>
> State spokesperson for the Queensland Greens, Libby Connors, today slammed
> Campbell Newman’s commitment to revoke protection of four wild rivers in
> Cape York if an LNP government is elected.
>
> ‘Campbell Newman has proved he will be an even more aggressive proponent
> of mining and gas development than the present irresponsible Labor
> government.
>
> ‘The main threats to the Cape York rivers are from bauxite and coal mining
> although coal seam gas developers are also moving into north Queensland.
> ‘Campbell Newman will be a tool of the big miners.
>
> ‘This revocation will take out the Steve Irwin reserve that Terri Irwin
> fought so hard to protect from mining and lead to the destruction of a
> precious wilderness area.
>
> ‘The voters of Brisbane need to understand that Campbell Newman will not
> stand up for our precious rural and environmental regions against the big
> miners.
>
> ‘If you want a state government that will stop the rash and irresponsible
> mining and gas rush that is harming our economic future they must vote for
> a minor party.
>
> ‘At this election the Greens are presenting a responsible mining policy
> that will not harm other essential economic sectors such as agriculture,
> tourism and education and provide balanced economic development.’
>
>
>
>
>
Sunday, 6 November 2011
APPEA report same old cherry-picking on coal seam gas
Friday 4 November 2011
A report commissioned by the fossil fuel industry to justify claims of the environmental benefits of coal seam gas continues to cherry-pick data to reach its conclusions, the Australian Greens said today.
The report by WorleyParsons for the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association nevertheless concludes that it is only in the unlikely circumstances of best practice gas replacing worst practice coal, and using very low figures for the global warming impact of methane, that the gas industry's claims can be justified.
"You have to wonder why, when the Europeans and Americans are investing in zero emissions baseload solar power, industry in Australia is still obsessed with comparing one polluting fossil fuel with another," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
"The most important fact which needs to be established soon is the real, on-the-ground leakage of gas from the mining process. APPEA uses only industry standard estimates based on American Petroleum Institute figures.
"The real climate impact of coal seam gas can't be established until we have independently verified data on how much gas leaks and is flared and vented on the ground here in Australia.
"The real figures on leakage are triply important because APPEA's report uses a hugely outdated and understated figure for the global warming impact of the methane which leaks.
"If calculated over the next 20 years - the critical period when we risk triggering tipping points in the climate if we don't act to cut pollution fast - methane's climate impact is actually more like 72 times that of carbon dioxide, not the 21 times used in this report.
"It is worth noting that, if indeed this gas is used to replace coal, a peer-reviewed study notes that the short-term climate impact of that shift is negative as coal burning has a greater dimming effect than gas burning, more than cancelling out the climate benefits."
Australian Greens mining spokesperson, Senator Larissa Waters, said "This report continues the gas industry's practice of cherry-picking to suit its profit-making agenda rather than protect the environment.
"We have to remember, as well, that this is not just a question of the impact on the climate.
"If we allow coal seam gas to expand as much as the industry wants, we jeopardise food production on prime agricultural land, the Great Artesian Basin and even suburban areas where the companies want to drill."
A report commissioned by the fossil fuel industry to justify claims of the environmental benefits of coal seam gas continues to cherry-pick data to reach its conclusions, the Australian Greens said today.
The report by WorleyParsons for the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association nevertheless concludes that it is only in the unlikely circumstances of best practice gas replacing worst practice coal, and using very low figures for the global warming impact of methane, that the gas industry's claims can be justified.
"You have to wonder why, when the Europeans and Americans are investing in zero emissions baseload solar power, industry in Australia is still obsessed with comparing one polluting fossil fuel with another," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
"The most important fact which needs to be established soon is the real, on-the-ground leakage of gas from the mining process. APPEA uses only industry standard estimates based on American Petroleum Institute figures.
"The real climate impact of coal seam gas can't be established until we have independently verified data on how much gas leaks and is flared and vented on the ground here in Australia.
"The real figures on leakage are triply important because APPEA's report uses a hugely outdated and understated figure for the global warming impact of the methane which leaks.
"If calculated over the next 20 years - the critical period when we risk triggering tipping points in the climate if we don't act to cut pollution fast - methane's climate impact is actually more like 72 times that of carbon dioxide, not the 21 times used in this report.
"It is worth noting that, if indeed this gas is used to replace coal, a peer-reviewed study notes that the short-term climate impact of that shift is negative as coal burning has a greater dimming effect than gas burning, more than cancelling out the climate benefits."
Australian Greens mining spokesperson, Senator Larissa Waters, said "This report continues the gas industry's practice of cherry-picking to suit its profit-making agenda rather than protect the environment.
"We have to remember, as well, that this is not just a question of the impact on the climate.
"If we allow coal seam gas to expand as much as the industry wants, we jeopardise food production on prime agricultural land, the Great Artesian Basin and even suburban areas where the companies want to drill."
Friday, 4 November 2011
THE CARBON TAX
No one wants another tax. Tax is a dirty word and our instinct is to fight it. So there had better be a very good reason to support this one. Unfortunately, there is.
It’s hard to believe it but we have poured so much pollution into the air that it’s causing the world’s climate to destabilize and to heat up. We’ve all seen those belching chimney stacks. Now we’re beginning to see the damage they are causing; catastrophic droughts, fires so fierce we haven’t the skills to control them and floods of unanticipated proportions. Worse still, island neighbours are going under as sea levels rise. We could view the carbon tax as a way of repaying an environmental debt.
Until now, polluting has been free and we’ve polluted as though it doesn’t matter. Having to pay to pollute is a sure fire way to get us to reduce our pollution.
So the 500 biggest polluting companies will be taxed, and because they are profit driven they will be persuaded to reduce their pollution. Yes, they will pass some of the cost on to us, but Treasury predicts the cost of living will rise by just over half a percent. Isn’t it worth it if it means we’re leaving the next generation of loved ones a pathway towards a cleaner world? And besides, 90% of us will be reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses.
We’ll be the 42nd country to get a carbon tax. Sweden
We’ve got to clean up our act and the carbon tax is a start. A large number of big companies agree. Fosters brewing company says “It’s right that we do it. Let’s get on with it”.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Labor and Coalition back miners over farmers
Australian farmers look set to be denied the right to say no to coal seam gas on their land, as Labor, Liberal and National parties today spoke against a Greens bill previously introduced by Queensland Senator Larissa Waters.
The Landholders’ Right to Refuse (Coal Seam Gas) Bill 2011, which was debated today, would give farmers the right to keep their land free from coal seam gas exploration and production.
“Hot on the heels of rejecting the Greens’ proposed moratorium on coal seam gas last week, the old parties have today spoken at length about their intention to deny farmers any rights to protect their prime agricultural land from coal seam gas,” Senator Waters said.
“By indicating they will vote against my Bill, both Labor and the Coalition are allowing the mining industry to continue to ride rough-shod over Australian farmers.
