Geelong Sustainability

An interactive glossary with simple explanations and further links

"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."

"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.)"

"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."

"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?"

Five reasons for every guy or gal who likes to drive fast, corner hard, and squeeze every last drop of horsepower out of their ride should be as excited about EV adoption

IT'S a problem that besets every urban area: dodging dog droppings on the footpath. Now one town has come up with a clever way to keep doggie doo off its streets - and remind owners of their responsibilities. It sends the offending deposits back to the owners marked "Lost Property".

A study has found that increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can reduce the amount of water plants need to grow. Carbon dioxide concentrations recently exceeded 400 parts per million for the first time in three million years. But researchers at the Australian National University say the benefits of higher CO2 levels could partially offset some of the negative affects of climate change.

"Last night's ABC Q&A program didn't spend much time discussing the issue of climate change, but it nonetheless represented an excellent microcosm of the broader political debate on the issue. On one side you had Bill McKibben, who has dedicated his life to the cause of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He is trying to put the fear of God into investors that money in fossil fuels is like investing in the horse and buggy industry at the dawn of the motor vehicle. In the other corner was Cory Bernardi, one of the ring leaders behind the toppling of Malcolm Turnbull because of his support for an emissions trading scheme, who believes global warming is a fraud."

"Earth Day 2013 came and went in April with the usual fanfare of green festivals, volunteer programs, company campaigns and reflections on the question, "How are we doing, anyway?" On this last point, the answer this year seemed to be a somewhat lukewarm, "Well…we've been better.""

"The majority of the 9 billion people on Earth will live with severe pressure on fresh water within the space of two generations as climate change, pollution and over-use of resources take their toll, 500 scientists have warned."

Today the possibilities with pallets are endless, and the materials are often free. If you've got access to pallet wood and basic power tools (and the skills to use them), this project shouldn't take longer than an afternoon."

"Sometimes the path of less can be a lonely one. All around us, we are barraged with messages of more: Buy more, have more, do more. Yet the way of less is path trodden by some of the best minds throughout history."