Australia must increase climate aid to poor nations

ACF

Australia should contribute around $2.4 billion a year to a global pool of funds dedicated to helping the world’s poorest countries, including our near neighbours, reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, protect their forests and manage the impacts of climate change, a study by the Australian National University has found. The study identifies a range of new sources of private and public climate finance that can help achieve this goal set at last year’s UN climate summit in Cancun. The Climate Institute’s Erwin Jackson points out that it is strongly in our national interest to help poorer nations tackle climate change.

posted by seamas on October 27, 2011 at 9:06 pm · filed under

Protection and aid boost for Great Barrier Reef marine turtles

WWF

A new partnership between James Cook University and WWF Australia will help improve protection for marine turtles that depend on the Great Barrier Reef. The joint project aims to supplement and support existing efforts by Reef HQ, through care for sick and injured turtles, by conducting research into turtle disease and health, and by promoting the establishment of protected areas where turtles can be safe from fishing nets and coastal development.

posted by seamas on October 22, 2011 at 7:21 am · filed under

International Forest Certification failure exposed

The Wilderness Society

Greenpeace Australia Pacific, The Wilderness Society and My Environment have jointly released an international report detailing repeated failures of the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) forest certification standard. “On the Ground 2011″ draws on case studies from the US, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, Europe and Malaysia to show that PEFC certified products are being sourced from areas where high value forests are being destroyed and human and community rights are being abused. The PEFC stamp (and its Australian affiliate AFS) is widely used on products in Australia and around the world.

posted by seamas on October 17, 2011 at 8:16 pm · filed under

Chevron Launches ‘Green Spin’ Campaign Ahead of Planned LNG Project in the Kimberleys

Comment

American oil giant Chevron has rolled out its controversial ‘We Agree’ campaign across Australia this month, with spots on Channel 9 and ABC television. The advertisements feature Australian actors and align the company’s corporate philosophy with community values of job creation and environmental conservation. The campaign coincides with the debate over the proposed gas hub at James Price Point in the Kimberley region, which has pitted Chevron, their Australian partners and the government against conservationists and indigenous landowners who believe the project will have devastating environmental impacts in the area.

Read & Comment »

posted by nienke on October 17, 2011 at 5:03 pm · filed under

Unions: Australia a step closer to low carbon economy

ACTU

Today’s decision by the House of Representatives to pass the price on pollution package will provide certainty for Australian workers and business. The passage of the Bills is an important step towards Australia’s low carbon future ensuring sustainable industry and jobs creation.

posted by rochelle on October 12, 2011 at 5:10 pm · filed under

Low Murray-Darling environmental flows slammed

The Wilderness Society

Ten major environment groups from all four Basin States have jointly slammed the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s proposal to return only 2,800GL of water to the environment. The proposed low level environmental flows would have “frightening” ecological outcomes and likely condemn red gums of the Goulburn, Murray and Murrumbidgee, according to Friends of the Earth’s Jonathan La Nauze.

Juliet le Feuvre from Environment Victoria adds that the decision to pass up this “once on a life-time opportunity to put the system on a sustainable footing” will cost graziers and farmers as much as the rest of the community in the long term.

posted by seamas on October 6, 2011 at 2:01 pm · filed under

Wild Things Forest Fundraiser (Melbourne, Nov 4)

New Folk

Costume party to raise money for the protection of old growth forests. At The Royal Melbourne Hotel, 629 Bourke Street, Melbourne, on November 4 from 9.30pm. Presale tickets $22 ($25 at the door).

posted by seamas on October 2, 2011 at 6:10 pm · filed under