The Week That Was - June 12 2013

This week two Mayors in two very different cities have two different responses to funding and finding solutions to climate change, Rio Tinto moves closer to sell off some coal assets and our Al Gore hangs out on Google. All this and more in The Week That Was…

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"I don't know about you but the last time I flew to Europe – which was last week – it was pretty apparent that the Arctic was still there…"
- Dr Nikki Williams, CEO of the Australian Coal Association

The independent, conservative International Energy Agency released its roadmap to try and keep global warming to two degrees Celsius. The think tank met some opposition from green groups but it is interesting reading.

Stay tuned for the release of a new report from Australia’s own Climate Commission which will do some more looking at this Critical Decade.

In separate reports a team of Japanese and UK researchers predict that global warming will lead to more frequent major floods in parts of the world, including northern Australia and Tasmania. News Ltd and other well-read sceptics ran a story about sceptics outnumbering ‘believers’. The content is from this study - its first key finding was that 60% of people would be willing to spend more to buy renewable energy to run their homes.

In the US, The Huffington Post describes heatwaves as silent killers, and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg announces a $US20 billion climate plan which largely focuses at keeping the sea at bay. Meantime demand for roof to solar has jumped up by a third.

Back at home, a new CSIRO study predicts a big jump in foliage growth in arid regions as carbon dioxide levels increase, and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore tells us much of the City of Sydney’s energy could be fuelled by biogas.

Heavy polluting industries operating in China will soon need to purchase compulsory liability insurance. Interesting.  Our friends in Queensland’s Ipswich will air their concerns about the harmful health effects of coal dust to a Senate Inquiry into air pollution from coal dust particles, starting soon.

On other, related news, The Canberra Times reports that cyclists are reaching speeds of 50km/h on popular bike routes with some areas seeing more than 4100 riders a day.

And probably most of us caught up with Bill McKibben last week. What a nice fellow, as our man in Tasmania Peter Boyer can attest. Keep an eye out for a Bill McKibben themed article in The Mercury next week. Maybe it was Bill’s presence in the country but it is interesting to read that Rio Tinto is getting closer to selling some if its coal assets.

Now the Climate Educators’ Skillshare has gone – but it is not forgotten. Our good folk in Indonesia and India have been going great guns replicating elements of the model at home. Have a look at the video wrap up of the event in Australia, and listen to Environmentalist of the Year Don Henry explain what his hopes are for the model.

And just in case you missed it – here is the link to the Google hangout with our own Al Gore. It is interesting technology. And we won’t have a week that was next week, but stay tuned for an action packed one - the week after. See you then!