Green cars

Hyundai Ioniq

The conventional car industry is now in sharp decline across the world while consumer demand for zero or low emissions green cars is rising fast. Electric vehicles are now the most popular option. The pseudo-freedom and autonomy offered by cars has largely become an accepted part of life for many in developed countries but is becoming less… Continue reading Green cars

Energy saving tips

With climate change now an acknowledged problem, many people are keen to know what they can do as individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are several measures you can take to reduce your “carbon footprint” without compromising your lifestyle. You can reduce the energy used in your home (or office) and your carbon footprint… Continue reading Energy saving tips

The end of the world as we know it

The Earth seen from Apollo 17

Where are we at? In the 21st century the world has entered a time of great change. Following the industrial revolution, humans learned how to extract and use fossil fuels in great quantities. This led to an era of cheap and apparently abundant energy for keeping warm, artificial light, transport and creating electricity. First world… Continue reading The end of the world as we know it

Brown Mountain old growth forest

Stump of Brown Mountain old growth tree logged in November 2008, radiocarbon dated at over 500 years old. Photo: Jill Redwood

The wonderful old growth forest of Brown Mountain in East Gippsland is now being logged. There are more than 50 trees over 300 years old in this area of forest, which is adjacent to Errinundra National Park. One logged tree has been radiocarbon dated to over 500 years old. Many more trees between 500 and 800 years… Continue reading Brown Mountain old growth forest

Greenprint

This is a Greenprint that identifies strategies, actions and approaches for moving towards a sustainable future. NOTE: Links on this page are being updated. Transport Housing and buildings Dont: Garden Dont: Government action The following actions are the province of governments. If yours is dragging the chain, let you local, state and national political representatives… Continue reading Greenprint

Melbourne water usage

Melbourne water dam

The city of Melbourne, Australia, has extensive forested water catchments. Over the period 1995 to 2006, Melbourne’s rainfall, and that in the catchments, has fallen by 75%, most probably as an effect of climate change. The Government still allows logging in some of Melbourne’s water catchments, despite scientific evidence that this reduces both the quality and… Continue reading Melbourne water usage

Climate change

Colour-coded world map produced by NASA showing where solar energy has maximum effect. Photo: Reuters

Climate change is now acknowledged by science as a serious issue resulting from increases in the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In order to avoid dangerous climate change and protect our quality of life, the world’s scientific community advises we cannot let temperatures increase by 2 degrees or more by the end of this century. The [effects of… Continue reading Climate change

Stop logging Melbourne water catchments

Logging in Armstrong Creek catchment, visible from Reefton Spur Rd

Logging is still allowed in five of Melbourne’s water catchments. This logging has been scientifically proven to reduce the quality and quantity of water from the catchments. Melbourne’s water supply comes from uninhabited Mountain Ash (Eucalytpus regnans) forests in the Yarra Ranges. Approximately 157,000 hectares of forest has been protected for harvesting water and these… Continue reading Stop logging Melbourne water catchments