Bianca in the bushland on her Blackheath property.
Blackheathen Bianca Nogrady is an award-winning freelance science journalist, author and broadcaster. She reflects on conversations from this year’s Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival and shares what she and her family are doing towards planetary health.
Story and photos by Hamish Dunlop
Key Points:
Hope is action
Talking and connecting with people is critical to managing the effects of climate change.
Communities are what connect bottom-up and top-down strategies.
Bianca Nogrady is an award-winning freelance science journalist. She lives in Blackheath with her husband and children on a property that borders Pope’s Glen. On top of many articles published around the world, she’s written two books: Climate Change: How We Can Get To Carbon Zero and The End: The Human Experience Of Death. The themes of climate change and death might feel like uncomfortable bedfellows, but together they speak to how we can approach all life, with intelligence, dignity and care.
The kind of hope we need
Earlier this year, Bianca moderated a panel at the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival. The discussion was titled ‘The kind of hope we need’. One of the themes explored by the panellists was action-as-hope. “The idea is that hope isn’t just passive,” Bianca says. “Hope is given life by humans: that was the real emphasis. Communities and community-level initiatives were also identified as being critical to addressing the effects of climate change. Communities are what connect bottom-up and top-down strategies.”
Bianca’s fire-resistant, passive solar home in Blackheath
Bianca’s action-as-hope
Bianca says her family is lucky enough to have the resources to build a fire-resistant house that utilises passive solar – north facing windows – as well as having solar panels on the roof. They don’t have batteries yet, so power-intensive activities such as washing are done during the day when the sun is out.
Bianca has reverse cycle aircon in her office and when the house isn’t warmed enough by the sun, they have a wood burner. The wood burner includes seven tonnes of brick that absorb and radiate heat, making it incredibly efficient.
Seven tonnes of brick ensure this wood heater absorbs and radiates heat efficiently
They have a 135,000 litre tank that supplies all the water they need, including drinking water that goes through a double carbon filter. Their electricity supplier provides wholesale rates which means the cost fluctuates throughout the day. Bianca uses this as a way of being conscious about when the best times are to run appliances or to turn things off.
The family also has an Electric Vehicle (EV). Bianca is quick to point out that a couple of years of driving is enough to offset the carbon footprint of an EV. To offset her family’s direct and indirect carbon emissions, she uses Carbon Positive Australia and Climeworks, a company that extracts carbon from the air.
Power-hungry appliances are run during the day when renewables are pumping into the grid and wholesale rates are lowest
They are fortunate to have a property where a grassy asset protection zone could be established that doubles as kangaroo habitat. Bianca believes in decentralised food production, so she grows vegetables and fruit trees and keeps honeybees. “We have to protect the fruit trees from kangaroos,” she says. “It’s a nice problem to have.
“l try to get into the bush and weed too. Soft broom has come up post the 2019 fire, so I’m pulling that out. I also transplant natives: hakeas, banksias and grevilleas. They’re great for the birds and other pollinators. We have a couple of bird baths including a low one for ducklings and a tree nearby provides safe cover. I feel a responsibility to this land and I do as much as I can.”
Vegies, fruit trees and honeybees in Bianca’s garden
The responsibility of privilege
Bianca is realistic about who can financially contribute. “People who are renting can’t install solar panels and there is a cost-of-living crisis.” She argues that while governments have a role to play in making climate change adaptation equitable, individuals with resources have a responsibility to contribute for all of us. “The reality is that many of the people at the Writers’ Festival, myself included, are insulated by privilege. In my mind, people that can, should go above and beyond.”
Bianca says this might mean installing rooftop solar, buying an electric car, or installing water tanks. But she also thinks social generosity should be a focus. She gives the example of inviting your elderly neighbours into your solar-powered aircon-equipped home in a heatwave. “Of course, you need to get to know your neighbours to be able to do this,” Bianca says. “This is something we should prioritise in our lives: connecting with people.
“We’re going to be facing the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced. I really think the only way we’re going to survive is by looking after each other and working together.” – Bianca Nogrady
Bianca at home in Blackheath
Adaptation and mitigation
Bianca views adaptation strategies as being as important as mitigation ones. “If we give up on mitigation – getting to carbon neutral – then we’re essentially giving up on future generations. But we need to put equal amounts of energy into adaptation. That could be organic matter-fuelled biogas facilities that generate electricity. It could be community batteries and microgrids. In the age of climate uncertainty, it’s these things, on top of what we do individually, that give us a sense of agency and control.”
