2010 Action Plan

The BCCAG Action Plan for 2010 is here in WORD format.

Below is the BCCAG Action Plan for 2010. The plan was discussed at the January BCCAG meeting on 27 January 2010. It was adopted, with some additions, by the 90 people who attending the meeting.

BCCAG is a member of the Climate Emergency Network, and as such agrees with and supports the CEN Charter (see Appendix 1 for CEN’s core values and objectives).

BCCAG is a non-profit, community organisation that aims to reduce the human contribution to, and the impact of, climate change by creating and delivering information, facilitating actions and influencing decision makers.

In addition to holding public meetings monthly, usually with a guest speaker, and the traditional governance functions carried out by the management board (see Appendix 2), BCCAG achieves its mission through members and supporters working on projects in teams clustered around the five themes inherent in the mission statement:

  • Theme A - Creating Information
    - Research and messaging
    - Focus groups and surveys
    - Media
    - Web-based communications
  • Theme B - Delivering Information
    - Presentations
    - Local businesses
    - Public forums
    - Youth
    - Stalls
    - Women's network
  • Theme C - Facilitating Actions
    - Domestic change model
    - Eco-living centre
    - Gardens
    - Green domonstration
    - Foreshore turbine
  • Theme D - Influencing Decision-Makers.
    - Bayside City Council
    - State/federal elections
    - State/federal politicians
  • Theme E - Governance
    - Meetings
    - Communications
    - Finance
    - Links
    - Membership

All BCCAG members and supporters are welcome to join any/all teams in which they have a particular interest.

Just as the nature of the themes and projects differ, so too does the manner in which teams organize themselves. For example, for some themes, there may be just one team that deals collectively with the projects within that theme; for other themes there may be separate teams for particular projects. Within each theme, some of the projects identified below will likely receive more attention than others as determined by the team, and some projects may even become inactive.

Teams keep the broader BCCAG membership informed of progress (usually in the form of a brief verbal update at the monthly BCCAG meeting), and seek guidance from BCCAG board/broader membership on significant decisions (e.g., committing BCCAG funds, and public policy positions).

THEME A: CREATING INFORMATION

Initial team members: Cheryl May, David Robinson, Lindsay Quennell

A1 - Creating Information > Research and messaging

Many of BCCAG’s actions require access to relevant, reliable and timely information, and distillation of that information into readily digestible, targeted messages. Members of this team gather that information and create those messages. BCCAG spokespersons on various topics are part of this group.

  • Identify relevant fields and a spokesperson for each (e.g., climate science; health effects; energy technology; coastal impacts; adaptation strategies; politics; ETS)
  • Spokespersons monitor developments in their fields
  • Team crafts key messages for use on the website, in flyers and presentations, to inform lobbying efforts and media interventions etc

A2 - Creating Information > Focus group on climate related attitudes and behaviours

A focus group to determine what Baysiders think about climate change would provide interesting information about attitudes and behaviours that could help target BCCAG actions. Publishing the findings of the focus group (and/or a follow up survey) would also provide publicity for BCCAG.

  • Each team member to nominate one or 2 friends/colleagues who are not “into” climate change to attend a focus group
  • Could be coordinated with, or even funded by Council
  • Depending on the results of the focus group, consider whether a broader survey would be desirable

A3 - Creating Information > Media

One of the prime determinants of the community’s attitude to climate change is how the issue is presented in the media. It is important therefore for BCCAG to try to get as much informed coverage of climate issues in the media as possible, and to proactively influence key messages the media conveys.

  • Seek a regular column in The Bayside Leader and/or the Bayside Weekly
  • Form letter-writing group
  • Form radio talk-back group

A4 - Creating Information > Web-based communication

An attractive, informative, up-to-date website is an almost indispensible avenue for recruiting new members and supporters and keeping current members and supporters informed. Besides a “standard” website, web-based technologies such as video links, social networking, e-lists, RSS feeds and blogs, offer further opportunities for effective communication.

  • Recruit and train webmaster
  • Review web content and functionality and update and improve website where appropriate
  • Webmaster posts items received from the “Research and messaging” group
  • Evaluate and trial new web-based technologies

THEME B: DELIVERING INFORMATION

Initial team members: Bede Doherty

B1 - Delivering Information > Presentations

Many organizations, such as service clubs, faith-based groups, and schools, regularly seek external presenters. Volunteering to present on climate change offers the opportunity to create awareness by providing information to those who may not otherwise access it, and to influence their viewpoint by provoking discussion amongst peers. It also offers the opportunity to promote BCCAG and introduce potential new members/supporters to its activities.

