It's a gas! - climate activists out & about again

Today was another day of action for climate activists around the country. The schoolkids initiated it, but oldies were welcome to turn up or to organise their own events.

COVID restrictions meant there were to be no mass rallies. Lots of smaller gatherings of up to 20 were encouraged, complete with masks, sanitiser, and contact-tracing registration. 

The primary focus was the federal government's big push for a 'gas-led COVID recovery'. The fossils in charge have moved on from their previously favourite fossil fuel, coal, and now want a massive expansion of fossil gas extraction. I'm sure it's just coincidence that the panel they chose to advise them on economic recovery was heavily stacked with gas industry people! 

I used to think that gas was probably appropriate as a transition fuel along the road to 100%  renewables. You can turn it on and off quickly, and when you burn methane, it produces less greenhouse pollution than oil or coal. Trouble is, it turns out that you don't burn all of it. It's gradually come to light that fugitive emissions in extraction and handling total several percent, and unburnt methane is such a powerful greenhouse gas that it's then actually WORSE than the other fossils.

Hornsby Shire Climate Action did their bit this morning, with a spirited showing outside local federal member Julian Leeser's office. There was plenty of support from the passing motorists (and truck drivers too) on busy Pennant Hills Road, but the good Mr Leeser declined our invitation to come out and address us.

Photo courtesy Hornsby Shire Climate Action

Crossing the bridge on renewables

Otherwise known as 'Let's vote out Gladys and her troglodyte government'. It's State Election time this Saturday, and as your fearless correspondent is a staunch supporter of renewable energy and a member of Solar Citizens, he was happy to participate in a fun little piece of electioneering on the Nepean River at Penrith the other day. See here: Crossing the bridge on renewables

Coal vs renewables? A Valentine's verdict!

In Federal Parliament, our wise and far-sighted Government ministers, totally uncorrupted by any donations they've received from fossil fuel industries, joyfully pass around a lump of coal. They've rebranded it as 'clean coal', and they tell us it's wonderful, harmless stuff. Of course we've got to burn the stuff to provide our electricity! Forget this pesky Paris agreement thing we signed up to!










I understand it got as far as the heavily pregnant Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, who refused to handle it!

Meanwhile, the local Greens were out on the streets, gauging  public opinion about fossil fuels, and about the need to drastically increase the renewable energy target. They spent a couple of hours at two northern Sydney train stations on Valentine's Day, organising a Valentine's Day card for local MPs from their constituents. 'We love Renewables' was the message.

And so many people wanted to sign! I've never seen a political action as popular as this.







The cards were subsequently delivered to the relevant State and Federal members. I think they're actually well aware they're on the losing side of history. But maybe not quite aware of  just how far behind public opinion they are. As Greens candidate Emma Heyde put it, if MPs are not thinking of our (clean) energy future, then they should start thinking about their own futures.



 

(Parliament pictures stolen from The Australian and Australian Financial Revue.)