A three-year study carried out by the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO has found that Victoria's 13 year drought is actually a permanent climate shift linked to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Strengthening high pressure systems are pushing rain bands further south, over the ocean rather than land, due to the warming of the planet.
To view the research visit the South Eastern Australian Climate Initiative website, and see coverage of the study in The Age.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Exposing Victoria's Dirtiest Secret - 13 September
"Switch off Hazelwood. Switch off Coal. Switch on Renewables” is a day of fun, creative and inspiring peaceful community action at Victoria's dirtiest secret, Hazelwood coal power station. This march and protest at the gates of the Hazelwood Power Station, is organised by community members who care about climate change.
We need you all there!
The Hazelwood protest is the community climate movement's big protest action in the lead up to the Copenhagen negotiations. It's timed to coincide with the peak arctic ice melt, and it's far enough ahead to have a bearing on the Copenhagen negotiations, which are happening now!
The day is building to be a big success.
It is billed as a protest and peaceful mass civil disobedience and we need every one concerned about climate change to be involved! Here's what it means:
There are two distinct arms to the event:
You can protest outside the station with banners, clowns, some great creative and positive props, music and speakers - hopefully to include Senator Christine Milne, one of the few politicians advocating a reasonable science based approach to climate change.
At some point in the day, the second arm of the protest will attempt to walk on to the station to serve "Community Decommission Orders" to Hazelwood Power Station. This completely peaceful act of protest may result in those people being liable for charges of trespass: a decision that people have been willing to take because of the scale of the threat to our well-being posed by the climate crisis.
Participants in both groups are equally important!
Some further information:
Background
Coal burning power stations are one of the main contributors to climate change, which poses an enormous threat to the world and it's inhabitants. Hazelwood is one of the dirtiest coal power stations in the industrialised world. It releases an average of 17 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year and represents around 5% of Australia's emissions. It was scheduled to be shut down this year, however it was given a lifeline by the ALP state government in 2005 allowing it to continue operation until 2031. We need support renewable energy instead and extend the lifeline to our planet!
We are advocating an urgent transition to 100% renewable energy and away from coal. This is already technically possible. We are also demanding that the government support the Latrobe Valley community in a transition away from fossil fuels towards a clean energy manufacturing hub - protecting jobs and giving us all a future. Replacing dinosaurs like Hazelwood with renewable energy is the first step in this transition.
Our State and Federal Governments are failing on climate change. Their policies are nowhere near what scientists are saying is needed to avoid catastrophe.
Details of the Event
On 11am on Sunday September 13, 2009 we will meet on the corner of Broadribb & Nadenboushs Rd (South of Morwell) and march to the front gates of the Hazelwood, rallying to 'Switch on Renewables and Switch off Coal' and slap a Community Decommission Order on Hazelwood Power Station. The event will be well organized with speakers, media link ups, first aid and medical help available but you'll need to bring your own food and drink.
Skills Workshop
There is a weekend skills workshop coming up this weekend, 29/30 August: to build skills for future climate protest organizing as well as skilling up for the day . Look on the website for details!
And Of Course...
Climate change is a threat of unprecedented proportions to our world and all it's inhabitants. People who have never been involved in protest before are getting involved in protests over limate change. The science says we already have too much carbon in the atmosphere to avoid run away climate change. We need to motivate our politicians to act fast enough - that means stopping burning coal, building renewable energy ASAP and sequestering carbon out of the atmosphere. We need to speak strongly, loudly and persistently until it happens!
If possible, RSVP on the website to help with planning for the day. Any questions and for further details of the protest and how to get there go to the website: www.switchoffhazelwood.org
We need you all there!
The Hazelwood protest is the community climate movement's big protest action in the lead up to the Copenhagen negotiations. It's timed to coincide with the peak arctic ice melt, and it's far enough ahead to have a bearing on the Copenhagen negotiations, which are happening now!
The day is building to be a big success.
It is billed as a protest and peaceful mass civil disobedience and we need every one concerned about climate change to be involved! Here's what it means:
There are two distinct arms to the event:
You can protest outside the station with banners, clowns, some great creative and positive props, music and speakers - hopefully to include Senator Christine Milne, one of the few politicians advocating a reasonable science based approach to climate change.
