Zero Emissions Sydney North teamed up with Take 3 for the Sea, Mosman Council and environment conservation community groups for the Balmoral Seaside Scavenge in September. Take 3 is known all over Australia for its educational programs that teach people about the problem of plastic pollution and inspire them to take action to protect the ocean.
The event showcased local waste-wise and environmentally conscious initiatives while entertaining with music, face painting and art, and nourishing us with pedal-powered smoothies! We were delighted to participate in this fun, family-friendly day to share information about how to reduce emissions and protect our beautiful local environment.
We had a great lineup of Electric Vehicles – Tesla and Hyundai – along with their enthusiastic owners who could talk till the cows come home to anyone who wanted to know about EVs. There was a lot of interest from young and old, the curious and the skeptical.
If bicycles are more your thing Lug+Carrie had a selection of eBikes available to try out. Whether it’s for your daily commute or getting the kids to school, these eBikes make cycling a breeze and are designed to carry your kids or your shopping or your laptop.
With sunshine and blue skies, Balmoral Beach was at its beautiful best. A great day made possible with our brilliant team of volunteers.
Thank you to our largest volunteer crew ever: Louise, Michael, Fay, Tony, Narween, Jenni Chris, Gill, Alan, Adrienne, Milo, Leesa, Leon, Kate, Ann-Charlott, Ursula, Daryl, with Marieken organising us, plus Neroli from Lug+Carrie doing Tern e-cargo bike test rides!
Zero Emissions Schools Network had the honour of being the recipient of a Mosman Community Grant for 22/23 for the second year in a row! This funding means the Zero Emissions Schools Network will be able to continue providing all the schools in the Mosman LGA with quarterly meetings, newsletters and one on one consulting.
The Network is a great space to have schools collaborate, share and learn more ways they can become more sustainable. Thank you to Mosman Council and Mayor Corrigan for your ongoing support of the program.
The ZESN Schools Network has been awarded the Mosman Community Grant for the second year in a row.
The energy and passion to become more environmentally sustainable is a delight to behold and the program highlights the value of networking together for a positive outcome.
Mayor Carolyn Corrigan, Mosman Municipal Council
About the ZESN Schools Program
The Zero Emissions Schools Program was designed and developed by Jenni Hagland (Program Leader), with Ursula Hogben (Co-Founder), in consultation with Loani Tierney, Environment Education Officer, Mosman Council.
What is it like to own an electric motorcycle?
We’re talking with Nigel Morris, electric motorcycle aficionado of the first hour.
With a background in manufacturing, Nigel knew how to make things, but the world of electronics and batteries was all new to him. In the early 1990s, every single system had energy storage before grid-connected solar was a thing and Australia had a small but innovative off-grid solar industry.
A baptism of fire in how to make solar, electronics, and batteries reliable, combined with a passion for motorcycles was the perfect breeding ground for an electric motorcycle obsession.
In the early 2000’s Morris got his first ride on an electric motorcycle in the US and was instantly hooked “For the next ten years, every time I rode my motorcycle, I daydreamed of how to get all the fun without the emissions.”
No less than twelve years after his first taste of an electric motorbike, Nigel became the proud owner of a 2010 model Zero DS from California’s Zero motorcycles, a pioneer in electric motorcycling. Limited to a maximum range of around 40km the bikes were strictly inner-city commuters and short duration off-road, but renowned as fun and loaded with torque.
in 2015 he swapped his vintage Zero for a new 2014 model, a bike that could do almost 100mph, required virtually zero maintenance, and range had more than doubled to around 150km.
2014 Zero model
Zero emissions
All Electric Riders
Long distance riding
Long-distance riding on a Zero was possible but it utilised a low voltage battery pack, with a nominal 120VDC battery, whereas DC Fast Charging has a minimum DC voltage of 300V, therefore rendering the few fast charging stations available, useless to electric motorcycle owners. From about 2017 onwards announcements and prototypes were starting to flow from well-known brands – KTM, Piaggio, Honda, BMW, and even Harley Davidson. In 2020, Morris got a phone call from a friend and fellow journalist, podcaster, and blogger Giles Parkinson who is the editor for The Driven, an EV-focused website. “Nige – Harley have invited us to go to the Australian launch of their new all-electric Harley Davidson Livewire. We assumed you might like to go and have RSVP’d for you?”
And the rest as they say is history.
Nigel never thought of himself as a potential Harley Davidson rider, but the way the Livewire looks and handles, combined with its power – 0-100 km within 3 seconds- justified the fairly heft price tag for Nigel. He now can complete a 420km zero-emissions ride in a day, demonstrating the huge difference that DC fast charging makes. And needless to say, without having to spend a dollar on fuel.
Riding without the sound
The single most common question about riding an electric bike is if one doesn’t miss the sound that has been synonymous with motorbikes ever since they came into existence. Morris: “I have a deep and visceral emotional connection between the sound of a motorcycle and the thrills that it embodies. We emotionally interpret them to be one and the same. But I have utterly re-learned this. The conventional sound of a motorcycle remains evocative, but it’s become superfluous to how I get my kicks – along with heat, vibration, and maintenance.”
