Take Climate Action

Attend an environmental event

Throughout the year, we deliver a range of events, webinars and workshops to help you live sustainably and take climate action.

To be the first to hear about upcoming events, subscribe to our monthly Environment eNews.

Find all our upcoming events online. 

Learn the facts about climate change

The science of climate change is well established and it is important to look to credible information when learning about climate science and impacts.

What we know:

  • Temperatures will continue to increase.
  • By the 2030s, daily maximum temperatures are expected to increase between 0.8°C and 1.6°C. 
  • Rainfall will decline in winter, spring and autumn.
  • Extreme rainfall events will become more intense.
  • By the 2050s, the Melbourne climate could become similar to that of Wangaratta.

Here are some resources to get you started learning about climate science and impact:

Join a local environmental group

Join with others to help improve our local environment or take climate action:

Group About

ABC Community Garden

A community garden within the grounds of the Armadale Baptist Church. The garden is run by volunteers and open to all. More than just a garden, it’s a place to discover sustainable, productive and creative living. Drop your food waste at the communal compost site at the front of the garden.

Breakfree Stonnington

A grassroots group consisting of Stonnington residents from all walks of life — doctors, young professionals, students, parents, and retirees —  looking to engage with the Stonnington community on climate change.

Buy Nothing Project

The Buy Nothing Project builds community amongst members from Malvern and Armadale through the act of gifting. Asking for items for free brings back the past when you could ask a neighbour for a cup of milk for your tea!

East Malvern Men’s Shed

Repairing items for local childcare centres and charity groups whilst building a East Malvern community of healthy, connected members.

Friends of Gardiners Creek Valley

Local Glen Iris volunteer group who meet regularly to care for Gardiners Creek Valley.

Friends of Herring Island

Local volunteer group who meet on the first Sunday of every month to care for and re-vegetate Herring Island.

Friends of Glen Iris Park Wetlands

Local volunteer group caring for the gardens surrounding the Glen Iris Wetland and TH King Oval. Supported by Rotary Chadstone East Malvern and the City of Stonnington.

Friends of the Urban Forest

Local volunteer group bringing neighbours together to help care for and learn about Indigenous plants and fauna in the Urban Forest Reserve in Malvern, and to enhance community wellbeing and greening. Supported by the City of Stonnington.

Keep Victoria Beautiful Stationeers program

 Local community volunteers enhancing and greening East Malvern and Prahran railway stations as part of the Keep Victoria Beautiful Stationeers program.

Love Our Streets

Love Our Street aims to bring people together as a community to look after our environment, to keep our streets beautifully clean and stop litter getting into our creeks, canals, on beaches or in the ocean. Join a group or start one in your neighbourhood.

Rewilding Stonnington

A local group dedicated to reintroducing indigenous and endemic plants to Stonnington and to raise public awareness and connect with the pre-colonial heritage of our local council area.

Stonnington Climate Action Network

A local group campaigning for a safe climate and a sustainable future for all of Stonnington.

Stonnington Bicycle User Group

 A local group seeking to make Stonnington streets safer and more accessible for cyclists and pedestrians. The group discusses all cycling matters in and around the Stonnington area.

Pik It Up

A group of local residents running regular clean up events to remove litter from the environment.

Uniting Op Shops

Prahran volunteers support a range of programs, events and activities for vulnerable and marginalised people across Victoria.

Yarra Riverkeeper Association

An independent community of citizen-advocates working to protect and preserve the Yarra River through clean up events, community education and working with government.
Yarra River community working bees

Join monthly community working bees to get your hands dirty, meet your neighbours and learn about the Main Yarra Trail, and the plants and wildlife that call the area home.

Zero Waste Victoria

Inspiring Victorians to reduce their plastic consumption and waste through everyday choices and actions.

Stonnington Environmental Champions

Become a local environmental champion

Environmental Champions is a free program for local people who are passionate about the environment and creating local change.

Through this 12 week training course participants will:

  • develop skills and knowledge
  • respond to the climate emergency
  • create a Sustainable Stonnington.

Connect with like-minded people in your local area and work together to develop an idea into a project and launch it in the community.

Our 2021 program has just ended. The next round will take place in 2022. 

If you would like to register your interest in the 2022 program, please email environment@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Frequently asked questions

Who is this course for?

The course is for local people who are:

  • Passionate about sustainability and the environment
  • Keen to make a difference in their local community
  • City of Stonnington residents aged over 16 years
  • a member of a group or organisation, or work or study in the City of Stonnington.

We encourage First Nations People, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and other community members who are under-represented in the environment movement to apply.

NOTE: No prior knowledge or education is needed to participate in the program.

What do champions get?

  • Weekly workshops (delivered as a mix of in-person and online)
  • Expert presentations
  • Guidance on your project idea

Learn about our local environment and climate change, leadership and behaviour change and how to develop an idea into a project that you can lead for your community.

Hear from Traditional Owners about their connection to the local area and meet a network of passionate members of the local environmental community.

How do I apply?

The next Environmental Champions program will take place in 2022. Register your interest by emailing environment@stonnington.vic.gov.au. 

