Australian Services Union (ASU)’s Post

We need to protect jobs and social wellbeing during the energy transition! Have you heard of the World Energy Council? Its a long established not for profit independent and impartial forum that brings together energy leaders and practitioners Its focus is to achieve just energy transitions in communities around the world. One example is in Aberdeen and in 2023 they published part 1 of a 3 part study This summary report brings key insights from the Phase I outcomes: 1. An engagement report on “Aberdeen Citizens’ Perspectives for a Clean and Just Energy Transition”, which explores the diverse community perspectives of Aberdeen’s citizens, capturing levels of energy literacy and engagement with a clean and just energy transition. 2. A rapid evidence review, which suggests leading global practices of clean and just energy transitions, structured around three key learning areas: A. Achieving equity – Clean and Just Energy Transitions enable transformational change to create wealth and improve livelihoods, while recognising the needs and diversities across all community groups. B. Buiding resilience – Clean and Just Energy Transitions withstand shocks and responds to change without putting socio-economic wellbeing at risk. C. Empowering communities – Clean and Just Energy Transitions promote participatory processes and collective wealth building and strategies to meet the needs voiced by community members. Jobs and Employment and broader Socio-Economic opportunities are understood as cross-cutting objectives that are relevant to each of the three key learning areas. We need more of these - don't we? #sustainability #founders #businessowners Angela Wilkinson

The recent ILO report is a groundbreaking document, highlighting social protection as a pivotal tool in helping communities navigate the climate crisis and ensure a just transition. This aligns perfectly with ongoing discussions on the crucial role of social safety nets in the energy transition, ensuring that no one is left behind.

OPINION PIECE: THE UK COST OF LIVING CRISIS AND NET ZERO appeared in THE SPECTATOR. Net Zero by 2050 and its determination to transition to a decarbonised future have undoubtedly exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis. But this view does not appear to have diminished the government’s appetite for pursuing a policy of decarbonisation. https://lnkd.in/e52sEWFH Republished in Quadrant Online: Woe to be in England: https://lnkd.in/e_rk6b4R #NetZero #Crisis #SustainableFuture #UK

Empowering Regional Communities 💪 Until regional Australia gets a genuine seat at the table, the nation’s pursuit of net zero emissions is under threat. The regions will help drive Australia’s decarbonisation agenda, but they need information, collaboration and investment to do that. Today the Regional Australia Institute released its latest research report, Towards Net Zero: Empowering Regional Communities. It’s found while there is general goodwill towards the transition across the regions, there is a huge thirst for more detail, a strong desire for cooperation and for the huge pipeline of renewable energy projects across the country to be the catalyst for long-term investment into key liveability measures like housing and childcare. The report recommends: ✅ The establishment of a Regional Prosperity Collective, involving government industry and community to drive legacy investment. ✅ The creation of a National Net Zero Framework to help measure progress. ✅ The development of an Energy Transition Hub to provide practical advice to regional communities. RAI CEO Liz Ritchie will talk about the report in more detail at tomorrow’s Regions Rising National Summit: The New Frontier. Access the full report 👇 https://lnkd.in/gESMxSpH The Towards Net Zero: Empowering Regional Communities report was funded by the Australian Government, in conjunction with the NSW, Queensland, South Australian and Western Australian Governments (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts).

Housing has the most direct impact on people’s health and livelihoods. Equitable housing integrated with low-carbon and affordable key services like water, sanitation, energy and accessible transportation is critical to ensuring the least amount of harm from climate change and opportunities for a prosperous future for all. Yet housing is rarely discussed in international climate forums; and informal settlements (slums) located in developing and vulnerable countries are completely ignored. In low-income countries, 64% of urban dwellers live in slums. By 2050, over 200 million climate migrants are expected to move to urban areas, who often settle in informal settlements, while seeking jobs. Adequate housing and urban services may be a fiscal challenge, but it also provides opportunities for a just, climate-friendly transition that can help achieve sustainable development goals when done right. Solutions are possible. World Resources Institute and our partners are working with communities through the REHOUSE (Resilient, Equitable Housing Opportunities and Urban Services) partnership to find scalable ways in which equitable housing and urban services make cities more climate resilient. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3UtUVBn

📖 NEW REPORT: We've partnered with the Sydney Community Forum on a series of workshops with migrant community leaders in Western Sydney, to better understand the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) consumers in the energy transition. Our new report, released today, details insights and recommendations from these workshops, including: 🚌 The Commonwealth Government should fund a pilot mobile Community Energy Hub in Western Sydney. 🤝 That the Australian Energy Council and the Australian Energy Regulator partner with culturally & linguistically diverse (CALD) community groups to improve the quality of information and assistance for CALD consumers. 🏡 Federal, State and Territory governments should advance housing reforms to improve the energy efficiency of ALL Australian homes. 🎯 All three levels of government should provide practical and targeted assistance to help decarbonise and lower energy bills, particularly for those least able to do it on their own. 👀 Read the full report and recommendations: https://loom.ly/SpRd_do #CALD #ConsumerIssues #EnergyTransition #SydneyCommunityForum

⚠️ Are YOU one of them? ⚠️ As the UK faces unprecedented levels of fuel poverty amidst the cost of living crisis, the demand for homes with low energy bills has never been greater. With the average annual energy bill for a typical household now at around £2,500 and approximately 3.5 million households classified as being in fuel poverty, the need for innovative solutions has never been more urgent. At Carbon Neutral Homes, we are a creative and forward-thinking development company committed to providing sustainable solutions to combat fuel poverty. Our pioneering Net Zero Energy Bill homes are at the forefront of this mission, offering a future where energy costs are no longer a burden. Our developments are powered by innovative energy strategies that minimize reliance on the national grid, setting a new benchmark for sustainable living. We're not just tackling fuel poverty—we're creating a future where energy-efficient homes are the norm and where every household can enjoy the benefits of lower bills and a smaller carbon footprint. Let’s work together to make this vision a reality. Join us in our mission to build a greener, more sustainable future for everyone - contact us today https://lnkd.in/e3KuAd-n #propertydevelopment #cornwall #savemoney #sustainableliving #propertydevelopment #projectmanagement #newhome #netzero #renovation #residential

Transitioning to a green economy is not just about reducing carbon emissions, it's also about creating more equitable and sustainable communities. Maximizing community benefits of the green economy is a strategic imperative that can help create quality jobs, extend opportunities to underserved communities, and promote a healthier environment. Learn more about equitable access to clean energy and energy efficiency technology benefits and opportunities. https://lnkd.in/gQDrMsC6 #GreenEconomy #Sustainability #EquitableGrowth 

Australia will need to invest heavily in large scale energy, clean industry and manufacturing to tackle the climate crisis, but with the ongoing cost of living crisis and persistent high energy prices, people and communities with the least should be prioritised. Including investment to access clean energy for lower-income households would permanently cut thousands of dollars off energy bills, provide cost of living relief and contribute to reducing poverty and inequality as well as creating thousands of local jobs and building industries for the future. We can’t keep putting profitable big industries ahead of people who are doing it tough and struggling to afford housing, energy, transport, medicine and put food on the table. #auspol #budget2024 #energy #climate #climateaction #fairfastclimateaction