History

Beyond Zero Emissions was established in 2006 out of a concern that the stated climate change goals of other environmental organisations at the time contradicted the scientific literature. Policies these organisations were calling for if realised would see atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, thereby causing devastation from global warming.

Luckily, this has now begun to change, with the grassroots climate action movement, made up of over 200 groups across Australia adopting a policy of 100% renewable energy for Australia by 2020, and recognising that the current science is explicit in saying that there is already to much carbon in the atmosphere. Some of the bigger environment groups are also moving in this direction.

From its inception, Beyond Zero Emissions' goal has been to help facilitate a timely transition to a zero carbon future where atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are reduced to a safe threshold. The group focusses on both the research, education and promulgation of scientifically-based policy and technology solutions in order to realise this transition.

The group was established by Matthew Wright and Adrian Whitehead with the guidance of Phillip Sutton. At the same time Matthew and Adrian established the Zero Emission Network which Adrian Whitehead now coordinates. The Zero Emission Network provides a platform for an independent alliance of groups to share ideas, coordinate campaigns and offer mutual support. Beyond Zero Emissions is proudly a member of the Zero Emissions Network.

In 2008 the Climate Emergency Network was formed by a number of climate groups in Melbourne concerned that groups taking climate change science and solutions seriously needed a way to coordinate. Beyond Zero Emissions is a proud member of the Climate Emergency Network.

Beyond Zero radio

In 2007 Beyond Zero Emissions started broadcasting a weekly radio show called Beyond Zero on 3CR Community Radio in Melbourne. With a strong science and solutions focus, the program interviews specialists from around the world, live from 8.30 - 9am, Friday (Aust EST). Our guests are specialists in fields such as climate science, renewable energy, energy efficiency, transport, forestry and land use change, climate change politics and policy. Guests have included:

James Hansen, Director of the Goddard Institute of Space Studies, NASA
Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Director the the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research
Ken Caldeira, Dept. of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution of Washington
Wieslaw Maslowski, Dept. of Oceanography, Naval Post Graduate School
David Karoly, Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne
Amory Lovins, Co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute
S. David Freeman, former head of the Tennessee Valley Authority
and more...

In 2008, Beyond Zero began broacasting a second weekly radio program on 3CR with the introduction of our community show, broadcast from 4 - 5pm, Monday (AUST EST). The community show provides up-to-date news about community campaigns, actions and events from around Australia, including interviews with members of the climate action group community.

Monthly discussion group

As a result of our endorsement of the latest scientific findings that there is already too much atmospheic greenhouse gas and that it must be reduced to below current levels in order
to decrease the probability of sudden, irreversible and catastrophic global warming, Beyond Zero Emissions initiated and runs a monthly discussion group that allows for the exchange of information and ideas to transform Australia into a zero carbon economy as quickly as possible.

On Monday the 7th of April, 2008, we presented our inaugural discussion group meeting entitled, 'Transition to a Zero Carbon Future' where we outlined our "Coal Switch" philosophy in which the state of Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 50% in 3 years.

Held on the first Monday of each month at 6.30pm at Kindness House, 288 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, Victoria, the discussion group hosts presentations by experts in climate science and solutions, with each presentation followed by a Q&A session with audience members.

Guests have included:

Ian Dunlop, former head of the Australian Coal Association
Dr. Geoffrey Will presents Dye solar cells - the next generation in solar technology
Brendan Mackey, Director of the ANU Wild Country Research and Policy Hub
Dr. Keith Lovegrove, Head of the ANU Solar Thermal Group
Phil Hart, member of the Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO)
and more...

Zero Carbon Plans

From Beyond Zero emissions preliminary working paper "Coal Switch", a plan to reduce Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 3 years, a decision was made to both broaden and deepen the scope of the emissions reduction plan by developing a blueprint for the transition to a decarbonised Australian economy by 2020.

This plan is called Zero Carbon Australia 2020 (ZCA) and is an initiative of Beyond Zero Emissions and the Climate Emergency Network, (CEN) with generous support from Climate Positive.

Work on the plan commenced in early 2009 and encompasses stationary energy, transport, housing and construction, land use, industrial processes and replacing coal export revenue.

The plans draws on the enormous wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise of like-minded individuals from the community.

Politician and Corporate Education

Since 2007, Beyond Zero Emissions has widened the scope of its education with an ongoing series of meetings with state and federal politicians, and their representatives, to educate on existing solutions for the decarbonisation of the Australian economy. The organisation also regularly does presentations for corporate groups, such as the CEO Institute and many public and community group talks.

We have an active media team that enables our work to be accessed by the public.