A GRASS-roots approach to community decarbonisation was launched in Mount Martha Sunday (22 May) with residents forming a group focussed on reducing local emissions.
A public meeting attended by about 40 residents and headed by eMPower Mornington Peninsula, a non-profit energy network focussed on helping communities decarbonise the peninsula, heard that local initiatives could reduce carbon emissions by 70 per cent over the next seven years.
Group member Jon Fly said there was a lot of interest from the Mount Martha community in taking a proactive approach to reducing emissions.
He said eMPower representatives shared strategies for households, businesses and non-profit organisations to take action to decarbonise, and attendees were challenged to take collective action through community projects such as community batteries, virtual energy networks and solar gardens.
“As a result, a local group has formed and we will hold conversations with the Mount Martha community and set an agenda for local community energy and decarbonisation,” he said.
eMPower spokesperson Warwick Beard said the organisation planned to empower communities across the peninsula to decide what best suited their community when it came to decarbonisation.
He said the eMPower group “have the data, have the ideas and have the resources to support” community action.
To find out when other communities will be invited to an eMPower event, keep an eye on social media or go to the website to join eMPower or sign up for updates: empowermornpen.org.au
First published in the Mornington News – 7 June 2022
