Welcome to Issue #27 for March 2025

Things are starting to heat up for the coming Federal election – most people seem to agree it will be a crucial election for the future of climate action and nature in Australia. To give you an idea of what is at stake, this excellent animation shows how global average temperatures have risen since 1880.

A part of the upcoming Federal election, PECAN is planning to host a Macnamara Candidates Forum that will be climate focused. We hope to hold it at the end of March. Just reply to this email to indicate your interest in getting involved with organizing this very important event.

In further evidence that election campaigning is ramping up, Josh Burns MP (Labor, Macnamara) has announced that $550,000 has been secured for a bike path on Beach Road in Port Melbourne. We very much hope it includes traffic lights at the Beach-Williamstown Roads intersection.

It is great to see that solar panels and EV chargers are becoming mainstream and available at Bunnings.

An interesting short video explains that the battery storage capacity connected to Australia’s National Energy Market is set to increase from 2GW to 18GW by 2028, mostly to replace retiring coal fired power stations. (This is a good thing that will make gas fired peaking plants much less economic, and make nuclear investments a waste of money.)

This recent article in The Age (paywall) disturbingly explains how a lack of trees in urban areas could be affecting people’s health – this is a significant issue in parts of the City of Port Phillip.

We are continuing our subscriber recruitment drive – so please forward this email to friends and family that you feel may be interested in it.

we are very disappointed at the ludicrous decision by the government’s Marine Stewardship Council to certify an endangered fish species to be sustainable for eating.

It is not environment related, but 17-23 March is National Advance Care Planning Week, with lots of resources available to help you discuss end of life decisions with your loved ones.

If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.

Plato

We are living and working on the unceded lands of the Yalukit Willam people. We pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land and their ongoing connection to land, waters, sky and culture.

PECAN held its annual planning day on Saturday 15 February, which was very successful.

All agreed that its 2024 advocacy and other work was very effective, especially its local Council Election activities. Nonetheless, much of it was behind the scenes meetings with local, state and federal politicians.

For 2025 we want to increase PECAN’s visibility within our Port Phillip community, engaging with more people more directly and hosting more public seminars and climate initiatives.

We are looking at bi-monthly seminars to run in conjunction with PECAN meetings. The first should be a talk about the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve by Gio Fitzpatrick at the 26 March PECAN meeting – save the date.

During February, PECAN was involved with several actions, including:

• Site walk with Melbourne Water to learn about the Elwood Drain Duplication Project. Read our report on it here.
• Introducing PECAN to members of the Environmental Leaders Action Network
• The launch of the new Stop New Coal and Gas Macnamara community group that will be very active in our local community during the upcoming Federal election
• Setting up an Electrify Southside group to advocate for and help residents electrify their homes in the City of Port Phillip and it’s surrounds
• Three submissions to the Victorian Government related to the Getting Off Gas Roadmap
• A submission to Minister Plibersek related to the proposed North West Shelf gas extension and a submission on the Murujuga Rock Art on the Burrup Hub
• As part of a regular meeting with Council sustainability officers learned that pole mounted EV chargers should be rolling out in Port Phillip soon

Please reply to this email, if you would like to get directly involved in this kind of PECAN work.

Things you can do…

If you are looking for some night classes, the next edition of the excellent City of Port Phillip Environmental Leaders Course is now accepting enrollments.

Our article about the Voices from the Frontline of the Climate Crisis event last November contains important information on how you can contact politicians asking them to stop the Middle Arm gas project in the Northern Territory.

The City of Port Phillip is calling for expressions of interest for residents to join its new Climate Ready Communities Program – it you have some free time you might like to join it.

The Yalikut Willam Nature Association is running an Exploring the Hidden World of Aquatic Life tour, starting at 1pm Saturday 15 March at the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve, off Glenhuntley Road, Brighton.

The Port Phillip Pickers local community group is planning to hold their annual olive picking event in Port Melbourne/Albert Park on 6 April – join the group and save the date if you want to get involved – it is a fun day.

