Powering Wentworth to Net Zero - Wentworth's First Climate Summit

The Community of Wentworth has called for strong climate action, but what does it mean to reduce emissions to Net Zero and how long will this take?

Join us on Sunday 27 November at Wentworth’s first ever Climate Summit: Powering Wentworth to Net Zero to hear from local and industry experts as we analyse where Wentworth’s emissions come from and explore the technologies, products and lifestyle changes needed to reduce our individual impact and collectively respond to the climate emergency.

This family friendly event will be held at the newly renovated Bondi Pavilion from 9:30am to 4pm and is coordinated by our local Federal MP Allegra Spender in collaboration with the Smart Energy Council, local State MPs Alex Greenwich MP, Dr Marjorie O'Neil MP and Gabrielle Upton MP and our three local Councils.

We will be showcasing local businesses and community groups and providing an Electric Vehicle display (Electrogusto, EVDirect, Tesla, The Good Car Company). Food will be available via local food outlet Flave and we will also have solar powered water generators provided by Clean Waters Oceana! Kids activities will include facepainting and Solar Buddy light-making!

The summit will start at 9:30am with an Acknowledgement of Country and introductory remarks from Allegra Spender and each of our local Mayors. 

This is followed by a video message from renowned scientist Saul Griffith and an interactive panel discussion moderated by local comedian Dan Ilic. The panel: How can Wentworth get to Net Zero emissions? will include Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes, Director of Climate Energy Finance, Tim Buckley, Regional Environment Manager at Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils Anthony Weinberg and Electrify 2515 Leader Kristen McDonald.

From 11am to 1pm we will be showcasing local businesses who will be presenting at a number of stalls to help inform local residents of existing innovations and actions that can help us to get Wentworth to Net-Zero. Confirmed attendees include:

• Genus Earth – A platform blending online fun with real world missions designed to provide kids with a way to address eco-anxiety and develop a sense of agency and control.
• Coolsheet PVT – A local start-up manufacturing a new heat exchange panel to convert any solar panel into a PV Thermal system. The system works by absorbing wasted heat into usable thermal energy by heating water. This works as a pre-heat solution for hot water systems or as a highly efficient heat source for heat pumps.
• Kardinia Energy - A truly sustainable energy company manufacturing Printed Solar; a low-cost solar energy technology that is rapidly scalable, flexible, lightweight and 100% recyclable.
• Circular Energy Group – Helping organisations and communities turn energy from a liability and cost, into a sustainable asset and competitive advantage, while also accelerating renewable penetration and community energy participation onto the network.
• Climate Fresk - In just 3 hours, the collaborative Climate Fresk workshop will teach you the fundamental science behind climate change and empower you to take action.
  
• Brighte - Affordable finance to help Aussie households make the switch to solar, sooner.
• Pangolin Associates - Net zero, carbon and energy consultancy for businesses and councils.
• Power Ideas - Sustainable Energy Solutions - PV and ESS.
• Protegoterra - A knowledge platform about climate change and sustainability correlated to the United Nations Sustainable development goals.
• ShineHub - Community solar programs for Councils as a service. Bulk buys, community batteries, virtual power plants, EV chargers, and more in an easy to deploy package for Councils.
• Sky High Energy Control - Independent consultant for investing in sustainable energy technology. Helping households become energy independent by holistically ‘electrifying everything’ to help find the best mix of scalable solar, battery, energy saving & EV charging technologies and then project manage supply and install.
• Solar Australia - Leading products - local & trusted. Experts in the area with local council rebate knowledge.
• Sungen Solar - Installing Solar Panels, battery and electric vehicle chargers to enable a greener future.
• Totally Independent Solar Consultants - Offering residential homeowners a unique service to independently review their solar power quotes to help them decide which company offers them the best value for money product offering before they proceed with renewable energy.
• Walcott Enterprises - Specialising in design & installation of EV charger, off grid power, storage solutions, energy efficient appliances and custom sensors. L1 L2, L3 electrical & solar accredited.
• UPowr - Australian-based climate tech company, empowering organisations to accelerate the world beyond net-zero emissions.
• Supercharge Australia - Building an innovation ecosystem to produce more value throughout Australia's lithium battery supply chain.
• Amber - Wholesale Electricity Provider.
• Sydney Air and Solar - Accredited Solar Design and Installation.

Local action contributing to Net Zero: Meet local change makers and innovators championing actions that help reduce emissions and protect the environment 

At 1:30pm we will hold a second panel discussion Local Changemakers: Wentworth’s Net Zero Leaders focused on the Wentworth community and informing locals about the range of options available locally to help us on our journey to net-zero. What are the key practical steps we can all take to reduce our emissions? What programs are already in place and what initiatives could you get more involved in? Come along to hear from local community advocates and businesses about their activities and be inspired by their stories. The panel will include Lottie Dalziel, Founder, Banish and sustainability champion and NSW Young Australian of the Year 2023, Alejandra Torres, Sustainability Engagement Officer, Waverley Council, Power to the Future Youth Representatives, Renuka Fernando, ReLove, Andrew Valder, Co-Founder / Director of Garage Sale Trail & Grow It Local, Nick Pellow local resident on taking his house electric and Kit Willow, Sustainable Fashion Designer, KITX.

This is followed by a showcase of local community groups, Not-For-Profits and other local initiatives to help inform local residents of existing innovations and actions that can help us to get Wentworth to Net-Zero.

Confirmed attendees include:

• ReLove – Rescuing furniture and white-goods from corporate partners and community and delivering it directly to people who need a helping hand. Currently supporting 15 families per week and provide everything they need to make a house a home.
• BikeEast – A local advocacy group representing people who ride or want to ride bikes to get around Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
• Climate Book Share - A new local book share arrangement.
• Inner West Community Energy Inc - A Sydney community not-for-profit helping households install quality solar PV and batteries through facilitation and electric heat pump hot water installation.
• JOLT – Owner and operator of fast public electric vehicle charging infrastructure partnering with Councils and private landowners to address the barriers to EV uptake and accelerate      the decarbonisation of transport. In collaboration with Ausgrid and Councils, JOLT is rolling out a network of fast chargers that are zero-cost for Council and free for the community.
• Pledge for the Planet - An environmental Pledging Platform that allows individuals to take action against the climate crisis and plastic pandemic and quantifies their collective impact. Your behaviour is your currency!
• Voices of Wentworth - A non-partisan community group aiming to improve democracy by listening to the concerns of local people, providing them with information on the topics they are concerned about, and where voters are not getting the policies they want, advocating for change.
• We Ride Australia - Making our communities more bicycle friendly to help Australians address climate change.
• Pure Greens Sydney - Growing quality, delicious and nutritious microgreens indoors!
• Transition Bondi - Bringing people together to share, learn and be active in creating a more sustainable community and world.
• Jewish Sustainability Initiative - Drawing on Jewish tradition to promote the sustainable use of Earth’s natural resources. and mobilising the Sydney Jewish community to take urgent action on climate change.
• ACF Eastern Sydney - Australia's national environment organisation.
• Doctors for the Environment - An organisation of doctors who recognise that human health and wellbeing require an environment free of pollution, capable of providing nutritious food, rich in biodiversity, and able to provide for current and future generations sustainably.
• Haystacks Solar Garden - Enabling people without a sunny roof access to the many benefits of rooftop solar. Whether you rent, live in an apartment or have an unsuitable roof for solar, this solar garden will unlock the sunny benefits for all.

We hope to see you there!