Lou Costa (pictured) cares deeply about our environment and sometimes the pressing urgency of the damage we are causing to all those aspects of nature, the nature that plays an integral in making our lives possible, becomes so overwhelming that she turns to her keyboard to drive out her demons, subsequently writing a moving piece that frequently finds its way into the pages of The Shepparton News.

However, Lou is not writing for simple personal therapeutic purposes, she hopes that her views and ideas might change the values, attitudes and behaviours of others.

Here is her latest piece:

Every day I wake to the sound of birdsong. Magpie, butcherbird, kookaburra, wren; sharing the stage for their morning solos. My home, surrounded by a relatively small patch of remnant forest is carpeted with wildflowers this time of year. It is my ticket to escape. It is my passport to mental health. My exercise. My church. My altar.

I am acutely aware of the value of this place - especially in these times when so many are denied access. To touch, hear and see nature has become a commodity, reflected in the exodus of tree-changers that are now paying over-inflated prices for country properties, sight unseen from their locked-down city apartments. Or in other words, blindly thinking that the country holds treasures that are scarce in the big smoke.

Indeed, the natural environment defines the Australian psyche. It provides relief from anxiety, freedom from entrapment, protection from exposure, harmony in chaos, connection to instinct, national identity and yet, we seem hell-bent on managing it into disappearance. 

Species and entire ecosystems are on the brink of collapse caused by a relentless erosion of protections that incrementally expose the landscape to death by a thousand cuts. Little by little, we are throwing away our treasure.

Earlier this year the Victorian government held a parliamentary inquiry into statewide ecosystem decline, ringing alarm bells that the process of extinction is well on its way.

When we diminish nature’s importance as the foundation of a healthy society, we undermine our ability to survive; both physically and mentally. Humans’ need nature - not the other way around.

But where is this importance of the value of nature reflected in our system of government?

Damian Drum’s ‘NICHOLLS BIGGEST SURVEY’ asks us to prioritise four concerns from a long list of issues faced by regional Victoria. ‘Building a stronger economy' was on the top. ‘Protecting our local environment’ was on the bottom.

This seems to be a common approach by all levels of government to relegate nature to the scrap heap in the eyes of society. Whether this is intentional or not, it sends an almost subliminal message that nature is not as important as money. 

The state government recently announced funding for developers and landowners to propose vacant land for housing projects. This is an acute risk for natural remnants while our planning laws favour development and land prices are sky-rocketing. 

The irony is that many developers sell their product using nature as bait.

The same attitude can be seen in the 2021-2022 Campaspe Shire Council budget where ‘Environment and Conservation’ has the least amount of money spent on it. Sixty-six cents in every one hundred dollars while roads guzzle almost forty dollars for every hundred.

With such low priority and spending placed on protecting the natural environment, it is no wonder that developers are able to fill up its open spaces with bargain basement, home-maker estates and then proceed to remove any native fragment that has managed to survive agriculture and bypass routes.

If regional Victoria continues to devalue its natural assets, we risk the very thing that makes the country, our country. Nature.

Damian Drum’s survey is right, regional Victoria does have a long list of issues but they are all influenced by the health and function of the natural environment. By prioritising the protection of our local environment, we not only help to address regional economy, mental health, job opportunity, coronavirus recovery and education; we can ensure that morning birdsong is heard by all Victorians for generations to come. Surely this brings it closer to the top of the list.

Lou, for a period, was the president of the Goulburn Valley Environment Group.

Listen to Lou in an earlier episode: "'Sentinels guarding the memory of our land' - Lou Costa".

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

The late comedian, George Carlin (pictured), takes a light-hearted look at saving the planet in the YouTube clip "Saving the Planet".

And Fran Kelly on Radio National's "Breakfast" talks with Resources Minister, Keith Pitt.

