Category Archives: Uncategorized

Latest news: Solar Savings for Quamma RFS

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Savings being made through Bega Valley’s community solar program were donated back to the Quaama Rural Fire Brigade on February 3rd, 2022.
A memorandum of understanding between Clean Energy For Eternity and the Bega Valley Shire Council allows net savings from any CEFE-funded solar/battery installation on public buildings in the shire to be redirected back to each relevant public building. CEFE secretary Prue Kelly said this arrangement was the first of its kind between local government and an autonomous, voluntary, not for profit organisation.
Thanks to the deal, and assisted by live music fund-raising events, solar power systems were installed on the Quaama, Rocky Hall, and Kiah RFS sheds over the past 15 months. Today, CEFE presented the first refund savings cheque to the Quaama Rural Rire Brigade. Refunds for the others will follow, Ms Kelly said.

COP26 – a last chance for the planet

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The November meeting in Glasgow must, in the words of a recent report from developing countries that constitute over half the nations of the world, ‘be a summit of delivery [because] morally and practically, there can be no successful outcome at COP26 that does not deliver for the most vulnerable across the full range of issues. This is the last chance for rich countries to deliver the promised ‘solidarity package’. If this plan fails, COP26 fails’

The report identifies five areas in which all governments, ‘especially those of nations that became prosperous through the untrammeled burning of fossil fuels’ , need to deliver:

Emissions: Cut emissions to levels consistent with keeping warming under 1.5oC, led by nations with the biggest responsibility and capacity. Halve global CO2 emissions by 2030.

Adaptation: Accelerate financial support to vulnerable countries to adapt to climate impacts. Ensure adaptation receives at least 50% of financial aid.

Loss and damage: Provide financial support to help developing nations deal with the loss and damage caused by the impacts of climate change – which have resulted from the developed world’s historical failure to cut their emissions.

Finance: Deliver the promised but so far unforthcoming US$100bn per year climate financial pledge made by developed nations at the Copenhagen and Paris COPs.

Implementation: Finalise the rulebook for implementing the Paris Agreement regarding transparency, carbon trading and common five-year timeframes for accelerating action. Done in a way that safeguards development and nature.

All actions to be underpinned by solidarity, fairness and prosperity.

The report includes a message for Australia: ‘Fair shares accounting shows that in order to take adequate responsibility for creating the climate crisis, Australia should reduce its emissions by at least 65-80% below 2005 levels by 2030 and provide at least $2.5bn (AUS$3.2bn) annually.’

Below are some quotes from the speech given by John Kerry, President Biden’s Special Envoy for Climate, in London on July 20

Nostalgia for what our parents’ generation accomplished is no antidote to [our children’s] anxiety and even anger at what our generation has so far failed to do. We adults who have a vote in legislatures or elections and multilateral institutions, seats in the Situation Room and the boardrooms — we must provide answers that are tangible – not theoretical. And above all, we need to provide action and action now. Because time is running out.

We really must focus on capping warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Much more warming than that, and life on our planet will become increasingly unrecognizable. That prospect of an unlivable tomorrow should be as alarming as it is sobering as we take stock of the world we are living in today.

It’s a world where whole countries would be destabilized from stalled economic growth, hunger and starvation, escalating conflict over resources, and people would be forced to abandon their homes. It’s also a world in which we ultimately spend so much money and effort just coping with disasters that we no longer invest in tomorrow. It undermines everything we have been fighting for. And no country, rich or poor, will be spared. We have a narrow window to avoid that future.

Simply put: the world needs to cut emissions by at least 45% by 2030 to be on a credible path to net zero by midcentury. That’s what the IPCC showed us. 45% – and not just in some countries or some regions, but the world. They found that 45% is the minimum the world must reduce.

That makes this a decisive decade. And it makes 2021 a decisive year. And most of all, it must make COP 26 in Glasgow this year a pivotal moment for the world to come together to meet and master the climate challenge.

How alarming it is that as we race to Glasgow, some countries are currently still building new, carbon-polluting coal plants, clear-cutting more trees and continuing to illegally cut down the rainforest. They’re removing the lungs of the world, destroying irreplaceable biodiversity, and destabilizing the climate – all at the same time.

At or before COP26, we need to see the major economies put forward – not just ambitious 2030 targets, but clear plans for how they will get there over the next decade. By 2023, we need those same economies to put out road maps for how they will achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Commitments must be backed by concrete national action plans, policies, and measures.

We can – and must – achieve this together – especially knowing the triumph or tragedy of the two alternative worlds that await our choices. I believe we will get to the low carbon economy we urgently need. But without greater urgency and effort, it is not clear we will get there in time.’

Rocky Hall RFS Shed Solar Installation

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The 3.7kW solar system is connected to a battery which will provide up to five hours of emergency backup power. This will  give the brigade some security in times of emergencies, like during Black Summer bushfires when the district lost all its power.

Supporting CEFE and the Rocky Hall Rural Fire Brigade were the Wyndham Progress Association and Wyndham Men’s Shed – as well as a host of locals who turned up on a very wet afternoon fund raising concert, which was shifted from the sports ground to the Wyndham Hall.

 

AGM Monday March 22 in Tathra

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Our Annual General Meeting will be held in the Tathra RFS training room, Bega St Tathra at 5.30 pm on Monday March 22.

The agenda papers including audited financial reports are available by clicking here

Nominations for office bearer positions must be sent to the Returning Officer at [email protected] by Monday 15 March. The email should have the names of the nominator and seconder and confirm the consent of the nominee.

 

 

Bentley Effect screening

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Our friends from SJA- Forces for Natures group are screening this positive and uplifting documentary on Thursday night
 
What:  The Bentley Effect documentary
When: Thursday 4th February, 2021
Where: Pambula SLSC
Time:   7pm
Cost:   5 dollars to go to SJA’s ongoing work in the community
 
The Pambula Surf Club is a spacious venue, and will be COVID safe, so you can just turn up on the night.  This is an inspiring film about the power of people united in defence of the land, and how to build a movement.  Also, highly entertaining. Hope you can make it and please spread the word.