At 38 Blessington Street, St Kilda, the Port Phillip EcoCentre is hosting:

• a talk by Elliot Fishman about Prioritizing Active Transport at 7pm, Tuesday 4 March. This is in conjunction with the Port Phillip Bicycle Users Group meeting, which starts at 6:30pm
• another St Kilda Repair Cafe and Bike Kitchen event at 2-5pm on 9 March.
• Morning and afternoon River Trawl Sorts on Wednesday 12 March to analyze biodiversity and other samples collected from local waterways
• Join the Urban and Marine Conservation along Elster Creek event on Sunday 22 March, 10am to noon. Learn more and RSVP here
• another Climate Cafe for people to freely express their climate-related concerns 6:30pm-8:00pm, Thursday 27 March at 38 Blessington street, St Kilda – RSVP here
• Future Proof your Home seminar to consider how to make your home more energy efficient, comfortable and cost-effective. 6:30pm-8:00pm, Monday 31 March – RSVP here

If you are up for socializing with like minded people, ACF Macnamara is holding their bi-monthly Meeting and Pub Social at the Dick Whittington, 32 Chapel Street St Kilda, starting 6pm on Thursday 20 March. RSVP here.

The Australia Institute is also asking people to sign a petition and write to the Prime Minister asking him to listen to the evidence and save the Maugean Skate by ending salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

You might like to read the Solar Citizens’ BBQ Conversations Guide that is filled with messaging tips and up-to-date information to help you confidently talk to friends, family, colleagues and neighbours about topics from the risks of nuclear power to rooftop solar.

Here are five things you can do at a personal level to combat our climate and biodiversity crisis. And this interesting article explains how you can get enough vitamin D, without getting too much sun.

Finally, you might also like to sign Environment Victoria’s petition to keep the Latrobe Valley nuclear free.

Greening the global steel industry

Iron and steel are a major industry that is very difficult to de-carbonize, and currently produces about 11% of global emissions. And future demand for steel is not going to fall! This very useful report explains how we can effectively transforms steel supply chains for a sustainable future. This transformation is a major industrial opportunity for Australia, which we seem to be missing completely! Producing green hydrogen near to iron ore deposits and using it there to make green pig-iron is a huge opportunity for Australia.

This is something that the Australianand South Australian governments should read if they want to save the Wyalla steelworks.

Hemp is a “new” wonder crop for Australian agriculture
Hemp is a fast growing plant with many health and industrial uses that we will see grown more in Australia. It can be a much “greener” replacement for some existing industrial products like cement block in buildings. Because it is closely related to marijuana, growing it was restricted for many years. Learn more here.

Britain’s first battery electric train
This important initiative demonstrates the feasibility and practicality of using batteries to power electric trains, where the batteries are fast charged (in 3-minute events) while the train is stopped in a station. Batteries mean that you do not need expensive overhead power rails. The train can also use regenerative braking to be much more efficient. The charging points are between the tracks and are only “live” while the train is stationary above them. Why aren’t we doing this kind of research and development in Australia? Learn more here.

Moon and other planet mining and farming is coming…

It is about time to more seriously consider humanity’s expansion into space – space flight is becoming commercially viable, and several companies are gearing up for it. This is an interesting article to get you started. Personally, I think that the last thing we should do is release unfettered capitalism out into the universe!

Decarbonizing industrial processes

Industrial processes currently account for a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, and primarily use fossil fuels to provide heat. Watch this video to learn about how many industrial processes can be decarbonized by electrifying their heat sources using readily available existing technologies. The biggest issue is incentivizing these businesses to invest to upgrade their industrial processes and stop destroying our planet for their financial gain.

Best practice e-waste handling

A very interesting video about how waste electronics products are dealt with in the USA. Hopefully the systems in Australia are as comprehensive.

How the sporting world is kicking goals for our planet

It is heartening to see that many sporting organizations and people are finally starting to take stands against climate destruction and mobilizing their fans to also take action. Learn more here.

A bit of fun…

Many world cities do not provide any free public car parking. Japan takes it to the extreme of not allowing you to register your car unless you can prove you have somewhere private to park it – see here. An idea for Port Phillip, perhaps?