Doing what we can for future generations.
In 2016, these children of MotHs joined forces (with a little bit of help from us) to raise funds in support of ongoing research and development for Beyond Zero Emission's Zero Carbon Industry plan. These funds played a vital role in advancing research aimed at reducing carbon emissions from products such as concrete and steel. Today, when you hear Australian industries discussing products like 'ashcrete' or 'low carbon concrete,' you can attribute part of their existence to the contribution of these children, who unknowingly played a part in shaping a better future – a significance perhaps clearer to their parents than to them at the time.
While storms, flash flooding, and bushfires have long been familiar to the hills, their intensity and frequency are on the rise. Our families now face heightened vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, evident in events like the devastating 2021 storms that led to a monumental loss of trees (approximately 25,000). This loss may have contributed to the increased number and severity of landslides on our roads this week, as the weakened soil, no longer supported by tree roots, inevitably succumbed to the immense volume of rainwater that fell on Sunday and Monday.
It's no surprise that the 2023 Mums of the Hills Perspectives Survey revealed that 75% of MotHs participants considered climate change the most pressing concern for residents. This urgency motivated our involvement in the Eastern Legal Community Centre's submission to the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill 2023. This crucial legislation proposes amending the Climate Change Act 2022 to mandate decision-makers to consider the well-being of current and future generations, particularly children when making choices likely to contribute to climate change.
MotHs aims to provide multi-generational support, addressing the immediate needs of mothers while advocating for issues like critical infrastructure and climate change that impact our entire community. Though the kids involved in the 2016 fundraising campaign are still not legally old enough to vote for a few more years, we are dedicated to playing our part in safeguarding their future. We proudly stand alongside ECLC in championing the well-being of families and future residents of the Yarra Ranges.
While the kids involved in the 2016 fundraising campaign are still happy and care free being ‘hills kids’, we are dedicated to playing our part in safeguarding their future.
One of this week’s landslides. Image courtesy of Star Mail.
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The kids were asked to paint their house of the future. What would it look like? What would it be made out of? They helped to raise funds for research to improve our future. We’re doing our bit too.