CO2 emissions rise despite financial crisis

CSIRO

Carbon dioxide emissions from human activities rose to an all-time high of 1.3 tonnes of carbon per capita per year, according to scientists from the internationally respected climate research group, the Global Carbon Project. The research indicates that rising emissions from fossil fuels last year were caused mainly by increased use of coal.

posted by patrick on November 20, 2009 at 1:24 pm · filed under

Firefighters push for tough action on Climate

ABC Online

Members of the United Firefighters Union of Australia travelled to Parliament House in Canberra today to demand that politicians stop treating action on Climate Change like “a political football”. Speaking on behalf of the union, Peter Marshall not only called on opposition senators to accept the much debated Emissions Trading Scheme, but has also suggested to the Prime Minister that he lift Australia’s target reduction from the 5% the Government is touting, to the scientificlly recommended 20-40% by 2020. Mr Marshall said, ”We are not scientists but we are the people on the front line.”

posted by Vinnie on November 19, 2009 at 2:50 pm · filed under

Garden great Peter Cundall arrested over pulp mill

ABC Online

Australia’s favourite gardener, Peter Cundall, was arrested at the steps of the Tasmanian Parliament today, whilst protesting against the controversial Gunns’ Tamar Valley pulp mill. Mr Cundall, an outspoken critic of the project, along with a crowd of several dozen other activists, gathered at the Parliament under the banner of “Pulp the Mill”. A number of other activists were also taken away by police.

posted by Vinnie on November 19, 2009 at 2:33 pm · filed under

Victorian Government studying sea level rises

ABC Online

The Victorian State Government has today released maps detailing vulnerable Victorian coastal townships and projected effects of sea level rises to coastal regions. The maps show that some townships could be inundated with sea water from events such as extreme storms over the next century. The study, which Victorian Environment Minister, Gavin Jennings, says is more accurate and detailed than the Federal Government’s report released over the weekend, puts potential sea level rises at between 0.8 - 1.4 metres by 2100. He also says that the State Government will be releasing even more detailed reports in 2010.

posted by Vinnie on November 16, 2009 at 1:47 pm · filed under

Climate consensus elusive as Copenhagen looms

The Age

Apparent deadlock on the appropriate international response to climate change at the APEC forum in Singapore has increased pessimism that a consensus can be reached during global negotiations in Copenhagen next month. Leaders attending the regional forum reportedly agreed that it would be “unrealistic” to expect a binding agreement could be penned at the upcoming summit given the current state of negotiations.

posted by seamas on November 16, 2009 at 7:15 am · filed under

Homes, infrastructure, at risk of inundation

ABC Online

The most comprehensive report detailing the risk to Australia’s coastal fringe has been released, and claims that up to 250,000 dwellings are at risk of being inundated by rising sea levels by 2100. The report, ’Climate Change risks to Australia’s Coast’, by the Federal Government, takes into account more frequent and stronger storm surge conditions, as well as a projected 1.1 meter rise in sea levels.

The report places infrastructure such as sea ports, airports, bridges, power stations and water treatment plants at risk, as well as up to $62bn in residential properties. Federal Climate Change minister, Penny Wong, says that “from now on, every planning and development approval must consider climate change as one of the greatest risks”.

Ms Wong also used the launch of the report to strike out at climate change sceptics within opposition ranks.

posted by Vinnie on November 14, 2009 at 12:48 pm · filed under

CSIRO launches low-emissions energy research centre

CSIRO

A new CSIRO research centre to help transform Australian electricity networks and lower greenhouse gas emissions was opened today at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, NSW. CSIRO has established the Renewable Energy Integration Facility to develop new grid management technologies that will allow greater penetration of renewable, low-emission energy resources into electricity networks.

posted by patrick on November 13, 2009 at 8:31 am · filed under