Friends of the Earth is excited to announce that we have joined together with unions, community groups to become part of the recently launched Cooperative Power energy cooperative. 

Cooperative Power is a newly formed cooperative for Australia's energy sector. This new model takes the power back from huge energy corporations, for the benefit of people and our planet. It's a new way for people to buy energy and have a say in how it's created and how much it costs.

The Cooperative Power vision is to have a socially and community-owned retailer that invests in and purchases community renewable energy, and subsidises the roll out of energy efficiency improvements as well as renewable energy infrastructure for working-class households. No one, and no community should be left behind by the transition.

A ‘green new deal’ proposal for a Fair and Just Transition from Friends of the Earth

There is an urgent climate imperative to transform our economy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (2018) argued that, by 2030, global emissions must drop by 45% from their 2010 levels if we are to avoid exposing hundreds of millions of people to serious climate-related hazards. A growing body of mainstream climate science says that we need to achieve deeper targets earlier if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change.

We are facing a climate crisis... 

Australia's emissions are rising due to the Federal Coalition's failure to act on climate. And this failure leaves Victorian communities exposed to intensifying impacts such as heatwaves, droughts, bushfires, extreme weather, and rising sea levels.

Victoria has an opportunity to put the country back on track.

For the first time, the Andrews government is about to set an Emissions Reduction Target for 2025. 

The well-known and much-loved Quit Coal Victoria collective from Friends of the Earth Melbourne has decided to rename itself as the Energy Justice Victoria collective. We love our supporters and know many people are passionate about Quit Coal Victoria’s work, and so we wanted to explain to everyone why we are renaming ourselves and why we are so excited about it!

Victorian coastlines are at risk from new fossil fuel developments.

Victorians overwhelmingly want to see action on the climate crisis and environmental  protection. Yet efforts to reign in emissions and ensure healthy ecosystems are threatened by two new local fossil fuel projects.

Earlier this year, Friends of the Earth launched a campaign to stop them.

Please support our work with a donation to keep fossil fuels in the ground - where they belong!

WHY A VICTORIAN PUBLICLY-OWNED ENERGY RETAILER WOULD HELP THE TRANSITION TO 100% CLEAN, FAIR & AFFORDABLE ENERGY.

Victoria's energy system fails the community and the climate.  It allows for massive profits for polluting coal companies, while households face a confusing array of bad deals and overpriced energy. The true cost of coal is obscured by the energy market, indirect Government subsidies and a confusing retail system that fuels climate change and serves consumers poorly.

By creating a not-for-profit, publicly owned, renewable-energy-focused energy retailer, Victoria has an opportunity to deliver real solutions to the state - creating more investment in renewables and forcing coal companies to reduce their profits to remain competitive in the market.

WHY A VICTORIAN PUBLICLY-OWNED ENERGY RETAILER WOULD HELP THE TRANSITION TO 100% CLEAN, FAIR & AFFORDABLE ENERGY.

Victoria's energy system fails the community and the climate.  It allows for massive profits for polluting coal companies, while households face a confusing array of bad deals and overpriced energy. The true cost of coal is obscured by the energy market, indirect Government subsidies and a confusing retail system that fuels climate change and serves consumers poorly.

By creating a not-for-profit, publicly owned, renewable-energy-focused energy retailer, Victoria has an opportunity to deliver real solutions to the state - creating more investment in renewables and forcing coal companies to reduce their profits to remain competitive in the market.

MEDIA RELEASE: 17 September 2018

Victorian Greens, first party to support 100% renewables and a Climate Budget in new climate & energy plan   

The Victorian Greens have become the first political party in the state to call for 100 percent renewable energy and support a Climate Budget with the release of their climate and energy policy ahead of the November election.

Friends of the Earth welcome the announcement saying fresh thinking about climate change policy is long overdue. 

"The Greens announcement sets the bar for action on climate change," said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth climate spokesperson.

AGL are still Australia’s largest climate polluters. They paint themselves as a green and clean company while remaining Australia’s biggest emitter of C02!

They have a dirty plan to turn Westernport Bay into a massive gas import terminal. This will threaten the beautiful Westernport coastline which is a Ramsar-listed wetland and home to rare marine life and migratory birds. Worse still it will increase climate pollution from more dirty fossil fuels we don’t need.

Meanwhile they are feeling Federal pressure for the closure of their Liddell coal station in NSW - let's show AGL that the community backs their decision to help end our dependence on fossil fuels!

Join Environment Victoria, Friends of the Earth, Save Westernport and other allies outside AGLs Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Wednesday 26 September 2018.