The Sydney Schools Climate Change Forum Students Speaking out for Sustainability

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The Sydney Schools Climate Change ForumStudents
Speaking out for Sustainability
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Why take action on climate change?

• Mr Kevin Rudd Prime Minister of Australia
• There is no greater challenge now facing our
  world and our nation than dangerous climate
  change. Australia is on the front line to suffer
  the impacts of climate change as a result of our
  increasing water scarcity, finely balanced
  natural environment and our large resources and
  energy sector. Yet Australia also has the
  potential to become a world leader in the
  fast-growing technologies and industries that
  will enable economies to reduce their carbon
  emissions.
• Put simply. Count how many planets we haveDo we
  have one to waste?

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Whats happening?

• Greenhouse and enhanced GreenhouseGreenhouse
  gases such as water vapour and carbon dioxide
  allow sunlight energy to pass through the
  atmosphere but prevent much of the Earth's heat
  energy escaping. The natural greenhouse effect of
  these gases is very important because without it
  the Earth's temperature would be minus 18
  degrees. Human actions, particularly the burning
  of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and
  the clearing of land (burning vegetation), are
  increasing the quantity of some of the greenhouse
  gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), causing
  global warming.

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Recent climate trends

• 0.7oC rise in global mean temperatures since mid
  1800s
• In Australia, an increase in max and min temps
  over last 100 yrs
• 1990s warmest recorded decade
• 1980s previous warmest recorded decade

Source Climate Change in NSW, CSIRO, 2004
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2005 Warmest year on record
1.09oC above long term average (BoM 2006)
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Recent precipitation trends (NSW)

• General drying trend
• Rainfall decreased 14.3 mm/ decade since 1950
• Heavy rainfall events increased, particularly
  since 1960s

CSIRO 2004
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Other trends

• Sea level
• Increased 20mm/decade over past 50 yrs
• Frequency of extreme high tides tripled since
  1950

• ENSO
• El Niño events increased since 1970s
• La Niña events decreased
• Extreme events
• Increased frequency of intense cyclones
• Increased development of severe east coast lows

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Global warming - Impacts

• For the next two decades a warming of about 0.2C
  per decade is projected.
• Projected globally-averaged surface warming for
  the end of the 21st century (20902099) ranges
  from 1.8 to 4.0C
• Possibility of positive feedbacks accelerating
  this
• Projected globally-averaged sea level rise by
  2200 is 0.18 - 0.59 m.
• Ice sheet melt may increase by 10 to 25.
• Projected warming will eliminate the Greenland
  ice sheet and result in 7m rise in sea level if
  sustained for millennia.

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What can we do about it?

• Adaptation Mitigation
• Move up 100 meters per 1 degree rise Stabilise
  then reduce Greenhouse gas emissions
• Move 125 klms further from the equator

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Solutions

• There is no silver bullet no quick fix
• But there are lots of things that help
• Suggestions that these have major damage on the
  national economy do not withstand analysis

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Solutions
So dealing with fossil fuel use is very
beneficial in terms of emissions
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Reducing CO2 emissions ?

• Carbon dioxide

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Reducing methane emissions

• methane

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Summary

• What can you do ?
• Be informed. Lobbying on the basis of ignorance
  is not a good strategy
• Get involved. Energy conservation, tree planting,
  bullying parents to ditch the 4WD
• Study informing sciences physics, maths,
  biology, engineering, chemistry

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What can we do about it?

•   From the NSW Greenhouse Office
  http//www.livingthing.net.au/WYKD_h2.htm
• Reduce greenhouse gas pollution by making simple
  changes at home.  Studies show that the way we go
  about our everyday activities accounts for up to
  40 of energy consumption at home.
• Easy ways to make a difference
• Install energy-efficient lighting such as compact
  florescent bulbs, and turn off lights when you
  leave a room
• Switch off appliances at the power point instead
  of leaving them on "stand-by"
• Wash clothes in cold water and avoid using a
  clothes dryer let air and sunlight dry them
  wherever possible
• Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher
  and let dishes air-dry
• Choose appliances with a high energy star rating
  the more stars, the less energy consumed
• Install a solar hot water system, and make energy
  efficiency top priority for the booster or
  backup
• Turn down the heat when you're sleeping or away
  from home, and put on more clothing before
  adjusting a thermostat, and add extra insulation
  to walls or ceilings
• Keep cooler by using external shading such as
  eaves, awnings, shutters or trees to reduce heat
  gain by as much as 80
• Source your electricity through an approved Green
  Power program your current supplier might be
  greener than you think or you may want to shop
  around