  • Actively look for opportunities to present
  • PowerPoint slides, handouts etc prepared by the “Research and messaging” group

B2 - Delivering Information > Local businesses

Bayside has many small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Aiming a program of climate awareness and behaviour change at SMEs is a way of reaching a large number of Baysiders. There may be a possibility of building a Green Business Network through which climate aware SMEs can network with each other and promote their businesses.

  • Develop materials that promote the cost and marketing benefits of reducing GHGs
  • Develop a communication strategy to get materials to SMEs
  • Liaise with Council about setting up a Green Business Network

B3 - Delivering Information > Public forum

A public forum would offer Baysiders the opportunity to hear from, and debate with, climate experts first hand. It could also provide an opportunity to recruit new members, and publicity for BCCAG that would have benefits beyond just the people present at the forum.

  • An evening with presentations by e.g., Barrie Pittock, Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, David Spratt, et al
  • Involve (or at least invite) all politicians representing Bayside
  • A debate perhaps (do we have vocal skeptics in Bayside - Andrew Robb)?

B4 - Delivering Information > Youth

Youth, including school communities, are an important target audience for the climate change message. Not only are youth tomorrow’s leaders, but they can have a very direct influence on the attitudes and behaviours of their parents, and on others in their family and in the broader comunity.

  • A schools/youth parliament or debate in the Council chamber. Opportunity for BCC partnership, significant publicity and awareness-raising with youth
  • Investigate link with AYCC
  • BCCAG could act as a link to coordinate actions by different school-based groups
  • Initiate school exscursions, e.g., the VISY recycling plant

B5 - Delivering Information > Stalls

By being available where people congregate for other reasons, stalls reach people who may not otherwise come in contact with the BCCAG message. They are also a way of increasing BCCAG membership amongst people who are already sympathetic to the BCCAG message but were unaware of BCCAG’s existence.

  • Shopping centre stalls may not be best approach as people too rushed
  • Handing out membership brochures etc at railway stations may be better as people waiting for trains have time to read/chat
  • Farmers markets may work well

B6 - Delivering Information > Women’s network

Women not only make decisions that affect themselves, but also have a significant influence on decisions made by others, for example, in the home, at work, as consumers and as voters. A women’s network would offer the opportunity for like-minded women to meet, form connections, exchange information etc.

  • Launch event?
  • Form of ongoing network? (e.g.,meetings, presentations, e-list?)

THEME C: FACILITATING ACTIONS

Initial team members: Erik Zimmerman, Bede Doherty

C1 - Faciliting Actions > Domestic level change model

The family is the basic unit of society. Focusing on emissions in the home not only has the effect of directly reducing those emissions, but also has an educative / habit-forming effect that helps equip family members to be change agents outside the home.

  • Develop domestic GHG reduction model.
  • Publish the model (on website?)
  • Promote the model to the Bayside community (and beyond)

C2 - Faciliting Actions > Eco-living centre

An eco-living centre (ELC) is both a demonstration site for ecologically sustainable practices, and a hub for sustainability-related community activities. BCCAG has successfully lobbied Bayside Council to investigate creation of an ELC. Council is now reviewing existing Council-owned buildings to see if any would be suitable as an ELC. If an ELC goes ahead, BCCAG may be able to have a significant say in its development; e.g., some BCCAG projects could become ELC projects.

  • Continue proactive liaison with Council staff
  • Promote the idea that the ELC must have a garden
  • Coordinate lobbying with othes, e.g. individuals we know who want a community garden

C3 - Faciliting Actions > Community and kithchen gardens

Gardening has a climate change mitigation aspect (e.g., plants store carbon, composting reduces methane, local food production lowers transport-related emeissions), and an adaptation aspect (e.g., encouraging drought resistant plants, using gardens to shade buildings, home food production will lower household cost as carbon price makes food more expensive). It also has health benefits, and community gardening has community-building benefits.

  • Investigate links with PermaBlitz and promote it locally
  • Actively promote the idea that the ELC must have a garden
  • Identify land that could be used for a community gardens, e.g., disused tennis courts on church-owned land
  • Run gardening workshops, perhaps in partnership with Council

C4 - Faciliting Actions > Green demonstration database

One reason people might not adopt measures like solar panels, solar hot water, passive heating and cooling, LCD bulbs, wind turbines, building design features, water tanks etc, is that they are uncertain about practical implications like cost, appearance, effectiveness, alternative suppliers, installation difficulties etc. Visiting and/or talking with someone who has already adopted such measures and having questions answered objectively based on first-hand experience, would help overcome this impediment.

