Geelong Sustainability

"Instead of trying to convince climate sceptics they are wrong, why not start a conversation about why people with centre-right views should care about climate change?"

"Shining a Light on Sustainability is an introductory video from the Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability at Macquarie University, Sydney.  This video introduces the concept of sustainability and explains our current situation even before any potential challenges from climate change are involved. What does sustainability mean? Why are we currently unsustainable? What is an ecological footprint? What's the problem with plastic? What about water? And biodiversity? How are people faring? How can we find a sustainable path? What are some great sustainability initiatives?"

"Unfortunately, the Australian media has failed to ask politicians who support inadequate climate change policies to justify their position on scientific and ethical grounds. Here is what journalists - and you - should be asking them."

"We challenge the reader, on Oceans Day, to join us in a one-month "plastic de-tox" commitment. Start by counting how many disposable plastic items you use in one day, and decide how many of them you could do away without compromising your quality of life in any significant manner."

"If you're worried about dressing ethically, chances are you think about sweatshop conditions in developing countries, unsustainable farming practices, convoluted global supply chains that ring up a huge carbon footprint, and mountains of fast-fashion festering in landfill. But the first thing you should think about is how often you wash your clothes. It turns out that when you look at the whole life cycle of a piece of clothing, everyday washing and drying damages our natural environment the most."

"Forest ecologists like a challenge however, and there have been several attempts at estimating the forest carbon "sink". According to this analysis, intact forests and those re-growing after disturbance (like harvesting or windthrow) sequestered around 4 billion tonnes of carbon per year over the measurement period - equivalent to almost 60% of emissions from fossil fuel burning and cement production combined."

"Better recycling and resource use has potential for net exports of more than £20bn and 10,000 new jobs by 2020"

"The term sustainability has been stretched to become almost meaningless. It's time to talk about regeneration, writes Herbert Girardet"

On September 22, 2011, Slavery Footprint launched a website that asked a single question, "How Many Slaves Work For You?"

"Australians have come a long way in how we recycle our empty bottles and cans. More people are recycling than ever before through their convenient and easy to use kerbside recycling systems, there is less litter and a greater awareness of the importance of reducing the impact of rubbish on our environment. But there's no doubt that we can all be doing more. Our politicians believe the answer is to introduce a drink container tax where we all have to pay up to 20 cents more for our bottles and cans at the shop - a 10 cent deposit plus a handling fee of up to 10 cents. Instead of being able to recycle these containers at a kerbside collection we would have to wash them, store them and then take them to a recycling depot to have the 10 cent deposit returned."

"Buried in a little-noticed rule on microwave ovens is a change in the U.S. government's accounting for carbon emissions that could have wide-ranging implications for everything from power plants to the Keystone XL pipeline. The increase of the so-called social cost of carbon, to $US38 ($A40) a metric ton in 2015 from $US23.80, adjusts the calculation the government uses to weigh costs and benefits of proposed regulations. The figure is meant to approximate losses from global warming such as flood damage and diminished crops. (That figure also compares with the $A23 per tonne carbon tax in Australia.)"

"The Coalition will impose new noise monitoring rules on windfarms that the multibillion dollar industry says will inflict crippling costs, provide no useful information and represent another victory for an anti-noise campaign by concerned citizens backed in part by the climate sceptic lobby."

"Bill McKibben has just completed a tour of Australia with his message of divesting from fossil fuel companies. He reflects on Australia's future."

"On 1 January 2009 the Victorian Energy Saver Incentive (ESI) scheme was launched to promote the uptake of energy efficiency improvements in residential premises. Submissions are invited on the key issues set out in this document and any other matters that stakeholders consider relevant."

Sustainable Gardening Australia was established in 2003. We are a not-for-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to changing the way Australians garden. SGA is totally committed to achieving real, continually improving and easily understood environmental solutions for gardeners.

"Entries are now open for the ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2013! Sustainability Victoria's ResourceSmart Schools Awards recognise and reward the sustainability efforts of Victorian primary and secondary schools, and celebrate the work of teachers and students who are leading the way for future generations. With prize money and resource support up for grabs, the awards are a great opportunity to boost your school profile, network with other Victorian schools that are excelling in sustainability and celebrate with your whole community. Entries close 5pm, Thursday 1 August 2013. See details below about awards categories, how to enter and support information."

Sustainable transport

"By 2015, more than 50% of organizations that manage innovation processes will 'gamify' those processes (Gartner Inc., 2011). Gamification is the process of taking the concepts used to design games to be engaging and applying them in non-game environments such as innovation, marketing, and training. There is no better way to get all of your employees thinking about how to solve the challenges facing your company than by motivating them to do so through a process of fun and play."

We all know how much emphasis is being placed on green energy strategies these days. The folks over National Geographic recently teamed up with GE Power & Water and the Center for Science to release Plan It Green: The Big Switch, a new cloud based online gaming community where students come together to learn more about the importance of recycling and how eco-friendly habits that can help save our environment. 

An interactive glossary with simple explanations and further links