The Week That Was - 31 May 2012

This week, Abbott’s popularity is down, which means he has other things to concentrate on other than bagging the carbon price. Most people have received some compensation now, Government ads are out but seem not to mention climate change, and when did power bills become a place to campaign? In a bizarre twist of fate a commuter flight mostly used by ATO employees has been cancelled – they say due to the carbon price. And much more!

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“Changes in Sydney's climate will have far-reaching implications for health, agriculture, tourism, water security and biodiversity”                        
- Prof Tim Flannery

Let’s start with the good news! The EU has reported that its ETS has driven carbon emissions down by 2.4 per cent in 2011 - putting the EU countries on track to achieving their 20 per cent by 2020 emission reduction target. A glut of permits has resulted – but the price to emit is predicted to triple.

Here in Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology tells us we are on track to experience El Nino conditions in late summer 2012, Pork Magazine reports. The last severe El Nino in 1998 killed more than 2,000 people and caused billions of dollars in damage to crops, infrastructure and mines in Australia and other parts of Asia.

And while we are talking climate technicalities, The Conversation explains what is the IPO and why should we care.

We cannot get this far into TWTW without looking at what has been written about the carbon price this week. John Connor sets the record straight in The Daily Telegraph by explaining we are getting great return for our household payments – while NSW MP Chris Hartcher has explained the legislation has been changed to add a warning in red on all electricity bills in NSW (and Queensland) stating how much more you will be paying a year, stating this is due to carbon price and green initiatives. Red generally means bad. Gee, that’s helpful. Thanks.

The Federal government has released its ads now that compensation has landed in people’s bank accounts – but hey – I don’t hear the word climate change, let me play that again, nope, still don’t hear it – or any mention of the carbon price we fought so hard for. Now I am confused. No wonder small business is too.

Mike Rann has been appointed to the Board of chair of Low Carbon Australia, and the executive officer of the Melbourne based Climate Change Authority will be DCCEE’s Anthea Harris. Our own Simon O’ Connor tells us that our Clean Energy Finance Corporation, soon to become law, will grow our economy, not harm it. Sarah-Jane Tasker tells us it’s time to grow up and discuss renewable energy in a way fitting for the mature adult.

And with obviously no irony intended, The Age reports that a flight largely frequented by ATO staff, has been cancelled and the reason cited for its demise is the carbon price. Really?

Also in The Age James Cook academic Professor Steve Williams tells us based on the best possible projections of future climate, he says a third of the species in Australia's wet tropics could lose more than 90 per cent of their populations as temperatures rise.

And just so you know – for all of us Apple advocates out there – the world’s most valuable company has announced its data centre will be soon powered by 100 per cent green energy, with 60 per cent of that energy generated onsite.

Still – everyone knows – don’t give Granddad an iPad. You have been warned!

See you next week.