to end the contract and have the meter removed. Cost $79.

No more fossil fuels burnt onsite and ongoing power bills slashed!

These days I seem to be donating large numbers of books to the local opportunity shops and seldom purchasing one. The exception to the rule was my recent purchase of Sean B Carroll’s The Making of the Fittest (Quercus, London, 2008) which I read in two sittings. Subtitled “DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution” this book is only incidentally about climate change. For eight chapters it closely documents the DNA evidence supporting evolution, rigorously following the scientific process, and then in the last few chapters looks at the anti-evolution arguments and the disastrous route of DNA science in the former Soviet Union.

Perhaps prophetically, Carroll dissects the anti-vaccination arguments of segments of US Chiropractic as a similar example to those of the anti-evolutionists and it is immediately apparent that many of these arguments are the same as those put forward by global warming deniers. At the head of the list is the tactic to “doubt the science” followed by attacking the scientists involved and questioning their motives, highlighting any disagreement amongst scientists, and citing what Carroll calls “gadflies” as their main authority – those that hold some credentials “no matter how isolated and unsubstantiated their views.” He notes the denial “of evolution requires denial of the bedrock of two centuries of biology and geology.” (p.272) Likewise, the denial of global warming conflicts with a similar ‘bedrock’ period of climate science including physics and chemistry and countless measurements and experiments supporting it.

Carroll examines in some detail the story of the highly adapted Icefish and notes that:

“history shows that as circumstances have changed, globally or locally, many era’s fittest have been replaced. The fossil record is paved with creatures – tribolites, ammonites, and dinosaurs, to just name a few – of once very successful groups that evolution has left behind. The Icefish have made a remarkable evolutionary journey in adapting to the changing Southern Ocean, but theirs may well be a one way trip.” With climate change, the highly likely future extinction of the Icefish becomes apparent.

“The air temperature in the Antarctic Peninsula has risen by 4 to 5 degrees  in the last fifty years, and water temperature of the Southern Ocean is projected to rise by several degrees over the next century…it is very likely that most cold water species will not be able to adapt to such rapid changes of temperature…” p.39

The last chapter is about species suffering from what Carroll calls the ‘perfect storm’. “A perfect storm is brewing – of overfishing, pollution, and man-made climate change – that threatens to extinguish ecosystems beyond any chance of recovery”. (p.261) Carroll concludes with a quote from Churchill and uses the analogy of the disastrous lead up to World War 11. “Then, as now, most of the West’s leaders were in denial, guided by wishful thinking and blind optimism. They made symbolic gestures in worthless treaties, empty platitudes, and spineless appeasement.” (p.267) This could be an apt description of the last thirty years of climate politics in Australia.

“When the scientific process is abandoned, the lesson throughout history is failure or outright disaster in human affairs.” (p.247) We have been warned many times and I must thank Sean B Carroll for his book, as well as the chance of my purchase. Little has changed since he penned his words 15 years ago.

From the Metung Science Forum

Dear Tim,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my letter and for providing references to your research.

With help from some of my colleagues in the Metung Science Forum I have been trying to get my head around the “Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions” in order to respond to you but believe this would take a considerable amount of time to establish some degree of expertise on how these measures input into the price comparisons of gas v electricity in general. However, we have left further comment on your calculations for the moment and will return to them in the penultimate paragraph of this letter. 

In the meantime, we believe that your comparison ignores the reasons why electricity costs have escalated in Victoria. In this respect, we need to acknowledge that the use of gas to provide peak use power to the grid adds significantly to the costs of electricity as does the burning of coal.

The comparison of costs that you put forward ignores the very strong probability that anyone building a new home now will install solar panels to offset electricity from the grid, and probably heat pumps and possibly also batteries. Surely architects and builders would concentrate on installing all of these into new buildings in the current climate (no pun intended).

Your commentary regarding Hydrogen replacing gas and using the existing infrastructure is we believe well- intentioned but misplaced. It would appear that even our former chief scientist Alan Finkel (a known hydrogen enthusiast) has re-thought the use of Hydrogen in the residential environment, preferring to concentrate on the development of green hydrogen for industry and heavy transport and shipping. (refer his just released book “Powering Up”).

Before returning to your figures however, perhaps we also need to mention some of the reasons for “getting off gas” as follows;

·    The health risks of burning gas in the family home are now well documented and, as we are indeed talking about new homes, we would suggest that continuing to do so is contrary to issues that are designed to improve the safety and environmental performance of these buildings eg. Nathers 7 stars etc. We should note that the target for any new builds should be energy efficiency with at least double glazing, insulation and solar panels and that this translates to far less power being used.

·    The costs of changing new home owners over to more friendly energy systems when gas is no longer viable or desirable (possibly already the case). Even the use of the gas infrastructure for hydrogen if it were ever approved would no doubt involve costs of changes to reticulation systems and appliances. 

·    It is now well appreciated by many of your constituents that the fossil fuel industry could not exist without the enormous fuel subsidies that affect all of us one way or the other.

