Background
Everyone here who has committed themselves for many years to providing a technical way forward- providing the science, the data the road maps to get us into a honourable and sustainable future knows all to well that the head alone simply isn’t enough.
- the head of scientific fact
- needs a heart of community and business engagement
- and it needs the collective will from community, business and government leadership.
In Australia, Byron Shire has undertaken to try and unite the head of need with the heart of want with the will of action.
Byron Shire has acknowledged this and has committed itself to pursuing the goal to become Australia’s first zero net community-within 10 years.
Using the roadmaps developed by Zero Carbon Australia, Byron shall undertake, alongside partner Beyond Zero Emissions to develop a local roadmap to transform its footprints in the areas of Energy, Waste, Transport, Land Use and Buildings.
This will be in conjunction with the work already occurring within the shire and region.
Using the BZE template, we will build on and collaborate with expert and nationally significant actions of local organisations that include : Sustain Northern Rivers (SNR), COREM (Community Owned Renewable Energy Mullumbimby), ENOVA(soon to be Australia’s first community-owned renewable energy retailer).
And finally, Byron Shire Council has initiated and gained support for an Australian first- developing a Virtual Net Metering trial.
This can all occur, because, in byron, we have a community heart that doesn’t just accept the science of climate change, but insists in being part of the solution to it. The heart of the Byron community sees the value of action. The heart of the Byron community cares about intergenerational justice, and plantary justice.
We see ourselves as empowered, creative, skilled and progressive and, though we have pressing local issues at hand dealing with tourism, dealing with infrastructure, trying to keep the integrity of the community intact this community knows that what we’re hear for is what we leave for those coming after us.
And that we have a role to play to create solutions to our global challenges.
It is a mindset and collective pulse that propels us. And the aspiration to become Australia’s first zero net community is one we relish.
Website: zerobyron.org
Facebook page: Zero Emissions Byron