“The Federal Government want to leave coal seam gas regulation up to the states, but an additional tier of federal protection is warranted since the states are failing to adequately protect groundwater and food security.
“It has not yet been proven that coal seam gas can safely co-exist with agriculture in the long term.
“Now the old parties are joining with industry in turning their back on farmers who are saying they are worried about the long-term impacts of coal seam gas on our water, our land and our food security.
“In fact, the old parties quoted the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) so often in their submissions today, one could be forgiven for thinking they had jumped on board the APPEA spin campaign on coal seam gas.
“Even the National party are abandoning their own constituents to kowtow to miners, leaving only the Greens to advocate for farmers’ rights against coal seam gas.
“This is shaping up to be an incredibly short-sighted move by the old parties to continue fast-tracking the coal seam gas industry, by risking the long-term future of our environment and our ability to feed ourselves.”
Larissa Waters, Greens Senator for Queensland
Friday, 16 September 2011
Australia's mining boom: fact or fiction?
Media release from Larissa Waters:
Australia's love affair with the mining boom has been in the headlines for many years now.
Mining is credited with saving us from the Global Financial Crisis, putting food on our tables, keeping our economy strong and thousands of people employed.
It's been a great public relations success. A survey released by Essential Media this week showed that 67 per cent of Australians count mining as one of our top three most important industries. A typical Australian believes the mining sector accounts for more than one third of economic activity, and employs about 16 per cent of our workforce.
Unfortunately, our perceptions of the mining industry are wildly out of step with the reality.
Today, The Australia Institute released its new research paper Mining the Truth; The rhetoric and reality of the commodities boom, which provides a detailed analysis of the ways in which the mining boom is affecting our economy, both positive and negative.
The true picture of Australian mining it reveals is startling, in all the parts that have been glossed over, rewritten or ignored.
To begin with, mining doesn't even come close to accounting for a third of our economic activity. Mining represents about 9.2 per cent of GDP, roughly the same as manufacturing. And the perception that mining employs around 16 per cent of our workforce credits the industry with nine times more workers than it actually has, about 1.9 per cent of the workforce. Despite the expansion of mining over the past seven years, mining accounts for only 7 per cent of new jobs created over that time.
Of course, mining likes to roll in all the indirect jobs it creates. If every sector calculated their share of the workforce in this way, the total number of Australian jobs would be inflated by three times the true number.
Ironically, mining could create many more jobs here if it sourced more of its materials in Australia. But without local content rules for big mining projects, most materials are sourced offshore. Australian steel, for example, make up only 10 per cent of the steel used for mining. If mining used more Australian steel, it might have been a very different outcome for 1,400 BlueScope workers.
The Mining the Truth report also sheds some light on some of the questions we are currently facing; if mining has boosted our economy and benefited all of us, why are other sectors struggling? What is the truth behind the two-speed economy?
Mining has hiked up the exchange rate, creating a direct disadvantage for our industries which need to compete internationally, such as tourism and manufacturing. Most importantly, mining and the high prices of commodities are major causes of our current high interest rates, putting great pressure on other sectors and Australian households.
But surely the profits that are created by mining are more than enough to offset the negative impacts of mining on other sectors?
As a matter of fact, they are. BHP Billiton recently posted an annual profit of $22 billion - more than half of the entire annual budget of the state of Queensland. Overall, mining will realise a whopping $600 billion in profit over the next decade.
And we are going to get next to nothing of it - 83 per cent of Australian mining is foreign-owned, and these profits will be sent back overseas. The industry has spent millions on campaigns designed to limit fair taxation on mining, even though the average rate of corporate tax paid by mining companies is around 14 per cent, mainly thanks to generous tax deductions by the Government.
The Resource Super Profits Tax would have collected an additional $200 billion in the next decade. Just imagine that money being invested back into Australian communities, hospitals, schools and public facilities.
Its meagre proposed replacement, the Mineral Resource Rent Tax, would raise only an extra $38.5 billion over the same time period. $38.5 billion - out of $600 billion of pure profit. That's less than 6.5 per cent.
The profit margin of mining is, on average, 37 per cent. Compare this to manufacturing, which enjoys a 6 per cent profit margin, or retail, which sits at 4 per cent. By now, the fairytale story of mining is less about happily ever after, and more about the Haves and the Have-Nots.
It's often argued that the mining boom does benefit everyone, by boosting superannuation through increased share prices. But again, this argument fails when held up to the light - the average superfund, among Australians who have superfunds, has barely 4 per cent of its portfolio exposed to the mining sector.
Where is the voice of fairness in all this? Why are only the Greens standing up to say the minerals in the ground belong to all of us, not just the people who dig them up? Why aren't the old parties making sure that a fair share of mining profits is returned to all Australians? Far from acting in the best interests of the public, the Government has provided one long gravy train for the mining industry.
The latest mining campaign is Our Story, another multi-million dollar PR exercise to tell us mining is good news for everyone. It doesn't include the story of high interest rates, unemployment in our other export industries, and an Australian public whose assets are being stripped from them without fair recompense.
If it did, we may discover that the true story of the mining boom is not the fantasy we've all been sold.
Senator Larissa Waters is the Greens spokesperson for mining, and the first Greens Senator for the state of Queensland.
Australia's love affair with the mining boom has been in the headlines for many years now.
Mining is credited with saving us from the Global Financial Crisis, putting food on our tables, keeping our economy strong and thousands of people employed.
It's been a great public relations success. A survey released by Essential Media this week showed that 67 per cent of Australians count mining as one of our top three most important industries. A typical Australian believes the mining sector accounts for more than one third of economic activity, and employs about 16 per cent of our workforce.
Unfortunately, our perceptions of the mining industry are wildly out of step with the reality.
Today, The Australia Institute released its new research paper Mining the Truth; The rhetoric and reality of the commodities boom, which provides a detailed analysis of the ways in which the mining boom is affecting our economy, both positive and negative.
The true picture of Australian mining it reveals is startling, in all the parts that have been glossed over, rewritten or ignored.
To begin with, mining doesn't even come close to accounting for a third of our economic activity. Mining represents about 9.2 per cent of GDP, roughly the same as manufacturing. And the perception that mining employs around 16 per cent of our workforce credits the industry with nine times more workers than it actually has, about 1.9 per cent of the workforce. Despite the expansion of mining over the past seven years, mining accounts for only 7 per cent of new jobs created over that time.
Of course, mining likes to roll in all the indirect jobs it creates. If every sector calculated their share of the workforce in this way, the total number of Australian jobs would be inflated by three times the true number.
Ironically, mining could create many more jobs here if it sourced more of its materials in Australia. But without local content rules for big mining projects, most materials are sourced offshore. Australian steel, for example, make up only 10 per cent of the steel used for mining. If mining used more Australian steel, it might have been a very different outcome for 1,400 BlueScope workers.
The Mining the Truth report also sheds some light on some of the questions we are currently facing; if mining has boosted our economy and benefited all of us, why are other sectors struggling? What is the truth behind the two-speed economy?