She says there’s still a real sense that we are not building to adapt. She was part of another discussion at the Writers’ Festival with biodiversity scientist and land manager Peter Ridgeway. “He talked about the heat islands we’re constructing in urban areas such as Penrith: dark surfaces that soak up heat and radiate it. We’re still trying to put people in places where heat and flood are a significant issue and cramming houses together.”
“We can’t live without plants. Trees and shrubs planted strategically can create microclimates that benefit us and the planet.”
Bianca with her book ‘Climate Change: How We Can Get To Carbon Zero’
Community action
Bianca says that talking with people is an important part of enacting change. “Sharing solutions such as the benefits of water tanks, roof solar and EVs, growing your own food, or having bird baths are places to start. As well as being a writer, I try to engage with people online. One of the points I try to make is that doing things that are good for the planet shouldn’t necessarily be transactional. I think this misses the point that we should act in a way that helps all of us.”
She says councils have a significant role to play and they need to be supported by state and federal governments. “Councils can do a lot of work through their procurement policies and championing projects such as microgrids and community water tanks. Given how the power in Blackheath can be so intermittent, especially during disaster, it would be the perfect place for a microgrid.”
Bianca says in some ways she’s been writing the same stories for 20 years. There is some frustration, but she derives hope from the fact that things are changing at an accelerated rate. “There was a headline the other day about the huge amount of renewable energy in the grid. People are also becoming increasingly aware of the huge challenge we are facing and how they might contribute to a better future.”
As the interview comes to an end, Bianca recalls another question put to the panel at the Writers’ Festival. ‘What do you do when you’re feeling anxious?’ “The answer,” she says, “was take a walk outside. Breath in the scent of eucalyptus oil in the cool air and the fragrance of the earth after rain. Contemplate beauty as it is, here and now. This is about the relationship between our external and internal lives. Being present to beauty, even at it’s most fleeting, holds a flame to hope.”
“Being present to beauty, even at its most fleeting, holds a flame to hope.” – Bianca Nogrady
Take Action:
Do what you can: plant shrubs and trees for pollinators, install solar, be conscious of water use, recycle and reuse, reduce meat consumption.
Engage with your community and what’s happening at a community level.
Connect to nature! Being present to the beauty around us is a good antidote to climate anxiety.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Join us at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on the first Saturday of every month for Skill Share Saturdays!
Our July program includes: - What to grow in a Blue Mountains climate - Eating for Earth - Tai Chi and Qigong - Fashion upcycling and clothing reuse workshop - How to get involved with the Edible Garden Trail
You are also welcome to bring any surplus seeds or produce for our Crop Swap, or wind down in the Planetary Health Cafe (until 2pm).
If you have a skill that you want to share, or any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]
Visit the website to view the full program of events and register your place.
Join Andy Mann, a 23 year old Lawson local, for their Eating for Earth session 🌏
Eating for Earth is a judgement-free plant-based educational workshop that all types of eaters are encouraged to attend. There will be a presentation about the environmental impact of diets, a discussion section, and best of all, food! The food will be fully plant-based.
Andy wants to help inform our passionate community about how we can better reduce dietary environmental impact.
The session will run from 11AM - 12PM on Saturday 4th July.
Other sessions include: - What to grow in a Blue Mountains Climate - Fashion Upcycling - Tai Chi and Qigong - Bushcare on the Planetary Health site - How to get involved with the Edible Garden Trail
To register your place, visit our website: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
We’re excited to announce the second Blue Mountains Food Security Fair, taking place in Katoomba in October 2026.
This annual event will bring together growers, thinkers, makers, and community members to explore one of the most important challenges of our time: how we grow, share, and sustain food in a changing world.
Across the weekend, we’ll be exploring themes including: - Healthy soil and regenerative systems - Food and human health - Plant-based food futures - Home and community food resilience - Water-sensitive and climate-adapted growing - Indigenous food knowledge and systems - School food systems - Australia’s food procurement - Global food security challenges Expect a dynamic program of inspiring speakers, practical workshops, and hands-on experiences designed to leave you informed, empowered, and connected.
Key information Date: Weekend of 10th October 2026 Location: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba, NSW We’ll be announcing speakers and program details soon.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program, host workshops, run a stall or partner with us.
Do you struggle making the most of your veggie garden all year round?
Join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture on Saturday 4th July for her Permaculture Workshop: Learn how to grow WITH the Upper Blue Mountains seasons, rather than battling against them.