We could go on but perhaps we should stop there and return to your quoted figures which we are having some difficulty in reconciling as follows;

The Energy Australia information sheet quotes medium usage for gas of 159 Mj/day and high usage as 201 Mj/day.  You have not stated where the annual usage of 29830Mj that you have quoted comes from or how it was arrived at. You also state that 4000KW per year = 14400Mj/year which is half the energy usage for a household using gas according to your own figures.

But 159Mj/day = 56604Mj/year or 4 times the amount of energy and at a greater cost than using power. So, this seems to indicate that we need to consume more Mj for the same outcome and doesn’t take into account that households using gas are also using electricity.

Tim, we may be missing something here but, in summary, we believe that there is a need to further clarify your calculations regarding the short-term future of energy costs. But very importantly for your constituents there is a more urgent need to consider the wider ramifications of maintaining gas usage in the home and the ability to forecast what the actual future costs of doing so will be.

In the meantime Tim, thanks again for the opportunity

Kind Regards

Tom Moore on behalf of The Metung Science Forum

On behalf of concerned members of the Metung Science Forum 5th August 2023

Dear Darren,

Thank you for your letter dated June 2023 in which you provided an update of your actions on behalf of Gippslanders over the past three challenging years. We can see that you have been very busy looking after Gippslanders’ interests over that time and we congratulate you on the good work that you have done. It is clear to us that you do have our interests at heart.

However, we note that there is one glaring anomaly in your report. Whereas you briefly acknowledge efforts for bushfire recovery and “practical environmental initiatives”, you make absolutely no mention anywhere in your letter of any climate change issues that we are increasingly facing, especially in East Gippsland. Virtually all of the matters that you refer to in your letter as being important to Gippslanders, will become increasingly more problematical as our climate changes.

It would be really good to see you acknowledge this reality and show support for the actions of organisations (eg. East Gippsland Shire Council, Farmers for Climate Change and Gippsland Climate Action Network to name but a few) who are committed to reducing emissions and attempting to put in place arrangements to mitigate the damage that we are otherwise certain to face in a changing climate. It would also be good to hear from you on actions being taken to decarbonise and develop alternative power sources (eg. wind, solar and e-cars etc) and the employment opportunities these initiatives could help bring to the region.

You say that “At a national level we are living through a period of global uncertainty and security challenges which require bipartisanship and a mature public debate”. Bipartisanship on the issue of Climate Change would surely represent a major step forward for Gippslanders in particular, and more generally for all Australians.

Yours Sincerely Tom Moore

Contact Metung Science Forum PO Box 128, Metung, Vic,3904

from the Gippsland Climate Change Network (GCCN) winter newsletter

GCCN under the guidance of Chris Barfoot, our Energise Gippsland Project Officer, has successfully completed a solar installation at the 120 bed Margery Cole residential aged care facility as part of the Yallambee Village for the Aged in Traralgon.

Within the first 110 days of the successful installation of 276kW rooftop PV system by local company RACV Solar has produced 108,568kW of power, with (a revenue) cost saving of $27,809.29 and a CO2 reduction of 108.24 tonnes. The cost of the project was $355,200 ex GST with $317,368 being provided through funding from the Latrobe Valley Energy and Growth Program – Stage 2 through The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning within the Victorian Government.

The facility is also expected to receive a Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificate (VEEC) rebate of approximately $105,000 after 12 months of operation for CO2 savings due to solar and energy efficiency measures. Taken without the grant funding and rebates, the installation would be expected to pay for itself after approximately 7.4 years with the VEEC rebates the installation should pay for itself after 5.2 years.

This project is a template for solar installations for approximately 57 other aged care facilities within Gippsland that are looking to develop renewable solutions and for further investigations at Yallambee around the Independent living units on site. The full Yallambee Aged Care Services Solar Installation report can be found on the Gippsland Climate Change Network ‘Resources’ page.

Republished from EGCAN website

Dear Mayor Reeves and Councilors,

I’m writing to request that the East Gippsland Shire declare a climate emergency. I’m writing as a concerned member of the East Gippsland community and as a member of the East Gippsland Climate Action Network (EGCAN).

EGCAN requested council to declare a climate emergency nearly four years ago and we are asking you again now. In the last four years the discussion and awareness of climate change has changed significantly.

Each year there has been more information about the immediate impacts of climate change on human health, property, infrastructure, agriculture and biodiversity and it’s clear that extreme weather events are more frequent and severe; global action has, and is, accelerating.

However, despite this greater depth of knowledge it appears that getting this information out to everyone is a challenge. Concerted campaigns of misinformation and limited acknowledgement of the issues in our media has contributed to this.

Climate change is happening now and without deep emission cuts its impacts on Australia will be devastating. Hard decisions will have to be made and our lives will change as a consequence.

I’m asking you, as our local government, to take a leadership role on this critical issue. While you are doing a great deal of work in this area I’m not sure a lot of people realise this.

By declaring a Climate Emergency, you are saying loud and clear that this is a major issue, that will affect all of us, one way or the other and we must work together to limit its impacts. People need to know what’s ahead so they can make informed choices. How can it be otherwise?

How the seriousness of this problem is communicated to the public is critical.

