Darebin Climate Action Now (DCAN) - Hot Planet Matchmaking Service

DCAN comprises a large group of local residents of diverse ages and backgrounds who work together to promote a safe climate future within the context of social justice. We have a planning group (committee) of around 12 people who meet monthly to develop and implement ideas and actions. Smaller working groups focus on election campaigns, local government, writing submissions and community outreach, and we send out a monthly newsletter to over 1,300 people.

We seek to raise community awareness of the climate scientists’ dire warnings about the climate emergency as well as the urgent changes necessary if disaster is to be averted. We actively interact with all three levels of government, encouraging them to adopt the policy changes now urgently needed to achieve a safe climate future. We also encourage individuals to take action themselves, both to reduce their own carbon footprints, and to pressure governments and corporations to reduce emissions. We collaborate wherever possible with the many other climate groups, local, national, and international, who share our aims.

Our goals are:

Grow community support for Climate Emergency action.
Influence Darebin Council, and State and Federal Governments to act on the Climate Emergency.
Build an active & diverse DCAN membership.
Maintain the DCAN planning group and build capacity within the group.

Our special interests include:

Campaigning to stop new coal and gas projects from being approved through meetings with local politicians, writing letters and submissions, carrying out protest actions against organisations involved in fossil fuels and promoting practical actions for households on energy efficiency and renewables. We are also working on reducing demand for gas (especially in Victoria), and supporting Senator Pocock’s Duty of Care Bill.

Our special someone should be…

…passionate about climate action – you either understand how urgent the problem is, or you’re a bit worried and want to learn more. You’re keen to be involved in monthly planning meetings and group activities or to take on specific tasks or projects. You should be respectful of different working styles, enthusiastic, collaborative, creative, prepared to work as part of a team but also to take the lead on actions.

It’s a bonus if you have skills in social media/communication; event organisation; or connections with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. But anyone could be our special someone – there’s a place for any skill or interest in DCAN.

We want you to…

come along to monthly meetings, contribute ideas and lead actions/projects! You could join a group writing letters to media outlets, work on submissions to government enquiries, do weekly community outreach, write articles for our newsletter, meet with local Councillors, Council staff and members of parliament, contribute to meetings with other climate action groups, do admin, help with our social media, and/or develop creative actions for community outreach which could include plays, car shows, cooking demos, or more!

We meet up on:

The first Thursday of the month at 7pm in Thornbury and the weekly outreach activity is Thursday morning 10am-12pm. If you can’t make meetings you can work on standalone tasks instead. Working group meetings are arranged at a suitable time by and for the members of each group.