The newly-formed Bass Coast Climate Action Network and Friends of the Earth have joined forces to host a community forum on local climate change impacts.
With dramatic coastal erosion in Inverloch, extreme weather in Cape Paterson making headlines and a recent visit by Climate Minister Lily D'Ambrosio, the event organisers say they want their community to be fully informed about what’s happening here in the context of national and global trends.
Guest speakers Dr Penny Whetton (honorary CSIRO fellow and lead author of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports), Dr Ruth Reef (Monash University's Coastal Research Group), and Aileen Vening (Bass Coast resident and citizen scientist) will outline impacts now occurring, what may be in store if governments fail to rein in emissions, and a pathway to 100% renewable energy.
Attendees will be invited to work together to pressure our governments to set bold and ambitious emission reduction targets.
"We’ve had several ‘canary in the coal mine’ events recently, what will be the cost of inaction?" said Bass Coast Climate Action Network spokesperson Aileen Vening.
"The Federal Coalition's failure to act on climate leaves Bass Coast communities exposed to intensifying impacts," said Leigh Ewbank of Friends of the Earth.
"We want to raise awareness about what's at stake and urge the state government step up and show leadership with ambitious emission reduction targets."
The free event will be held at the Inverloch Community Hub on World Environment Day, Wednesday 5 June from 7 – 8.30pm.
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