In the midst of a climate emergency and housing crisis, Zoë Geyer imagines a sustainable tomorrow for her daughter. By Zoë Geyer
THIS week I spoke at the Bass Coast Shire Council breakfast event for International Women’s Day, focusing on the UN theme of ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow: recognising how women around the world are responding to climate change’.
Here I pause.
And take a breath.
It’s challenging to focus on the amazing contribution of women responding to climate change - without also drawing out the disadvantage and imbalance of power that women are still challenged with today. An imbalance that was highlighted by fellow speakers from Gippsland Women’s Health and Women for Change; evidenced in the statistics of women’s lower incomes and security, older women’s homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault and rape, and disempowerment from leadership positions.
THIS week I spoke at the Bass Coast Shire Council breakfast event for International Women’s Day, focusing on the UN theme of ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow: recognising how women around the world are responding to climate change’.
Here I pause.
And take a breath.
It’s challenging to focus on the amazing contribution of women responding to climate change - without also drawing out the disadvantage and imbalance of power that women are still challenged with today. An imbalance that was highlighted by fellow speakers from Gippsland Women’s Health and Women for Change; evidenced in the statistics of women’s lower incomes and security, older women’s homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault and rape, and disempowerment from leadership positions.
It is impossible to ignore the significant issues and inequality. As noted by shire climate change and sustainability officer Benita Russell: you can’t have climate justice without gender equality.
However, today we still see a lot of imbalance in our society, evidenced through exposure to vulnerability, insecurity and homelessness. For instance:
‘There are significant correlations between groups within the community and those that are at risk to the impacts of climate change. Understanding vulnerability and its relation to climate change impacts is important to be able to deliver assistance to those who most need it.’ [1]
‘…those in society who are most vulnerable to climate change health impacts include the poor and disadvantaged and/or those in poor quality housing without efficient heating or cooling, those with existing health conditions, people aged over 65 years, residents of remote areas and indigenous populations.’ [2]
‘Fewer than 4.5% of all dwellings in Australia are Affordable Housing (non-market housing), trying to cater for up to 40% of all households.’ [3]
‘The Bass Coast Housing Story report estimated there are 733 households in Bass Coast in need of Affordable Housing. This represents 5.1% of all households in the Shire.’ [3]
‘In March 2021, there were a total of 693 applications on the Victorian Housing Register priority list, of which 424 were for one-bedroom dwellings (218 from Wonthaggi).’ [3]
‘Family violence makes a substantial contribution to the risk and prevalence of homelessness for women and their children. In Bass Coast, there were 739 incidents of family violence in 2019-2020.’ [3]
‘The Gippsland Regional Housing Network reported that in Bass Coast and South Gippsland the lack of crisis accommodation and the limited availability of affordable housing for low-income earners caused 769 people being turned away from services in 2018-2019.’ [3]
‘Healthcare professionals warn that people living in poor quality housing without efficient heating or cooling are “extremely vulnerable” to climate change health impacts. ’ [4]
‘Between 60-70 per cent of healthcare professional respondents report already seeing climate change-related health conditions in their community, such as thunderstorm asthma, heat stress or heatstroke, pollen-related allergies and lung conditions from increased air pollution. Approximately half (51 per cent) report mental illness such as depression or severe anxiety related to climate change.’ [5]
It's not a pretty picture. But it’s here, it’s now. We are all responsible for changing this picture. A sustainable future is very achievable. We have the will and the way. All we need is to take action – and now is the time.
Did you know the very first action recommended for households in the Bass Coast Climate Change Action Plan is to join your local community group? This is because “working together with a group of local, like minded people to tackle the challenge can help to avoid adverse mental health impacts associated with acknowledging the climate emergency such as the growing rates of ‘climate grief’.'
Remember, we’re all in this together.
Now, because I can, I’m going to leap frog the challenges of today. Now I’m going to look at our positive futures – imagining a sustainable tomorrow: the Good Life.
In 2030 (eight years and counting down) my daughter will be 15 years old. What will her world look like? What will her future look like in 2040 at 25 years old? And in 2050 at 35 years old?
In a sustainable world, there is continual balance. Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.[6]
In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources. Sustainability is not just environmental-ism.
My daughter’s world meets the needs of our society without breaching the earth’s ecological boundaries. Our buildings, cities and infrastructures will be designed as indivisible components of a larger, constantly regenerating and self-sustaining system.[7]
We have neighbourhoods that are designed to promote healthy living, reduce travel time and encourage connectivity. We are living alongside nature, we are prepared for emergencies and have clear systems in place to keep the community safe and provide refuge. We have new developments that are planned to prioritise the natural environment, reduce our carbon emissions, and care for water courses, ecosystems and native flora and fauna. [8]
We have housing that is affordable and appropriate for families of all types and sizes so everyone has a roof over their head. We are a community where everyone is included and supported through all life stages, particularly our more vulnerable community members, enabling us all to thrive. [9]
However, today we still see a lot of imbalance in our society, evidenced through exposure to vulnerability, insecurity and homelessness. For instance:
‘There are significant correlations between groups within the community and those that are at risk to the impacts of climate change. Understanding vulnerability and its relation to climate change impacts is important to be able to deliver assistance to those who most need it.’ [1]
‘…those in society who are most vulnerable to climate change health impacts include the poor and disadvantaged and/or those in poor quality housing without efficient heating or cooling, those with existing health conditions, people aged over 65 years, residents of remote areas and indigenous populations.’ [2]
‘Fewer than 4.5% of all dwellings in Australia are Affordable Housing (non-market housing), trying to cater for up to 40% of all households.’ [3]
‘The Bass Coast Housing Story report estimated there are 733 households in Bass Coast in need of Affordable Housing. This represents 5.1% of all households in the Shire.’ [3]
‘In March 2021, there were a total of 693 applications on the Victorian Housing Register priority list, of which 424 were for one-bedroom dwellings (218 from Wonthaggi).’ [3]
‘Family violence makes a substantial contribution to the risk and prevalence of homelessness for women and their children. In Bass Coast, there were 739 incidents of family violence in 2019-2020.’ [3]
‘The Gippsland Regional Housing Network reported that in Bass Coast and South Gippsland the lack of crisis accommodation and the limited availability of affordable housing for low-income earners caused 769 people being turned away from services in 2018-2019.’ [3]
‘Healthcare professionals warn that people living in poor quality housing without efficient heating or cooling are “extremely vulnerable” to climate change health impacts. ’ [4]
‘Between 60-70 per cent of healthcare professional respondents report already seeing climate change-related health conditions in their community, such as thunderstorm asthma, heat stress or heatstroke, pollen-related allergies and lung conditions from increased air pollution. Approximately half (51 per cent) report mental illness such as depression or severe anxiety related to climate change.’ [5]
It's not a pretty picture. But it’s here, it’s now. We are all responsible for changing this picture. A sustainable future is very achievable. We have the will and the way. All we need is to take action – and now is the time.
