| There is lots of exciting news this month.
If you haven't heard yet, we are recruiting! If you've ever thought 'wouldn't it be great to work for SCEC' then now is your chance. We are looking for a passionate, creative and organised person to take on the role of SCEC coordinator. Visit our website for full details.
The Climate Action team has just released the schedule for the 2015 Climate Change Relay and already rsvp's are coming in. Mark Saturday 26 September in your diary and join us for the second iteration of this great event. We hope to double the number of participants this year so please help spread the word and register on our website or facebook.
We want to say a big thank you to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket or came to the trivia night and to all the businesses that supported the events in particular: Accord Electrical, Eumarella Shores Resort, O'Reilly's Resort, Michael Pugh Pottery, Gary Myers and Fresh Technology. Thanks to your generosity and support we've raised more than $6,000 and had some great times doing it.
And of course a hearty congratulation go to all the raffle prize winners. If you missed out this time, don't despair as there is a family pass to the Caloundra Music Festival to be won in our Climate Action raffle that will be drawn on 26 September.
There's a number of other great events coming up in the region. The annual Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival is happening this month with dozens of events happening around the region. In response to great attendance at the Law Jam on 15 July SCEC is working with the EDO on an encore performance in September this year. During the same month Hinterland Bush Links is organising a 'Subtropical Forest Ecology Course' at the end of September- contact Susie Duncan for details.
The SCEC team
If you'd like to help out with running the Climate Change Relay we'd love to hear from you, call the office or email Nate via [email protected]
We're also looking for people to help us run the office. If you've can spare a few hours (or a day) a week than join our office admin team. Contact Wiebe for more details[email protected]
Individual membership in SCEC is counted as a donation for tax-purposes. By subscribing to one of our monthly membershipoptions you will be providing ongoing support our work protecting the natural environment while giving yourself something to smile about at tax time.
The Federal Government has announced its emission reduction targets that it will take to the Paris Climate Summit later this year. Not surprisingly the target (26% below 2005 levels by 2030) falls well short of the reduction trajectory that science tells us is required to stay below the internally agreed 'save' boundary of 2°C warming. According to the 5th IPCC assesment report we need to cut emissions by 25% to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 to have a 50-50 chance of staying below 2°C warming. Once again our 'leaders' have fallen desperately short of what is required.
Meanwhile a range of different findings published this year indicate that impacts of Climate Change on our biosphere may be occurring much more rapidly than our scenario's are predicting. This Rolling Stone Article gives a good, if scary, overview of some of those findings.
Fortunately there were also some good news stories this month with the Federal Court setting aside the environmental approval for the Carmichael Mine and both the Commonwealth Bank andStandard Chartered severed ties with Adani over the project. This was followed by a letter from the President of Kiribati to all world leaders calling for a moratorium on all new coal mines (#nonewcoal).
In the wake of these and other good news stories it is important we let our politicians know that we expect them to take urgent and decisive action on climate change. If you agree with this position please post a selfie to facebook, twitter or other social media sites with your climate action message using the hashtags#scclimateaction and #pathwaytoparis
We also just taken delivery of new stock of our climate action t-shirts available for $25 (including postage). A great way to look the part and spread the word.
Mayors Mark Jamieson (Sunshine Coast) and Alan Sutherland (Moreton Bay) met with the Hon Jackie Trad Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning this month to discuss permanent protection of the inter urban break between Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast. During the State Election earlier this year ALP Candidates publicly supported Council and the community in wanting protection of the inter urban break south of Bells Creek Road and opposing development of sites south of this line, including Halls Creek. Sunshine Coast Daily Article
The annual Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival is happening from 18- 30 August. Join in guided walks, art, talks and other ways of enjoying our beautiful flora as we celebrate the native wildflowers of our region.
Hinterland Bush Links are running a 3 day course in Subtropical Forest Ecology from 28- 30 September. The course offers a great opportunity for anyone who would like to get a better understanding of how our native bushland functions, to learn from some of the best people in the business.
Sunshine Coast Environment Councilhttp://www.scec-action.org.au/
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