The Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration is designed to bring businesses, community organisations, households, and schools together for three years of climate change action to put our City on the path to zero climate-changing emissions by 2030.
In 2018, world-leading environmentalist Paul Hawken visited Bendigo to talk about climate change and its likely impacts. His address ignited a local desire for collective action on climate. Consequently, representatives 20 Bendigo businesses, organisations, community groups and local and state government set about designing, creating and financing the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration. The Collaboration was launched in July 2022.
What we are doing
We are organising and running the Greater Bendigo Climate Summit.
To be held on May 26 and 27, 2023, the summit will bring together people, communities, schools organisations and government to celebrate climate actions to date and commit to working towards zero emissions together by 2030.
The Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration is working with the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance to prepare a Regional Zero Emissions Roadmap which will identify the priority emission reduction projects and advocacy initiatives for the Loddon Campaspe, Mallee and Grampians regions. Preparation of the Roadmap is being funded by Regional Development Victoria.
A Regional Zero Emissions Forum to explore opportunities to accelerate the region’s pathway to zero emissions and help inform the roadmap is being held on 16 March 2023 at Castlemaine Town Hall.
Registration is essential for this free forum.
We are creating a community-owned Zero Emissions Roadmap for Greater Bendigo that identifies collaborative climate advocacy, education and projects to reach zero emissions by 2030. We are creating this Roadmap in three phases.
Phase 1
Preparing a draft roadmap (up to end of March 2023)
We are reaching out and gathering ideas for climate actions the community would like to pursue across six key sectors – renewable energy, transport, nature, buildings, food and the circular economy. We have already run our major Renewable energy and sustainable transport forums and we are conducting further stakeholder forums, community meetings and online engagement to encourage maximum participation.
Phase 2
Prioritise projects, finalise the draft Greater Bendigo Zero-Emissions Roadmap and take this back to the community for feedback (up to end of May 2023).
Phase 3
Begin to implement priority projects, advocacy, research and education actions from the roadmap.
We are supporting Greater Bendigo businesses to celebrate achievements to date, reduce power bills, electrify everything and plan for a renewable energy future.
Power bills are rising fast and are a major factor for business sustainability. Our energy system is also in transition. The Australian Government is heading for 80% renewable energy by 2030 and the Victorian Government is aiming for 95% renewable energy by 2035.
Our Beat the Power Bills program is here to support Greater Bendigo organisations in that transition.
We will help your business or organisation to:
- understand your electricity, gas and fuel use
- design short-term energy actions that cut costs
- plan for 100% renewable energy by 2030
If you are a large manufacturing business with specific energy challenges, we can bring in a technical energy consultant to help you develop a business case for those challenges.
We will also support collective projects that your business or organisation can participate in, from power purchase agreements to electric vehicle and circular economy projects.
To start, complete this survey to help us understand your needs.
We are developing Climate Action Plans that households can use to help celebrate climate actions to date, undertake short term climate actions and plan for zero emissions by 2030
We are developing a climate education program to showcase successful climate action, and provide the encouragement, information and support people need to move towards zero emissions at home, at work and in the community.
Acknowledging Country
The Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration is committed to supporting the self-determination of Djaara and Taungurung in caring for Country and the continuation of their cultural, spiritual and educational practices.
Sign Up
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Contact us
Get in touch to register interest, discuss a climate project and to find out more:
Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration Team
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