THE START OF THE New Year brings fresh hope, potential and the promise of good deeds.
It is a chance to slip out of the shackles of the past 12 months, shake up some old habits — and get started on some new ones.
If the past year has left you feeling frustrated, infuriated and keen to push for climate change action make 2019 the year you throw some climate change resolutions into the mix.
Hungry for ideas?
Here are our top five picks from the Climate Council’s climate action toolkit:
Make your vote a climate vote
2019 is a Federal election year in Australia — and a chance to make a real impact on climate change.
Contact your Member of Parliament (MP) and let them know that climate change will be an election-deciding issue for you.
For Menzies this is Kevin Andrews.
You could do this by attending WarrandyteCAN’s #Fridays4Future protests (every Friday at 4pm outside his office), calling his office or writing him a letter.
Install rooftop solar, or switch to green energy
Two million (and counting) Australians are now harnessing the power of the sun to reduce their greenhouse gas pollution and take control of their power bills, by installing rooftop solar.
And when paired with battery storage, rooftop solar can deliver clean, reliable, renewable power 24/7.
Alternatively, if you’re not in a position to purchase solar panels, you could consider making the switch to a clean energy provider, who will purchase renewable energy on your behalf.
This is also a great way to bring down greenhouse gas pollution and invest in renewable energy.
Check out the Green Electricity Guide at: bit.ly/2G9QiJm for help picking a provider.
Move your money, so it doesn’t support the fossil fuel industry
Do you know where your personal finances are invested?
Many banks, super funds and share portfolios invest in fossil fuel projects.
Making informed choices about where to invest your hard-earned cash, will put pressure on financial institutions to do better.
And thankfully, there are a lot of options out there for banks and super funds that support renewable energy and the environment.
To find out where your bank stands see: bit.ly/2HB9twp.
To find what future your super is funding see: superswitch.org.au/
Change the way you travel
Transport accounts for 18% of Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution, adding 100 million tonnes to the atmosphere every year.
On emissions, transport is second only to electricity.
While a credible national policy is needed to tackle transport emissions, there are actions you can take to reduce your transport emissions, including: avoiding unnecessary travel, especially air travel; choosing cleaner alternatives to car travel; and encouraging your workplace to support cleaner transport.
Join the movement to Stop Adani’s mega-mine
Adani’s coal mine will contribute to cooking our climate, wrecking our reef and draining our water.
We must #StopAdani and move beyond coal.
We would love you to join us (join our local Warrandyte group or one of the other 160 local #StopAdani groups).
Our national movement so far has stopped public and private funding to the mine.
Every month we hold peaceful protests, meet with politicians, send letters and postcards to MPs, door knock our local community, attend local markets, and hold trainings and film/information nights.
There is an activity for everyone and all are welcome!
Charlotte Sterrett is a member of local climate change action group WarrandyteCAN. If you would like to become a climate change hero, join us.
We are on Facebook at: WarrandyteCAN
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