Explore CAN's Projects, Campaigns & Events.
2023
November 2023
The Newcastle Climate Action Summit was held on Saturday, 18 November 2023 at Newcastle City Hall with approximately 90 people in attendance. The summit was convened by Climate Action Newcastle and Newcastle Climate Change Response.
The summit provided a forum to present current work on reducing emissions in the Newcastle Local Government Area (LGA) from the Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan (NERP) project and from local and state government bodies. Feedback was sought from the public and stakeholders on key ideas to reduce emissions within the LGA from the NERP project. Additional ideas were also solicited from attendees. The summit also provided a mechanism for future work in this area through the formation of the Newcastle Emission Reduction Alliance and Newcastle Emission Reduction Charter.
January 2023
In January 2023, CAN partnered with Newcastle Climate Change Response (NCCR) and instigated the Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan (NERP).
The plan is:
- to develop an ambitious emission reduction plan for the City of Newcastle Local Government Area
- actively involve community members and leaders, including business, industry and all levels of government
- build support for the implementation of the plan
- increase awareness and commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions
2022
Sunday 16th October 2022
Picnic For Nature
Sunday 16th October 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Griffith Park, Stockton
Picnic for nature was a day out with family and friends. To meet other members of your community and have together. All in the name of supporting nature. Your local nature.
This was a Nature Conservation Council initiative.
2021
CAN joined the Climate Action Now campaign helping our local community support strong climate action by displaying a yard sign or bin sticker prominently at home or work.
2020
Wednesday 5th August 2020
Go to the Facebook Event to register and to receive the Zoom link and draft Plan.
– Upgrading 31 per cent of streetlights to LEDs
– Securing 100 per cent of electricity from renewable sources
– Cutting the city’s carbon footprint by 77.36 per cent (excluding emissions from Summerhill waste management centre)
The new 2025 Climate Action Plan continues the drive to decarbonise Council’s operations and now goes further to include stronger targets and city-wide initiatives.
What do we think? Take a look at the plan before the workshop and bring your questions.
This event is open to all-comers but especially for local climate groups. We’ll have break-out sessions to discuss the plan and get ready to send in our constructive submissions.
Registration is essential. Click here to register and receive the Zoom link and draft Plan.
Hosted by Climate Action Newcastle with Newcastle BZE, and Newcastle Climate Change Response. Reviewing a plan developed by City of Newcastle.
2019
Climate Change & Future Solutions - 2019
Two Short Talks with Alex Morris & John Shiel.
Wednesday 4th September 2019.
6.00pm CAN Meeting – all welcome
7.00pm Door & food break – Soup, dahl (Vg GF) & pizza available.
7.30pm Two Talks & discussion
Entry and food by donation – funds to the Croatian Club solar fund.
The Croatian Wickham Sports Club 20 Albert Street Wickham.
JOHN SHIEL BZE: FUTURE PROOFING AUSTRALIA Dr John Shiel is a member of Beyond Zero Emissions, Narara Ecovillage (with its own Power Company and smart-grid), and Chair of Permaculture Hunter. He has a PhD in adapting housing to climate change, and formerly was a power station Civil Engineer, and IT consultant.
ALEX MORRIS: THE CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT Alex Morris is a journalist, and a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps who recently attended Al Gore’s Climate Reality Conference in Brisbane.
Climate Change Lecture - 2019
Special Climate Change Lecture for Leaders of all Religions & Faiths.
Presented by Dr Dennys Angove – retired CSIRO Atmospheric Scientist.
Wednesday 4th September 2019.
Mission to Seafarers, Newcastle
96 Hannell St, WICKHAM
9.30am Cuppa.
10.00am – 11.00 am Lecture.
30 minute Q&A
Cuppa and Cake to finish.
Retired as a Principal Research Scientist from the CSIRO in August 2014 where I was a research project leader as well as the manager of the indoor smog chamber lab which was set up to study tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation. Recently joined the UNSW as a course convener for 2017-2018 summer session and now continuing as a casual lecturer in the course Managing Greenhouse Gas Emissions as well as providing educational outreach talks at the WEA and to the public on air quality and the science of climate change.
Croatian Wickham Sports Club – ‘Goes Solar’ 2019.
The second of CAN’s “Going Solar” projects was completed at the Croatian Wickham Sports Club in August 2020.
After the amazing success of our first “Going Solar” project with Carrington Bowling Club (see below) we are continuing to help small or struggling local clubs to survive by reducing their costly energy bills.
The Croatian Wickham Sports Club is one of a dying breed in Newcastle – the inner-city bowlo! There are many bills to pay and much to upgrade in the old club.
We definitely don’t want to see this little gem of a community club shut its doors like so many bowlos in Newcastle already have.