At some point in the day, the second arm of the protest will attempt to walk on to the station to serve "Community Decommission Orders" to Hazelwood Power Station. This completely peaceful act of protest may result in those people being liable for charges of trespass: a decision that people have been willing to take because of the scale of the threat to our well-being posed by the climate crisis.
Participants in both groups are equally important!
Some further information:
Background
Coal burning power stations are one of the main contributors to climate change, which poses an enormous threat to the world and it's inhabitants. Hazelwood is one of the dirtiest coal power stations in the industrialised world. It releases an average of 17 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year and represents around 5% of Australia's emissions. It was scheduled to be shut down this year, however it was given a lifeline by the ALP state government in 2005 allowing it to continue operation until 2031. We need support renewable energy instead and extend the lifeline to our planet!
We are advocating an urgent transition to 100% renewable energy and away from coal. This is already technically possible. We are also demanding that the government support the Latrobe Valley community in a transition away from fossil fuels towards a clean energy manufacturing hub - protecting jobs and giving us all a future. Replacing dinosaurs like Hazelwood with renewable energy is the first step in this transition.
Our State and Federal Governments are failing on climate change. Their policies are nowhere near what scientists are saying is needed to avoid catastrophe.
Details of the Event
On 11am on Sunday September 13, 2009 we will meet on the corner of Broadribb & Nadenboushs Rd (South of Morwell) and march to the front gates of the Hazelwood, rallying to 'Switch on Renewables and Switch off Coal' and slap a Community Decommission Order on Hazelwood Power Station. The event will be well organized with speakers, media link ups, first aid and medical help available but you'll need to bring your own food and drink.
Skills Workshop
There is a weekend skills workshop coming up this weekend, 29/30 August: to build skills for future climate protest organizing as well as skilling up for the day . Look on the website for details!
And Of Course...
Climate change is a threat of unprecedented proportions to our world and all it's inhabitants. People who have never been involved in protest before are getting involved in protests over limate change. The science says we already have too much carbon in the atmosphere to avoid run away climate change. We need to motivate our politicians to act fast enough - that means stopping burning coal, building renewable energy ASAP and sequestering carbon out of the atmosphere. We need to speak strongly, loudly and persistently until it happens!
If possible, RSVP on the website to help with planning for the day. Any questions and for further details of the protest and how to get there go to the website: www.switchoffhazelwood.org
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Renewable Energy Target compromised by corporate greed
It seems no climate change policy can be passed by this parliament without it being watered down and made practically ineffective...
From Crikey:
The capacity of the Australian Parliament to bastardise good policy and turn it into a feeding trough for rentseekers and other parasites is truly remarkable.
You can’t move in this place or open a paper without the bottom-feeding filth of the political economy springing out, hands extended, threatening disaster unless they can fasten tightly onto the public teat. And it’s getting worse, as more and more sectors heed the example of lowlifes like the Minerals Council of Australia and come in for their chop.
The Coalition and the Government managed a deal yesterday on the Renewable Energy Target, or what’s left of it. Just in the nick of time before a Question Time in which the Government would assuredly have contrasted its success in facilitating the Gorgon deal with the inability of the Coalition to even agree amongst themselves on a bill they had committed to support.
...to continue reading, click here.
From Crikey:
The capacity of the Australian Parliament to bastardise good policy and turn it into a feeding trough for rentseekers and other parasites is truly remarkable.
You can’t move in this place or open a paper without the bottom-feeding filth of the political economy springing out, hands extended, threatening disaster unless they can fasten tightly onto the public teat. And it’s getting worse, as more and more sectors heed the example of lowlifes like the Minerals Council of Australia and come in for their chop.
The Coalition and the Government managed a deal yesterday on the Renewable Energy Target, or what’s left of it. Just in the nick of time before a Question Time in which the Government would assuredly have contrasted its success in facilitating the Gorgon deal with the inability of the Coalition to even agree amongst themselves on a bill they had committed to support.
...to continue reading, click here.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Climate Change Documentary from 1958
Check out this excerpt from a 1958 documentary about climate change. Seems it's old news.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme [sic] in the Senate
The Rudd Government's Carbon Polluters Rewards Scheme (CPRS) is going to be voted on in the Senate this week. It is most likely to fail, as all other parties apart from the Labor Party will be voting against it (the Greens for good reasons, everyone else for bad reasons).
