Bayside Climate Change Action Group

Bayside Council have released, for public response until mid-December, their draft CLIMATE CHANGE Strategy.

It’s important that local residents who are concerned about carbon emissions and their effect on the environment see that their Council leads in this area. This plan emphasizes adaptation measures. How far can, and should local government do more? Council invites your personal response. Let them hear your priorities
Please call BCC Environmental Planning Officer Karen Freidin, 9599 4421and ask for a copy (or call 9599 4444 to leave a message) – or ask at your library as they may have copies. Or online at: http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/have_your_say.htm

 

Clean-energy laws win cautious approval
Adam Morton
The Age November 30, 2011
 
AUSTRALIA'S clean-energy laws are a ground-breaking step that will end decades of growth in its greenhouse gas emissions but will not be enough for Canberra to play its part in limiting global warming to two degrees, according to an international analysts' report launched at the Durban climate conference.
The authors of the 150-page report on Australia, launched at the United Nations summit overnight, said it had joined a club of countries taking meaningful steps to tackle the problem, including most of Europe, China and South Africa.
Its release followed a speech by South African President Jacob Zuma, who opened the two-week summit by telling delegates from 190 nations that global warming was already causing suffering and conflict, including drought in Sudan and Somalia and flooding in his country.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/cleanenergy-laws-win-cautious-approval-20111129-1o54o.html#ixzz1fG58MVT4

 

WHY IS IT SO?

BCCAG has, this spring, held two gatherings that considered & discussed professional psychologists’ views on the disjunction between more than a decade of warnings from the best climate science, global and Australian - and mainstream political, business and media responses.

If you are concerned to understand the psychology involved in popular, as well as leadership, thinking and behaviour in this area, see www.psychologyforasafeclimate.org – where access to many resources is available.

Useful rejoinders to many common positions taken by individuals who – one way or another – remain part of the widespread inertia on climate change can also be found there - in The Debunking Handbook, a 6-page paper by two Australian academics you can download for free.

 

 

 

A PSYCHOLOGICAL TAKE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
THE REAL ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS US!

   

    Graeme Pearman
     


Graeme's PowerPoint Presentation (3Mb PDF)

Understanding Climate Change (250Kb PDF)

On Wednesday 31 August Dr Graeme Pearman spoke to a packed house at BCCAG’s monthly meeting. A very appreciative audience listened to Graeme describe his lifetime’s work researching atmospheric science and particularly the impact of variability and climate change. He gave an in depth explanation as to the human causes of climate change and their effect on the atmosphere and water. In more recent years he has worked with psychologists and has become interested in the way our modern lifestyle, with its increased dependence on energy, has become the important issue today and how it influences our response to climate change. He says scientists have identified climate change “threats”. How great a risk are these threats? People experience different emotional responses. Your particular coping mechanism is the way you are. Some respond by blaming others or denying its existence. We react differently if we are directly involved (is it affecting our own business?) Graeme then spoke briefly about our own role in reducing our energy/water footprint. See where you can make a change. You will find it empowering. Monitor power/petrol bills. Be personally rewarded.

Graeme concluded the talk by suggesting some useful sources to get more information on climate change:-