A Brief History of Parramatta Climate Action Network
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| A Brief History of Parramatta Climate Action Network |
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Our first official event was the launch on 3rd September 2007, but there had been plenty of work prior to this.
Annie Nielsen had planned and hosted two ‘Walks Against Warming’ (2005, 2006), formed an informal group of concerned people. Then the Australian Conservation Foundation organised a forum on climate change in May that was the catalyst for the formation of a local action group.
Our first meeting was 5th July and generated lots of issues and ideas but most importantly it set up a committed group that became the core of ParraCAN and it gave us our name. The launch on 3rd September was a success with over 30 attending and more people joining the core group.
We followed this with a ‘Candidates for Climate Change’ Forum on the Federal Election of Nov 2007 - also well attended and we did another ‘Walk Against Warming’. The ‘footprints to Canberra’ which we managed for the Climate Institute was also a success – we were by far the most prolific footprint collectors nation-wide.
We consolidated during 2008, but there was also a noticeable climate action collective sigh of relief with Howard finally gone and Rudd to lead the charge - how ironic to look back now and see the tortuous path to where we are today.
In 2008 we hosted another candidates forum linked this time to the local government elections – with a disappointing result for us (a climate change conservative Council). We organised our last ‘Walk Against Warming’ and from then on combined our efforts with the main walk in Sydney. We set up a website and started growing a subscriber list, wrote some newsletters, visited local members. We became involved with the fledgling nation-wide network of grassroots climate action groups. This Network was really the beginning of a climate action movement . The publication of ‘Climate Code Red’ and the networking and action flowing from this was an important time we were a part of. We have through Tom and Annie and others been an integral part of the process in NSW.
2009 was our biggest year till then – in fact we won an NCC Award for all the work. There were trips to Canberra for the Climate Summit, more visits to politicians, leafleting for major campaigns. We became an incorporated group and had our first AGM in Parramatta Park. Our partnering with Parramatta City Council increased and we are now (almost) routinely included in its climate change endeavours.
