Climate Campaign

The Friend of the Earth Melbourne climate campaign works to bring about necessary changes in lifestyle, society, industry and policy to halt dangerous climate change.

Friends of the Earth Melbourne climate change campaign is focused on bringing about deep cuts to our greenhouse gas pollution (with a need for annual emission reductions), working with community groups to tackle climate change and stop the proposed HRL Ltd coal fired power station in the Latrobe Valley and promote clean green renewable energy solutions.

A key component of the FoEM climate campaign is to create ways in which people from all walks of life can become part of the rapidly growing campaign to halt climate change. With a strong focus on community engagement and movement building, as well as tackling Victoria’s incredibly polluting brown coal based power sector. FoEM provides a strong climate campaign in Victoria that recognises we need urgent action to halt climate change; combining deep cuts in our greenhouse pollution, a shift to clean green renewable energy sources, energy and resource efficiency with the need for doing so in a just and equitable way.

Coal Free Communities

Coal Free Communities offers Victorians the opportunity to get involved with a growing state, national and international climate campaign that makes real and measurable difference here in Victoria and in their community. Coal Free Communities provides the information, support, networks, skills and materials to campaign on climate change effectively. By focusing on stopping the building of the proposed HRL coal fired power station Victorians can clearly show the path we want for our state, country and planet.

HRL

HRL is a joint venture between HRL Ltd and the Chinese Governments Harbin Power. The proposed power station, costing $750 million, is to be part of the Loy Yang mine and power plant zoning in the Latrobe Valley, burning 2.4 million tonnes of brown coal a year and producing an estimated 516,335 tons of CO2 a year.

The HRL proposal is known as an IDGCC (Intergrated Drying Gasification Combined Cycle) coal fire power plant. This process dries the Latrobe Valley brown coal to the water content of black coal, bringing brown coals pollution levels that of black coal. IDGCC systems of burning are being promoted as so-called 'clean coal' and the most suitable of technologies capturing the carbon emissions from burning coal. That said there has yet to be any commercially viable means of carbon capture and storage(CCS), or any large scale trials conducted, best estimates are that CCS technologies may be available in the next 15-20 years.

HRL has been granted significant tax-payers monies to allow construction from both the Victorian state government and federal ALP government. The Victorian state government provided $50 million towards the project in 2006 while the ALP federal government, through its Low Emissions Technology Development Fund (LETDF), provided HRL with a $100 million grant.

Allowing more coal fire power stations anywhere in Australia only locks us into more greenhouse gas (GHG) polluting emissions and further down the path to dangerous climate change. Victoria’s GHG pollution emissions rose 30% from 1990, more coal fire power stations will only increase this shameful statistic.

Help to stop the proposed HRL coal fire power station and get Victoria on the right track to tackling climate change. Join the Friends of the Earth Melbourne Climate Change Campaign in calling for our state and federal governments to get real on climate change and quit our reliance on coal.

You can take some simple steps to help stop the proposed HRL power station

- Become part of the Friends of the Earth Melbourne Coal Free Communities Campaign

- Send a letter to Prime Minister Rudd, Senator Wong to let them know that to tackle climate change we need to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas pollution and transition to a clean, green renewable energy future.

- Write to your local newspaper detailing why proposals like HRL cannot go ahead

FoEM is committed to a strong community campaign on climate change, history shows that is only when a strong vibrant and diverse community movement comes together, great change happens.

We are at the tipping point of community action on climate change. FoEM organises regular skill-share workshops that engages existing groups and new individuals and community groups providing skills.knowledge and networks allowing people from all walks of life to become part of the growing campaign to halt dangerous climate change.

For more information about coal, download our Coal Fact Sheet here.

For more information on this campaign, to donate funds or to get involved, please contact Louise Morris

Climate Justice Past Events

Walk Against Warming

On December 3rd, the International Day of Action on Climate Change was marked in melbourne by a 'Walk against Warming' at Albert Park Lake. Friends of the Earth Action Collective participated in the walk, along with many other environmental organizations, families, dog walkers, the weather man Rob Gell, elderly people, bike riders, Mick Malthouse, kids, a renewable energy trainer and much more.

We brought the unique FoE message to the event by highlighting the justice angle of Climate Change and Climate Chaos. We roved about in our ‘Climate Justice’ Boat, accompanied by pretend refugees from the pacific islands, and handed out information about climate justice and the potential risk of great numbers of climate refugees if dangerous climate change is not averted.

The FoE Anti-Nuclear collective also attended, holding a stall and talking to people about how Uranium and Nuclear Energy is no solution to climate change.

All in all, a fun day was had, awareness about the issue was raised and some greenhouse gas free exercise was done.

Tampa Memorial Day (26 August 2005)

Friends of the Earth Action Collective (FoEAC) used a spiffy new boat to raise awareness of the plight of climate refugees at the Tampa Memorial Rally.

World Environment Day I (June 5th)

Sunday morning (ok it's12. 30pm), roll out of bed, grab banners and fruit-box boats. FoEAC hopes to capture Sunday city strollers' imaginations about climate refugees and what people can do about this burgeoning human rights calamity. We sail a lap of the city in our "boats" (not seaworthy, mind), leaflet "7 actions for climate justice" and have conversations with people about the issue that 150 million people will be displaced in the coming years and yet environmental refugees are not even classified by the UN as refugees. It's cool observing the previously-never-imagined-penny dropping in people's minds, some of whom say, "That's really sad!!" and "how can I get involved in the campaign?" Get chucked out of Fed Square by security for attempting to carry out our peaceful climate refugee street theatre…entirely symbolic of the exclusive behaviour of the government- no method acting required. A great day though and hopefully we've made it easy for people to imagine a situation that needs to be dealt with before too long i.e. now.

World Environment Day II (June 6th)

Our second activity for World Environment Day is a genuine infusion of local vibes into global perspectives taking high school students on a magical history tour to facilitate understanding of the impact of white invasion in Australia, and what inner city green groups are doing about it (essentially). Thanks to Yarra City Council, CERES, Collingwood Children's Farm, VINC and FoE (food coop and Cam) for creating awesome spaces for the students to get in touch with their visions for sustainability and environmental justice, and to find out about ways to be active

World Refugee Day (19th June)

Whip out the banner "Environmental Justice: the hidden cost of climate change" and take to the refugee demo. Do outreach/engagement stall to raise awareness particularly amongst the refugee movement about the significance of this issue and how people can support FoE's campaign. Really beautiful festival, great chats with people, even someone who's just been to Tuvalu and has witnessed the peoples' loss of culture, health, food and sovereignty due to climate change.

FoEAC Strat Planning Day (26th June)

Create a critical path analysis (what outcomes will occur) on the way to achieving the Government's acceptance of climate refugees from the Pacific. VV inspiring.

SoS Action Day

Yank out the boats and banner again and take them along to the roving climate action that comes together out of Students of Sustainability. Sadly due to some rough treatment by name-badge-less members of the Victorian Police Force during our occupation of BHP Billiton HQ one boat is no longer with us, however it's really cool to see so many students participate in the action against Hazelwood, against nuking the climate and for the protection of refugees. Thanks for listening diary.

Stay tuned for our future plans, including a short film, climate refugee forum at the Sustainable Living Fair next year, and a chain of events in the lead up. Anyone is welcome to join us; we meet on Wednesdays at 6.30.