Yarra Climate Action Now (YCAN) has gone on the record in this blog and in other forums numerous times since the CPRS was announced in December last year. To see our past entries on this issue click on these numbers - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
As this issue is all over the news this week, we would like to reiterate that together with the 150 grassroots climate action groups that met in Canberra in February, and most environment groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, we oppose the CPRS and hope it does not become law.
The reasons can be summarised as follows:
1. It will not reduce Australia's emissions (most reductions will come from buying dodgy overseas offsets)
2. The targets are nowhere near what scientists say is necessary to give us a chance of avoiding runaway climate change.
3. It will result in a massive transfer of wealth from the Australian taxpayer to the big polluting corporations.
4. It will render voluntary action to reduce emissions practically meaningless.
5. It will sabotage international negotiations by showing the world that Australia isn't serious about fighting the climate crisis.
If the Rudd Government was serious about fighting climate change, rather than just saying it is, it would create a scheme that addresses the above concerns.
For further information to back up the five points above, please see our past entries on this issue.
PS - it goes without saying that the proposal that Malcolm Turnbull released yesterday is even worse!
Friday, August 7, 2009
100% Renewable Energy by 2020!
The Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation is going before the Senate next week. This typically weak and inadequate legislation is offering us a target of less than 20% renewable electricity by 2020.
This is nowhere near what the climate science says is necessary to avoid runaway climate change and does not do enough to transition Australia to a zero emissions economy. It also misses the opportunity to create thousands of clean energy jobs in this country and make Australia a world leader in renewable energy technology - something we once were but are no longer thanks to the Howard and Rudd governments' acquiescence to the big polluters.
Please email you federal representatives and make the demands outlined below. You can email them via the Your Voice in House website, just by filling in your state and postcode and ticking the boxes.
Please fix the RET by:
1. Increasing the target to 100% renewable electricity by 2020.
This is technically feasible, in particular with the introduction of baseload solar power which is already operating in both Spain and the USA. Solar thermal power with molten salt storage can provide baseload power at an affordable price with zero emissions and zero fuel inputs. Combined with wind power, and energy efficiency measures, we could power all of Australia with renewable energy.
If you haven’t heard of solar thermal with storage start by watching this short video.
This would also be in line with the need to go below 350 parts per million (probably closer to 300ppm) carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is well below the levels (390ppm) we have currently, and close to the 280ppm in pre-industrial times.
Imagine the jobs and the economic growth this would create! It would be a truly visionary project and show true leadership.
2. Excluding solar hot water from the scheme
Solar hot water does not put electricity back into the grid and should be excluded from the RET. It should be encouraged through other means, such as mandating that all new houses have solar hot water and launching a retrofit program to ensure all Australian houses have solar hot water by 2020.
3. Ensuring that all renewable energy accounted for is actually delivered.
The scheme currently gives five times the certificates to installed solar energy than what is actually produced. This means that even the measly 20% by 2020 target won’t really be met. It also means that bigger projects will be delayed as in the first few years most renewable energy certificates go to fake solar power.
To fix this, the year on year target must be increased to fit in with the number of fake certificates that have been issued.
This is nowhere near what the climate science says is necessary to avoid runaway climate change and does not do enough to transition Australia to a zero emissions economy. It also misses the opportunity to create thousands of clean energy jobs in this country and make Australia a world leader in renewable energy technology - something we once were but are no longer thanks to the Howard and Rudd governments' acquiescence to the big polluters.
Please email you federal representatives and make the demands outlined below. You can email them via the Your Voice in House website, just by filling in your state and postcode and ticking the boxes.
Please fix the RET by:
1. Increasing the target to 100% renewable electricity by 2020.
This is technically feasible, in particular with the introduction of baseload solar power which is already operating in both Spain and the USA. Solar thermal power with molten salt storage can provide baseload power at an affordable price with zero emissions and zero fuel inputs. Combined with wind power, and energy efficiency measures, we could power all of Australia with renewable energy.
If you haven’t heard of solar thermal with storage start by watching this short video.
This would also be in line with the need to go below 350 parts per million (probably closer to 300ppm) carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is well below the levels (390ppm) we have currently, and close to the 280ppm in pre-industrial times.
Imagine the jobs and the economic growth this would create! It would be a truly visionary project and show true leadership.
2. Excluding solar hot water from the scheme
Solar hot water does not put electricity back into the grid and should be excluded from the RET. It should be encouraged through other means, such as mandating that all new houses have solar hot water and launching a retrofit program to ensure all Australian houses have solar hot water by 2020.
