Pressure on federal government to cut subsidies to fossil fuel industry

Pressure is mounting on the federal government, by community advocacy group GetUp, to cut subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. These subsidies have been estimated to amount to $4 billion a year, and are, say GetUp’s executive director Greg Soloman, “wasteful and inappropriate in the context of the climate crisis we are facing”. The forthcoming budget on May 13th is being seen as a test for the Rudd government on their commitment to climate change issues.

posted by steve on April 28, 2008 at 9:02 am · filed under

World Congress on Environmental Health (Brisbane, May 11-16)

The 10th IFEH World Congress will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre in May 2008. The theme of the congress is “Environmental Health, a Sustainable Future - 20 years on”

posted by seamas on April 28, 2008 at 12:36 am · filed under

Rise in primary drivers of climate change

A US Government has reported on a sharp rise in 2007 in two key greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere - carbon dioxide and methane. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that carbon dioxide, as the primary driver of climate change, had risen 0.6 per cent last year. It also found that methane rose 0.5 per cent and it is explained that throughout the decade, the rate of increase in greenhouse gases has accelerated, the cause for which is clear - the burning of fossil fuels.

posted by elisabeth on April 27, 2008 at 9:57 pm · filed under

McDonald’s experiments with various environmentally friendly practices

The popular fast-food chain is trying to implement new ways of being environmentally sustainable. Recent suggestions include using cooking oil excess to create bio-fuels, designing new stores so as to capture more natural light and implemeting a ’scorecard’ system for its various franchises.

posted by Karl on April 26, 2008 at 10:53 am · filed under

Carbon taxes lead to increased fuel prices

The Rudd government’s proposed carbon emissions taxes could mean that motorists pay up to an extra 10 cents per litre at the pump. Australian refineries are feeling the pressure of buying ‘carbon credits’, and this cost is seemingly going to be footed by the consumer.

posted by Karl on April 26, 2008 at 10:42 am · filed under

Authorities warn on population growth

Australian politicians, planners and policy-makers are ignoring the impact of population growth on the future environmental sustainability, according to authorities in the latest edition of Ecos, published by the CSIRO.

posted by patrick on April 24, 2008 at 2:09 pm · filed under

Palm oil protesters target Unilever

Environmental demonstrators brought media attention to Unilever’s source of Palm Oil as they protested at the multinational’s offices throughout the UK, in Rotterdam and Rome. Unilever uses the palm oil as an ingredient in foods, soaps and bio-fuel added to diesel. The Indonesian peatland forests, one of the last remaining orangutan habitats, are being lost as more palm oil crops are planted. Greenpeace is asking Unilever to stop trading with those who continue to destroy the forests.

posted by amelia on April 22, 2008 at 4:13 pm · filed under

Marine turtles as climate change indicators

Marine turtles are starting to be used as indicators of the effects of climate change due to their dependency on healthy beaches, mangroves, sea grass beds, coral reefs and deep ocean ecosystems. A better understanding of the effects of climate change on the marine environment will not only help to conserve species but human coastal communities as well. According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change effects could be extremely detrimental to low-lying tropical regions where the human population depend on coastal resources.

posted by amelia on April 22, 2008 at 3:52 pm · filed under

UN allows Australian territory to grow

A 2.5 million square kilometre extension of seabed has been deemed under Australian jurisdiction by a United Nations commission. Preliminary exploration has identified potential sources of oil and gas in areas including

• the Lord Howe Rise,
• the Great Australian Bight and
• Exmouth Plateau.

posted by shaun on April 21, 2008 at 10:20 pm · filed under

No improvement since 2006

Speaking to London’s “the Sun” newspaper, former US vice president and Nobel Peace Laureate Al Gore says little progress has been made in the fight to stop Climate Change since his film “an Inconvenient Truth” was made in 2006.
The ‘paper quotes Gore as saying, “Sure, awareness has grown and more people are concerned since scientists said we had just 10 years to take action to halt rising sea levels… But the situation has got worse. The entire North Polar ice cap is melting and could be gone in some areas in as little as five years.”

posted by Vinnie on April 21, 2008 at 9:38 pm · filed under