The Week That Was - November 21 2012

We all participate in the 24 Hours of Reality, however it would seem the Australia government can’t participate in the climate talks in Doha; we want green energy but only if it’s cheap and in the meantime – sugar cane might be the answer.

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Al Gore, David Karoly, Don Henry and Climate Leaders Ken Thompson, Asif Iqbal and Don Sik Lee enthralled the world and millions of viewers with a reprise of the 24 Hours of Reality this week. It was amazing and inspiring - thank you all.

Despite our efforts, someone who has presumably been speaking to the newly re-elected Barack Obama, tells us he had no plans for a price on carbon in the US. Some people have a different view all together.

Locally, we have been told that Greg Combet is set to miss talks in Doha starting next week. If so, that will be the first time in years Australia will not be represented by a minister at the annual UN climate negotiations.

Perhaps he's a little preoccupied axing solar subsidies? And while we are on the subject, our own Climate Leader Chris McGrath has taken the opportunity to express his opinion on the Energy White Paper here.

The latest poll tells us that three-quarters of 1000 polled Australians prefer to have their energy supplied by renewable sources, and just 5.6 per cent prefer fossil fuels – almost the reverse of the country's actual energy mix.

That combined with news just in, that despite being confused, most Australians say the carbon tax is making no difference to them. And further more – most Australians want green energy, cheaply (of course).

The World Bank released a report his week looking at the issues around our current trajectory towards a four degree Celsius temperature rise. And it has been reported that people living in Asia and the Pacific were now four times more likely to be struck by natural disasters than those living in Africa, and 25 times more likely than those living in Europe or North America. And in North America, they are looking at its warmest year on record.

Meantime, they ban the bottle on Lady Elliot island.

While Australia's coal seam gas industry could face carbon tax liabilities of up to $4 billion a year if levels of "fugitive" emissions of methane gas turn out to be substantially higher than current projections, biochar and sugar cane could creep up on the Government’s agenda.

Spookily, that $4 billion is the same figure that BP has agreed to pay in terms of fines from the devastation oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

And flying to Europe will be three dollars cheaper now that Qantas has clarity on the European aviation emission scheme. Yay. That was worth the effort.

Now for the uplifting news! Google have invested a whole lot of cash in a wind farm. Locally owned, concrete kings Elvin Group are starting to think. Instead of dumping excess concrete, they recycle it (a ha) and they have installed solar panels. And there is another carbon neural beer to choose from.

We leave you with a piece from pro surfer Tom Carroll who has related what he has observed in terms of climate change related changes to the famous break around Australia’s best surfing spots. See you next week!