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The Sydney Schools Climate Change Forum

• Today we are
• Reviewing the Sydney Schools Climate Change
  Protocol and working out how to present it to
  your school.
• Preparing to speak in Parliament House on the
  18th of November on
• The Sydney Schools Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Reduction Bill (If
  you have this role you will have a RED or GREEN
  A4 card )
• Or on Matters of Public Importance ( MPIs)
  related to climate change
  (If you have this role you will have a RED or
  GREEN slip with the MPI on it)
• We are also
• Preparing Questions on notice for the
  Members for the UNSW
• Preparing a brief report on how actions can be
  taken/have been taken in your school to reduce
  greenhouse gas emissions.
• By the end of today you should be ready to
  present your roles in Parliament House in either
  the RED chamber Legislative Council OR GREEN
  chamber the Legislative Assembly

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Program for the Day

• The Training Day 4.11.08 Kogarah HS To do
• Students arrive 8.45 Sign on desk
• Sign onreceive envelope with ROLE CARDS AND
  MPIs
• 9.00 am 9.30 Outline of Project
• Program for training day
• The Parliamentary Forum, MPIs, Protocol,
  Questions, School Reports. John
• Actions back at school
• 9.30-9.45am Actions back at school
• Why act..Presentation on Causes/Consequences of
  CC John
• 5 minutes ONLY.
• 9.45- 10.30 How to take action
• PROVIDE RESOURCE FOR SCHOOL ACTIONS ON CC
• 10.30 10.45 Morning Tea

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• Preparing the forum
• 11.15- 12.30pm
• Explain roles for Bill debate
  John
• Explain MPIs (Fun with serious message )
  John
• MPI Demonstration
• Lunch 12.30- 1.00
• Preparation of Presentations
• 1.00- 3.00pm
• Students use computers and website references to
  prepare their speeches for the Bill or
• To research MPIs and prepare MPIs.
• Students will prepare the Bill debate in pairs
  ALL STAFF to assist
• (eg Minister for the Environment and Shadow
  Minister for the Environment work together SO
  they can make their presentations flow from one
  to the other and make them complementary that is
  they can criticise each other but they will
  mostly be raising points which broaden the
  debate.)
• THIS DEBATE WILL BE A BIPARTISAN, CONSCIENCE VOTE
  DEBATE
• MPIs help students to prepare for these. though
  students can contribute in an impromptu way to
  this part of the Forum. They can research
  information or organise their own thoughts about
  the MPI issues.

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• The Sydney Schools Climate Change Forum
• Students Speaking out for Sustainability
• Monday 18th November 2008
• Program
• AM 8.45 - 9.00 Arrive NSW Parliament House
  Register for Forum
• Attend Legislative Council (Red
  Chamber)John Atkins to outline Forum
  organisation/housekeeping
• Acknowledgement of country
  ... STUDENT needed.
• 9.00 - 9.10 Presentation by Parliamentary
  Education staff on the parliamentary process
  Civics and Citizenship
• 9.15 - 9.25 Address by Ms Carmel
  TebbuttMinister for Climate Change, Environment
  and Water (TBC)
• 9.30 -10.35 Students attend Legislative Council
  or Legislative Assembly
• Debate takes place on the
  Sydney Schools Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Reduction Bill
• 10.35 - 10.50am Morning Tea
• 10.50-11.20 Question timepreliminary to voting
  on the Bill (Questions to the expert panel from
  UNSW)
• (note these
  questions should be used to inform your vote and
  to question Minister before the final votesee
  below)
• 11.20-12.30 Matters of Public Importance (2
  minutes per speaker)

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• Sydney Region Public Schools Climate Change
  Protocol
• The Parties to this Protocol are
• Any and all NSW Public Schools who choose to
  accept the need to take positive actions in their
  school communities to address the causes of
  global warming through reducing greenhouse gas
  emissions and establishing strategies to capture
  and store atmospheric carbon.
• Article 1 The Parties to this Protocol have
  agreed as follows
• To meet their quantified emissions limitation and
  reductions commitments (see articles 2 and 4)
  through implementing policies and measures in
  accordance with their school settings to
• Use energy efficiently in the school community.
• Develop strategies to reduce energy wastage.
• Protect current carbon stores located on school
  grounds.
• Establish where possible additional carbon
  storage.
• Promotion of the use of renewable energy sources
  through education.
• Sourcing school energy needs from renewable
  energy suppliers or through onsite generation by
  sustainable means.
• Educating the school community around the issues
  of global warming and climate change and
  modelling strategies to address these issues
  effectively at school community level.
• Share with other school communities information
  and strategies which may assist them to act to
  reduce greenhouse emissions.
• Article 2 All schools will audit their current
  greenhouse gas emissions to establish base
  line data against which they can measure progress
  towards emission reduction targets.
• Measurements will include
• Emissions from non renewable energy sources,
  normally electricity sourced from coal powered
  generation or gas burnt for heating purposes.
• Emissions generated through the production and
  transport of goods and services used by the
  school.

