Creating a localised Solar Our Schools pitch (60 mins)

The next step to becoming a spokesperson for Australian Parents for Climate Action is creating a localised Solar Our Schools pitch.

A key part of our federal election strategy is to work with our local groups to have tangible, achievable, strategic climate actions “asks” that you are empowered to take to your local Federal MP’s, and to also get these “asks” covered in local and national media stories. 

Funding Solar Our Schools federally is a solutions-based policy you can ask your Federal MP to back in their party, as a concrete action that their party can commit to as part of their roadmap to net-zero emissions. 

Thus we need for you to be able to pitch Solar Our Schools to your local Federal MP as a policy that would be good for both your local community and the nation.

You can learn more about Solar Our Schools here.

Solar Our Schools Update

We have celebrated recent wins in 3 states (NSW, WA, and Tas) for Solar Our Schools, where we have helped trigger $71 million on renewables in schools. Federally, we are working towards bipartisan support for funding Solar Our Schools in the lead up to the federal election, with meetings with Labor: Chris Bowen and Tanya Plibersek meetings; and the LNP - meetings and ongoing discussion with Angus Taylor and Alan Tudge’s advisors.

What next

We know both sides of federal politics are already considering funding Solar Our Schools. Funding Solar Our Schools federally is a concrete policy that all sides of politics can support as part of their roadmap to net-zero emissions. 

Our Federal election strategy

We strongly believe that climate action should not be a political football. Rather, in other countries like the UK, all sides of politics are working together to take ambitious climate action. 

We are working hard to provide the political will for all Australian politicians to act on climate - across party lines. Just like how governments responded to Covid-19, we need climate policies based on scientific evidence and be grounded in the economic and social benefits of a transition economy.

We have seen in previous elections that depending on one party or politician to be the solution to climate change is a risky strategy. And even if that party is elected, they can be undermined and hamstrung during their time in government, or afterward.

Most (72%) Australians believe that climate change is something we need to act on now.

So we aim to depoliticise climate change: to find common ground, to make climate action non-partisan. This is why we are seeking support for Solar Our Schools from both major parties.

Your local group asks for your Federal MP

A key part of our federal election strategy is to work with our local groups to have tangible, achievable, strategic climate actions “asks” that you are empowered to take to your local Federal MP’s, and to also get these “asks” covered in local and national media stories. 

Funding Solar Our Schools federally is a solutions-based policy you can ask your Federal MP to back in their party, as a concrete action that their party can commit to as part of their roadmap to net-zero emissions. 

Thus we need for you to be able to pitch Solar Our Schools to your local Federal MP as a policy that would be good for both your local community and the nation.

The next step is to create a story or “pitch” for Solar Our Schools that focuses on the local benefits and that fits within the frame of local climate issues. 

We will add this localised pitch to our national pitch, for you to supply to your Federal MP.

How to localise your Solar Our Schools pitch:

1. What economic benefits can you envisage that we could create through Solar Our Schools in your local community, both regional area, and state? E.g. manufacturing of renewables, mining for renewables, more jobs in renewable energy, jobs for teachers created by money saved in school power bills thus fixing teacher shortage issues in small rural towns.
2. Outline the major threats to your area from climate change e.g. sea-level rise, wet bulb temperature, heat islands, bushfires, impact on Great Barrier Reef or farming, etc.
3. Provide a one-page personal statement/s “parent case studies” about why you support Solar Our Schools. Use this narrative training guide. Minimum required 2 personal statements.
4. If you can, provide local case studies for schools with or without solar. Useful information includes - the cost of power bills; how hard was it to get solar, or if you are still trying, what are the obstacles?; benefits of solar. Minimum at least one school with solar and without.

Send your localised information for a Solar Our Schools pitch to [email protected]

The next step in this spokes training program is meeting with your MP (part 11 of our spokesperson training course).

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