IUCN says climate change threatens koalas

ABC News

A newly released IUCN study claims dozens of iconic animal species, including Australia’s koalas, face extinction if CO2 emissions are not adequately curbed.

posted by seamas on December 15, 2009 at 7:40 am · filed under

More climate assistance needed, say developing nations

BBC News

A climate change summit ended in Brussels with EU leaders pledging $7.2 billion euros in climate aid to help developing nations tackle climate change. Representatives of the developing nations say the pledge is an ineffectual commitment and call upon developed nations to pledge more.

posted by rochelle on December 12, 2009 at 8:39 am · filed under

Draft CPRS and RET regulations released

Minister for Climate Change and Water

The Rudd Government today released updated draft regulations for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

The updated regulations include the second group of activities to be eligible for assistance under the emissions intensive, trade exposed (EITE) assistance program, including aluminium smelting, alumina refining, cartonboard manufacturing, dry pulp manufacturing, high purity ethanol production, integrated lead and zinc production, magnesia production, packaging and industrial paper manufacturing, tissue paper manufacturing and printing and writing paper manufacturing.

posted by patrick on December 10, 2009 at 3:26 pm · filed under

Climate gets dirty as intimidation takes over

ABC Online

In the wake of the University of East Anglia (UEA) email hack, various police authorities worldwide, including the FBI in the US, are investigating a spate of death threats delivered to at least two of the world’s top climate scientists; scientists that were named in thousands of documents leaked from that Universtity’s Climate Research Unit. Other incidents that are reportedly under investigation include break-ins at the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.  The IPCC has also ‘expressed concern’ over the organised nature of the hacking of the UEA emails.

In Australia, professors Andy Pitman from the NSW University Climate Change Research Centre, and David Karoly, a leading IPCC scientist, from Melbourne University, have both revealed threatening emails they have recieved, some within the last month. Prof Pitman says, “The major problem is that scientists have to be able to communicate their science without fear or favour and there seems to be a well-orchestrated campaign designed to intimidate some scientists.” While Prof Karoly says there is “an organised campaign to discredit individual climate scientists.”

posted by Vinnie on December 9, 2009 at 9:21 pm · filed under

Green light for Victorian Geothermal project

ABC Online

The Victorian State Govenment today set aside $25M for the state’s first geothermal energy project. The Victorian Resources Minister, Peter Batchelor, said, of the exploritive, demonstration plant to be built at Anglesea on the west coast of the state, “We’ll have the possibility of building a geothermal demonstration plant very close to the existing electricity grid.”

posted by Vinnie on December 9, 2009 at 2:38 pm · filed under

Funding to preserve key wetland bird sanctuary

Minister for Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

The Federal Government is investing $1.79 million to help the Wetlands and Grasslands Foundation buy and protect Queensland’s Cromarty Wetlands - one of Australia’s most precious wetlands and home to more than 12,000 brolgas. The vast 1,671 hectare property is located just south of Townsville and will become the Wongaloo Conservation Park.

posted by seamas on December 9, 2009 at 7:15 am · filed under

Climate Camp for Action (Collie, Dec 17-21)

Join a five day Climate Camp for Action in Collie, Western Australia - a participatory and sustainable event, inviting people to share, learn, plan and take action. This camp is focused as a protest against plans to expand coal power generation in Collie, Western Australia.

posted by seamas on December 8, 2009 at 8:07 am · filed under