Past Campaigns — Climate Action Team

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

From 2019 until today the Colac Otway Climate Action Team has fought hard for change in our area.
We warmly welcome all who wish to join us.

Team issues pre-Federal election publicity for politicians to take climate action – April

Response to National Climate Risk Assessment in Colac Herald
Collaboration with Climate Action Network Australia to run “Bushfire in the Colac-Otway Region”
forum at COPAC with speakers including Emergency Leader for Climate Greg Mullins – April
Collaboration with Central Otway Landcare Network to host “Getting the Dirt on Carbon” workshop
series to explore on-farm carbon cycle and sequestration with experts – from March

Climate Cafes with a focus on adaptation – series of 3 run throughout local townships – from May
Much lobbying leads to Council applying for matched federal funding for Bluewater – March
Lobbying council to cut red tape for local urban greening
Council endorses Climate Change Action Plan 2023-33 + Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2023-33
Urban Greening project with nationally regarded Urban Forester Meg Caffin begins, with grant from COS – October 2023 – Final Report January 2024

Calls for council to provide extreme weather options for residents – from September
Calls to electrify Bluewater Leisure Centre (Council’s largest emissions’ source) – from September
Council acknowledges the climate and biodiversity crisis – May
Team calls for a Climate Change Action Plan – from early 2023

Energy Efficiency Forum COPAC with Colac Otway Shire grant – September
Ran Wannon Candidates Forum + ads in Colac Herald – March – May
Co-hosted with LAWROC (Land and Water Resources Otway Catchment Landcare) Forrest event “One Hundred Years of Environmental Damage” – March

Protest alongside OCEAN (Otway Climate Emergency Action Network) against seismic blasting – from March 2021
Research and submit to council “A Call for Action for a Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan” with 67
actions – June 2021
Fridays for the Future in Memorial Square – 18 months from summer 2020
Team member Susan Langridge runs for Council and lands a few votes short – October 2020
Team and supporters gather 3,249 actual signatures on Petition to requesting Colac Otway Shire
(COS) Council May 2020 to “acknowledge the climate and biodiversity crisis” (voted down)
Township meetings with speakers including youth and local MP in Colac and Gellibrand led to call for Petition – late 2019