Lighter Footprints

End of year Lighter Footprints dinner

2011-12-14T14:45:00.000+11:00

Thirty of us had a great dinner together on Wednesday night December 7th. A highlight was the range of comments made as we went round the room sharing what had stuck with us as memorable from the past year of working with Lighter Footprints.

Here are the comments made on the night by Carolyn (convenor), followed by a piece from Sue King.

This year 2011-
So what have been the highlights for Lighter Footprints

Ok it has to be the year of the carbon tax – I am still finding it hard to believe it actually got through, having braced myself for disappointment – I just knew something would happen which would blow it out of the water. I have been convinced for a very long time now that a price on carbon is key to reforms which are required to change the levels of carbon emissions we have come to see as normal, and I cannot agree with those who believe that because this step is insufficient in itself to turn us around, we should work to see it brought down. This issue will raise itself again in due course when we address the matter of the rollover to an emissions trading scheme. I see a year’s reprieve next year when the reforms will begin to bite, before we need to address the ETS matter.

We contributed to the drive towards this carbon tax in several ways:

we ran our forums –having direct or indirect relevance to the issue of reform- these still reverberate because of the recordings on the website – thanks to Peter Campbell ‘s videos and photos and to the slides we wrested from the speakers, and Simon Grosser’s persistence in getting them upon our site.
we ran stalls and some street handouts aimed at support for the carbon tax in the face of the extreme hostility being mounted. We had close to 1000 letters signed and forwarded to members of the multiparty committee on CC to add strength to their arms. And we let the opposition know these numbers.
we joined the earth ball relay became part of the montage presented to the parliament prior to the passage of the carbon tax package. – also still getting hits on our website – maybe because of the rather nice song we sang.
we supported several campaigns directly and indirectly related to the carbon tax- the Getup action, the Yes Campaign, and 100% renewables campaign, the EV letter writing campaign – where we continued our commitment to getting letters into papers. We’ve had more success at having letters published than any other CAG in Australia - or so I believe!
we got a mention in Hansard via Anna Burke who has continued to support us as the kind of local action group that changes the game by being out there supporting the policy for reform.
we joined the deckchair month of speakers on the steps of parliament– set up by LIVE
we were invited to speak about ethical leadership at a community level at Melbourne University leadership course at Mt Eliza.

What else have we done?

we ran our monthly meetings with speakers at most of them- - variety being the key! – Plants and CO2,; Planning for cities here versus US; latest BZE plan and a run down on their stationary energy approach; The Pacific Islands dilemma with CC, and one of the very nice outcomes from that being Yea High school connection with one of the islands schools; how do we go about working with our local Council and possibly assisting candidates who want to stand; and more
we also ran monthly small group meetings which became the drivers for what we asked of the rest of our group – the key to our success is the work of these beavers the Fed/State Politics group and the Local gov/ community group (the latter tending to be more ad hoc)
we helped to run the national climate action conference which was held at Melb Uni in April this year
we joined CANA
we improved the website
we made good links with Boroondara Council, and the Whitehorse Council
and lots more! – like our recent Kris Kindle stall, and the general wonder of finding friendships with people of like mind.

Overall a big year. An unforgettable year.

So let’s now go round the table and hear from others about the things they have gotten out of belonging to this group this year – give us an example of something you have enjoyed doing and felt was worthwhile – that had an impact. Can be quite small, and it doesn’t matter if it has already been mentioned – if it was true for you too, then tell us. Tonight we’re not going to explore the “how might we have done this better theme”- we have an strategic planning day coming up to air some of the things we’d like to improve. This is our celebration time. What did we get out of this year.

CI
7/12/2011

It was a time to revisit what we have achieved and to remember where we came from.

Five years ago we set up Lighterfootprints with Carolyn at the helm. Carolyn wrote a letter in the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood news expressing her despondency at Al Gores Inconvenient Truth and sending out pleas to like minded individuals in a call, albeit a quiet call, to action.

The group is not run as a traditional association, with committees etc handing down the next years plan, it is a collective of people bringing their own passion and ideas and allowing them to follow their interests motivated to make their footprints and those of others lighter than they are. Carolyn is the hub of all of this and with her, the spokes of our wheel turn.

At our annual dinner everyone got to chance to articulate to the group what they had felt were the successes of the year. This ranged from the carbon tax and our efforts to support it, kids activities at Maling Road, letter publishing in the Herald sun, local government engagement, forums allowing politicians to articulate their position, a talk about low lying islands, talk about urban deforestation, , joining the climate action groups network, becoming well known, and markedly improving our website.

It is our individual and collective actions which are going to drive us forward, with our passion forged together I believe that we can all do great things and small things, the more that we try, the more that we will discover within ourselves what we are capable of and whilst the impact of our efforts might never be quantifiable if we stay true to the principle of a lighter footprint then every action might reduce the momentum of this greatest threat, not only to humanity but everything living which shares this earth.

People have gone on to do bigger things like setting up a climate health alliance, designing a carbon management diploma, lecturing in sustainable energy policy writing magnificent songs and surely others, it is hard to keep track of exactly what people end up doing, in our free spirited and passionate group.

Since Al Gores call to action 5 years ago the face of our Earth has changed in its attitude to climate change. Every action we take slows the momentum of this moving force, we hope that it is enough. What we do know is that the more of us that are on this side, the side of hope, the more we can achieve to save our beautiful Earth

Sue King
Member of Lighterfootprints

Lighter Footprints joins CANA

2011-11-30T12:15:00.001+11:00

CANA (Climate Action Network Australia) is a network of over 70 Australia non-government groups working for action on climate change. It is the Australian arm of Climate Action Network International.