By Erin Remblance
After the incredible federal election results last weekend, ZESN thought we’d take a look at the climate policies of the three Independent MPs in the Sydney North region to see their climate change ambitions, and how they plan to get there…
Zali Steggall, OAM, MP for Warringah
Target: 60% GHG emissions reduction by 2030, net zero by 2050
The ‘5 Steps to Net Zero’ would put Australia on an immediate path to Net Zero, targeting a 60% reduction on emissions by 2030, and unlock all the benefits that come with that effort. Australia could add over 250,000 jobs and $680 billion to the Australian economy by pursuing policies that get us to Net Zero (Deloitte Access Economics). All policies would be funded through phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and ensuring all fossil fuel companies pay a reasonable rate of royalty.
Provide a climate change framework for Australia to get to Net Zero: passing the Climate Change Bills will provide a legislative framework for emissions reductions by 2030 and 2050, and the ability to increase the targets and emissions reduction progress
Transform Energy: commit to an orderly transition to 80% renewable energy by 2030 with no new coal or gas developments.
Clean Up Transport: Support a minimum 76% target of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030 through tax incentives, investment in charging networks, and improved emissions and fuel standards.
Modernise Industry: Halve industry emissions through incentives for the production of green steel, green aluminum and green hydrogen and establish a fund to support communities.
Regenerate Australia and future-proof agriculture: Roll out 8 mega hectares of tree planting and soil carbon sequestration and invest in low-carbon agricultural practices and innovative technologies.
Kylea Tink, Zali Steggall and Dr Sophie Scamps
Dr Sophie Scamps, MP for McKellar
Target: 50% GHG emissions reduction by 2030, net zero by 2050
Legislating Australia’s 2050 net-zero target and setting a minimum 50% emission reduction target by 2030.
Supporting Australia’s electricity market regulator to deliver 80-94% renewable energy by 2030.
Making Australia a renewable energy superpower with policies that support new jobs and industries in the global cleantech and energy boom.
Making electric vehicles accessible to everyday Australians.
Developing risk assessment and long-term adaptation strategies to protect our infrastructure, supply chains and communities from the impacts of climate change.
Protecting and investing in Australia’s natural environment to regenerate our nation.
Protecting Australians from the health impacts of climate change.
Kylea Tink, MP for North Sydney
Target: 60% GHG emissions reduction by 2030, net zero by 2040
• A clear and actionable plan to reduce national emissions guided by experts to achieve at least 60% by 2030. • Removing the politics from the climate debate by introducing an independent climate change body to develop an evidence-based plan to achieve net-zero by 2040. • Active collaboration with local councils and state government to make the federal seat of North Sydney one of the first Net Zero Urban Zones in Australia, to transition to a fully electrified community as quickly as possible (target date 2035). • Improved fuel emission standards and initiatives that increase the rate of adoption of electric vehicles across Australia. • The gradual and planned removal of subsidies for coal and gas, with no new coal and gas extraction projects. • Protecting and enhancing our green corridors that are fundamental to the nature of our community and ensuring that any infrastructure projects undertaken in our electorate provide solutions for the next century, including: – demanding transparency from the Prime Minister on commitments related to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link; and – calling for a suspension of any further work until key stakeholders (including local councils and resident groups) are satisfied that all alternatives have been fully explored and concerns addressed and mitigated.
How do these policies compare to the major parties?
All three targets are marked improvements on the Liberal Party’s target of 26%-28% reduction by 2030 and the ALP’s target of 43% reduction by 2030. Both parties are also planning to reach net-zero by 2050.
How do these policies compare to the science?
This recent report, titled Aim High, Go Fast, released by Australia’s Climate Council states that Australia should be aiming for a 75% reduction of 2005 emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2035. This is consistent with the IPCC’s Special Report on 1.5 degrees of warming, which states that globally we need to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050, and that under the principle of equity high income nations that have long benefited from fossil fuel use and are highly developed need to reduce emissions by a larger percentage, to give developing nations more time to increase their standard of living.
What does ZESN love about these policies?
There is lots to love about these policies! In particular:
• The removal of coal, oil and gas subsidies • No new coal and gas development • The promotion of renewable energy and electric vehicles • Support for green industrial processes • The ability to increase net-zero targets and emissions reduction progress
What further policies could Australia have to support the IPCC goals and recommendations?
• A greater focus on eliminating fossil fuels via a legally binding planned reduction of fossil fuel use of 10% each year until they are virtually phased out by 2035. • Car ownership reduction targets of 15%-25% reduced car ownership by 2030, and targets for an increase in active transport infrastructure and high-quality public transportation. • Home efficiency improvements via insulation and electrification of homes (no gas) by 2030. • Policies that support the localisation of food growing. • 50% reduction in overall cattle numbers in Australia by 2030. • A frequent flyers payment to reflect the environmental cost of heavy airline use.
All in all, the climate policies of the three Sydney North MP’s are a vast improvement on what Australia has had in place over the last 9 years. We look forward to seeing our MP’s achieve these goals, and Australia aiming even higher, and show the world even more climate leadership.