Mining has hiked up the exchange rate, creating a direct disadvantage for our industries which need to compete internationally, such as tourism and manufacturing. Most importantly, mining and the high prices of commodities are major causes of our current high interest rates, putting great pressure on other sectors and Australian households.
But surely the profits that are created by mining are more than enough to offset the negative impacts of mining on other sectors?
As a matter of fact, they are. BHP Billiton recently posted an annual profit of $22 billion - more than half of the entire annual budget of the state of Queensland. Overall, mining will realise a whopping $600 billion in profit over the next decade.
And we are going to get next to nothing of it - 83 per cent of Australian mining is foreign-owned, and these profits will be sent back overseas. The industry has spent millions on campaigns designed to limit fair taxation on mining, even though the average rate of corporate tax paid by mining companies is around 14 per cent, mainly thanks to generous tax deductions by the Government.
The Resource Super Profits Tax would have collected an additional $200 billion in the next decade. Just imagine that money being invested back into Australian communities, hospitals, schools and public facilities.
Its meagre proposed replacement, the Mineral Resource Rent Tax, would raise only an extra $38.5 billion over the same time period. $38.5 billion - out of $600 billion of pure profit. That's less than 6.5 per cent.
The profit margin of mining is, on average, 37 per cent. Compare this to manufacturing, which enjoys a 6 per cent profit margin, or retail, which sits at 4 per cent. By now, the fairytale story of mining is less about happily ever after, and more about the Haves and the Have-Nots.
It's often argued that the mining boom does benefit everyone, by boosting superannuation through increased share prices. But again, this argument fails when held up to the light - the average superfund, among Australians who have superfunds, has barely 4 per cent of its portfolio exposed to the mining sector.
Where is the voice of fairness in all this? Why are only the Greens standing up to say the minerals in the ground belong to all of us, not just the people who dig them up? Why aren't the old parties making sure that a fair share of mining profits is returned to all Australians? Far from acting in the best interests of the public, the Government has provided one long gravy train for the mining industry.
The latest mining campaign is Our Story, another multi-million dollar PR exercise to tell us mining is good news for everyone. It doesn't include the story of high interest rates, unemployment in our other export industries, and an Australian public whose assets are being stripped from them without fair recompense.
If it did, we may discover that the true story of the mining boom is not the fantasy we've all been sold.
Senator Larissa Waters is the Greens spokesperson for mining, and the first Greens Senator for the state of Queensland.
Action on Coal Seam Gas in Ashgrove
Coal Seam Gas was put under the spotlight last night by Ashgrove
Electorate residents who organised a community information evening at
The Gap High School in response to the many farming communities under
pressure from mining companies.
A spokesperson for the organisers, Concerned Citizens of Ashgrove,
said attendance was good with almost all 175 seats occupied.
Speakers included Bob Irwin; Sarah Moles from Qld Murray Darling
Committee; Ruth Armstrong an ecologist, grain and cotton farmer; Dr
Sandra Bayley of Doctors for the Environment Australia; Dr Helen
Fairweather environmental engineer of Beyond Zero Emissions.
Local resident Andrea Southern said the event was informative and
interesting. "I know a lot more about Coal Seam Gas now, and I have
very serious concerns about the potential dangers to our future food
and water security," Ms Southern said.
"What I got from the speakers was that we really do need to tell
government to place a moratorium on CSG mining until independent
experts can explain how to mine safely for CSG without destroying our
water and farming land."
Concerned Citizens of Ashgrove are organising another forum at a date
to be announced.
Electorate residents who organised a community information evening at
The Gap High School in response to the many farming communities under
pressure from mining companies.
A spokesperson for the organisers, Concerned Citizens of Ashgrove,
said attendance was good with almost all 175 seats occupied.
Speakers included Bob Irwin; Sarah Moles from Qld Murray Darling
Committee; Ruth Armstrong an ecologist, grain and cotton farmer; Dr
Sandra Bayley of Doctors for the Environment Australia; Dr Helen
Fairweather environmental engineer of Beyond Zero Emissions.
Local resident Andrea Southern said the event was informative and
interesting. "I know a lot more about Coal Seam Gas now, and I have
very serious concerns about the potential dangers to our future food
and water security," Ms Southern said.
"What I got from the speakers was that we really do need to tell
government to place a moratorium on CSG mining until independent
experts can explain how to mine safely for CSG without destroying our
water and farming land."
Concerned Citizens of Ashgrove are organising another forum at a date
to be announced.
Friday, 22 July 2011
The paint on the Green Door Policy appears rather thin
The Queensland Government this week released their Green Door Policy. This policy is purported to be about fast-tracking sustainable development that meets certain criteria. On the face of it this sounds great and something the Greens would support.
But, they also proudly announced in their press release that they will be employing dedicated case managers who will be able to deal with a maximum of six of the most sustainable development proposals at a time across Queensland.
The obvious question is how many developments that are going ahead are NOT sustainable. “Six seems to be a paltry number to target” said Dr Sandra Bayley, the Greens Candidate for Ashgrove.
“Why do they not legislate to ensure that ALL developments are based on sustainable principles or am I just being naive?” mused Dr Bayley. “Surely the people of Ashgrove have a right to expect that any developments planned in their area would automatically be based on sustainability principles.”
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Greens concede Campbell Newman has a point when it comes to the lack of science underpinning policy development in Queensland.
“As a very good case in point, have a look at the Queensland Government’s recently released Regionalisation Strategy”, suggested Dr Bayley, the Greens Candidate for Ashgrove.
This strategy states that it focuses on investments that will continue to build regional communities around sustainable, liveable and prosperous foundations. However, as Dr Bayley pointed out, the strategy is very much focused on the development of non-renewable and polluting resources such as coal and coal seam gas.
Under this strategy corridors are being established that include, gas and coal, but no mention of a renewable energy corridor. “This seems extraordinary, particularly given the momentous developments last week with the introduction of the carbon tax plans”, Dr Bayley said.
“The maps of current and future economic trends is misleading; the area of intended 40,000 coal seam gas wells covers much of Queensland rather than the small corridor depicted.”
The initiative mentions the word coal 29 times and renewable twice! “It is as though Queensland either doesn’t understand or is choosing to ignore the developments that are happening in the rest of Australia, and indeed the rest of the world”, pointed out Dr Bayley.
Dr Bayley reinforced the criticisms made by Campbell Newman when she questioned, “Where are the Queensland Government scientists who understand what ‘sustainable’ means?”
“In addition a document that talks about sustainability and identifying important corridors without considering the environmental implications of the proposed developments, e.g. wildlife corridors, is short-sighted.”
Friday, 15 July 2011
Mr Newman, Ashgrovians holiday at the Sunshine Coast!
The Sunshine Coast is a popular holiday and weekend retreat for many Ashgrovians. The natural beauty of this area and the sensitive development that has occurred over recent times are no doubt key reasons for this as a favoured leisure destination.
