Government funding to benefit Great Barrier Reef runoff

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

The Government claims the Great Barrier Reef will benefit from water quality improvements and reduced runoff thanks to the allocation of $23 million in funding to natural resource and industry groups. Part of a $200 million Reef Rescue package, the money will help farmers reduce the amount of fertilisers, chemicals and sediments entering waterways draining into the reef.

posted by seamas on October 24, 2008 at 4:05 pm · filed under

Tassie groups take out Landcare awards

ABC News

Recently announced Landcare awards have recognised the efforts of coastal and river conservation efforts in Tasmania. The Mount Roland Rivercare Catchment and Southern Coastcare Association took out national awards for the state.

posted by seamas on October 24, 2008 at 4:00 pm · filed under

Greenhouse gas 400% above previous estimates

Reuters

American scientists have discovered that a gas which contributes to global warming is far more prevalent in the Earth’s atmosphere than previously thought, and it’s levels are increasing at an alarming rate. The gas, nitrogen trifluoride, is reportedly 17,000 times as effective at warming the planet than an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

New measurement techniques suggest there is 5,400 metric tons of the powerful greenhouse gas in the Earth’s atmosphere, and scientists believe that figure could be rising by around 11% every year.

posted by seamas on October 24, 2008 at 3:55 pm · filed under

Walk Against Warming (Canberra, Dec 6)

Conservation Councils of Australia

Rallies in major capital cities to demand more focus on renewable energy and a safe climate future took place on November 15, the Canberra walk scheduled for December 6.

posted by seamas on October 24, 2008 at 3:41 pm · filed under

Emissions Trading Scheme Forum (Melbourne, Nov 6)

Eco Shout

Organised by Friends of the Earth and the City of Yarra, this public forum will discuss how an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) needs to be structured to have a real impact on global warming. At the State Library of Victoria, Village Theatrette, from 6.30pm.

posted by seamas on October 24, 2008 at 3:34 pm · filed under

Save the Murray Rally (Yea, Oct 26)

Plug the Pipe

The Save the Murray Plug the Pipe Rally in Yea, Melbourne’s gateway to the Goulburn and Murray Rivers starts at 11am on October 26.

posted by seamas on October 24, 2008 at 3:28 pm · filed under

Award for CSIRO developed carbon accounting system

Minister for Climate Change and Water

A new carbon accounting system designed to measure the impact of forestry, land clearing and farming activities on greenhouse gas emissions has been awarded the CSIRO Partnership Excellence Award. The highly sophisticated system involves remote sensing, information from thousands of satellite images, greenhouse gas accounting methods, and modelling of changes in our environment to monitor and account for emissions from land-based sectors.

posted by patrick on October 23, 2008 at 9:13 pm · filed under