Environmental Champion Projects

2020

Rewilding Stonnington

Rewilding Stonnington are a group of passionate locals who have come together to boost biodiversity in their local area. Nature strips make up around 30 per cent of public open space in Melbourne and the group saw this as a huge opportunity.

After running their plan by Council, the pilot project was to restore a nature strip on Toorak Road by adding a range of indigenous plants, including Spiney headed mat rush, Tussock grass and for colour, Brachyscome, Grey everlasting and Grevillea. Working with Council, the group is now looking to transform more nature strips in Stonnington.

Follow the Rewilding Stonnington Instagram for updates.

Regenerating KooyongKoot

Regenerating the KooyongKoot was a community led micro-festival held in March 2021 to celebrate the communities who care for and regenerate biodiversity corridors around our local waterways.

Taking place at T H King Pavilion, Gardiners Creek and surrounding areas, the event was hosted by community member and Environmental Champion, Sarah Naarden of Design Think Lab. The event featured a featured a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony from the Boon Wurrung Foundation, workshops, a litter cleanup, entertainment and indigenous ecology tours.

Stonnington Kitchen Library

Experimenting in the kitchen is fun, but gadgets are expensive and take up a lot of space. Imagine instead of buying, you could borrow an airfryer, bundt tin, or set of party plates.

Environmental Champions Rosie, Fay and Peta are working together to open the first Stonnington Kitchen Library—a borrowing space for kitchenware and appliances. The team wants to promote sharing kitchen equipment as a way to encourage borrowing from each other as a community rather than having to buy all our own things individually.

To get in touch, email kitchenlibrarystonnington@gmail.com

Growing the Stonnington Bicycle User Group (BUG)

A local of Enviro Champions joined the existing BUG group to support and grow the mission. The Stonnington BUG is seeking to make streets safer and more accessible for cyclists and pedestrians. The group discusses all cycling matters in and around the Stonnington area. 

Get involved by joining the Stonnington BUG Facebook group.

2021

Introduction to Birding group

Take a gentle walk and explore the bird life in our urban environments with local birding expert, Liz Hackett. Learn about the common birds in inner Melbourne, start recognising birds by their shape and song, find out about the tools you can use on your birding journey, and become one with nature in your own suburb! To find out more or join a tour, reach out to Liz at introductiontobirding@gmail.com

Stonnington Fresh Food Squad

The Stonnington Fresh Fruit Squad aims to identify, harvest and collect surplus fresh produce grown in Stonnington for distribution into existing and planned food banks operated by local organisations for people in need. The Squad has five founding members and is partnering with the food distribution arm of St Joseph's Outreach Services, led by a 2020 Environmental Champion. Additional potential partners are being explored. To find out more, donate produce or get involved, reach out to Taya at gersteltaya@gmail.com

Threadwisely

Focusing on various aspects of textile waste, this project aims to reduce overconsumption of fast fashion through education and engagement. The group will be hosting public clothes swaps, creating tools to help people run their own swaps and education sessions, running community mending circles and education sessions, and allowing members of the community to gain access to sewing machines and other equipment required to prolong the life of their garments. To find out more or get involved, reach out to Nat at natalie.schmiedl@hotmail.com

To find out more, subscribe to our Environment News.

Avoid waste and recycle

Explore this page to learn how to avoid waste, reuse items and recycle right in Stonnington.

Reduce your waste

To cut the amount of waste you produce at home:

  • Buy less and buy better — choose durable products made to last.
  • Don’t put food scraps and leftovers into your garbage bin. Get a food and green waste bin from Council and put your food waste to good use!
  • If you have a garden, use a compost bin or worm farm for your food and garden waste.
  • Place a ‘no junk mail’ sticker on your letterbox.
  • Ditch single-use and switch to reusable. See our reuse tips below! 
  • Buy products with less packaging or recyclable packaging.
  • Buy recycled products.
  • Buy in bulk (or in the biggest size you can find) to reduce packaging.
  • Make your own dips, sauces, salad dressings and baked goods instead of buying them in packages.

Say no to plastic

Plastic makes up around half of all marine pollution and is devastating for our waterways and oceans. Single-use plastic is also the main source of litter in our parks and streets.

Avoiding single-use plastic and choosing reusable options is the best place to start. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect — many individuals making small changes to their habits can add up to a big impact.

Here are some easy tips to help you avoid most single-use plastics:

  • Always carry a reusable water bottle with you.
  • Bring a reusable cup with you when you grab a coffee or drink. If you forget it, choose to dine in!
  • Say no to straws unless you really need them.
  • Choose reusable containers, beeswax wraps or silicone lids instead of plastic wrap.
  • Refuse single-use plastic bags. Bring reusable shopping and produce bags instead.
  • Bring reusable containers with you to the butcher or deli or when you get takeaway.
  • Avoid fruit and vegetables that are pre-packaged. Choose the loose option instead and bring reusable produce bags. You can use a paper mushroom bag if you forget.
  • Buy grains and other pantry staples from bulk food stores.
  • Buy cleaning and bathroom products in bulk. Refill your containers when you can or even try making your own!