Last week Campbell Newman was quoted in the Sunshine Coast newspaper as wanting to re-write the Sustainable Planning and Local Government acts so that the Sunshine Coast Regional Council can act swiftly to support the go forward of the Coast.
In response to this Dr Sandra Bayley, the Greens candidate for Ashgrove, has asked Ashgrovians to become informed about what this means for their future visits to this highly valued part of Queensland’s coast.
“The Sustainable Planning Act has at it’s core the need to manage the effects of development on the environment” Dr Bayley said.
“Campbell Newman seems to want to change the Act so that development can be fast-tracked not only on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, but indeed across Queensland.”
“My view is the exact opposite – we need to make sure that all development is subject to careful scrutiny, not only in light of our current understanding of the needs of the environment, but also in light of the impacts of climate change”, said Dr Bayley.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
A Welcome Breakthrough on Climate Change
“It was momentous to be sitting at the Greens National Council in Brisbane today as we together watched the unveiling of the carbon price package, Australia’s first step in seriously addressing climate change.” Dr Bayley, Greens Candidate for Ashgrove, said today.
“The delivery of this package has come about as an initiative of the Greens when we achieved the balance of power in the last election.”
Adam Brandt noted that the number one issue in the Melbourne electorate in the last federal election was climate change and in response to that they delivered a Greens member of the Federal lower house at such a critical time in history.
Dr Bayley pointed out that “If Melbourne can do this, so can Brisbane. Specifically, the seat of Ashgrove has many similarities to Melbourne in that it is a well educated inner city electorate and Ashgrovians will surely be thinking about their children and grandchildren when they go to the ballot box.”
The time is clearly right for the Queensland parliament to mature in its make up, particularly as there is no senate to provide a sanity check on the decisions that are being made. As an example, the rapid development of coal seam gas is being supported by both major parties in Queensland, just at the time Australia is turning her back on the fossil fuel industry and turning her face towards renewables, as pointed out by Senator Milne today.
“Ashgrove can also be part of delivering the opportunity of a safe climate for the future by becoming aware of the rapid development of coal and coal seam gas across Queensland and making it a key election issue for the upcoming state election.
Like the electorate of Melbourne which changed the course of Australia’s energy future, Ashgrove too has the opportunity to shape Queensland’s future.” said Dr Bayley.
Sandra Bayley
Candidate for Ashgrove
Monday, 27 June 2011
Never a dull moment in Ashgrove
Bob Irwin in Ashgrove?
"Concern about coal seam gas is already being given the higher profile it deserves in the electorate of Ashgrove by Bob Irwin's announcement that he is considering running for the seat." said Dr Sandra Bayley Greens candidate for Ashgrove. While The Greens address policies across the board, we share Bob's alarm about coal seam gas rush. Ashgrove is an educated electorate and his involvement will highlight how important it is that they look more carefully at the decisions that are being made on their behalf.
It is critically important for city people to understand the risks of this burgeoning industry which threatens both our food bowl and the Great Artesian Basin. The people of Ashgrove have a timely opportunity to be collectively Queensland's Erin Brockovich.
"I understand the economic appeal of this industry, but ultimately we can't eat money. I am very concerned that the safety aspects have not been given the attention they require" Dr Bayley said. The Greens support a moratorium on coal seam gas mining until critical safeguards have been ensured. Thinking at a deeper level, we are at a point in history where we surely must start moving towards an energy future based on renewables rather than dirty gas or coal. The mythology that coal seam gas is a lower greenhouse gas emitter than coal is already being challenged.
"The coal seam gas development in Queensland is an unseemly grab for easy money, but will have ramifications for every generation to come", she said. The government acknowledges the potential damage as they are putting in place adaptive management procedures. Dr Bayley points out however, that once the damage is done to the basin, no amount of mitigation measure can fully restore it to its former state. As stated by The Water Advice Group to the federal Environment Minister, the artesian basin could take 1000 years or more to recover from the extraction of water through mining coal seam gas, let alone water contamination by the chemicals released.
Campbell Newman has publicly declared his support for the expansion of the coal seam gas industry. He did add as an aside that of course agricultural land and the artesian basin will be protected, without actually indicating how this would be achieved. "Given the warnings of The Water Advice Group this is likely to be an impossible task, even for a CAN DO man." Dr Bayley said.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Productivity Commission supports Price on Carbon and support for renewables
The Productivity Commission report for the Multi-Party Climate Committee
shows that major countries are moving to transform their economies with
a combination of carbon pricing and direct support for sunrise
industries such as renewable energy, the Greens said today.
The report shows that a wide range of climate policies and industry
measures are in place in all countries analysed: China, the USA, the UK,
South Korea, Japan, Germany and New Zealand.
"In a serious debate, this report would help finally put to rest the
ridiculous notion that Australia might be moving ahead of the world in
putting a price on pollution," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator
Christine Milne, said.
"The inescapable conclusion is that all countries have seen the need to
support sunrise industries like renewable energy directly at the same
time as pricing pollution, and some have achieved this more efficiently
than others.
"The Commission has, however, fallen into the trap of only measuring the
effectiveness of policies in terms of how much they cut pollution in the
short term, ignoring the fact that many of these are very effective
industry development policies designed to transform the economy over the
long term.
"The report shows that pricing carbon is the most efficient way to drive
fuel-switching from coal to gas, but it is not enough to drive the
transition to renewable energy.
"There are good reasons to invest early in innovation and
commercialisation of renewable energy because this reduces the cost of
achieving deep cuts in emissions in the longer term.
"Germany's decision, for example, to invest up front in a renewable
energy boom has driven its pollution cuts and put it in prime position
to reap the benefits of cheaper action over time.
"Germany's world-leading renewable energy policies have had enormous
benefits which aren't measured by this report - a jobs boom, energy
security and cleaner air, amongst them.
"Unfortunately, since the Howard era, Australian policies to drive
renewable energy have been ad hoc and targeted more at photo
opportunities than real industry development. It's no surprise that we
have lost so many economic opportunities to Germany, China and other
competitors.
"The Greens are determined to ensure that, alongside a price on
pollution, we finally put in place well-designed policies and funding
streams that will create a flourishing industry and start building here
in Australia the kind of industrial-scale baseload solar power stations
that are operational right now in Europe and America.
"By investing now in making clean, renewable energy cheaper, we will
make the transformation to a cleaner, healthier more secure economy
cheaper over time.
"If we fail once again to support renewable energy now, we will become
the first generation since the industrial revolution to pass a greater
debt on to our children instead of working to make their lives easier."
The Greens note that this report is a key step in the analysis that the
Productivity Commission will need to undertake in the years ahead to
underpin the principled approach to compensation for trade exposed
industries.
Christine Milne - media release 9th June
shows that major countries are moving to transform their economies with
a combination of carbon pricing and direct support for sunrise
industries such as renewable energy, the Greens said today.
