Maldives to go Carbon Neutral by 2020

The Economist

Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives, has announced that the Maldives will aim to stop using fossil fuels by 2020, thus virtually eliminating the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. This sends an important message to other countries who, despite considerable responsibility for climate change, are failing to act- putting nations such as the Maldives, which is only 2m above sea level, at severe risk of climate change induced catastrophe.

posted by megan on March 31, 2009 at 8:05 pm · filed under

G20 members urged to ‘green’ recovery package

The Guardian

Scientists, government members and commentators in Britain are worried that the G20 global economic recovery package currently under negotiation is not taking climate change issues seriously enough.  Draft communiques leaked over the weekend show very little mention environment-related policies.  PM Gordon Brown has stated that a commitment to climate change related measures will be one of the main tests by which the $2 trillion US package will be judged.  The package is due to be released on Thursday.

posted by ruby on March 31, 2009 at 12:32 pm · filed under

Greenpeace criticises Labor position on ETS

The Age

A report released by Greenpeace International in Germany overnight states that Australia’s proposal to reward companies that avoid deforestation in developing countries could lead to the collapse of the carbon price in the proposed global Emissions Trading Scheme.  It further found that issuing tradable permits to companies which avoid deforestation could lead to lower investments in the development of clean, renewable technologies.

posted by ruby on March 31, 2009 at 12:25 pm · filed under

Obama making plans for Climate Forum

ABC News

President Obama has invited sixteen of the world’s major economies, including Australia, to the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate.  The prepatory conference is to be held in Washington, this April, with the Forum being hosted by Italy in July.  The aim of the forum is to “help generate the political leadership necessary” to develop an international pact on reducing global emissions.

posted by kirsty on March 29, 2009 at 6:56 pm · filed under

Victoria was advised to target further water savings over pipeline and desalination plant

The Age

The Sunday Age has revealed that a suppressed report advised the Victorian Government to target cuts in water use over the construction of a desalination plant and north-south pipeline to tackle the State’s water shortages. The Review of Victorian Water Supply-Demand: Options and Risks said 74 billion litres of water could be saved through programs and measures such as expanded use of water-saving shower heads and also raised questions about the pipeline as a long term solution.

Key recommendations in the report appear to have been ignored. The Victorian Government announced its $4.9 million water plan, including the major infrastructure projects, two weeks after the report’s findings were delivered.

posted by seamas on March 29, 2009 at 4:01 pm · filed under

Perth Sun Fair (Apr 5)

The Perth Sun Fair aims to introduce more people to sustainable living concepts, technology and lifestyles. Major themes of the fair include renewable energy, energy efficiency, environment conservation and natural living.

On Sunday 5th April 2009, at the Oak Lawn at the University of Western Australia, Perth.

posted by seamas on March 29, 2009 at 1:36 pm · filed under

Landmarks switch lights off for Earth Hour

ABC News

Around the globe, cities and landmarks – including Sydney Harbour, the Eiffel Tower, and the pyramids at Giza – have switched off their lights for Earth Hour in a symbolic vote for action against climate change. The movement which began in Sydney has spread globally, with 3,929 cities, villages and localities taking part this year. The event’s director Andy Ridley said he hoped Earth Hour would send a clear message to world leaders; later this year, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen will take place to negotiate a new global warming treaty to overtake the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012.

posted by anna on March 29, 2009 at 11:42 am · filed under