The plan was to support club members and patrons in raising funds to help the CWS Club put solar panels on the roof. The club will then significantly reduce its energy bills and have more funds for other essentials.
The outcome was a 16KW system on the front awning of the Club.
Contributions to this campaign were be managed by Climate Action Newcastle with 100% of the raised funds to go directly to the Club’s solar system. This will effectively pay forward the Club’s energy bills for years to come through savings from generating solar electricity on site.
And the best bit? Reducing carbon emissions contributing to devastating climate change.
This system will produce an average of 70kwh per day, providing around 60% of the club’s consumption and reducing bills by up to 50%. The club will continue to improve these percentages with equipment upgrades and other efficiency measures.
We thank every wonderful person listed on this donation page (some more than once), every gig organiser and band who played at Iced Novo, Sun Stroked and Sun Raiser, as well as the great local businesses who sponsored our raffles.
Big thanks also goes to Port of Newcastle for a generous grant of $6000 which helped us bring the project home.
Climate Change & Economy - 2019
6.30pm for soup, curry (VG GF) and pizza.
7pm – 8.30pm for event
Croatian Wickham Sports Club – hosted by Climate Action Newcastle
Entry by donation.
Who is –
Professor Bill Mitchell?
Professor Bill Mitchell holds the Chair in Economics and is the Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), an official research centre at the University of Newcastle.
Movie Screening - Accelerate 1 - 2019
Wednesday 3rd April 2019.
6.30pm for Soup dinner by donation.
7pm – 8.30pm movie.
Croatian Wickham Sports Club – hosted by Climate Action Newcastle
Entry by donation.
This is a movie by Bill McKibben and 350.org about the devastating effects of Global Warming and the real affects it will have on our planet’s environment.
Our planet’s environment includes everything. Us, them, that, everything!!
2018
Local Solar Projects go Global
The ABC’s – “Your Planet” project picked up on the amazing work and collaboration of two local bowling clubs with Climate Action Newcastle (CAN) that recently did their bit for the future of the planet. Your Planet.
Enjoy this ABC production. You can find out more at the ABC YOUR PLANET website.
December 2017 – 2018.
Carrington Bowling Club – ‘Goes Solar’.
With initial ideas and energy from CAN, Carrington Bowling Club’s Jaci Lapin quickly jumped on board and became the major driving force behind the success of this first “Going Solar” project collaboration between CAN and a local club.
Smaller local clubs all over the state can easily find themselves in financial stress due to operating costs.
Enabling these small local clubs to reduce their usually high energy costs can go a long way in helping pull a club out of a possibility of closing.
CAN’s role was to setup a crowdfunding campaign which we did with Chuffed.com and help out with other fund raising events over the next 12 months.
CAN quarantined and managed the funds before finally handing the funds over to the club once the campaign came to a close.
The fund raising campaign raise a total of $30,715. These funds were made up of Chuffed donations and fund raising events and activities at the club.
The result was the installation of a 50KW Solar System installed on the entire roof of the club. The club has now reduced it energy bill by an average of 50 – 60%.
Carrington Bowling Club Manager, Jaci Lappin, tells of the club’s new future with solar.
Preparing for the final solar panel to be installed on the Carrington Bowling Club’s roof.
2016
June – August 2016.
Bulk Battery Storage Install.
CAN partnered with SunCrowd to present and instigate Australia’s first bulk-buy of renewable home energy storage systems.
More than 600 people packed into Newcastle City Hall for the bulk-buy launch presented by program partners SunCrowd and Climate Action Newcastle.
The bulk-buy program allows early adopters to obtain new storage systems at greatly reduced prices.
It follows Climate Action Newcastle’s similar and successful bulk-buy of solar power systems in 2008, which at the time was the largest such program in Australia.
2012
March – April 2012.
Smart Energy Expo Newcastle 2012.
Newcastle Exhibition Centre.
This was the Expo’s final year.
The renewable industry had taken off and the expo had done its job.
2011
March – 2011.
Smart Energy Expo Newcastle 2011.
Newcastle Exhibition Centre.
The expo needed more space, so we went to the Newcastle Exhibition Centre within the Newcastle Showground and Entertainment Complex.
2010
CAN Annual Lecture Series - 2010
June 2010
Clive Hamilton – “Why we are ignoring Climate Change”.
Clive Hamilton spoke on – why we, as a populace, are ignoring climate change.
Who is Clive Hamilton?
Clive Charles Hamilton AM FRSA is an Australian public intellectual and Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics and the Vice-Chancellor’s Chair in Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University.
February – 2010.
Newcastle’s Going Solar – Round 3.
Bulk buy and install of Solar panels for the Hunter.
CAN coordinated a third round of solar installs. The install rebate and feed-in tariff were still just available.
2009
November – 2009.
Smart Energy Expo Newcastle 2009.