The report shows that a wide range of climate policies and industry
measures are in place in all countries analysed: China, the USA, the UK,
South Korea, Japan, Germany and New Zealand.
"In a serious debate, this report would help finally put to rest the
ridiculous notion that Australia might be moving ahead of the world in
putting a price on pollution," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator
Christine Milne, said.
"The inescapable conclusion is that all countries have seen the need to
support sunrise industries like renewable energy directly at the same
time as pricing pollution, and some have achieved this more efficiently
than others.
"The Commission has, however, fallen into the trap of only measuring the
effectiveness of policies in terms of how much they cut pollution in the
short term, ignoring the fact that many of these are very effective
industry development policies designed to transform the economy over the
long term.
"The report shows that pricing carbon is the most efficient way to drive
fuel-switching from coal to gas, but it is not enough to drive the
transition to renewable energy.
"There are good reasons to invest early in innovation and
commercialisation of renewable energy because this reduces the cost of
achieving deep cuts in emissions in the longer term.
"Germany's decision, for example, to invest up front in a renewable
energy boom has driven its pollution cuts and put it in prime position
to reap the benefits of cheaper action over time.
"Germany's world-leading renewable energy policies have had enormous
benefits which aren't measured by this report - a jobs boom, energy
security and cleaner air, amongst them.
"Unfortunately, since the Howard era, Australian policies to drive
renewable energy have been ad hoc and targeted more at photo
opportunities than real industry development. It's no surprise that we
have lost so many economic opportunities to Germany, China and other
competitors.
"The Greens are determined to ensure that, alongside a price on
pollution, we finally put in place well-designed policies and funding
streams that will create a flourishing industry and start building here
in Australia the kind of industrial-scale baseload solar power stations
that are operational right now in Europe and America.
"By investing now in making clean, renewable energy cheaper, we will
make the transformation to a cleaner, healthier more secure economy
cheaper over time.
"If we fail once again to support renewable energy now, we will become
the first generation since the industrial revolution to pass a greater
debt on to our children instead of working to make their lives easier."
The Greens note that this report is a key step in the analysis that the
Productivity Commission will need to undertake in the years ahead to
underpin the principled approach to compensation for trade exposed
industries.
Christine Milne - media release 9th June
Monday, 6 June 2011
Greens question LNP’s focus group approach
Media Statement from Dr Sandra Bayley, Greens Candidate for Ashgrove:
Greens candidate for Ashgrove Dr Sandra Bayley has highlighted the
contrast between Campbell Newman’s focus group-style doorknocking
blitz and the Greens’ grassroots campaign.
In March, Mr Newman announced he had wiped the LNP’s policy slate
clean, and now plans to doorknock 100,000 households to work out what
he should stand for at the state election.
Meanwhile, Dr Bayley has been doorknocking locally, engaging Ashgrove
voters in conversations about important policy issues and how the
Greens will address them. But there is no doubt about what she stands
for.
“The Greens represent strong action on climate change, equitable
access to quality health care, a moratorium on further coal seam gas
mining, better public transport and much more,” she said.
“We believe in our policies and principles, which are based on
evidence and don’t change every time there is a shift in the opinion
polls.”
Dr Bayley says she and her team of enthusiastic volunteers have been
out and about on street corners and attending local events like the
Hillbrook Sustainability Day and the rally to ‘Say Yes’ to a price on
carbon.
“I am keen to meet with Ashgrove voters to talk about issues that are
important to them in their local area and beyond,” she said.
“People have been very interested to hear about Greens policies on
issues that resonate with them, like the carbon tax, public transport,
food security and schools.”
Dr Bayley also expressed amusement at the latest comments from federal
Independent MP Bob Katter that “you’ve got to be pretty desperate to
vote for the Greens”.
She said the decision of more than 1.6 million Australians to vote for
the Greens in 2010 was not about desperation.
“The Greens have become the third force in Australian politics, and
our policies on health, social justice, education and the environment
represent a positive way forward,” she said.
“Unlike Labor and the LNP, the Greens have a track record of standing
up for what is right, not just what is easy or what polls well.”
Dr Bayley achieved 19 per cent of the primary vote in the seat of Ryan
at the 2010 federal election.
The Queensland Greens’ policies are available at
http://qld.greens.org.au/policies.
Sandra Bayley
Candidate for Ashgrove
3366 2393 (h)
0488 362 055 (m)
sandra.bayley6@bigpond.com
facebook.com/Sandra.Bayley.4.Ashgrove
Greens candidate for Ashgrove Dr Sandra Bayley has highlighted the
contrast between Campbell Newman’s focus group-style doorknocking
blitz and the Greens’ grassroots campaign.
In March, Mr Newman announced he had wiped the LNP’s policy slate
clean, and now plans to doorknock 100,000 households to work out what
he should stand for at the state election.
Meanwhile, Dr Bayley has been doorknocking locally, engaging Ashgrove
voters in conversations about important policy issues and how the
Greens will address them. But there is no doubt about what she stands
for.
“The Greens represent strong action on climate change, equitable
access to quality health care, a moratorium on further coal seam gas
mining, better public transport and much more,” she said.
“We believe in our policies and principles, which are based on
evidence and don’t change every time there is a shift in the opinion
polls.”
Dr Bayley says she and her team of enthusiastic volunteers have been
out and about on street corners and attending local events like the
Hillbrook Sustainability Day and the rally to ‘Say Yes’ to a price on
carbon.
“I am keen to meet with Ashgrove voters to talk about issues that are
important to them in their local area and beyond,” she said.
“People have been very interested to hear about Greens policies on
issues that resonate with them, like the carbon tax, public transport,
food security and schools.”
Dr Bayley also expressed amusement at the latest comments from federal
Independent MP Bob Katter that “you’ve got to be pretty desperate to
vote for the Greens”.
She said the decision of more than 1.6 million Australians to vote for
the Greens in 2010 was not about desperation.
“The Greens have become the third force in Australian politics, and
our policies on health, social justice, education and the environment
represent a positive way forward,” she said.
“Unlike Labor and the LNP, the Greens have a track record of standing
up for what is right, not just what is easy or what polls well.”
Dr Bayley achieved 19 per cent of the primary vote in the seat of Ryan
at the 2010 federal election.
The Queensland Greens’ policies are available at
http://qld.greens.org.au/policies.
Sandra Bayley
Candidate for Ashgrove
3366 2393 (h)
0488 362 055 (m)
sandra.bayley6@bigpond.com
facebook.com/Sandra.Bayley.4.Ashgrove
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Say Yes to Making Polluters Pay Rally in Brisbane, 5th June, 2011
 |
| Myself and the next generation that will have to clean up our mistakes. As his sign says, we can't afford not to make the polluters pay. |
 |
| Myself, Senator Larissa Waters and Greens candidate for Mt Coot-tha, Adam Stone |
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
What did we do when we knew?
The International Energy Agency announced today that spiralling greenhouse gas emissions from human activities mean there is now little hope of limiting our rising global temperature to 2 degrees as agreed at the Cancun climate conference. Their report said "44% of emissions come from burning coal, 36% from oil and 20% from gas".
