Pimlico State High School Proposals for Tri Regional Meeting

Oct 28, 2016 by Dylan Fields (Pimlico State High School)

The opportunity to interact with the other schools, to read their reflections and examine their proposed methods of action have provided us with a new window in to climate change. It is an opportunity to see how each country would tackle the issues within the opportunities they have, their limitations and the potential problems and resistance they may encounter. Our personal experiences, our economic situation and the specific places we live, in our countries, has had an immense influence on our perceptions of climate change. It is obvious that it would be hard to reach consensus on a limited number of courses of action as each country’s proposal all have merit and who is it to say which ones are the most important. The thing is, we have all had the opportunity to learn from each other and appreciate the ideas that the youth of the world have in making a difference in climate change. We have all been exposed to new ideas on how to tackle climate change and possibly identify opportunities on how we can support each other.

For us there are a number of things we have learnt:

1. At an Australian level we, through our survey and research, have identified that to a great extent the Australian public has disengaged from climate change and focussing on other concerns in the community. The government and media is currently focussed on issues like the economy, job creation, terrorism, and border protection. In regards to the public, the focus on climate change is mainly on the impact of natural disasters such as droughts, floods, cyclones and bushfires. This provides us with opportunity to develop a grass roots campaign via social media to reengage the public by focusing on their concerns which have a direct link to climate change.
2. Through our bilateral pairing with the Yadavindra Public School in India, we were reminded of the importance of water security for people and the conservation of the water – things we often take for granted in Australia. We also share many similarities such as our exposure to natural disasters such as droughts, floods and rising sea levels. Both countries are fully aware of the impact of such events and the toll in terms of human life.
3. At the Tri-Regional Meeting we had the opportunity to examine the various courses of actions each school was proposing. From this we were able to further refine our ideas but also gain new ideas which we could implement. We noticed that the projects ranged in scope but all had merit. We have also been interested in the world’s focus on the Great Barrier Reef and their concern for its future. We live with the Great Barrier Reef on our doorstep and there is much debate about the impact of climate change on the reef and whether the reef can adapt to the change. We are fortunate to have many of the world’s reef experts living in our city and we will consult with them to obtain a better picture of the future of the reef which we will share with the world community.

From these interactions and research we believe there are three main projects which can have a positive impact on climate change and water use. These have been developed from the proposals of a number of schools. The projects are:

1. Minimum Energy and Water Efficient Standards for all Government and Public Buildings

Lobby governments to change building codes to drive energy and water efficiency in all government and public buildings. Building codes would focus on building materials, efficient design and use of efficient cooling, heating, lighting and water systems. The focus could begin with the construction of new buildings; the leasing of only water and energy efficient buildings or office space; and finally, the rehabilitation of older buildings.

Various levels of implementation could be supported by focusing on different items such as solar cells; water efficient taps and toilets; energy efficient heating and cooling; insulated windows; natural lighting and cooling/heating; and the introduction of new technology.

2. Water Pricing Scheme

Introduce water pricing scheme into all developed countries – a user pay scheme where the public and business pay for the water they use. The more water a user uses, the higher the costs.

In Townsville each household is allocated 772,000 litres of water for $739 per year. If you use more than the allocation then you are charged $2.83 per kilolitre as an excess water charge. There are also penalties for those who waste water including $365 on the spot fines for residents and $1828 fines for businesses.

The aim of the scheme is to:

• Reduce water consumption and reduce the demand for new water infrastructure.
• Raise additional funds which these countries can redirect to world water projects in those nations requiring assistance.
• Set up of an independent body to oversee the expenditure of funds which are identified as global projects. The independent body to have representation from nations which reflect the spectrum of countries with varied economic development and need.
• Introduce a similar scheme into other countries over time.

3. Universal World Labelling and Minimum Performance Standards for all Electrical Appliances and Water Devices

Household appliances account for about 30 per cent of total residential energy consumption with lighting an additional 12 per cent.

Lobby all governments to ban the export and import of appliances (fridges, ovens, air conditioners, heaters, lighting etc.) and water products (taps, toilets, shower heads etc.), used in households, businesses and government, which do not meet minimum environmental standards.

To provide detailed energy rating and water use labels, which increase consumer awareness of the benefits of energy and water efficient products.

Our focus is to present options which can be implemented at different scales, within each country, and which will provide assistance to those nations which require support to implement effective water and energy saving projects.

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