climate torch hits yarra ranges

Climate Change talk was in the air this week with the arrival of Get Up’s Climate Torch in Yarra Ranges. I had the very great pleasure of attending the Climate Torch relay on a number of occasions as the torch made its way through the Shire.

First the relay kicked off at the Cement Creek water catchment, located just beyond Warburton.















The Wilderness Society talked about the Green Carbon report and the important role the forests had to play in climate change.

The gathering up at Cement Creek. These closed water catchments are due to be logged later this year.

Me and Bianca Rich, Torch Relay organiser.

Next the torch made its way to Warburton.

Me, walking with the Warburton community along side the Yarra River.

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The next day saw the torch in the Dandenong Ranges. It was great to accept the torch from the students of the Sherbrooke Community School on behalf of the Dandenong Ranges community.
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Me and Steve Meacher, organiser of the Healesville leg of the relay in Sassafras.

The students of the Sherbrooke Community School are very interested in reducing their footprint with the school's VCE Environmental Science Class participating in the "Switch and Save" program - helping to reduce your carbon footprint without reducing your bank balance.

After that the torch made its way to an evening with David Spratt, co-author of Climate Code Red at Burrinja in Upwey. David spoke about the urgent and pressing need for action on climate change now. It was a great night organised by the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association who are playing a key role locally assisting residents with solar installations.

The next day the torch had a dawn start from Mt St Leonards, just outside of Healesville and made its way to Healesville Railway Station passing through a number of schools on the way through. I handed the torch on to Cr Jeanette McRae who accepted it on behalf of her local community.

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The torch will make its way to Canberra to highlight concerns about lack of action on climate change, calls for a 50% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions are part of the campaign. It seems there’s still a ways to go given the latest recommendations from Garnaut.

I think Garnaut needs to read Climate Code Red!

If you’d like to read more about Climate Code Red visit www.scribepublications.com.au/book/climatecodered