It's not as though we don't know what is causing the problem yet Queensland's government is planning to double our coal exports by 2030 and cover rural Queensland with 40,000 coal seam gas wells. It doesn't compute - unless they think money will save us.
Every year global overconsumption is recorded around the world. It records the day of the year when our consumption exceeds what the planet can sustain. In 2010 it fell on 21 August and it moves further forward every year. This so called development cannot continue. Something has to change.
* The Nordic region leads the way. They have shown over the past decades that growth is possible without increased environmental impact. The idea of sustainability goes hand in hand with the Nordic welfare state where it is their objective to enhance quality of life without depleting the earth's resources.
* In 1990 Sweden introduced a $100 carbon tax. It is now one of the world's most successful economies.
* Germany's Angela Merkel, in centre right government, on announcing she will phase out nuclear power by 2022 said this week "We believe we as a country can be a trailblazer for a new age of renewable energy sources".
"We can be the first major industrialised country that achieves the transition to renewable energy with all the opportunities - for exports, development, technology, jobs - it carries with it."
* Government in Scotland has announced the country will be running on 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Yet we keep hearing that Australia can't afford to get ahead of the rest of the world in responding to the growing climate crisis. We are orchestrating a crime against nature and the future.
It's not as though we don't know what is causing the problem yet Queensland's government is planning to double our coal exports by 2030 and cover rural Queensland with 40,000 coal seam gas wells. It doesn't compute - unless they think money will save us.
Every year global overconsumption is recorded around the world. It records the day of the year when our consumption exceeds what the planet can sustain. In 2010 it fell on 21 August and it moves further forward every year. This so called development cannot continue. Something has to change.
* The Nordic region leads the way. They have shown over the past decades that growth is possible without increased environmental impact. The idea of sustainability goes hand in hand with the Nordic welfare state where it is their objective to enhance quality of life without depleting the earth's resources.
* In 1990 Sweden introduced a $100 carbon tax. It is now one of the world's most successful economies.
* Germany's Angela Merkel, in centre right government, on announcing she will phase out nuclear power by 2022 said this week "We believe we as a country can be a trailblazer for a new age of renewable energy sources".
"We can be the first major industrialised country that achieves the transition to renewable energy with all the opportunities - for exports, development, technology, jobs - it carries with it."
* Government in Scotland has announced the country will be running on 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Yet we keep hearing that Australia can't afford to get ahead of the rest of the world in responding to the growing climate crisis. We are orchestrating a crime against nature and the future.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Thanks Ross Gittins
Climate inertia shows ugly side of the Australian character
Ross Gittins, SMH May 25, 2011
It's a sore test of faith when people put power bills before their children's future.
LIKE most people, I'm an instinctive optimist. In any case, I see no margin in pessimism. If you concluded the world was irredeemably wicked, or destined for certain destruction, what would be left but to curl up and die? Since we can never be certain the end is nigh, much better to keep living and keep plugging away for a better world.
I confess, however, I've needed all my optimistic instincts to avoid despair over the terrible hash we're making of the need to take effective action against global warming. We're showing everything that's unattractive about the Australian character.
We pride ourselves that Aussies are good in a crisis, but until the walls start falling in on us we couldn't reach agreement to shut the door against the cold.
This week's report from the Climate Commission - established to provide expert advice on the science of climate change and its effects on Australia—tells us nothing we didn't already know, but everything we've lost sight of in our efforts to advance our personal interests at the expense of the nation's.
Its 70 pages boil down to four propositions we'd rather not think about. First, there is no doubt the climate is changing. The evidence is clear. The atmosphere is warming, the ocean is warming, ice is being lost from glaciers and ice caps, and sea levels are rising. Global surface temperature is rising fast; the last decade was the hottest on record.
Second, we are already seeing the social, economic and environmental effects of a changing climate. In the past 50 years, the number of record hot days in Australia has more than doubled. This has increased the risk of heatwave-associated deaths, as well as extreme bushfires.
Sea level has risen by 20 centimetres globally since the late 1800s, affecting many coastal communities. Another 20-centimetre increase by 2050 is likely, on present projections, which would more than double the risk of coastal flooding.
Third, these changes are triggered by human activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation—which are increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, with carbon dioxide the most important of these gases.
Fourth, this is the critical decade. Decisions we make from now to 2020 will determine the severity of climate change our children and grandchildren experience. Without strong and rapid action, there is a significant risk that climate change will undermine society's prosperity, health, stability and way of life.
That scientists still need to repeat these long-established truths is a measure of how much we've allowed short-sighted and selfish concerns to distract us from the need to respond to a clear and present danger.
In this we haven't been well served by our leaders. The Labor government's decline dates from Kevin Rudd's loss of nerve following the defeat of his carbon pollution reduction scheme in the Senate in late 2009, following the success of the Coalition's climate-change deniers in overthrowing Malcolm Turnbull and replacing him with a man whose record showed him willing to take whatever position on climate change he thought would advance his career.
Had Rudd the courage of his professed convictions, he would have taken the question to a double-dissolution election, fighting in defence of his ''great big new tax on everything''. Instead he dithered, eventually yielding to pressure from those in his party—including Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan—wanting to put the government's survival ahead of its duty.
Opposition leaders play a vital role in a democracy and are given considerable licence. They're not expected to speak the unvarnished truth. Dishonest scare campaigns have long been used by both sides.
I don't like using the L-word, but Tony Abbott is setting new lows in the lightness with which he plays with the truth. He blatantly works both sides of the street, nodding happily in the company of climate-change deniers, but in more intellectually respectable company professing belief in human-caused global warming, his commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 and the efficacy of his no-offence policies to achieve it.
He grossly exaggerates the costs involved in a carbon tax, telling business audiences they will have to pay the lot and be destroyed by it, while telling the punters business will pass all the costs on to them. He forgets to mention that most of the proceeds from the tax will be returned as compensation.
He repeats the half-truth that nothing we could do by ourselves would reduce global emissions, while failing to correct the punters' ignorant belief that Australia is the only country contemplating action. Last week's news that Britain's Conservative-led coalition government has pledged to cut emissions by half within 15 years is ignored. Economists call this mentality ''free-riding''; the old Australian word for it is ''bludging''.
But it's far too easy to blame our failure to face up to climate change just on our hopeless politicians. Our increasingly partisan media have failed to hold Abbott to account over his duplicity. Many have sought to increase circulation or ratings by joining in the fearmongering and denial. The media's love of controversy has led it to give doubters of the science of climate change a credibility they don't deserve against the overwhelming weight of science.
Australians are proud of their inbuilt bulldust detectors, but on this issue they seemed to have turned them off, happily believing whatever self-serving nonsense politicians, business people and media personalities serve up to them.
The one thing humans are meant to care about above all is the survival of their young. Yet people with the highest standard of living in history are whingeing that they couldn't possibly afford to pay a bit more for their electricity.
