The Sustainable Hour no 329

On 26 August 2020, our Hiatus Tunnel is full of dynamic solution seekers.

We start the hour with a short promo-trailer for a new Danish climate podcast by the Danish Minister for Climate, Dan Jørgensen: ‘Planet A’. His idea is to discuss climate solutions with the world’s leading climate experts as Denmark heads for a 70 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 by law.First guest of the hour is doctor David King who is on the executive of the Queensland branch of Doctors for the Environment Australia and also works in the refugee health space. David tells us about his organisation’s latest efforts to get our elected representatives to take the health impacts of climate change seriously and stop listening to the fossil fuel lobbyist. The doctors have just sent a powerful letter with that intent to our Federal politicians, signed by Australia’s peak medical groups representing around 90,000 – or 75 per cent – of the nation’s doctors. They see the recovery plans post Covid-19 as a great opportunity to make the necessary changes to address their concerns.

Flight Free Australia is next up. Co-founder Mark Carter accompanied by Alex Mungell explain the serious climate impacts of air travel – an issue a growing number of people are realising: we have to stop flying. Emissions from flying create warming two-five times the CO2-warming effect and are projected to become 25 per cent of global emissions in 2050. Currently, 75 per cent of aviation emissions globally are created by the richest 10 per cent of people. He also explains about e-fuels and electric airplanes. Alex talks about why as a big flyer he took the Flight Free Pledge – choosing not to fly for 12 months – and what this meant for him.

Vicki Adams is the recent founder of a group called Outdoors People for Climate Action mobilising the outdoors people in Australia: surfers, bush walkers, trail runners, skiers, rock climbers, outdoor educators and guides, nature therapists and everyone who works outdoors in nature, getting them together to take climate action. Yet another group who feel they have much to lose if our elected representatives don’t start to take science based decisions on climate. Vicki explains why she formed the group while Australia was confronted with unprecedented bushfires last summer and what they hope to achieve.

Tom O’Connor has nominated as a candidate for the Bellarine Ward in the City of Greater Geelong elections in October. He outlines the issues that he’ll be campaigning on in lead up to the election: the nurture of nature, and the nurture of people. He has strong ideas on real community consultation, being cooperational rather than confrontational, and protecting our natural environment, and he feels his previous experience on Council will make him an ideal candidate to help City of Greater Geelong to #BuildBackBetter and #MakeTheDifference post Covid-19. He also recommends us to read the book ‘New Power’.