3. Ensuring that all renewable energy accounted for is actually delivered.
The scheme currently gives five times the certificates to installed solar energy than what is actually produced. This means that even the measly 20% by 2020 target won’t really be met. It also means that bigger projects will be delayed as in the first few years most renewable energy certificates go to fake solar power.
To fix this, the year on year target must be increased to fit in with the number of fake certificates that have been issued.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Australian public ahead of politicians on climate policy
A poll released today found that 75% of Australians either agree or strongly agree that the Federal Government's emissions trading scheme is not tough enough on the big polluters and needs to be strengthened in the Senate.
Only 13% disagreed with 12% not knowing.
It is certainly encouraging to see that the Australian public has more sense than our Labor/Liberal politicians when it comes to acting on the climate crisis. If only they'd listen more to us rather than their fossil fuel industry benefactors.
At the same time as the poll was released, the Australian Greens released research which showed that foreign companies stand to make billions of dollars from the Australian taxpayer if the current scheme becomes law.
The major findings included:
* A total of $11.68 billion worth of assistance under the ETS will flow to companies that are wholly or partially foreign owned in the first five years of the Scheme
* 84% of compensation in the coal-fired electricity generators sector will go to foreign companies, based in UK, Hong Kong and Japan. With a total of $3.246 billion flowing to such companies between 2011-2015.
* 67% of the allocation - or $8.4 billion- under the Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed (ETIE) scheme would flow to companies that are wholly or partially owned by overseas companies between 2011-2016
* The owners of the Hazelwood Power station in Victoria, UK International Power Plc, are in line to pocket 28.6% of assistance available to the coal-fired electricity generators sector, or some $1.1 billion. Yallourn W power station, owned by CPL Power Asia, will receive $908 million.
*Loy Yang A power station - in line to receive $782million.
hhmm, so those very same corporations that should be stopping their burning of fossil fuels, will be paid billions of our money to keep doing it. Does that make sense to anyone?
Only 13% disagreed with 12% not knowing.
It is certainly encouraging to see that the Australian public has more sense than our Labor/Liberal politicians when it comes to acting on the climate crisis. If only they'd listen more to us rather than their fossil fuel industry benefactors.
At the same time as the poll was released, the Australian Greens released research which showed that foreign companies stand to make billions of dollars from the Australian taxpayer if the current scheme becomes law.
The major findings included:
* A total of $11.68 billion worth of assistance under the ETS will flow to companies that are wholly or partially foreign owned in the first five years of the Scheme
* 84% of compensation in the coal-fired electricity generators sector will go to foreign companies, based in UK, Hong Kong and Japan. With a total of $3.246 billion flowing to such companies between 2011-2015.
* 67% of the allocation - or $8.4 billion- under the Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed (ETIE) scheme would flow to companies that are wholly or partially owned by overseas companies between 2011-2016
* The owners of the Hazelwood Power station in Victoria, UK International Power Plc, are in line to pocket 28.6% of assistance available to the coal-fired electricity generators sector, or some $1.1 billion. Yallourn W power station, owned by CPL Power Asia, will receive $908 million.
*Loy Yang A power station - in line to receive $782million.
hhmm, so those very same corporations that should be stopping their burning of fossil fuels, will be paid billions of our money to keep doing it. Does that make sense to anyone?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Awesome August Events
There are a few events coming up this month that you can’t miss!!
Trivia Night Fundraiser
What dinosaur has eight chimneys, eats coal and suffers from terrible gas?
With live music, stand-up comedy, great questions, food and drink.
This is a fun night for all to raise money for the upcoming Hazelwood Power Station protest.
Details: Saturday August 15, 7pm-10pm – Northcote High School, 25 St Georges Road, Northcote.
Price (including light dinner) Table of 8, $120 Individual $20/$15 concession
Book online at www.trybooking.com/BJB
Tickets also available on the night unless sold out.
The Big Melt Tour
Come and hear the world-record holder for the fastest climb of Mt Everest talk about the effects of climate change in the ‘roof of the world’.
See www.thebigmelt.org
Hear Pemba Dorje Sherpa, holder of the world record for the fastest climb of Mount Everest, talk about his experience of global warming in the Himalayas. He is joined by environmental lawyer and activist Prakash Sharma, Pro Public Nepal.
