The Victorian government is required to prepare and rollout a climate strategy every five years out to 2050. However, because of the C-19 pandemic, it is well behind schedule, so the Friends of the Earth Act on Climate collective has launched a push to write a People’s Climate Strategy for Victoria and is seeking your Big Idea that Victoria could take to act on climate.

It can be something to rein in emissions or protect the community from climate impacts. What could be done in mountain areas and surrounding towns?

There has long been a plan for a wind turbine at Mt Hotham. There have been several bulk buy programs to get solar panels onto houses and businesses at Hotham and Dinner Plain. What about micro hydro power in ski resorts? Or protecting the carbon dense forests of the Victorian Central Highlands? Running ski resort lift operations on 100% renewable energy? Using electric rather than diesel buses in ski resorts. Or building bushfire refugees in mountain communities?

What’s your big idea that will be good for climate change and good for the mountains?

 

Screen Shot 2020-08-14 at 12.13.24 pmMore than 1,000 people watched the online launch via Zoom and Facebook live. The strong level of interest is a vote of confidence in the idea.

Writing a People’s Climate Strategy for Victoria to present to the Andrews government later this year is a bold and ambitious undertaking. But shaping the state’s first climate strategy is an opportunity that can’t be missed.

Further information can be found here.

Here are a few ideas we have already received.

GET INVOLVED

And here is a survey link to allow you to provide your Big Idea. Its easy:

1/ You will be asked to provide your big idea for climate action in Victoria in 25 words or less.  It can be something to rein in emissions or protect the community from climate impacts.

2/ You will be asked to upload a Selfie, and your message will be converted into a meme – see the example from Sasha above for an example of what it will look like.

3/ You will be asked for basic details (Name, area and email).

NEED SOME INSPIRATION?

For a list of good initiatives happening in mountain towns and resorts, check here.

The HEADER IMAGE above shows an 800 kW wind turbine in the Swiss Alps above Andermatt on Gotthard at 2,332 meters above sea level. It is the highest wind turbine in the world.

Check the link for the original photo and a range of good ideas being implemented in mountain communities.