The Week That Was - June 5 2013

This week all sorts of research is out quantifying what should and shouldn’t happen in terms of cutting our carbon emissions, or should that read CFC’s? And we set a new Australian record for generating renewable power... 

---

“A carbon price is the best way to do something about climate change, so we can pass on the planet to our kids and grandkids in the best shape possible”.
- Bill Shorten, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation.

The good news is that a new report just out from the Clean Energy Council tells us that 13.14 per cent of Australia’s electricity came from renewable sources in 2012 (a new record). That is enough to power 4 million homes and that is $4.2 billion in investment generated over the year with 24,300 people employed in the clean energy industry.  Cool, huh?

And Bill McKibben is here, encouraging investors to shun fossil fuel companies.  The Uniting Church has done so by dumping its coal assets. The word is that universities will be next.

The boilers at the old CUB Brewery in Abbotsford, Melbourne are being re-tasked to meet the energy needs of a nearby office building, turning it into a hub of environmental sustainability and design. See … we are powered by beer.

And my word there has been a lot of scientists publishing research this week.  Unhelpfully, a Canadian campus released research saying the problem is CFC’s, not CO2. And plenty of us have a problem with that. Not the sceptics obviously. Meanwhile Will Steffen et al authored a piece saying that planting trees will not get Australia to an acceptable level of carbon pollution reduction.

And Vivid Economics show us that we could strengthen our carbon pollution reduction targets. And it is reported that only one in five undecided voters want the carbon price repealed.

Tasmania is half way to reducing carbon emissions by an amount it set itself five years ago, says Climate Change Minister Cassy O'Connor.

The intriguingly titled European Conference on Severe Storms tells us climate change will mean more stormy weather is ahead. And climate change is also causing the Venice of Africa to disappear, Sri Lanka’s fisheries to show the strain and for people living in remote areas to be susceptible more to disease.

And, as if we needed any more motivation to spread the word that the impacts of climate change present a clear and present danger,  have a look at the work of Michael Hall, a Sydney-based award winning professional photographer who is capturing photographs from around the world, documenting the diverse people and places affected by climate change.

Scientists from around the globe reaffirm the consensus around the acceptance of climate science with this manifesto. And – I know we have all done it before – but it’s time to tell our MPs to act on climate change, a valiant attempt to do so by Independent Rob Oakeshott to lead the charge.

Meantime the UK climate adviser tells the world that spending on renewables instead of new power stations would save them 100 billion pounds.

And these are so odd – they are worth a look … coal love isn’t simple!!  Huh?



Image by ne0pix