During the two-hour session, you`ll cover crop selection for different seasons, what to grow from seeds vs seedlings, frost and wind protection, and nurturing your soil with a seasonal cycle.
Register for this and other sessions as part of our Skill Share Saturdays program via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
From Saturday 4 July, we are opening up the Planetary Health Centre for our monthly Skill Share Saturdays program: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Throughout each day, you can expect to find a variety of sessions focused on restoring the health of the planet, in terms of the environment, community and economy.
Sessions at the first event include:
- What to grow in a Blue Mountains climate - Plant-based eating - Tai Chi and Qigong - Fashion Upcycling and clothing reuse workshop
You are also welcome to bring any surplus seeds or produce for our Crop Swap, or wind down in the Planetary Health Cafe (until 2pm).
Visit the website to view the full program of events and register your place: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Registrations essential.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program - please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested!...
🍃Volunteer weekly at the Planetary Health Centre 🍃
From next week, Tuesday 28th April, come and join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture from 10am - 12pm, to help with the management of the Planetary Health veggie gardens, where any surplus produce can be shared!
The gardening session will be followed by a complimentary tea or coffee in the Planetary Health cafe.
📆Day: Every Tuesday 🕙Time: 10AM - 12PM
📍Where: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre 33-39 Acacia Street Katoomba (follow the pathways at each side of the building, round to the terrace and gardens).
What shall I bring? All you need to bring is water, gardening gloves and a hat.
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the first year Medical students from @notredamesyd for their Rural and Indigenous Immersion trip across Katoomba and Lithgow. Across two days, 150 students learnt about the link between human health and a healthy environment, the work of the @bluemountainsplanetaryhealth Initiative and the @bluemountainscitycouncil to create climate resilient communities, and got to explore our site using heat mapping tools....
Join Rotarians for Planetary Health on International Women`s Day, from 2.30-4pm Sun 8 March, for the opening of a portrait display to celebrate local women who have made a meaningful impact on protecting animals and nature. The photographs by Sue Lightfoot and others are part of a long-term initiative to build a living, community-driven database of women working to protect animals and the natural world.
The display will be open until 1 April, Thursday to Saturday, 9.30am–3.30pm at the Junction 142 Village markets (church space). As the project develops, community members will be invited to nominate women whose work deserves recognition.
The launch follows the Uniting Church and Plant Inspired`s monthly community luncheon from 12-2pm, which this month features the Older Women`s Network Blue Mountains. For more information contact 0434 691 496 (Teya)
In a world being threatened by war, greed, cruelty and selfishness, the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend will close with a gathering of people who have faith that kindness, generosity, love, creativity and community, and the healing of our land, are a better way forward. We`re thrilled that harpist Dawn Egan will be performing at this inspiring event in the Planetary Health exhibition space. Afternoon tea will be provided. Register to attend here (link in profile under Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Had lunch yet? Head over to the Planetary Health Centre for these delicious offerings from @8thingskatoomba today (Sat 28 Feb): South Indian dosa, Korean bao, NY Cheese burger, Bali nasi, Mullum tofu fries, shoestring fires & red bean mochi!
Don`t miss hearing Andrew Skeoch at 2pm today at the Planetary Health Centre! He`s an acoustic ecologist and author of `Deep Listening to Nature` and uses technology to help identify the different `conversations` happening in the world around us. His presentations are a revelation! Reserve your spot here (link in profile under Planetary Health Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Experience the joy and sense of purpose that connecting to community, nature, and your own creativity can provide this weekend at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend. There will be delicious food and coffee, music, art, workshops, nature walks, talks, an Interfaith Gathering and the following stalls:
Food vendor: @8thingskatoomba Zensational Coffee Cart @blue_mts_conservation_society Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Blue Mountains Women`s Health & Resource Centre (BMWHRC) Greater Blue Mountains Rotary @permaculturematters Acoustic Ecologist and author of ‘Deep Listening to Nature’, Andrew Skeoch @lacebrookstitchery Sustainable death care BMCC Sustainability and Waste team BMCC Bushcare team View the full program and reserve your spot for a range of activities here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Hamish Dunlop is a writer, visual artist and environmentalist. During his career he has worked in communications, as an academic at UNSW and ACU and more recently in the conservation space. He is currently completing a Diploma in Conservation and Ecosystems Management. He lives on the bush in Medlow Bath and is a passionate bush walker, gardener and cold-water enthusiast.
The concept of planetary health is rapidly gaining attention globally, as the world increasingly confronts the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and public health crises. But what does the term 'planetary health' really mean, and why does it matter?
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