Global warming is already having a big impact on Mount Everest and the Himalayas. Glaciers are melting creating floods and danger for the local people. But the big melt also means a big dry as these 'water towers' of Asia lose their capacity to provide water to the giant rivers in the summer months. Eventually rivers like the Ganges in India and the Yellow River in China will lose their dry season flow and the billion people in these river basins will lose their water security.
Details of Public Meeting 6.30 PM – 8.00 PM
Monday, August 17, 2009 Village Roadshow Theatrette
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston St
(Use Entry 3, La Trobe Street)
Clifton Hill Community Sustainability Meeting
…featuring comedian Rod Quantock on the climate science
We are a group of Clifton Hill residents - not experts - with the shared aim of helping each other to live more sustainably and encouraging action that avoids runaway climate change.
Perhaps you share our concern but find the issues frighteningly large and complex and are unsure of what you can do that will make a difference.
You may be asking yourself…
• Where can I find reliable up-to-date climate change
information?
• What can I do to reduce the likelihood of dangerous
climate change?
• What can I do to reduce the environmental impact of
my lifestyle?
• Will it help if I change my diet or grow some of my own
food?
• If I installed water tanks and solar panels how much
would it help and what will it cost?
If you are interested in any of the above issues, this meeting is for you.
There will be displays with handouts and people with particular expertise to talk to.
For information contact: Doug Evans at dg.evans -at- bigpond.com
Featuring Rod Quantock, Yarra Climate Action Now, Beyond Zero Emissions, The Environment Shop, the Ethical Consumption Group and other local groups.
Details: Sunday, 23 August 2009, 2:30 - 4:30pm
St. Mark's Church, 100 Hodgkinson St, Clifton Hill
Trivia Night Fundraiser
What dinosaur has eight chimneys, eats coal and suffers from terrible gas?
With live music, stand-up comedy, great questions, food and drink.
This is a fun night for all to raise money for the upcoming Hazelwood Power Station protest.
Details: Saturday August 15, 7pm-10pm – Northcote High School, 25 St Georges Road, Northcote.
Price (including light dinner) Table of 8, $120 Individual $20/$15 concession
Book online at www.trybooking.com/BJB
Tickets also available on the night unless sold out.
The Big Melt Tour
Come and hear the world-record holder for the fastest climb of Mt Everest talk about the effects of climate change in the ‘roof of the world’.
See www.thebigmelt.org
Hear Pemba Dorje Sherpa, holder of the world record for the fastest climb of Mount Everest, talk about his experience of global warming in the Himalayas. He is joined by environmental lawyer and activist Prakash Sharma, Pro Public Nepal.
Global warming is already having a big impact on Mount Everest and the Himalayas. Glaciers are melting creating floods and danger for the local people. But the big melt also means a big dry as these 'water towers' of Asia lose their capacity to provide water to the giant rivers in the summer months. Eventually rivers like the Ganges in India and the Yellow River in China will lose their dry season flow and the billion people in these river basins will lose their water security.
Details of Public Meeting 6.30 PM – 8.00 PM
Monday, August 17, 2009 Village Roadshow Theatrette
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston St
(Use Entry 3, La Trobe Street)
Clifton Hill Community Sustainability Meeting
…featuring comedian Rod Quantock on the climate science
We are a group of Clifton Hill residents - not experts - with the shared aim of helping each other to live more sustainably and encouraging action that avoids runaway climate change.
Perhaps you share our concern but find the issues frighteningly large and complex and are unsure of what you can do that will make a difference.
You may be asking yourself…
• Where can I find reliable up-to-date climate change
information?
• What can I do to reduce the likelihood of dangerous
climate change?
• What can I do to reduce the environmental impact of
my lifestyle?
• Will it help if I change my diet or grow some of my own
food?
• If I installed water tanks and solar panels how much
would it help and what will it cost?
If you are interested in any of the above issues, this meeting is for you.
There will be displays with handouts and people with particular expertise to talk to.
For information contact: Doug Evans at dg.evans -at- bigpond.com
Featuring Rod Quantock, Yarra Climate Action Now, Beyond Zero Emissions, The Environment Shop, the Ethical Consumption Group and other local groups.
Details: Sunday, 23 August 2009, 2:30 - 4:30pm
St. Mark's Church, 100 Hodgkinson St, Clifton Hill
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