Australia

VX News shares here a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), recently signed by Australian Consul General in Los Angeles Jane Duke (pictured) and California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, that outlines the areas of cooperation that California and Australia have committed to in the fight against climate change. In particular, the agreement outlines five years of collaboration on clean energy, clean transportation, clean technologies, nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, green finance and investment and circular economy.

During the previous three years of drought, California managed to reduce water consumption by 7 percent; still not achieving  Go

At the USC Center for Sustainability’s Spring Forum on May 6, titled “Envisioning Drought Resilient Cities,” Founder and President of TreePeople Andy Lipkis shared the unprecedented success Australia experienced after its citizens installed rainwater-capture cisterns on their homes during the country’s historic 12-year drought. Lipkis discussed how, in the face of changing weather patterns due to climate change and with fewer trees to capture, clean, and store rainwater than we once had, those living in cities must mobilize to collect as much precipitation as possible—and local water agencies must work together on stormwater solutions rather than remaining in isolation. VX News has included an edited transcription of his remarks.