Tag Archives: emissions trading

Imagine Paying Someone to be a Pr*ck

Greenpeace have put out a new video as a hook to encourage people to call Kevin Rudd’s office about billions of dollars in compensation going to coal companies under the proposed “Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme” (read: emissions trading scheme). Check it out:

My take? It’s kinda lame, but kinda cute in a lame way. I think it fits Greenpeace pretty well – I reckon they straddle 3 broad approaches to their campaigns… really inspiring emotional direct actions (think Rainbow Warrior sailing in to stop French nuclear testing at Muaroa Atoll), trying to be funky but kinda lame and cute promos (you just saw that one) and endless days of strategic planning that subsequently gets thrown out the window when the deadline hits.

Regardless of my commentary, the campaign is really important – check out the site & call K Rudd today:

www.youcalloncoal.com

Garnaut Review Draft Report Released

This is probably the biggest news on climate change in Australia for a little while. Garnaut is doing ecnomic modelling for the Australian government on climate change and recommending policy options.

The report has just been released at www.garnautreview.org

Quick grabs: 50% reduction in irrigated agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin by 2050 and 92% by 2100. Early economic modelling suggests that “middle of the road” temperature rises would knock: 4.8% off projected GDP, 5.4% off projected household consumption & 7.8% off real wages by 2100. All permits in the Emissions Trading Scheme should be auctioned with half the revenue allocated to households, 30% to industry & 20% to developing new technologies. A $3 billion per year increase in funding for low emissions technology research, development & commercialisation is needed. Opens the door for a low fixed price in the first years of the scheme (read: almost no actual emissions reductions).

Here’s the Greens arguing against a soft (low fixed price) introduction on ABC News.

NSW won’t meet it’s own weak emissions targets – leaked cabinet papersSMH

New Victorian Coal Plant off to shaky start – delayed 4 yrsThe Age

EU gearing up for 30% cuts by 2020SMH

8% of Sydney’s waste to be turned into electricitySMH

NSW Government has failed, in 10 yrs, to introduce integrated public transport ticketingSMH

Huge News

Coal protest stops work at Eraring Power StationABC News
27 people have been arrested – more coverage here.

All you need to know about Garnaut from The AgeAdam Morton
No emissions targets recommendations, global emissions peak by 2010, only models 450ppm carbon dioxide, no free permits for power generators, aluminium/cement/steel may receive compensation, start with a low price for the first 2 years (bad).

Climate Code Red: David Spratt Writes on ABC OpinionABC News

Renewable Energy Target Paper ReleasedChris Hammer, The Age
Unfortunately it includes solar hot water and burning native forest wood waste.

Most people haven’t heard of the Emissions Trading SchemeABC News
And only 7% understand what it involves.

Cycling Cities: UK Leading the WayABC News
London has seen a 90% increase in bike traffic since 2000.

Monbiot’s plan for global emissions cutsGeorge Monbiot, Canberra Times

Japan announces 60-80% emissions cuts by 2050
Richard Black, BBC

German Govt passes phase 2 of climate planReuters
Designed to cut greenhouse emissions by 40% of 1990 levels by 2020.

UK £100bn plan to produce 15% renewable energy by 2020
Guardian (UK)

India Unveils New National Action Plan on Climate ChangeThe Times of India

China releases it’s first national plan on climate changeDeutsche Welle
It rejects binding limits on emissions but commits to 2% cuts/year for some gases.

Penguin populations plummeting due to climate changeWill Dunham, Herald Sun

Thank god he’s gone – Alexander Downer retiresEmma Rodgers, ABC News

News: 21 Today

How high will be price of cutting emissions?Shane Wright, The West Australian
Great editorial on the Emissions Trading Scheme, the Garnaut Review and oil prices. “This is probably too important to be left to the politicians.”

Voters happy with sex … and Bob BrownMark Schliebs, News.com.au
Report: big business “has too much power”; people less concerned about raunch in media; support for more money in social services; Greens leader Bob Brown a better choice for PM than Peter Costello.

Coal union push for renewable energy targetLenore Taylor, The Australian
CFMEU support the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target, while state governments deride it.

James Hansen’s new climate change warningAndrew Revkin, The Age

Arctic sea ice melt ‘even faster’Richard Black, BBC

Revealed: UK blueprint for a green energy revolutionJohn Vidal, Guardian (UK)
20% emissions cuts; reduce oil dependence by 7%; 1 in 4 homes to be fitted with solar heating; 3,500 wind turbines; and an area the size of Essex to be planted with crops for biomass energy within 12 years. And here’s George Monbiot’s comment.

NT Intervention, 1 year onSue Dunlevy, Daily Telegraph

Put oil firm chiefs on trial, says leading climate scientistEd Pilkington, Guardian (UK)
James Hansen proposes that deliberate corporate climate denialism should be considered a crime, and the new 350.org campaign is mentioned at the end.

Energy fears unfounded: Climate Institute reportAAP

Pressure continues on solar panel rebateABC News

Sudan: World blind to growing horrorDvir Abramovich, Herald Sun
what hurts the victim is not only the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.

Let’s stop trying to turn girls into probationary sexpotsTracie Winch, The Age
Tracie Winch is a journalist and lecturer at the University of Melbourne.

Chilean waters declared whale sanctuarySarah Clarke, ABC

Tony Windsor says emissions trading scheme needs ‘bipartisan support’ABC News

Big Car Sales DownLauren Williams, Daily Telegraph

New tax break for planting treesPhilip Hopkins, The Age

NSW schools dump Outlook for GmailRenai LeMay, Financial Review

Dying Australian Democrats ‘to form new party’AAP

US candidates are not coming clean on climateAnne Davies, SMH

Obama Opts Out of Public FinancingShailagh Murray, Washington Post

Quick Grab-bag: Past Week

Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Fossil Fuels receive $28 for every $1 spent on renewable energy. – AAP

NASA scientist urges PM to stop coal exportsSarah Clarke, ABC News

WWF, The Climate Institue ask government to fund carbon capture and storage
The NGO and think tank have joined the Australian Coal Association and the miner’s union in an alliance, while the rest of the environment movement says “clean coal” should be funded by the coal companies. – ABC News.  And more by Kenneth Davidson in The Age.

Climate fund could be radical inflation brake
This is a really interesting proposal. Worth a read. – Matthew Murphy, The Age

Labor resurrects Howard’s uranium planKatharine Murphy, The Age

Climate Scientist Exposes Vic Govt’s GreenwashAdam Morton, The Age

Solar expert wants same support as coalMarian Wilkinson and Ben Cubby, SMH

Include Aviation in Emissions ReductionsABC News

Change in farming can feed world – report
“The short answer to whether [GM] crops can feed the world is ‘no’.” Sounds like a great report on food security, etc. – John Vidal, The Guardian

Vic spanks NSW on climatePaul Austin, The Age

Indigenous people key to climate battle
“There are at least 370 million indigenous people throughout the world living relatively neutral or even carbon negative lifestyles.” – AAP. Plus Inuits losing lives to climate changeABC News

Possible Container Deposit LegislationBen Cubby and Marian Wilkinson, SMH

Excerpt: Clive Hamilton’s Latest Book
A long one, but a good, clear explanation of the emissions cuts we need to make and the tests for a solid Emissions Trading Scheme. – SMH

Poor nations fear being left in cold on global warmingSMH

Call to ban anorexia websites
Labor MP asks for ban on pro-anorexia websites which promote extreme thinness and methods for self-starvation. – Ellie Harvey, SMH