Protected areas can’t save Indian Ocean coral

Reuters

A Bristish study of 66 sites in the Indian Ocean has confirmed that protection from overfishing is not enough to save or revive coral reefs, which are collapsing due to warmer temperatures. American scientists today called for dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to save coral reef ecosystems from rising ocean temperatures and acidity.

The most serious impacts of global warming appear to be tied to the planet’s oceans. Australian researchers recently linked surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean to rainfall patterns and drought across Australia, Africa, Indonesia and New Zealand.

posted by seamas on August 27, 2008 at 3:27 pm · filed under

A promise to ban unrnium minining in WA

ABC News

Western Australia’s Premier, Alan Carpenter, has promised that if Labor is re-elected there will be new legislation introduced before the years end to guarantee uranium is not mined in WA. On top of this he has promised $7 million in incentives for new renewable energy technologies.

posted by megan on August 26, 2008 at 3:51 pm · filed under

Go green by eating your greens

Sydney Morning Herald

Beef and dairy consumption are responsible for a significant proportion of an average household’s greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing beef consumption by one 150 gram serving per week would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300 kg and water usage by 10,000 litres. Proponents of vegetarianism believe that in addition to the numerous health benefits to be enjoyed by eating a vegetarian diet, there are many environmental advantages to be gained.

posted by steve on August 25, 2008 at 1:23 pm · filed under

Indigenous culture may shed light on climate

ABC Online

The Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance believes that indigenous culture could help us understand climate change. Spokesperson, Joe Morrison, has called for the Federal Government to examine rock art and oral histories, which trace climate change and developments through different generations.

posted by rochelle on August 23, 2008 at 9:49 am · filed under

Scientists call for greater say in ETS

CSIRO

Prominent environmental science experts have called for more involvement from the scientific community into responses to the draft report of the independent Garnaut Review. The rapid development of ETS policy and the need to consider other elements of a comprehensive response to climate change has highlighted the need for quality scientific input, according to the latest edition of the CSIRO’s ECOS magazine

posted by patrick on August 21, 2008 at 1:54 pm · filed under

Gunns’ claim pulp mill climate friendly

ABC Online

At a public forum in Launceston last night, over 200 people heard Gunns’ spokesperson Calton Frame claim that the proposed pulp mill will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1.1 million tonnes. The Environment Tasmania event heard from Wilderness Society campaigner Vica Bayley,who claimed that this figure excludes the emissions from native forest logged to feed the mill,which are conservatively estimated to release around 10 million tonnes of CO2 per annum - roughly equal to Tasmania’s entire official annual emissions.

posted by warrick on August 21, 2008 at 11:24 am · filed under

Bartlett backtracks on pulp mill doubts

The Mercury

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has disputed reports that he claimed, in a conversation with anti-pulp mill campaigners, that Gunns’ would struggle to obtain the necessary finance for the mill or that the government would not compulsorily acquire land needed for a water pipeline which is critical to the mill’s operation.

posted by warrick on August 21, 2008 at 11:09 am · filed under