The Week That Was - July 26 2012

This week, we are told that people are still wildly confused about climate change science, everything you have ever wanted to know about La Nina events, BZE have a new report out, Abbott’s been to China, and what are we are missing while the sun shines. All this and more. 

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“I think it's a very loud debate and the noise is killing off more sensible discussion”
- Gerry Hueston, Climate Commission member

Is it important to understand climate science in order to do something about climate change? Do we really know how a plane works before we pay to get on one? The Climate Institute tells us people still only have a vague grip on climate science, why we need the carbon price - and that the powers that be have hijacked the debate to keep it messy.

Mr Abbott has been doing his best on his first trip to China by – guess what – slagging off the carbon price. Meantime Monash University researcher tells us Ms Gillard could clear it up with a letter to all Australians.

Meantime the agencies who know are releasing yet more warnings of what will happen locally if we do not reduce our carbon pollution. And moreover – yet again – we are told – we need to do more globally to avoid the worst of climate change.

In the US, extreme weather is illustrating the issue nicely, at the same time that The New York Times tells us a Texan judge has rules that the atmosphere is ‘public trust.’

In slew of reports released BZE’s offering Laggard to Leader tells us how Australia can lead the world  to ‘zero carbon prosperity’, BoM tell us everything you will need know about certain weather patterns in Record Breaking La Nina events, and we wait with baited breath for the Climate Change Authority’s review of the renewable energy target, a heads up due anytime now.

And here is some clear and useful new research which tells us that temperatures rising and carbon pollution concentrations follow each other closely.

And it is not clear skies in Victoria as Premier Baillieu tells us he has nothing to say about his five per cent commitment to the Coalition’s 2010 solar policy. At the same time the national Climate Commission tells Mr Baillieu that Victoria could capture enough energy to meet its electricity twice over.

Nature photographer helps us visualise what is happening with ice loss, by putting pictures to the research from NASA who are telling us very clearly that things are not well at the Poles.

Meantime, in the warmer climes of the Pacific, the King of Tonga himself came out to the opening of the solar power farm on Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu. Tonga plans to be 50 per cent powered by renewable energy sources by 2018.  And back to Australia, Carnegie Wave Energy has signed an agreement with West Australian HMAS Stirling naval base to provide 1.25MWh per day by the end of next year. It is following the lead set by the US Navy which intends on having a full fleet of warships running on biofuels by 2016.

And while the irony is not lost on most of us that it is the Defence Forces which are ploughing ahead with wholesale switches to alternative fuel and energy sources – The Canberra Times tells us of another simple way to make headway in the hard fought battle to make efficiency measures in the home.

And if that is not an option for you in your home or renovation plans, then maybe this is. The science is in, plants make our environment healthier. And now, as the antidote to all of the confusion around everything about climate change, this series of podcasts are available to everyone in your community to use, free of charge. Go on – send them to your community station. Until next week …