Uniting Climate Justice Activation
Online Thursday, 20th August, 7pm – 8:30pm
Uniting Church community members are called to join together in September for a month of action in the leadup to major climate talks in our Pacific Region.
Heatwaves, floods, fires, cyclones and other extreme weather events are getting more frequent and more intense. We believe is the people here and around the world being hit by these impacts that need to be at the heart of climate decisionmaking and action.
That’s why it’s important for everyday people committed to care for creation and for those both here and in our neighbouring regions most affected by climate extremes to raise their voices for bold action from our world leaders.
Building on the Church foundations in Care for Creation and ongoing advocacy engagements with key decisionmakers, we are supporting our congregations to join together and take simple steps to advocate for climate justice.
Come along to the briefing to find out how you can get your congregation or community involved!
Resources to be provided include video resources on engagement to date and the road ahead, liturgical resources for services and practical ways to support initiatives like the Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty. We need one person per congregation or community group to act as our Activation captains. Captains will receive direct support, resources including a full timeline, more information and suggestions to get others involved in each action.
Affordable Renewable Energy for All – Forum
Want cheaper gas and electricity bills?
Want your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer?
Interested in solar panels or a battery but not sure how to get them?
Come to our forum – a panel of experts and community members will answer your questions
Coburg Library Meeting Room, corner Victoria St and Louisa St, Coburg
Wednesday 26 August,
6.30 – 8 pm
Come along to find out how we can all get access to affordable and renewable energy.
All welcome.
Presented by Climate Action Merri-Bek in partnership with NUCA, Rewiring Australia, Zero Carbon Merri-Bek, Energy Justice and SEC Victoria
High Life Expo – Sustainability Expo back in 2026!
From High Life Living and Zero-carbon Merri-bek
Saturday 3 October 2026, 10am – 3pm
Melbourne Town Hall
Free Entry – Bookings Essential
Book Your Free Ticket HERE Now
Apartment Owners · Renters · Owners corporation managers · Facility managers: this one’s for you.
Whatever you’re trying to solve in your apartment or building — energy bills, EV charging, safety, financing or governance headaches — you’ll find practical answers and the support you need.
Talk to experts, meet reliable suppliers, and compare notes with people who get it.
What’s On?
Six expert seminars with Q&A covering topics like energy, sustainability, resilience and governance.
A huge Suppliers Showcase, where you can meet:
- Trusted suppliers and installers of energy and sustainability products
- Owners corporation service providers
- Specialists in government rebates, funding and project finance
- State and local government representatives
- Community organisations and groups
Pick the topics that matter to you:
- EV charging
- Solar and batteries
- Waste, recycling and circular economy solutions
- All-electric upgrades
- Safety and security
- Wellbeing and comfort
- Gardening and greening
- Community connection and resilience
- Governance, decision-making and project management
- Rebates and finance
- and more!
The full program drops early September but you can lock in your ticket now.
The loopholes that let big polluters off the hook
From Climate Council
Millions of Australians just like you are doing their bit to cut climate pollution – but our biggest polluters are getting a free ride.
More than 4 million Australian households now have rooftop solar, and more than 340,000 installed home batteries in the past year alone.1
But multinational coal and gas corporations are pumping out more climate pollution, pocketing record profits, and leaving everyday Australians to pick up the tab for the climate damage.
So how are they getting away with it? These fossil fuel giants are exploiting loopholes in our national industrial pollution law, the Safeguard Mechanism. That law is designed to drive down industrial climate pollution over time to protect the community. But so far, it’s not working.
Corporations are buying their way out of their obligations, purchasing as many cheap “offsets” as they like, rather than cutting pollution at the source.
Our new report, Free ride: How our biggest polluters are dodging their fair share, found that coal, gas and mining corporations have many affordable options to slash on-site pollution, from electrifying trucks to stopping methane leaks.2 And with net profit margins from 21% to 39%, they certainly have the means to do so.2
Our explainer breaks down exactly how this loophole works, in plain terms.3
Read our explainer: Why is our industrial pollution law letting big polluters off the hook?
The good news is that our industrial pollution law can be reformed to actually work: by closing the loopholes and requiring Australia’s biggest, most profitable polluters to clean up their act. That’s why we’ve already been out in the media making the case for strong regulations.4
This is the difference between a law that actually cuts climate pollution, and one that lets the biggest polluters buy their way around it.
Our report sets out eight powerful policy recommendations to strengthen the Safeguard Mechanism and secure Australia’s clean industry future. Next week, we’re heading to Canberra to share these directly with the decision-makers who’ll shape the review’s outcome.
Here’s how you can help:
Read the explainer, so you know exactly how the loophole works.
Sign and share our petition to end the free ride for fossil fuels, to add to the pressure.
Sign the petition: End the Free Ride for Fossil Fuels
Thank you for staying across this with us. Whether you’ve read the explainer, signed the petition, or shared it, you’re adding weight to the case we’re taking to the people who can close these loopholes.
Ben McLeod
Senior Advocacy Advisor
Climate Council
P.S. Our new report shows how coal and gas corporations are exploiting loopholes to increase their pollution instead of cutting it, while Australians pick up the tab for the climate damage. The Federal Government’s review should close these loopholes and make Australia’s biggest and most profitable polluters clean up their act. Read the report now.
P.P.S. This is exactly the kind of loophole we’re fighting to close with our petition to end the free ride for fossil fuels. Add your name to the petition and share with your network – your support helps us keep the pressure on.
References:
- Small-scale installation postcode – Clean Energy Regulator
- Free ride: How our biggest polluters are dodging their fair share – Climate Council
- Why is our industrial pollution law letting big polluters off the hook? – Climate Council
- Climate Council media highlights on the Safeguard Mechanism report:
a. “Barely budged:” Big polluters get away with minimal cuts as climate scheme allows too many offsets – Renew Economy
b. Big polluters make small cuts under climate scheme – The Canberra Times
c. Australia’s biggest polluters to face emissions review – Australian Museum - Call on the Federal Government to End the Free Ride for Fossil Fuels – Climate Council
Electrify the Lodge
From Friends of the Earth Energy Justice Collective
In the middle of an energy and cost of living crisis, we saw PM Albo light up a gas stove at the lodge on Annabel Crabb’s ABC show, Kitchen Cabinet!
Right now Australia needs great leadership; the kind that inspires a country to walk the talk on the energy transition.
So instead of us forking out $111k dollars of public money to pay the bills at the Prime Minister’s two residences each year, we thought it would be a great time to ask him to electrify them both as soon as possible.
Will you send the PM an email calling on him to electrify his residences and get off gas?
Electrify the Lodge – send an email HERE
In signing this, we can send a message to Albo: that if he takes initiative to get dirty gas out of these public homes, he sends a message to the rest of Australia that he’s willing to lead the energy transition (and cook his pasta on an efficient, clean induction cooktop).
Once you’ve signed yourself, please send it on to your friends and colleagues so we can really get this campaign cooking!
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