Carbon neutral support

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It’s great to see support  for climate affected communities.  Drought, bushfire and flood.  Just spending to support them misses the point.  Unconscious spending got us into this mess.  Lets try a little conscious spending to get us out.

It’s going to be hard but not as hard as it will be in a few years time.  So to the government's 2 billion aid package - that should have carbon neural status - if the government offset it before it gave it out - it would be easy.   Or if they had the zero carbon policies in place then handing out the money knowing that the way people would spend it would mean that it would be carbon neutral - but that’s just a dream right now.  

Don’t ask me how carbon neutrality will happen in Australia but I am sure there are some smart people out there who can work that out. - It might be that every house that is rebuilt must be 7.5 stars in energy efficiency, low emissions summer and winter.  Off grid for water, with rain water, grey water and composting toilets.  Businesses must invest in a zero carbon model as part of receiving our governments money.

And you insurers out there - be flexible.  Yes a McMansion was burnt down.  But an eco friendly house could be built in its place with a strong focus on defending it from future fires, floods and drought.  In fact towns should be rebuilt in fire affected areas to be defendable.  Creating fire zones around towns and buffer areas, evacuation areas and defensive teams.  Water resources strategically placed.  And regenerative farms to absorb the water run off when the rains do come.

So you owned that McMansion in the bush that burned down.  Time to rethink.  Time for Councils to rethink their planning laws.  Plan for building to defend against wildfires, floods, droughts and energy decline.  Plan for building resilience. And plan for a zero carbon future.  We will be judged by how we organise ourselves.  So let's get organised.

Now let's get back to that conscious spending.  Try catching public transport to the area you want to visit and bring your bikes.  Put pressure on the transport system so that it encourages governments to upgrade it - and not the road system.  And teach your kids that there is an alternative to driving everywhere.  

OK so where you want to go doesn’t have a PT system and you take your car - then chuck your bikes on the back and sign up to make your car carbon neutral.  Trust me, you’ll use it less when you find out how much it is polluting the atmosphere.  Going on an overseas flight or taking a cruise?  Make your air travel carbon neutral too.  We can no longer afford to subsidise the carbon emissions from your leisure activities.

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