The Climate Project – Australia

Published by Alex Makin on Sunday 12th of July, 2009

The Climate Project is a not-for-profit organisation founded by former Vice President Al Gore. The project aims to train volunteers to deliver presentations on Climate Change and the need for an environmentally sustainable future.

This evening The Climate Project was officially launched under the auspice of the Australian Conservation Foundation through a dinner at the National Gallery of Victoria. Al Gore spoke about the need for political will to ensure that governments commit to greenhouse reduction targets and support global initiatives to mitigate dangerous climate change.

While there is understandably a focus on the Federal Government and the need to commit to greenhouse reduction targets, it is worth recognising that all levels of government have a role in promoting environmental sustainability.

As an example, State Governments, have a key role in providing public transport improvements, which will help reduce greenhouse emissions in the transport sector, the fastest growing source of emissions. At a local government level, councils including Maroondah, have established greenhouse reduction targets and are providing workshops on sustainability, as well as grants to community organisations to implement water and energy sustainability initiatives.

In a country like Australia, that has three levels of government, issues like climate change need to be viewed holistically so that all levels work cooperatively to improve our environmental sustainability. Organisations like The Climate Project should assist in conveying the need for a cooperative and strong approach across our three levels of government so that we can work together to mitigate climate change.