Cate Blanchett Speaks Up for Clean Energy in Australia

As the election moves into the final sprint, Cate Blanchett has made this video with the Australian Conservation Foundation to call for a national commitment to clean energy in Australia and a strong climate change policy from our Government.

“Along with millions of Australian’s, I believe that we need to increase our efforts to reduce pollution and tackle climate change. Australia has more sunlight than any other continent. We’re an island, our waves are powerful and the wind roars in from the ocean. We could lead the world in clean renewable energy. And now is the time for us to make that transition from a pollution dependent economy to a cleaner one. Statistics show that Australians overwhelmingly support this notion. We have the technology here and the people to make it happen. We just need the right policies and leadership.”

Cate Blanchett calls for Australia to tackle climate change and transition to clean renewable energy. Source: Australian Conservation Foundation

Watch the video here.

Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton, Artistic Director’s of the Sydney Theatre Company, have been determined to make their stamp on the company and to have it be green. Since their time at the STC, they have initiated a number of policies to reduce the environmental footprint of the company.

Just last month, they were recognised for their contribution to the environmental cause at the 2010 Green Globe Awards, a NSW government initiative recognising sustainable businesses, where they were awarded the prestigious Premier’s Award for their “Greening the Wharf” program – introducing rainwater harvesting and solar power to the theatre.

As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald in an article entitled “Theatre project shines brightly” on the 28th July:

“Designing a sustainable performing arts centre on a greenfield site is one thing but doing so with a heritage building in a prime position on Sydney Harbour presents a considerably greater set of challenges,” Green Globes judging panel chair Ronnie Harding said of the decision to recognise the theatre.
“With 300,000 attendances at the Wharf each year the STC has an excellent starting point to promote its Greening project, including through hosting lectures, discussion forums and art exhibitions,” she said.
At the launch of the program in June, Blanchett said she felt environmental issues were simply too big to ignore.
“As a cultural institution we want to be engaged in what is the most important issue that is facing us as a species, that is, climate change.
“We all know theatre happens under electric lights. We’re a huge consumer of energy, so this is a really positive thing.”

STC artistic director Cate Blanchett, NSW Environment Minister Frank Sartor and NSW Arts Minister Virginia Judge inspect the greening of the theatre. Photo: Wolter Peeters. Source: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/theatre-project-shines-brightly-20100728-10uwb.html