Did you know the very first action recommended for households in the Bass Coast Climate Change Action Plan is to join your local community group? This is because “working together with a group of local, like minded people to tackle the challenge can help to avoid adverse mental health impacts associated with acknowledging the climate emergency such as the growing rates of ‘climate grief’.'
Remember, we’re all in this together.
Now, because I can, I’m going to leap frog the challenges of today. Now I’m going to look at our positive futures – imagining a sustainable tomorrow: the Good Life.
In 2030 (eight years and counting down) my daughter will be 15 years old. What will her world look like? What will her future look like in 2040 at 25 years old? And in 2050 at 35 years old?
In a sustainable world, there is continual balance. Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.[6]
In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources. Sustainability is not just environmental-ism.
My daughter’s world meets the needs of our society without breaching the earth’s ecological boundaries. Our buildings, cities and infrastructures will be designed as indivisible components of a larger, constantly regenerating and self-sustaining system.[7]
We have neighbourhoods that are designed to promote healthy living, reduce travel time and encourage connectivity. We are living alongside nature, we are prepared for emergencies and have clear systems in place to keep the community safe and provide refuge. We have new developments that are planned to prioritise the natural environment, reduce our carbon emissions, and care for water courses, ecosystems and native flora and fauna. [8]
We have housing that is affordable and appropriate for families of all types and sizes so everyone has a roof over their head. We are a community where everyone is included and supported through all life stages, particularly our more vulnerable community members, enabling us all to thrive. [9]
We all buy less. We recycle and reuse more to achieve zero waste. We have reduced energy use. Our houses are all-electric and zero carbon energy. Our homes are sustainable and climate resilient. We prefer sustainable transport like walking, cycling, ride sharing and electric vehicles. We plant gardens to support the natural environment. We buy local and support sustainable and regenerative agriculture. We connect with, support and share information with networks – friends, neighbours, colleagues and family. We look after each other, within our households, neighbourhood and other social networks. We have reduced carbon emissions[10]; we are carbon neutral. We are balanced. We are sustainable.
Recently I heard a very compelling reason to respond to climate change: Nature doesn’t need us - but we need Nature. To look after ourselves, our communities and our children into the future, it’s imperative that we look after this world, climate, and the eco-systems that shelter and provide for our every need.
I look forward to seeing my daughter thriving in her future world.
Zoë Geyer lives in Cape Woolamai and is co-ordinator of Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI), vice-president of Phillip Island Landcare Group, Director and Principal Architect of her own business ZGA STUDIO and a certified Passive House Designer.
References
Recently I heard a very compelling reason to respond to climate change: Nature doesn’t need us - but we need Nature. To look after ourselves, our communities and our children into the future, it’s imperative that we look after this world, climate, and the eco-systems that shelter and provide for our every need.
I look forward to seeing my daughter thriving in her future world.
Zoë Geyer lives in Cape Woolamai and is co-ordinator of Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI), vice-president of Phillip Island Landcare Group, Director and Principal Architect of her own business ZGA STUDIO and a certified Passive House Designer.
References
- HIP V. HYPE, Targeted assistance for vulnerable people Workshop primer pack, Bass Coast Shire Council, 22 April 2022, p.6
- Sustainability Victoria, Linking Climate Change and Health Impacts, Social research exploring awareness among Victorians and our healthcare professionals of the health effects of climate change; research snapshot, Dianna McDonald and Claire Havens, February 2020
- Hornsby & Co., The Social and Affordable Housing (SAH) Background Report, Bass Coast Shire, August 2021
- Sustainability Victoria, Linking Climate Change and Health Impacts, Social research exploring awareness among Victorians and our healthcare professionals of the health effects of climate change; research snapshot, Dianna McDonald and Claire Havens, February 2020
- Sustainability Victoria, Linking Climate Change and Health Impacts, Social research exploring awareness among Victorians and our healthcare professionals of the health effects of climate change; research snapshot, Dianna McDonald and Claire Havens, February 2020
- Brundtland Commission report ‘Our Common Future’, UN World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987.
- https://au.architectsdeclare.com/
- Bass Coast Community Vision 2021, Theme 2 – Natural Environment and Climate Emergency, Priorities 2.1, 2.3, 2.8
- Bass Coast Community Vision 2021, Theme 1 – Healthy and Inclusive Communities, Priorities 1.1, 1.5
- Bass Coast Shire ‘Climate Change Action Plan 2020-2030’ (2021) Households taking action can help us reach 50% of our zero net target and become resilient households.