Cleaner and greener future their joint aim

A CLEANER, greener future for the next generation was the driving force behind a meeting held in Ballarat yesterday.
Emissions trading, renewable energy and incentives for farmers were also on the agenda, as opposition spokesman for environment Greg Hunt visited Ballarat.
Mr Hunt, Senator Julian McGauran, and representatives of Mount Alexander Sustainability Group met with members of Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions to discuss the plan for the region.
Mr Hunt said the opposition was keen to support BREAZE for Ballarat to become Australia's leading solar city.
He also said it was important to look at ways farmers and local groups could benefit from trading schemes.
"We want people to be empowered, to have a role and a chance to participate," he said.
"There is enormous income potential for people in the district through solar power, wind, even hot rocks."
The meeting also discussed the vote on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, due to be held in the Senate in August.
The scheme proposes a reduction target of five to 25 per cent by 2020, which BREAZE member Andrew Bray said was not good enough.
"We believe those targets are not ambitious enough and it has been acknowledged that the targets that developed countries set are insufficient to keep us below two degrees of warming," he said.
"It's time for countries like ours to step up."
Members from MASG attended the meeting to share ideas about how communities can utilise alternative energy sources.
MASG chair Jim Norris said the group had an alliance with BREAZE and was working towards a common goal.
"We need the Federal Government to come on board to work towards a cleaner, greener future for our kids," he said.