Reuse, repair, borrow and share

Reuse

To maximise the reuse of items you already have at home:

  • Always carry a reusable water bottle with you.
  • Bring a reusable cup with you when you grab a coffee. If you forget it, choose to dine in!
  • Choose reusable containers, beeswax wraps or silicone lids instead of plastic wrap.
  • Refuse single-use plastic bags. Bring reusable cloth bags instead.
  • Bring reusable containers with you to the butcher or deli or when you get takeaway.
  • Wash glass jars and plastic containers to use for storage instead of buying new.
  • Cut up old and worn-out clothes to use as cleaning or dusting cloths, instead of paper towel.
  • Use a handkerchief instead of tissues.
  • Use newspaper to line your kitchen bin.
  • Create ice blocks for your esky out of long-life milk cartons or disposable water bottles.
  • Repurpose old CDs or DVDs. Turn them into coasters, cut them up to use as Christmas decorations or hang them in your garden to keep birds away from your fruit and vegetables.
  • Use toilet paper roll inserts or egg cartons to raise seedlings for your garden.
  • Save your old toothbrushes to use for scrubbing hard to reach places.
  • Buy rechargeable batteries.

If you must buy something, choosing second-hand is a great way to reduce your waste footprint. Shopping second-hand supports your local economy and helps to keep used items out of landfill.

Op shops are the perfect place to shop second-hand. If you prefer shopping online, try Ebay, Etsy, Depop and Facebook Marketplace.

Other specific Facebook groups for the Stonnington community include:

If you have items that are no longer useful to you, consider donating them or posting them online before throwing them away.

Repair

Instead of rushing out to replace an item when it breaks or gets damaged, it helps to check if you can repair it first. Getting an item fixed is often far cheaper than buying new.

There are dozens of clothing alteration, shoe repair, appliance maintenance and electronics servicing businesses operating in Stonnington — just start with a quick internet search!

Borrow and share

Making new products requires lots of energy and resources. Try reaching out to your family, friends or neighbours to see if you can borrow or share an item instead of purchasing it for yourself.  For example, if you're having a party, why not get in touch with the Stonnington Kitchen Library? Or thrill the kids with some new games or puzzles from the Stonnington Toy Library?

You can also join online platforms such as Good Karma networks and Buy Nothing New groups, which are usually suburb-specific, like:

Recycle right

We know that recycling can be confusing, but putting the right things into the correct bins is really important. It helps us make sure more material can be sorted and turned into new products rather than going to waste by sitting in landfill.

We’ve put together some simple tips to help you get recycling right:

  • Make it easier for yourself to sort your waste correctly by having a recycling bin in every room in the house, not just in the kitchen!
  • Take all e-waste (anything with a plug, battery or power cord) to one of Stonnington’s Recycling Stations or to the Stonnington Waste Transfer Station. E-waste is no longer accepted in landfill.
  • Take your soft plastics to a REDcycle bin at your local supermarket or put it in your garbage bin.
  • Don’t bag your recycling! Only put loose items in the recycling bin.
  • Ensure you know what is and isn’t recyclable in Stonnington by checking our What goes in each bin page.
  • Empty all containers before placing in your recycling bin.

Events and programs

Get involved in community programs and events such as: 

Keep informed

Subscribe to our Environment eNews and stay up to date with upcoming events and programs.

Climate Emergency Advisory Committee

The Climate Emergency Advisory Committee is a new committee which aims to make the most of the knowledge, experience, expertise and skills of people who work, live and study in Stonnington to inform and advise Council on the implementation of its climate emergency response.

Expressions of Interest have now closed

Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Stonnington community members who have:

  • a passion for working collaboratively with other members of the community and with Council
  • a proven understanding and strong interest in climate change related issues
  • a willingness to commit 2 hours every 2 months to attend meetings.

See our Terms of Reference for details on the selection process and selection criteria.

Committee objectives

The objectives of the Committee are to:

  • Collaborate with Council to enhance the collective impact of the Committee and the delivery of the Climate Emergency Action Plan.
  • Provide input and advice on the implementation of Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.
  • Provide advice and feedback on climate-related policies, plans, measures and outcomes.
  • Provide input into the development and implementation of initiatives that support Council’s climate emergency response.
  • Help guide Council’s research, strategy development and solutions relating to the climate emergency.
  • Provide a forum for information sharing, networking and collaboration between Council, community members and other key stakeholders.
  • Assist Council to successfully engage and empower the community.
  • Promote environmental sustainability activities and climate action within Stonnington.

Membership

The Committee membership will comprise:

  • Councillors – Two Stonnington Councillors appointed annually by Council.
  • Community representatives –  10 to 12 people who live, work and/or study in Stonnington appointed through an expression of interest process.
  • Council staff – Manager Open Space and Environment and Coordinator Sustainable Environment to provide administrative support and advice to the Committee:

Further information

If you have any queries, please contact Jane Spence at jspence@stonnington.vic.gov.au

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