Bathurst Community Climate Action Network Inc.

Some good news!

The world reaches a historic tipping point thanks to 'the most rapid change since the Industrial Revolution' Renewable technologies are gathering speed, putting the world within reach of falling greenhouse gas emissions. Climate experts say they "struggle to wrap their heads around" the sheer size, scale and speed of the current transition.

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“We must stop giving around $11 billion of public money annually to the coal and gas industries,” Archbishop Greaves said. “They have enough of their own. There is a cost of living crisis. We’re asking the Prime Minister to put that instead into his new plan for clean sources of energy and creating good jobs. Let’s do this in a way that leaves no one behind.” (from the article)

Day of Action unites faith communities in response to climate change - The Southern Cross Tuesday September 17, 2024 Day of Action unites faith communities in response to climate change Events Religious leaders, parishioners and climate action enthusiasts from Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Anglican, Uniting Church and other faith communities united on Tuesday September 17 in the na...

History students will learn about the effects of colonisation on Indigenous societies. READ MORE: ⁠https://bit.ly/3XGqFG3

A Nature Conservation Coucil Picnic For Nature is coming up Sat 19 October at Clonturkle Sanctuary, Yetholme. Hostes by BCCAN.

Details and to RSVP: https://www.nature.org.au/bathurst_picnic_for_nature_2024

'But the clincher is ongoing generation costs feeding into retail prices. The 2024 GenCost report by the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator prices large-scale nuclear energy at $155 to $252 a megawatt hour. That is double their estimate of the cost of fully firmed renewable energy of $90 to $100, even after factoring in grid transmission, curtailment and battery firming costs.' (from the article)

Record weeks for renewables blow up Dutton’s nuclear con The record high of low-cost wind and solar in the grid comes as we are still waiting for the costing on the Coalition’s plan to nationalise the eye-watering cost of seven nuclear plants.

Latest modelling tips fourth La Niña for Australia in five years before year's end There are growing signs Australia's most impactful climate driver, La Niña, will develop during the coming months.

Meanwhile, on planet Earth...

Another extreme low for Antarctic sea ice signals a permanent shift An area of missing Antarctic sea ice twice the size of Texas adds to concerns that the ice has seen a lasting “regime shift”, with consequences for ecosystems and global ocean circulation

Come along and support!

Here's the poster for our September weekend. There may have been some problems with the QR code for tickets but this one should do the trick.
Tickets are just $10 and kids 12 and under are free.

This is the policy platform from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW that BCCAN has invited all Bathurst Regional Council election leading group candidates to support.

Have a look, everyone. It doesn't take long. You could do it over a cup of coffee.

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/natureorg/pages/6469/attachments/original/1724635596/Clean__Green_and_Local_Platform.pdf?1724635596

From an email we sent to all lead candidates for the upcoming BRC election:

Could you please indicate....whether you support the Nature Conservation Council of NSW's 'Clean, Green, and Local' platform so that we can inform our members and supporters of your response.

Group A Ben Fry: no response as yet.
Group C Warren Aubin: no response as yet.
Group E Robert Taylor: no respons as yet.
Group I Graeme Hanger: no reponse as yet.
Group J Jess Jennings: no reponse as yet.

The election is this Saturday....

From an email we sent to all lead candidates for the upcoming BRC election:

Could you please indicate....whether you support the Nature Conservation Council of NSW's 'Clean, Green, and Local' platform so that we can inform our members and supporters of your response.

Group D Sophie Wright

Our number one focus is financial sustainability without gouging the ratepayer. This means scrutinising every area of Council spending and policies with a fine tooth comb.
Whilst I look forward to reading the document you have sent, we are just two weeks out from an election and this is not enough time to answer a question as complex and multifaceted as the one presented.

What I will say though, is that I went to an event on Nuclear energy recently which was fascinating! I learnt a great deal and it made me realise there certainly is a lot to explore in this space!

Authorised by Sophie Wright, 3/64 William Street, Bathurst NSW 2795

'To keep global temperatures well-below 2°C – the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement – means cutting methane emissions as rapidly as possible. Methane has to be cut almost in half (45%) by 2050 to achieve that goal.' (from the article)

Methane emissions are at new highs. It could put us on a dangerous climate path Human activities now account for two-thirds of all methane venting to the atmosphere – and our efforts to staunch the flow are not yet bearing fruit.