Other links today:

"Joyce warns Liberals against ‘threatening’ Nationals on net-zero";

"On Scottish Islands, the winds of change are blowing from oil to renewables";

"'Running out of time': Asia struggles to kick coal addiction";

"Australia’s top economists back carbon price, say benefits of net-zero outweigh cost";

"Residents at Risk – Viva’s LNG import terminal deemed an unacceptable risk by residents";

"Nuclear: No Climate Solution";

"Make Brisbane a regenerative city";

"Cop26 corporate sponsors condemn climate summit as ‘mismanaged’";

"Treasury leak reveals rift between Johnson and Sunak over costs of zero-carbon economy";

"Business frustration over government’s climate inaction grows";

"Solar powers more than half of Australia’s grid for first time, coal at record low";

"Malcolm Turnbull on Murdoch, lies and the climate crisis: ‘The same forces that enabled Trump are at work in Australia’";

"Australia’s race to net zero is transformative: those who hesitate are lost";

"Tropical wetlands reduce storm impacts and save thousands of lives and $600bn each year, study suggests";

"Launch of the 2021 Australian MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia increasingly out on a limb"

"‘This is our last chance’: Biden urged to act as climate agenda hangs by a thread";

"New project helps disadvantaged organizations access federal climate funds";

"Connecting the dots on climate and health the big picture";

"The Climate Crisis Explained";

"Nuclear power is too costly, too slow, so it’s zero use to Australia’s emissions plan";

"No change to Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target as Scott Morrison focuses on net-zero deal";

"What to expect when you’re expecting… the federal government to shift on climate any day now";

"Scott Morrison to push on with net-zero target despite Nationals";

"Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution";

"Prime Minister's net-zero climate plan";

"Net-zero emissions by 2050: Call for Resources Minister Keith Pitt to resign";

"Paul Bongiorno: Nationals’ theatre of the absurd drains government credibility";

"Who’s who in Glasgow: 5 countries that could make or break the planet’s future under climate change";

"What’s behind News Corp’s new spin on climate change?";

"Morrison says cabinet, not Nationals or Joyce, will decide net-zero plan";

"From childlessness to the climate crisis, why is the blame always on us?";

"Want to know what a just transition to a green economy looks like? Ask the workers";

"The Zero Emissions Solutions Conference (ZESC)";

"Morrison tells Liberals he wants binding 2050 net-zero target at Glasgow summit";

"Scott Morrison to push on with net-zero target despite Nationals";

"Australia’s climate uncertainty a turn-off for investors: IGCC";

"Australia set to disappoint key allies on 2030 emissions target";

"New deal to turn waste timber into hydrogen at Bass Strait port";

"'On the winning camp': The business guide to COP26 and why it matters".

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

 

 

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

The late comedian, George Carlin (pictured), takes a light-hearted look at saving the planet in the YouTube clip "Saving the Planet".

And Fran Kelly on Radio National's "Breakfast" talks with Resources Minister, Keith Pitt.

Other links today:

"Joyce warns Liberals against ‘threatening’ Nationals on net-zero";

"On Scottish Islands, the winds of change are blowing from oil to renewables";

"'Running out of time': Asia struggles to kick coal addiction";

"Australia’s top economists back carbon price, say benefits of net-zero outweigh cost";

"Residents at Risk – Viva’s LNG import terminal deemed an unacceptable risk by residents";

"Nuclear: No Climate Solution";

"Make Brisbane a regenerative city";

"Cop26 corporate sponsors condemn climate summit as ‘mismanaged’";

"Treasury leak reveals rift between Johnson and Sunak over costs of zero-carbon economy";

"Business frustration over government’s climate inaction grows";

"Solar powers more than half of Australia’s grid for first time, coal at record low";

"Malcolm Turnbull on Murdoch, lies and the climate crisis: ‘The same forces that enabled Trump are at work in Australia’";

"Australia’s race to net zero is transformative: those who hesitate are lost";

"Tropical wetlands reduce storm impacts and save thousands of lives and $600bn each year, study suggests";

"Launch of the 2021 Australian MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia increasingly out on a limb"

"‘This is our last chance’: Biden urged to act as climate agenda hangs by a thread";

"New project helps disadvantaged organizations access federal climate funds";

"Connecting the dots on climate and health the big picture";

"The Climate Crisis Explained";

"Nuclear power is too costly, too slow, so it’s zero use to Australia’s emissions plan";

"No change to Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target as Scott Morrison focuses on net-zero deal";

"What to expect when you’re expecting… the federal government to shift on climate any day now";