Ross Gittins is a senior columnist.
Ross Gittins, SMH May 25, 2011
It's a sore test of faith when people put power bills before their children's future.
LIKE most people, I'm an instinctive optimist. In any case, I see no margin in pessimism. If you concluded the world was irredeemably wicked, or destined for certain destruction, what would be left but to curl up and die? Since we can never be certain the end is nigh, much better to keep living and keep plugging away for a better world.
I confess, however, I've needed all my optimistic instincts to avoid despair over the terrible hash we're making of the need to take effective action against global warming. We're showing everything that's unattractive about the Australian character.
We pride ourselves that Aussies are good in a crisis, but until the walls start falling in on us we couldn't reach agreement to shut the door against the cold.
This week's report from the Climate Commission - established to provide expert advice on the science of climate change and its effects on Australia—tells us nothing we didn't already know, but everything we've lost sight of in our efforts to advance our personal interests at the expense of the nation's.
Its 70 pages boil down to four propositions we'd rather not think about. First, there is no doubt the climate is changing. The evidence is clear. The atmosphere is warming, the ocean is warming, ice is being lost from glaciers and ice caps, and sea levels are rising. Global surface temperature is rising fast; the last decade was the hottest on record.
Second, we are already seeing the social, economic and environmental effects of a changing climate. In the past 50 years, the number of record hot days in Australia has more than doubled. This has increased the risk of heatwave-associated deaths, as well as extreme bushfires.
Sea level has risen by 20 centimetres globally since the late 1800s, affecting many coastal communities. Another 20-centimetre increase by 2050 is likely, on present projections, which would more than double the risk of coastal flooding.
Third, these changes are triggered by human activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation—which are increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, with carbon dioxide the most important of these gases.
Fourth, this is the critical decade. Decisions we make from now to 2020 will determine the severity of climate change our children and grandchildren experience. Without strong and rapid action, there is a significant risk that climate change will undermine society's prosperity, health, stability and way of life.
That scientists still need to repeat these long-established truths is a measure of how much we've allowed short-sighted and selfish concerns to distract us from the need to respond to a clear and present danger.
In this we haven't been well served by our leaders. The Labor government's decline dates from Kevin Rudd's loss of nerve following the defeat of his carbon pollution reduction scheme in the Senate in late 2009, following the success of the Coalition's climate-change deniers in overthrowing Malcolm Turnbull and replacing him with a man whose record showed him willing to take whatever position on climate change he thought would advance his career.
Had Rudd the courage of his professed convictions, he would have taken the question to a double-dissolution election, fighting in defence of his ''great big new tax on everything''. Instead he dithered, eventually yielding to pressure from those in his party—including Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan—wanting to put the government's survival ahead of its duty.
Opposition leaders play a vital role in a democracy and are given considerable licence. They're not expected to speak the unvarnished truth. Dishonest scare campaigns have long been used by both sides.
I don't like using the L-word, but Tony Abbott is setting new lows in the lightness with which he plays with the truth. He blatantly works both sides of the street, nodding happily in the company of climate-change deniers, but in more intellectually respectable company professing belief in human-caused global warming, his commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 and the efficacy of his no-offence policies to achieve it.
He grossly exaggerates the costs involved in a carbon tax, telling business audiences they will have to pay the lot and be destroyed by it, while telling the punters business will pass all the costs on to them. He forgets to mention that most of the proceeds from the tax will be returned as compensation.
He repeats the half-truth that nothing we could do by ourselves would reduce global emissions, while failing to correct the punters' ignorant belief that Australia is the only country contemplating action. Last week's news that Britain's Conservative-led coalition government has pledged to cut emissions by half within 15 years is ignored. Economists call this mentality ''free-riding''; the old Australian word for it is ''bludging''.
But it's far too easy to blame our failure to face up to climate change just on our hopeless politicians. Our increasingly partisan media have failed to hold Abbott to account over his duplicity. Many have sought to increase circulation or ratings by joining in the fearmongering and denial. The media's love of controversy has led it to give doubters of the science of climate change a credibility they don't deserve against the overwhelming weight of science.
Australians are proud of their inbuilt bulldust detectors, but on this issue they seemed to have turned them off, happily believing whatever self-serving nonsense politicians, business people and media personalities serve up to them.
The one thing humans are meant to care about above all is the survival of their young. Yet people with the highest standard of living in history are whingeing that they couldn't possibly afford to pay a bit more for their electricity.
Ross Gittins is a senior columnist.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
SORRY DAY another chance to be sorry.
Greens look for more action on Sorry Day
The Australian Greens have today reaffirmed their commitment to better
outcomes for the Stolen Generations, using Sorry Day to focus on taking
further steps towards a better Australia.
"It is poignant that this year, Sorry Day comes just as the national
discussion paper on the recognition of Indigenous people in Australia's
constitution is launched and we engage in a national discussion" said
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.
"We believe that Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians
has the potential to be the basis for lasting and meaningful change in
our society.
"I am encouraged by some of the work being done around the country to
deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal people, including practical
measures to overcome the sad legacy of the Stolen Generations but more
needs to be done.
"The National Sorry Day Committee's Progress Scorecard is used to
measure the progress of the Stolen Generations Working Partnership and
has highlighted the importance of continued and improved support for
important services and programs.
"For example, the scorecard identifies a number of instances where
funding from the Federal Government's mental health package could be
invested to improve support services for Stolen Generations and their
families. Mental health remains a serious concern in many Aboriginal
communities, and services are often under-resourced.
I'll be at Balaangala Gardens, 98 Yooralla St The Gap for a ceremony and tree planting from 4.30 till 6pm, organised by the local reconcilliation group.
The Australian Greens have today reaffirmed their commitment to better
outcomes for the Stolen Generations, using Sorry Day to focus on taking
further steps towards a better Australia.
"It is poignant that this year, Sorry Day comes just as the national
discussion paper on the recognition of Indigenous people in Australia's
constitution is launched and we engage in a national discussion" said
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.
"We believe that Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians
has the potential to be the basis for lasting and meaningful change in
our society.
"I am encouraged by some of the work being done around the country to
deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal people, including practical
measures to overcome the sad legacy of the Stolen Generations but more
needs to be done.
"The National Sorry Day Committee's Progress Scorecard is used to
measure the progress of the Stolen Generations Working Partnership and
has highlighted the importance of continued and improved support for
important services and programs.
"For example, the scorecard identifies a number of instances where
funding from the Federal Government's mental health package could be
invested to improve support services for Stolen Generations and their
families. Mental health remains a serious concern in many Aboriginal
communities, and services are often under-resourced.
I'll be at Balaangala Gardens, 98 Yooralla St The Gap for a ceremony and tree planting from 4.30 till 6pm, organised by the local reconcilliation group.