Getting there...

Share of renewables hits record high on Australia’s main grid, sends coal to new low The maximum instantaneous share of renewables on the NEM has hit a new all-time high – and pushed the share of coal to a new low.

From an email we sent to all lead candidates for the upcoming BRC election:

Could you please indicate....whether you support the Nature Conservation Council of NSW's 'Clean, Green, and Local' platform so that we can inform our members and supporters of your response.

Group H Stuart Driver:

I like you do hold concerns as to human impact on our environment and believe we should be working towards reducing that impact as far as possible. I would be pleased to interact with your members and their particular local concerns and certainly going forward if elected more than happy to work with you and ensure your concerns are put forward.

With respect to the policy position, you refer it is a very comprehensive document and while I accept it is aiming at a very 'ideal' outcomes there are some items that would be very difficult to implement even if they had the support of 5 of 9 councillors. But sure - that does not mean that they should not be part of a broader conversation.

Remember an above the line 1 vote for a group whose lead candidate is excluded means that none of those votes contribute to the final result.

Authorised by Stuart Driver 320 Russell Street Bathurst NSW 2795

From the email we sent to all lead candidates for the upcoming BRC election:

Could you please indicate....whether you support the [NCC 'Clean, Green, and Local] platform so that we can inform our members and supporters of your
response.

Group B Geoff Fry:

Thank you for your email.

As you may be aware am on the committees of the National Trust, Town Square and Bathurst Heritage Matters and a member of BCCAN and Historical Society.
As none of the existing councilors are involved in these areas I would like to represents these groups.

It appears that none of these existing councilors have little or no interest in our environment.

The area of water security needs focusing on.

Have had many discussions with Norm Wise. I am concerned about how much has been spent on rain water recycling and yet to produce a single extra drop of water. He also says that in the last 30 years we have lost 50% of the water flow that goes past our pump station.

Our council is asset rich income poor. Basically, our cash flow is not being managed.
All the best to BCCAN in the future.

Authorized by Geoff Fry 157 Stewart Steet Bathurst N.S.W.

From the email we sent to all lead candidates for the upcoming BRC election:

Could you please indicate....whether you support the [NCC 'Clean, Green, and Local] platform so that we can inform our members and supporters of your
response.

Group F Elaine West:

I agree that the Clean, Green and Local: Priorities for nature and climate in the 2024 local government elections is a comprehensive and practical roadmap for Bathurst. Not only do I support the NSW Nature Conservation Council's new local government policy platform, I can demonstrate my support by referring to the activities I have engaged in over the past 3 years.

When choosing who to vote for, it would be worthwhile to remember that at this stage, I am the only candidate who has raised environmental issues as part of their platform. Some have mentioned water security, it's true, but none have emphasised the need for shade trees in the CBD as a means of adapting to climate change, or have attended Green Drinks on a regular basis to learn more about climate adaptation. Although finances, infrastructure, and business are important, they are not the only issues that Council needs to address, and having a Greens councillor will ensure that environmental sustainability, protecting wildlife and managing our waterways will be firmly on the agenda.

Authorised by Stephen Nugent for The Greens NSW, 19a/1 Hordern Place, Camperdown, NSW, 2050.

From the email we sent to all lead candidates for the upcoming BRC election:

Could you please indicate....whether you support the [NCC 'Clean, Green, and Local] platform so that we can inform our members and supporters of your
response.

Group G Stuart Pearson:

Ingrid (Pearson) and I have been members of BCCAN for a number of years. We attend the Bathurst meetings in person or online when we can. We both firmly believe in a future that is sustainable and have addressed Council on many occasions to urge their continued progress down this path.

I also believe in economic growth and promote renewable energy as one of the major drivers for long-term sustainable progress of the Bathurst economy. Not only will renewable energy drive the economy, but it will also reduce the effects of climate change.