"Scott Morrison to push on with net-zero target despite Nationals";

"Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution";

"Prime Minister's net-zero climate plan";

"Net-zero emissions by 2050: Call for Resources Minister Keith Pitt to resign";

"Paul Bongiorno: Nationals’ theatre of the absurd drains government credibility";

"Who’s who in Glasgow: 5 countries that could make or break the planet’s future under climate change";

"What’s behind News Corp’s new spin on climate change?";

"Morrison says cabinet, not Nationals or Joyce, will decide net-zero plan";

"From childlessness to the climate crisis, why is the blame always on us?";

"Want to know what a just transition to a green economy looks like? Ask the workers";

"The Zero Emissions Solutions Conference (ZESC)";

"Morrison tells Liberals he wants binding 2050 net-zero target at Glasgow summit";

"Scott Morrison to push on with net-zero target despite Nationals";

"Australia’s climate uncertainty a turn-off for investors: IGCC";

"Australia set to disappoint key allies on 2030 emissions target";

"New deal to turn waste timber into hydrogen at Bass Strait port";

"'On the winning camp': The business guide to COP26 and why it matters".

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

 

 

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

The Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall (pictured) had a busy time in Federal Parliament today moving two Bills, including her Climate Change Bill.

A fellow independent, Helen Haines from the rural seat of Indi supported her as did the Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie,

Zali, and her supporters, placed climate change and the need to attend to it firmly on the federal agenda.

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

 

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

The Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall (pictured) had a busy time in Federal Parliament today moving two Bills, including her Climate Change Bill.

A fellow independent, Helen Haines from the rural seat of Indi supported her as did the Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie,

Zali, and her supporters, placed climate change and the need to attend to it firmly on the federal agenda.

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

 

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Twiggy Forrest (pictured) is leading the charge to see Australia become a hydrogen super-power.

Today's Quick Climate Links:

"Nationals fail to land on climate position during marathon meeting as Barnaby Joyce warns party will not be bullied";

"Nationals ‘highly unlikely’ to agree to 2030 target";

"Hotter temperatures and extreme weather linked to mental distress, suicide";

"Climate of the Nation - 2021" from The Australia Institute;

"Treating beef like coal would make a big dent in greenhouse-gas emissions";

"Australia’s top economists back carbon price, say benefits of net-zero outweigh cost";

"Joyce says Nationals don’t want bigger 2030 climate target as party room frets about regional protections";

"Barnaby Joyce has refused to support doubling Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction targets – but we could get there so cheaply and easily";

"Climate wars, carbon taxes and toppled leaders: the 30-year history of Australia’s climate response, in brief";

"VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on high noon climate negotiations, and pressure on Albanese over MP Anthony Byrne";

"One is not amused: Queen irritated by those who ‘talk but don’t do’ ahead of Cop26";

"‘A long way to play out’: Nationals fail to reach agreement on 2050 emissions reductions";

"Nationals won't rush backing climate plan";

"Patrick Gorman: Why we must end the climate wars";

"Shepparton’s Furphy Foundry switches to clean, green power";

"How Do Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work Using Hydrogen?"

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Twiggy Forrest (pictured) is leading the charge to see Australia become a hydrogen super-power.

Today's Quick Climate Links:

"Nationals fail to land on climate position during marathon meeting as Barnaby Joyce warns party will not be bullied";

"Nationals ‘highly unlikely’ to agree to 2030 target";

"Hotter temperatures and extreme weather linked to mental distress, suicide";

"Climate of the Nation - 2021" from The Australia Institute;

"Treating beef like coal would make a big dent in greenhouse-gas emissions";

"Australia’s top economists back carbon price, say benefits of net-zero outweigh cost";

"Joyce says Nationals don’t want bigger 2030 climate target as party room frets about regional protections";

"Barnaby Joyce has refused to support doubling Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction targets – but we could get there so cheaply and easily";

"Climate wars, carbon taxes and toppled leaders: the 30-year history of Australia’s climate response, in brief";

"VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on high noon climate negotiations, and pressure on Albanese over MP Anthony Byrne";

"One is not amused: Queen irritated by those who ‘talk but don’t do’ ahead of Cop26";

"‘A long way to play out’: Nationals fail to reach agreement on 2050 emissions reductions";

"Nationals won't rush backing climate plan";

"Patrick Gorman: Why we must end the climate wars";

"Shepparton’s Furphy Foundry switches to clean, green power";

"How Do Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Work Using Hydrogen?"