I realise making climate change information relevant, interesting and engaging for a general audience is a challenge. I’m sure there are many people and groups in the area that would be keen to help with this.

For example, EGCAN is planning a Climate Art Expo and information event early next year where Climate change information and climate change impacts will be represented in many ways using a variety of media.

Possible ideas that the Shire could consider might be to offer regular forums with guest speakers or less formal Kitchen Table like events where people can come and just talk/listen.

Please give this request due consideration.

First published in the Bass Coast Post*

 We’re currently in the midst of a worldwide renewable energy revolution which is also taking place in our own national electricity market.  Because of our vast solar and wind resources, we have the opportunity to lead the world in developing a renewable energy economy.

One of the most influential figures in this revolution has been Saul Griffith, a Wollongong lad who recently returned to Australia after doing some amazing work in the USA. He’s one of the lead influencers in the recent release of the Inflation Reduction Act in the USA and the recent inclusion of renewables and hydrogen in both the state and federal budgets.

His book The Big Switch (about rewiring Australia) and his Quarterly essay The Wires That Bind (electrification and community renewal) are essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the future of sustainable energy in Australia.  He explains where we are now, where we will be in the future, and what we must do to get there. 

The two videos on the home page of his electrify2515 website are also a great introduction to understanding how we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions as a community, and how we can also save a lot of money on the way.  For further details I would recommend the home page of the Rewiring Australia website.

The vision is to replace our current domestic gas-consuming appliances (when they require replacing) with more efficient renewables-powered electric appliances.  For industry, the aim is to change over major industrial processes so that we’ll be exporting green steel and green aluminium instead of iron ore, coal, bauxite and alumina.

When thinking about your next appliances, think about the total cost of the fuels you will use to power those appliances during their lifetime – their true cost not just the upfront cost. The biggest savings come from efficient electric appliances using rooftop solar.

*see here

Republished from the Bass Coast Post*

On Tuesday, local students took time off school to protest at the NAB’s financing of the coal industry. The Bass Coast Post asked Indigo Aurora why she attended.

Post: Why did you get involved with School Strike for Climate (SS4C)?

Indigo: I only got properly involved with SS4C this year, but I’ve been passionate about fighting for climate justice for years. When I joined Newhaven College at the start of 2023, my amazing friend and activist Joey Thompson introduced me to a local climate action group, and I’ve been helping to organise and attend local actions ever since. It makes me feel so empowered to get out there and fight for our environment, alongside other passionate individuals. Although we live rurally, it’s important that we join this national movement, as we can still achieve great things that will make an impact.

Post: Climate change makes me feel …

Indigo: Trapped, like my generation’s future is hopeless. It’s sometimes hard to maintain a positive mental attitude when it feels like the world is slowly crumbling around us.

Post: Do you talk to your friends and family about climate change and climate action?

Indigo: I talk about climate change with my friends and family very frequently, as it’s on my mind so often. My family are more than supportive of me, and my friends seem to care when I discuss it with them.

Post: Is this your first climate action or have you been involved in direct action before?

Indigo: This is not my first direct action, I have attended over five in total, and helped to organise three.

Post: “You should be in class!” What’s your response?

Indigo: The SS4C movement is not at all disregarding the importance of our education, it’s simply asserting that it is so crucial to fight for our dying climate, that we will sacrifice an important part of our lives for it. Students and young people often get treated like we have no power, so we use one of the only things we do have – the ability to strike from school and disrupt the daily order of things, to force the government and other people in power to take the climate crisis seriously.

Post: Do you expect the June 20 rally to influence the banks? Or do you see other benefits to the rally?

Indigo: Of course our main goal is to influence the banks to end all relationships with coal corporations, but the June 20 rally will have many other positive impacts. By gathering a large student population, we will not only disrupt the banks, but also raise awareness and form a social bond between all the protesters. This opportunity to get involved is invaluable, especially in a rural community where large climate actions aren’t particularly common. We hope to see many people there, fighting for climate justice alongside us.

Indigo Aurora is a year 10 student at Newhaven College. She lives in Cape Paterson.

*See here

From Environment Connect Winter Issue 23

The Gippsland Alliance for Climate Action (GACA) is a formal collaboration of councils across Gippsland working on climate change. The aim is to find shared and collaborative ways to address climate change at the local government level across our region.

The Alliance was established in 2022 and is a partnership between East Gippsland, Wellington, Latrobe City, South Gippsland and Baw Baw. GACA is also collaborating with the seven other Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, to deliver regional mitigation and adaptation programs, including emerging best practice solutions and advocacy.

GACA is auspiced by the Gippsland Climate Change Network, with supporting funds from the Victorian State Government Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and council partners.

The Alliance will assist East Gippsland Shire Council to deliver on our sustainability commitments outlined in the Council Plan 2021-25 and Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022-32.

The Alliance has developed a Strategic Action Plan 2023-24, with six priority projects proposed for collaborative development, including:

1. Climate change risk analysis

2. Electric vehicle fleet transition

3. Decarbonisation and gas elimination plan

4. Greenhouse gas monitoring

5. ESD adoption in council and community facilities 6. Communications