  • Create, publicise and maintain a database of people who have adopted particular measures who would be happy to let people inspect them by appointment and/or ask questions by phone.
  • Perhaps hold community open days with different

C5 - Faciliting Actions > Foreshore wind turbine

Installing a wind turbine will reduce emissions directly but, more importantly, a highly visible turbine at a beachside club will create awareness and interest, demonstrate capacity, be a springboard for information provision, and generate demand for alternative energy technologies.

  • How select site?
  • How determine BCCAG’s financial contribution?

THEME D: INFLUENCING DECISION MAKERS

Initial team members: Ken Blackman, Michael Nugent

D1 - Influencing Decision Makers > Bayside City Council

Many opportunities exist to reduce Council’s own emissions, and to influence Council’s ability to reduce the community’s emissions through its roles as a community leader and as a regulator. Council will likely play an important role in community adaptation strategies also.

  • Monitor Council meeting agendas, website etc.
  • Present BCCAG views at Council meetings
  • Liaise with Councillors and Council staff on ongoing issues

D2 - Influencing Decision Makers > State and federal elections – 2010

There is an opportunity for BCCAG to influence the outcome of the 2010 elections (both state and federal) by helping voters discover what respective candidates’ policies and attitudes are with respect to climate change, and encouraging Baysiders to “vote climate”.

  • Strategy to be generated in conjunction with broader climate movement
  • Will likely involve a meet the candidates session, a candidates’ scorecard, and distribution of Vote Climate brochures

D2 - Influencing Decision Makers > State and federal politicians

The most significant impediment to real mitigation action to date has been the lack of political will. Influencing politicians to agitate within their respective parties for more effective climate policies, particularly in the lead up to the 2010 elections (both state and federal) is an important role for BCCAG.

  • Face-to-face meetings with all state members (both houses) and federal members (both houses) that represent the Bayside area

THEME E: GOVERNANCE

Initial team members: Sabrina Blom, Bede Doherty, Jason Dow, Tim Forcey, Coni Forcey, Cheryl May, Martin May. Michael Nugent, Lindsay Quennell, Faye Quennell, David Robinson, Erik Zimmerman

Meetings, Communications, Finance, Links and Membership are part of running any organisation. The responsibilites are shared by the people listed above.

APPENDIX 1 - Climate Emergency Network

Core Values

We have no right to bargain away the lives of others. Our goal is a safe climate future for all people, all species, and all generations.

Objectives

  • All levels of all governments across the globe must recognise and work together to fulfill their responsibility to secure a safe climate; it is their moral and legal duty-of-care to their citizens.
  • Underpinned by legislation, governments must lead a large-scale transformation to a post-carbon economy.
  • Given the extreme urgency and enormous scale of transformation required, governments must acknowledge the climate and sustainability emergency, and implement a rapid response plan to urgently and effectively address it, whilst respecting basic human rights and freedoms.
  • The community must be engaged in recognising and supporting the climate emergency. Therefore, we will work to engage citizens in taking responsibility for recognising and responding to the climate emergency.

APPENDIX 2 - Management Board

BCCAG has an elected management board that carries out traditional governance functions, including:

  • Organizing the monthly public meeting (the last Wednesday of each month except December) and regular communications with members and supporters;
  • Record keeping, finance and statutory compliance (BCCAG is an incorporated association);
  • Links with the broader climate movement – while it primarily focuses on local action, BCCAG is aware of its role as part the broader climate movement. BCCAG actively contributes to, learns from, and coordinates with that movement. As part of this, members monitor and contribute to e-lists, like CEN and GRCO, participate in CEN and Climate Action Centre meetings, encourage BCCAG participation in the national climate summit (March 2010), and explore opportunities to work with/learn from other networks, e.g., T10
  • Membership – during 2010, the board will review the membership structure, and actively seek ways strengthen the membership by moving people from strangers to supporters; from supporters to members; and from members to active involvement. A higher number of members adds greater authority to BCCAG’s voice when lobbying decision-makers. More active members will allow BCCAG to undertake more/more effective actions. Activities may include:
    - Revising membership brochure.
    - Calling existing members to see if they are interested in joining an action team.
    - Contacting supporters on the extended mailing list to see if they are interested in membership and/or closer involvement.
    - Ensuring visitors to monthly meetings and new members are offered the opportunity to be involved.
    - Identifying and liaising with like-minded community groups.

The management board meets monthly. All members of BCCAG are invited to attend these meetings.