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Professor Nicole Webster (pictured) had spent a couple of decades considering coral reefs in tropical Queensland and has now just become the second woman to be appointed as the Chief Scientist for the Australian Antarctica Division and you can hear an interview with her on Radio National - "A different challenge for the new Antarctic Division chief".

Other links for today are:

"Boris Johnson’s climate credibility at stake in run-up to Cop26 summit";

"UK poised to confirm funding for mini nuclear reactors for carbon-free energy";

"Morrison the pragmatist leads from the back on net-zero";

"ON THE ROAD TO GLASGOW Episode 3 . Amazon Manifesto";

"‘We all have a role’: more than 260 Australian rules footballers sign up to climate campaign";

"Climate Conscious at Home";

"Electric Vehicles Are About To Get Crazy Cheap";

"News Corp’s climate pivot perpetrates a new fraud and draws us closer to climate catastrophe";

"With a five per cent vote the Nationals are holding us to ransom on climate change";

"Can a Carbon-Emitting Iron Ore Tycoon Save the Planet?";

"Alan Kohler: Murdoch and the BCA are providing cover for Morrison. Good";

"Modi & Johnson to launch global solar power grid";

"Raging Flood Waters Driven by Climate Change Threaten the Trans-Alaska Pipeline";

"Inside Clean Energy: Taking Stock of the Energy Storage Boom Happening Right Now";

"Welcome to Climate Ready Clyde";

"Taylor to address Nationals’ meeting as MPs warn ‘this is not a done deal’";

"‘A matter of survival’: What’s COP26?";

"How do we tackle Australia’s burning problem before it burns us?";

"When bad news is good News: accepting climate change shouldn’t mean denying it will hurt jobs";

"Australian-first farmer mutual aims to cut out carbon farming middleman".

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Professor Nicole Webster (pictured) had spent a couple of decades considering coral reefs in tropical Queensland and has now just become the second woman to be appointed as the Chief Scientist for the Australian Antarctica Division and you can hear an interview with her on Radio National - "A different challenge for the new Antarctic Division chief".

Other links for today are:

"Boris Johnson’s climate credibility at stake in run-up to Cop26 summit";

"UK poised to confirm funding for mini nuclear reactors for carbon-free energy";

"Morrison the pragmatist leads from the back on net-zero";

"ON THE ROAD TO GLASGOW Episode 3 . Amazon Manifesto";

"‘We all have a role’: more than 260 Australian rules footballers sign up to climate campaign";

"Climate Conscious at Home";

"Electric Vehicles Are About To Get Crazy Cheap";

"News Corp’s climate pivot perpetrates a new fraud and draws us closer to climate catastrophe";

"With a five per cent vote the Nationals are holding us to ransom on climate change";

"Can a Carbon-Emitting Iron Ore Tycoon Save the Planet?";

"Alan Kohler: Murdoch and the BCA are providing cover for Morrison. Good";

"Modi & Johnson to launch global solar power grid";

"Raging Flood Waters Driven by Climate Change Threaten the Trans-Alaska Pipeline";

"Inside Clean Energy: Taking Stock of the Energy Storage Boom Happening Right Now";

"Welcome to Climate Ready Clyde";

"Taylor to address Nationals’ meeting as MPs warn ‘this is not a done deal’";

"‘A matter of survival’: What’s COP26?";

"How do we tackle Australia’s burning problem before it burns us?";

"When bad news is good News: accepting climate change shouldn’t mean denying it will hurt jobs";

"Australian-first farmer mutual aims to cut out carbon farming middleman".

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Quick Climate Links on Climate Conversations opens with a few seconds from a weekly podcast from The Conversation in the UK entitled: "Have climate change predictions matched reality?";

Then we hear from Rob Priestly who is preparing to challenge Damian Drum for the Federal Seat of Nicholls which revolves around Shepparton in northern Victoria.

