The Week That Was - August 14 2013

This week, a lot of promises made by both sides of the political divide, more on extreme weather, WWF tell us rescinding the carbon price is not good and truckies have something to say about that too. 

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“(In Australia) the whole election cycle is four weeks long. Four weeks! That’s like only three iPhones from now.”
John Oliver, presenter, The Daily Show in the US

It is impossible to escape the daily update of election campaigning. And sometimes it is worth looking at what is on offer – in broader terms. CAHA has released a health score card in terms of what policies are on the table.

And that, is probably enough, of that …

This week, WWF released research which told us that if the carbon price is repealed Australia would not reach its renewable energy target. Also offering new climate change research findings are the Climate Commission and The Climate Institute . We are told we are more interested in the economy than we are concerned with the price on carbon. And we get to have a look at key policies around climate change mitigation in Australia.

China, in an almost weekly event now, has yet again upped its commitment to produce more renewable energy. While it seems there is a review underway into the way forward for the Pacific region. Not before time…

Meantime Australia is mapping out its ‘smart’ energy plans we are told by Asia, and even Ikea is ‘assembling’ its energy options.

In Western Australia a lot has been said about the recent backflip over axing its solar subsidy scheme for those with domestic PV systems. It is not often you hear the words “we got it wrong” out of a politician’s mouth.

All of which brought the entire notion of the value of subsidy schemes into sharp focus this week. While other pundits tell us that urban sprawl may be the answer to climate change (as long as it is accompanied with a solar array on every roof.)

Firefighters Union boss in Victoria Peter Marshall told us, via the extreme weather Senate inquiry, that the State would need 990 more fire fighters do deal with the increased fire weather. While in Queensland, Suncorp is talking to its customers about how to mitigate inflated insurance premiums.

It has been widely reported that 2012 was a very hot year – that clearly is bad news for the Arctic. And very hot years – contribute to a very hot earth core – which contributes to Greenland melting. That all seems to makes sense.

In an extremely scary nuclear bomb analogy we are told what to expect if we do not do something about climate change.

And in what could safely be called and odd spot … Vanuatu has conscripted a reggae loving parrot to help its climate change education. And Leader Dick Clarke is selected as a judge. See you next week.



Image courtesy of Flickr user SantaRosa OLD SKOOL