Authorised by Stuart Pearson, 17 McGillan Drive, Kelso NSW 2795

On August 20, at the Bathurst Business Chamber's (BBC) Meet The Candidates event for the upcoming Bathurst Regional Council elections, BCCAN asked the BBC to propose this question to the candidates present:

'The Nature Conservation Council (NCC) of NSW has today invited all local council candidates to endorse an emissions target of net-zero green house gases by 2030. Will you endorse this target?'

Unfortunately, the BBC did not pass this question on to the candidates for them to answer. The question arises from the NCC's new local government policy platform called 'Clean, Green and Local: Priorities for Nature and Climate in the 2024
Local Government Elections.' BCCAN is a member of the NSW Nature Conservation Council and we strongly endorse this policy platform.

So we sent an email to all the lead candidates in the upcoming election. During the last few days we have been waiting for replies. We now have enough to start posting them on Facebook and Instagram.

While pre-polling has started, the election day itself is not until Saturday Sept 14. We feel it is important to have a public record of the lead candidates responses. Why? Because Australia and the world are heading to 2 degrees global warming and not enough is being done. If our local government candidates are not prioritising our local environment with good, common sense policies, then how might this impact our cost of living and lifestyle in the next 5-10 years?

Responses to follow.

Under this land there is an underground river. Here too are 22 springs. The Belubula River has its headwater here. For Wiradjuri this country is sacred. Here is where Regis wants to plug the springs and put in a toxic tailings dam. Gold is also green. This water is priceless. A line has been drawn.

Earth swelters through hottest August and northern summer on record After more than 12 months of record-breaking heat this year and last, the 2024 summer period in the northern hemisphere shatters records to become the hottest yet.

Good Green Drinks coming up...

Join us for our September Green Drinks, on Thursday 26, and hear our speaker Jed Coppa, the film producer of “Following the Flow” ahead of the SBS screening on Saturday 3rd October at 3pm.

"Government and developers also need to know that while local Aboriginal and councils have a function in the community, they do not have any cultural authority over Aboriginal cultural heritage whatsoever," (Yanha, from the article)

'Threatened, harassed': Aboriginal elders break silence on Regis mine protection order The Indigenous elders who were successful in their bid to protect a culturally important site from a proposed gold mine say they have been slandered.

'Regis’ plans to build a thirsty gold mine in a region that already suffers from high water stress, and dump tailings at the headwaters of the Belubula River, should have been given a clear “no” back in 2018 when it was first proposed.' (from the article). Subscription required for full access....

This mine should have been given a clear 'no' years ago It's hardly surprising this mine has faced significant challenges.

"Mr Guterres said that only limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius would give the world a "fighting chance" of "preventing the irreversible collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets — and the catastrophes that accompany them".

"That means cutting global emissions 43 per cent compared to 2019 levels by 2030, and 60 per cent by 2035," he said." (from the article)

UN secretary-general calls on major polluters to show leadership to prevent Pacific climate catastrophe United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres implores major polluters and developed nations like Australia to rapidly cut emissions and phase out coal and gas, warning the Pacific is on the brink of climate catastrophe.

🐨🧺Farmers markets on, come along!

"Ms Plibersek said it is up to the company to decide whether to pursue legal action but the correct decision has been made.

"They'll make whatever decisions they think are in the best interests of the company," she said.

"It has thousands of years of use and culture attached to it ... Its destruction would be devastating for traditional owners in the local area."" (from the article)

It is indeed the correct decision...

Indigenous heritage ruling making proposed gold mine 'not viable' sets 'dangerous precedent', Minerals Council says The environment minister's protection of the headwaters and a section of the Belubula River where the McPhillamys Gold Project mine's tailings dam was to be constructed has been described as a "dangerous precedent" by the Minerals Council.

"The totemic climate goal of keeping warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is essentially impossible at this point." (from the article, New Scientist)

Best case is now 1.6....the creep to 2 degrees continues...

Best-case scenario for climate change is now 1.6°C of warming The totemic climate goal of keeping warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is essentially impossible at this point

They cost too much money and create multi-generational toxic waste...

Very late and over budget: Why newest large nuclear plant in US is likely to be the last After years of delays and cost over-runs, the US has finally opened its newest large scale nuclear unit, using the design favoured by Peter Dutton. Here’s why it could be the last the US ever…

Come down to the markets 😁👍🏼