Other links today:

"California wildfire swells, triggering more evacuations, power shutoffs";

"Regional Liberals praise ‘upside’ of climate action as some Nationals continue scare campaign";

"Can meat grown in a laboratory help save the planet?";

"Opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions exist for all species, in all regions";

"TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH

LIVESTOCK";

"“When We’re Dead and Buried, Our Bones Will Keep Hurting”

"Now’s the Moment to Pressure Global Leaders to Step Up Their Climate Game";

"Cheating on the Climate Crisis is worse than denying it!";

"These young Australians have an urgent message for Scott Morrison ahead of COP26";

"Prince William blasts space race billionaires finding 'new place to live' before repairing Earth";

"Andrew Forrest urges Scott Morrison to commit to net-zero even if it means splitting Coalition";

"Ahead of COP26, Australia ranked among worst in G20 on climate action";

"Canadian energy giant advances 2,600MWh pumped hydro project near Bathurst";

"Taiwan tea farmers 'powerless' to changing climate";

"Climate, leadership, jobs: Albo lays out Labor's battle plan";

"The climate emergency warrants a strong mandate on zero-emission vehicles from the federal government";

"What is COP26 and why does the fate of Earth, and Australia’s prosperity, depend on it?";

"Kicking the can on methane";

"The climate disaster is here";

"Greta Thunberg: I’m open to meeting Biden at Cop26 but don’t expect much";

"Queen ‘irritated’ by world leaders talking not doing on climate crisis";

"News Corp is going ‘only positive’ on climate but did Gina Rinehart miss the memo?";

"Day of the species" at the Stanthorpe Art Gallery:

"Morrison optimistic of Nats climate deal";

"Bird of The Year 2021";

"Experimental Institutionalism: Ecological";

"What is COP26 and why is it so important?";

"National Water Week";

"Morrison to attend UN climate conference in Glasgow";

"Dutton backs net-zero target, says Nationals need time ‘to air their issues’";

"The ‘net’ in net zero emissions offers a huge temptation to cheat";

"Community Microgrids and Sustainable Energy Program (CMSE)";

"Podcast Brunch Club Virtual Chapter Meeting: GEOENGINEERING THE CLIMATE";

"White House vows to treat climate change as "systemic" financial risk";

"‘Ghost forests’ are an eerie sign of sea-level rise";

"Both bad climate policy and no policy will see Australia lose jobs and investment overseas";

"So Morrison’s going to Glasgow. Should we laugh, weep or rage for the lost decade?";

"Yes, Australia can beat its 2030 emissions target. But the Morrison government barely lifted a finger";

"Morrison set for Glasgow but has to finish packing his bag";

"What is COP26 and why does the fate of Earth, and Australia’s prosperity, depend on it?";

"Widespread collapse of West Antarctica’s ice sheet is avoidable if we keep global warming below 2℃";

"We can’t stabilise the climate without carbon offsets – so how do we make them work?";

"Smoke's impact on Australians' health set to grow as climate change intensifies bushfires";

"A warning from the adults in the room: the financial impacts of climate change are coming, like it or not";

"Climate is finally the talk of Australia, but who is controlling the conversation?";

"Diplomats in last-ditch effort to bring world leaders to Cop26 table";

"Seven ways to save lives on the frontline of the climate crisis";

"Dan Ilic was just getting started with the Times Square billboard and says there’s more to come";

"The Ferguson Report: Shock at News Corp’s crazy claim global warming is a thing!";

"It’s easy to feel pessimistic about the climate. But we’ve got two big things on our side";

"Ahead of COP26, IEA report finds clean energy progress is still too slow to reach net-zero by 2050";

"September 2021: Earth’s 5th-warmest September on record";

"The climate disaster is here";

"Ed Miliband climate speech to Green Alliance event";

"Climate Vulnerables’ Manifesto for COP26";

"An Open Letter to Greta Thunberg";

"Morrison to give Nationals time to seal net-zero deal ahead of Glasgow";

"Now he’s been shamed into going, Morrison must take more than spin to Glasgow";

"The Most Important Global Meeting You’ve Probably Never Heard Of Is Now".

Enjoy "Music for a Warming World".

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations