To solve climate change, waste, and pollution, we need both a short term and long term strategy.
It’s time to rethink how we design, make, and use the things we need, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear.
Climate change and sustainability is a very complex problem and it requires systems thinking to address it. Almost every human activity uses fossil fuels or other sources of greenhouse gases. Every time we buy or download a book, every time we cook a meal, every time we travel across town, we are impacting the climate.
My policies are as follows:
• Create circular economies.
This is reusing, repairing, recycling, sharing and reducing waste and pollution.
Shred-X. https://www.shred-x.com.au is a great example recycling tetra containers, plastics and old computers.
• No NEW coal or gas developments and commit to an orderly transition to renewables.
This is not about closing down our mining industry but preparing our employment base for the future as coal becomes replaced with renewables and looking at opportunities for training and job creation.
My aim is to push for a 70% or higher emission reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2040.
• Increase the energy efficiency of buildings and new developments.
Making our new developments more energy efficient with double glazing, walkability, tree canopies and regulations such as light coloured roofs. It may increase the cost of purchase but it will reduce the ongoing costs.
• Earlier introduction of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) into all local councils.
Councils must have FOGO by 2030 but this can and should be brought forward to 2025.
• Investigating recommissioning of the Warragamba Hydroelectric System.
The dam used to produce 50 MW of power, enough to power 9,000 homes each year. It was decommissioned in 2001.
• Educate and Incentivise innovation at the individual level.
For example: Car pooling and use of public transport. Information about re-wilding with plants local to the area.
Striving to meet the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Learn more about the UN SDGs