Newcastle City Hall & Wheeler Place.
The Expo grew in interest from both business and the public. It needed a face lift. We moved to the Newcastle City Hall & Wheeler Place for 2009 and gave it a corporate face lift.
There was still major interest in new the technology around renewable energy. More businesses were popping up and the public started seeing more TV advertising about the products and so more people were turning up to get information on the technology and how they could get involved.
CAN Annual Lecture Series - 2009
28th May 2009
John Kaye – Climate Change & Politics.
John Kaye was an Australian politician. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council at the 2007 state election and represented the Greens. He was a vocal critic of electricity industry privatisation and a strong advocate for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
People's Blockade - World's Biggest Coal Port - 2009
21st March 2009
Newcastle Harbour Blockade.
CAN assists infrastructure and members to attend the People’s Blockade of the biggest coal port in the world.
CAN Annual Lecture Series - 2009
Monday 16th March 2009.
Hugh Mackay – “What we say & what we do”.
CAN launched an Annual Lecture Series to offer scientific and educated information to the people of the Hunter. 360 people turned up to our first lecture held at Newcastle City Hall.
Hugh Clifford Mackay AO is the founder of the Australian quarterly research series The Ipsos Mackay Report. He is a psychologist, sociologist, social researcher, writer and former teacher. He is a regular columnist in The Age and a regularly appearing commentator on radio and television.
February – 2009.
Newcastle’s Going Solar – Round 1 & 2.
Bulk buy and install of Solar panels for the Hunter.
CAN initiated a bulk buy and installation of solar panels for households in the greater Newcastle area. Over 500 household roofs had solar panels installed. The install also came with a government rebate on the install costs and included a generous feed-in tariff.
It was a win-win for everyone.
2008
Climate Change White Paper - 2008
15th December 2008.
Office of Greg Combet MP & Sharon Grierson MP
CAN members help deliver Climate Change White Paper to the offices of Greg Combet MP and Sharon Grierson MP.
29th & 30th November – 2008.
Smart Energy Expo Newcastle 2008.
Honeysuckle Boiler Shop.
Apart from 2010, the Smart Energy Expo Newcastle was held over the next few years up to 2012.
Businesses in the renewable energy industry increased and the Hunter saw a marked increase in solar and renewable business. A lot of this can be attributed to CAN’s idea of operating an expo.
The Expo did exactly what was intended. Increase opportunities for local renewable energy business and increase renewable energy use by households and industry. Over 5,000 people visited the Expo over the 2 days.
Climate Emergency Rally - 2008
28th September 2008.
Parliament House – Canberra.
CAN members travelled to Canberra for the Climate Emergency Rally.
2007
September – 2007.
Smart Energy Expo Newcastle 2007.
Honeysuckle Boiler Shop.
Smart Energy Expo Newcastle 2007 was a one day, one-stop shop showcasing a wide range of renewable energy options for sustainable living. It included stalls from government departments, local councils, industries and businesses, with activities, visual presentations and speakers throughout the day.
The Smart Energy Expo provides an exceptional opportunity for people to see the widest range of energy- efficient products and services to match their lifestyles and budgets, including new building designs, energy efficiency for housing, easy ways to sign onto Greenpower and more.
Entry was Free.
September – 2007.
Time To Switch Campaign.
CAN followed the Kilowatt Challenge with the Time To Switch campaign to encourage households to take up 100% GreenPower.
March – 2007.
Kilowatt Challenge
CAN instigated a Kilowatt Challenge in which 50 households and one school competed to reduce their energy usage.
Movie Screening - An Inconvenient Truth - 2007
February 2007.
CAN hosted Al Gore’s movie – An Inconvenient Truth at the Tower Cinema in Newcastle as a fund raiser. We filled the 250 seat cinema.
Entry by donation.
2006
CAN's Annual Lecture Series - 2006
December 2006.
Newcastle – Conservatorium of Music.
Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO.
Ian Lowe – President of the Australian Conservation Foundation spoke on Climate Change and it’s affects on our environment.
Over 400 people attended this inspiring event.
Ian Lowe is Emeritus Professor of Science, Technology and Society and former Head of the School of Science at Griffith University, as well as an adjunct professor at Sunshine Coast University and Flinders University.
Walk Against Warming - 2006
Beyond Coal - Human Sign on Nobby's Beach - 2006
December 2006.
Wheeler Place to Nobby’s Beach – Newcastle.
CAN coordinated the 2006 Walk Against Warming for Newcastle and the Beyond Coal human sign action on Nobby’s Beach in Newcastle.
Over 800 people walked from Wheeler Place in the Civic Precinct and then formed a human sign on Nobby’s Beach that read “Beyond Coal”.
The rain did not stop the enthusiastic concerned community.