Monday, 23 May 2011
It's surreal
The Climate Commission's first report released today is titled "The Critical Decade". It warns that our decisions this decade will determine whether our children will spend their lives struggling with a climate out of control. Will Steffen, the report's author and professor of climate change at ANU warns that we need a clean energy revolution starting now. We need to decarbonise our economy and way of life and move to clean energy, now. If we fail to do this we will miss the last remaining opportunity to safeguard the future.
You'd think that a message like this would preoccupy the nation's thinking, dominate news broadcasts and stop us in our tracks. You'd think every one of us would be imploring governments to facilitate this transition to renewable energy at the very least for the sake of our children and grand children. And talking to our neighbours about what more each of us could do to pull our weight. That political parties would stop arguing and legislate today to reduce our carbon emissions, the proven cause of this, the biggest problem humanity has ever faced. And the 17 government subsidies of the fossil fuel industry would be transferred to industries waiting in the wings to build a renewable energy future. That groups like BZE with its costed plan for transitioning to renewable stationary energy within a decade would be consulted about how to do it.
But none of this is happening. It's just business as usual. What will it take to move us to demand a change of direction necessary to safeguard the future?
You'd think that a message like this would preoccupy the nation's thinking, dominate news broadcasts and stop us in our tracks. You'd think every one of us would be imploring governments to facilitate this transition to renewable energy at the very least for the sake of our children and grand children. And talking to our neighbours about what more each of us could do to pull our weight. That political parties would stop arguing and legislate today to reduce our carbon emissions, the proven cause of this, the biggest problem humanity has ever faced. And the 17 government subsidies of the fossil fuel industry would be transferred to industries waiting in the wings to build a renewable energy future. That groups like BZE with its costed plan for transitioning to renewable stationary energy within a decade would be consulted about how to do it.
But none of this is happening. It's just business as usual. What will it take to move us to demand a change of direction necessary to safeguard the future?
Saturday, 21 May 2011
International Biodiversity Day
It is always with sadness that I stop to reflect on biodiversity. My species has done such an all pervasive job of removing and altering the habitat of our fellow species that so many of them have been driven to extinction and many more are on the brink. In fact the sixth great extinction is happening now at our hands.
Queensland has a worse record than the other states combined. At last count we were responsible for 53% of plant and animal extinctions. In many cases we have eradicated species before we have even mapped their presence.
South-east Queensland is a biodiversity hotspot. It is also trying to accommodate the major population flow in Australia. Over 1000 people per week have been moving here for many years. We have lost 50% of our koala population in the last three years. Does that mean in three years hence they will all be gone?
I'm trying to find something positive to say on this topic of biodiversity.
If anyone can help me find the words, I welcome your response.
Queensland has a worse record than the other states combined. At last count we were responsible for 53% of plant and animal extinctions. In many cases we have eradicated species before we have even mapped their presence.
South-east Queensland is a biodiversity hotspot. It is also trying to accommodate the major population flow in Australia. Over 1000 people per week have been moving here for many years. We have lost 50% of our koala population in the last three years. Does that mean in three years hence they will all be gone?
I'm trying to find something positive to say on this topic of biodiversity.
If anyone can help me find the words, I welcome your response.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Letting the British lead
Conservative leader David Cameron has announced his intention to drop Britain's carbon emissions to 50% of their 1990 level by 2029, calling it an environment propelled low carbon industrial revolution.
He has recognised the imperative of taking leadership in clean energy technology. The government will support the birth of a new manufacturing industry in renewables.
Their conservative party is clearly very different from our own.
It makes our meagre 5% reduction target by 2020 pale into insignificance.
Let's hope our conservative party was listening to yesterday's news from England. And for that matter our party in government as well.
He has recognised the imperative of taking leadership in clean energy technology. The government will support the birth of a new manufacturing industry in renewables.
Their conservative party is clearly very different from our own.
It makes our meagre 5% reduction target by 2020 pale into insignificance.
Let's hope our conservative party was listening to yesterday's news from England. And for that matter our party in government as well.
The Godfather of the Environment Movement
Just saw David Suzuki's film "Force of Nature". It's autobiographical and he made it for his 75th birthday, to say what he wanted to say before he dies. He says we bow before the percieved need for economic growth as we used to bow before dragons and demons - all three are figments of our imagination.
And the questions we don't ask in the way we live our lives are:
How much is enough?
Are there no limits?
How I wish I could reassure him that the world now understands what he has been saying all these years, and that we are fast moving along an alternative pathway that respects the air, the water, the soil, the sources of all life.
And the questions we don't ask in the way we live our lives are:
How much is enough?
Are there no limits?
How I wish I could reassure him that the world now understands what he has been saying all these years, and that we are fast moving along an alternative pathway that respects the air, the water, the soil, the sources of all life.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Photo of the launch of my candidacy
Adam Stone, candidate for Mt Coot-tha, myself, Senator Bob Brown and Senator Larissa Waters at the
Mt Coot-tha launch of our campaign on 2nd May 2011.
Greens ready to adopt strong emissions targets
Greens Ready to Adopt Strong Emissions Targets
Wednesday 11 May 2011
The Australian Greens remain 100% committed to using all methods
possible to implement science-based emissions reduction targets, despite
misleading reports in today's press
"The Greens work every day inside and outside the Parliament to do
everything we can to get Australia on track to achieving the pollution
cuts we need to tackle the climate crisis," Australian Greens Deputy
Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
It was the Government's refusal to budge beyond a 5% reduction by 2020
in greenhouse gas emissions that led the Greens in January 2010 to
propose a compromise approach to start transforming the economy by
introducing a trading scheme with a fixed price until an agreement on
targets can be reached.
"If we cannot get agreement on responsible targets in an emissions
trading scheme, the best way to make this happen is by introducing a
price signal to start the process towards transforming our economy from
polluting coal to clean, renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency,
protecting forests, creating jobs and more.
"The idea that the fixed price period will be without a target is old
news, frankly, as that is what we are working to achieve with the
current negotiations.
"The whole point of the hybrid model to put a price on pollution, teamed
with policies to drive renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean
transport and more, is to get Australia moving on building a new clean
economy and come back to agree on targets further down the track.
"Once the scheme is operating from July 1 next year with a fixed and
rising price, we can return to negotiating targets. When that succeeds,
trading will follow.
"This process is set out in the Carbon Price Framework Agreement agreed
between The Greens and the Government and announced in February this
year.
"Critically, when it comes time to transition from a fixed price to a
trading scheme, we will have the experience of carbon pricing and enough
investment will have been made in the right direction to take on the
truly ambitious, science-based targets that we need in order to tackle
the climate crisis.
"To suggest that this approach demonstrates the Greens shelving our
ambitious targets is patently wrong.
"What we need now is both the Government and the Coalition to be upfront
about the ambition of the targets that will be necessary to constrain
global warming to below 2 degrees. That is well above a 5% target."
Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne | Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate
Change Spokesperson
Suite SG-112 Parliament House, Canberra ACT | P: 02 6277 3588 | M: 0437
587 562
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