Visual surveys of Greenland glacier melt shock researchers

The Age

Dramatically increased melting of the Greenland glacier in the space of two years has been shown in photographs taken by researchers from Aberystwyth University in Wales. It’s unclear if the remarkable photos indicate a longer term trend or variations in summer temperatures year-on-year, but they have reportedly left researchers “gob-smacked”.

posted by seamas on September 9, 2011 at 7:45 am · filed under

Google’s carbon footprint growing

Guardian

Despite its efforts to use renewable energy and increase energy efficiency, Google’s carbon footprint is growing. In it’s first such disclosure, the search and online services provider has revealed that it currently emits approximately 1.5 million tonnes of carbon per year, more than the entire country of Laos. However, the company claims that its data centres are more efficient than the industry average - using only half the energy. Data centres providing online and IT services are estimated to make up around 1% of the world’s electricity use.

posted by seamas on September 9, 2011 at 7:34 am · filed under

Greens say mining industry must pay dues

The Greens

Newly released research from the Australia Institute once again illustrates the need for Australia to manage the mining boom properly, according to the Australian Greens. Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the paper ‘Mining the Truth’ makes it clear the mining industry is dodging its social responsibilities while causing damage to other sectors of the economy. Senator Ludlam chastised the industry for paying less corporate tax than others and driving up the cost of living. He also described Labor’s proposed mining tax as “watered-down… weak and gutless”.

posted by seamas on September 9, 2011 at 7:20 am · filed under

‘No, Harvey Norman’ campaign highlights the ransacking of native forest by Aussie retailers

Feature from Markets for Change

On August 24^th, grassroots environmental group The Last Stand struck at furniture retailer Harvey Norman in a series of well-planned direct actions across four states. The actions included a range of strategies; banner drops, sabotage, stickering inside the showrooms and ‘locking on’ at the distributors’ premises.

Read & Comment »

posted by nienke on September 7, 2011 at 7:34 am · filed under

Taxpayers would pay double under Coalition climate plan

ABC News

Costing of the Federal Opposition’s plans to tackle climate change conducted by the Treasury suggests it would cost roughly double the Government’s carbon tax reforms for the same amount of emissions reduction. The Treasury modelling is embarrassing for the Coalition, which estimated the costs of its direct action climate change policy at a fraction of the almost $50 billion Treasury says it would actually cost to implement between the middle of next year and 2020.

posted by seamas on September 4, 2011 at 7:34 am · filed under

WA rejects Rio Tinto’s nuclear power play

Sydney Morning Herald

Both the West Australian State Government and Opposition have rebuffed mining giant Rio Tinto’s call for nuclear power to be considered in the state’s future energy strategy. Energy Minister Peter Collier says there is simply no demand for nuclear energy and that other sources are sufficient to meet the state’s power needs.

posted by seamas on September 1, 2011 at 7:27 am · filed under

TAPPED Film Benefit (Melbourne, Sept 6)

A Big Picture documentary film screening benefiting environmental causes - from the makers of ‘Who Killed the Electric Car’, TAPPED investigates the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil.

Screening at 6pm on Tuesday the 6th of September at Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

posted by seamas on August 18, 2011 at 1:37 am · filed under