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• A note related to this Protocol
• This Protocol has been written with the intention
  of it being an expression of intent for schools
  participating in the Sydney Schools Climate
  Change Forum.
• Ratifying the document will be a demonstration of
  the commitment of participating Sydney Region
  schools to educate the school community about
  Climate Change and take what actions they can to
  reduce the school contribution to greenhouse gas
  emissions.
• Schools can choose to take any actions they deem
  appropriate to their school situation to reduce
  greenhouse gas emissions.
• This document is in no way intended to bind or
  limit the freedom of schools.
• The document has also been provided to give
  participating schools a unifying statement of
  intent.
• It is suggested that the first action(s) for
  school teams on their return to school from the
  Forum is to
• Take the Protocol to their SRC and have the SRC
  recommend to the Principal that the school ratify
  the Protocol
• Organise a signing ceremony for the Protocol
• Begin to plan actions to support the outcomes
  given in the Protocol.
• John Atkins
• Principal Botany Bay EEC
• Organiser of The Sydney Schools Climate Change
  Forum
• For The Sydney Region Environmental
  Sustainability Advisory Committee

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• The Sydney Schools Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Reduction Bill 2008
• A Bill to establish greenhouse gas emission
  reduction targets for Sydney Region Public
  Schools
• The Sydney Schools Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Reduction Bill 2008
• The Legislature of New South Wales enacts
• Name of Bill
• This Bill is the The Sydney Schools Greenhouse
  Gas Emissions Reduction Bill 2008
• Commencement
• This Bill commences on a day or days to be
  appointed by proclamation.
• The Bill

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• Matters of Public Importance(MPIs)
• Speakers can support or oppose the proposition
• Conscience vote 2 minutes per speaker
• Topics
•  
• 1. That to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions TV
  viewing and internet usage for school age
  children should attract a Carbon Tax of 5.00 per
  viewing hour payable by the student. Coin
  operated meters will be installed on all school
  and home TVs and computers to ensure compliance
•  
• 2. To reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions school age
  students should be required to walk to school on
  set days of the school week, with girls to walk
  Monday, Wednesday and Friday and boys Tuesday and
  Thursday. 
• 3. It is proposed that Learner Drivers contribute
  to the cost of CO2 emissions reduction by
  purchasing Carbon Credits to compensate for 1
  years usage of a typical motor vehicle. This
  cost, of approximately 70 per annum, will be
  added to the cost of obtaining a Learner Drivers
  Permit.
• 4. That regardless of cost CARBON (oil, coal)
  based energy sources must be replaced by energy
  sourced from RENEWABLE sources (solar, wind,
  tidal, geo-thermal, hydro) by 2020.

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• Ways to begin your speech
• The Greenhouse Bill
• You must speak through the Speaker who
  controls the House!
• If you are Government Speaker .(A card marked G
  in the top corner.)
• Mr/Ms Speaker I wish to inform the house about
  the impact of climate change on.
• OR
• Mr/Ms Speaker a serious consequence of climate
  change will be its impact on
• OR
• Mr/Ms Speaker.previous speakers have criticised
  the Government for not taking sufficient action
  on CC but in the area of .. put in what you are
  speaking about the Government has acted to.
• If you are an opposition speaker.. (B card
  marked O in the top corner.)
• Mr/Ms Speaker The Honourable Member for ..
  has clearly omitted a number of key points in
  this area of concern
• Mr/Ms Speaker the Honourable Member for will
  not be serving the interests of the people of NSW
  if he/she does not take into account these
  impacts of CC.
• Mr/Ms Speaker The Honourable member for is
  talking rubbish if we do not act to avoid (the
  following impact of cc) we will be as short
  sighted as he/she is

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• The Matters of Public Importance MPIs
• Address the speaker these topics are meant to
  give you the opportunity to have some fun, but
  they still have elements of the CC message in
  them.
• Mr/Ms Speaker In my view it is essential that
  students pay this seemingly onerous tax because.
• Interjection are allowed. Rubbish, booo,
  ridiculous, zzzzzzzzzz,.. Etc OR if you agree
  Hear,Hear
• THEY CANNOT BE UNPALIAMENTARY. (Swearing
  personal comments etc)