Australia expected to face tough task cutting emissions

The Age

Australia ranks just 16th among wealthy G20 nations in terms of preparedness to make the greenhouse gas emissions cuts required to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius in the coming decades, according to an international report by London-based Vivid Economics. We also rank a lowly 15th in our readiness to maintain wealth as we make necessary emissions cuts, because of our reliance on cars, CO2-intensive exports and coal-fired power.

posted by seamas on September 28, 2009 at 7:18 am · filed under

Town bans sale of bottled water

ABC News

The town of Bundanoon in New South Wales has decided to ban the sale of bottled water, and is reportedly the first town in Australia to take such measures to encourage use of tap water and reusable bottles.

posted by seamas on September 28, 2009 at 7:11 am · filed under

United States and China pledge to act against climate change

Associated Press

U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao have both admitted urgent action is required to tackle global warming. However, despite strong urging by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, commentators remain pessimistic a new climate treaty will be agreed at the Copenhagen meeting of world leaders in December this year. Meanwhile, Japan has just committed to a 25% reduction in emissions on 1990 levels by 2020.

posted by seamas on September 26, 2009 at 7:51 am · filed under

Dust storm raises radioactive threat

ABC News

Dramatic dust storms hitting Sydney this week have raised concerns that radioactive dust from BHP Billiton’s planned Olympic Dam mine expansion could pose a serious threat to the city’s population.

posted by seamas on September 26, 2009 at 7:45 am · filed under

Greens accuse Rudd of selling out the planet

Australian Greens

Prime Minister Rudd’s grand rhetoric at the United Nations is a far cry from the reality of his actions on the climate crisis, the Australian Greens said today. The Greens warned again that the aim of global talks is not just to achieve an agreement, it is to achieve an agreement that will protect the climate. That goal still seems as far off as ever.

posted by patrick on September 25, 2009 at 5:14 pm · filed under

NSW Cap bad news for the Murray-Darling

ACF

The new cap on the purchase of water entitlements imposed by the NSW Government is short sighted and bad news for the Murray Darling Basin, according to the ACF. The measure, intended to mirror a similar restriction already in place in Victoria, will exacerbate further the overextraction problem and hinder the restoration of rivers and wetlands.

posted by patrick on September 24, 2009 at 8:24 pm · filed under

Hundreds join Traveston dam protests

The Age

Opposition to the Traveston Crossing dam project continued this week with hundreds joining a protest ride against the project, while the State Government and locals continued to trade blame over threats to endangered species and argue over the potential impacts of the dam.

A 2007 review of water options for South East Queensland by the University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) and engineering firm Cardno found the Traveston Crossing dam scheme is unnecessary and an expensive option in terms of investment for water returned.

posted by seamas on September 24, 2009 at 7:43 am · filed under