In November this year CANA approved Lighter Footprints as a member, which gives us access to the latest climate change science and policy and campaigning in Australia and internationally. CANA has access to the civil societies activities at the international climate change negotiations.

In addition we became part of the processes established to work on joint domestic and international advocacy with other CANA members, and can participate fully in the annual conference.

Our membership means that we support the objects of CANA:

To provide a forum for members to work together on campaigns and projects to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to ecologically sustainable levels;
To formulate and promote policies to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and to ensure that Australia is part of the international agreements to make the pollution reductions necessary to avoid and mitigate climate change;
To encourage co-operation and develop strategic alliances to help advance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
To encourage the active involvement and interest of the Australian community in campaigns to reduce Australia’s impact on the atmosphere;
To represent Australia and contribute to the objects and purposes of the Climate Acton Network International as documented in the CAN Charter
http://cana.enviro-geek.net/sites/default/filesCANCHARTER.pdf

For further information on CANA see www.cana.net.au

Why do people reject science?

2011-11-11T12:37:00.002+11:00

Excerpt from an article by Stephan Lewandowsky:

"What does Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity have to do with the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)?

What does acid rain have to do with the fact tobacco smoking causes lung cancer?

What does Reye’s syndrome have in common with the CFCs that caused the hole in the ozone layer?

And what do all those issues have to do with the fact our climate is rapidly changing due to human greenhouse gas emissions?

The answer is that in all those cases, solid scientific evidence was met with vociferous opposition.

The historical evidence is overwhelming that some of that opposition has been organised by vested interests, often successfully delaying political and regulatory action that posed a perceived threat to corporate profits. The peer-reviewed literature has clearly identified the subterfuge, distortion and manufacture of doubt with which vested interests delayed the control of tobacco, CFCs and sulphur emissions."

Lewandowsky is principally looking at the reasons why people tend to resist the science of climate change. Read the rest of this very interesting article at Climate Spectator.

HRL Court Challenge

2011-10-26T13:16:00.002+11:00

Several of us attended the demonstration outside the high Court in King St this week in support of the case being run by Environment Victoria and others challenging the EPA's support for the new HRL coal fired/gasfired power station

Below is the EV email on the event 23/10/2011 and links to their website:

Legal Challenge against HRL started today

At 10am this morning, the legal challenge from Environment Victoria, Local’s Into Victoria’s Environment, Doctors for the Environment and individual Mr. Martin Shields against the EPA got underway in earnest.

Thanks to those of you who made it along at lunchtime today to show your support for this challenge by environmental groups. With people coming from Ballarat to Wonthaggi, it was a fun, positive reminder that all parties challenging the EPA approval of HRL on environmental grounds are joined in their actions by supporters from across the Victorian community.

Check out the pics here today >

Thank you also to everyone who has been helping with the petition. We are about half way to the goal of 10,000 hard copy signatures, so please keep ‘em rolling in!

If you would like to keep you up to date with the case as it unfolds over the next four weeks. EV will be writing blogs, facebook and twitter. You can help us build the momentum of this campaign by sharing info and comments about the case online (please tweet using the hashtag #stopHRL).

Get the thrills and spills from today’s proceedings - check out today’s blog from EV’s Safe Climate Campaigner >

Thanks again for your support thus far… and wish us luck!

Josie Lee
Safe Climate Campaigner
Environment Victoria

OFFICE HOURS: 9am-5pm Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
PHONE: (03) 93418118 EMAIL: josie.lee@environmentvictoria.org.au
RECEPTION: (03) 93418100 FAX: (03) 93418199

STREET ADDRESS: Level 2, 60 Leicester Street Carlton, Victoria 3053
POST: PO Box 12575, A'Beckett Street, Melbourne 8006

Say Yes Earth Relay

2011-10-12T16:30:00.000+11:00

Say Yes Earth Relay: Melbourne

Launched on Thursday, 15 September

Over the coming few weeks, as the price on pollution is debated in Parliament, Victorian communities will come together to take part in the Earth Relay - a series of actions to symbolise support for action on climate change.

Melbourne, Environment Victoria and friends

Like the passage of the Olympic flame to the site of the Olympic Games, communities across Victoria will be passing a human sized earth globe from suburb to suburb and town to town. And after travelling across the state, the globe will be taken to Parliament House, Canberra to send the Victorian community’s message of hope for the future.

So get involved in this important moment in history. Hop here to find out when the Earth Relay is coming to a suburb or town near you www.environmentvictoria.org.au/earth-relay

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Canterbury, Lighter Footprints hold 'the Earth'

Lighter Footprints were a link in the Earth Relay heading for Canberra organised by Environment Victoria. We had it for one brief hold on the afternoon of Tuesday, 11 October.

The purpose was to support the passing of legislation to begin the process of reducing our carbon emissions. This piece of legislation is the crucial start to a long process, without which we will struggle to change the direction of growth of emissions and global warming - with its devastating consequences.

Jade Invargson-Favretto accompanied us with her inspiring song 'Beautiful Earth'.

Jade Ingvarson-Favretto sings 'Beautiful Earth'

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Here are more photos from the Earth Relay (11 October) which was organised by Environment Victoria, photos below taken for them by Rodney Dekker (see our collection of his photos from the Pacific Islands on our blog dated 14 September).

Plant responses to global change: consequences for food security

2011-09-21T10:46:00.002+10:00

A presentation from Ros Gleodow Assoc Prof from Monash University, at the August Lighter Footprints meeting.

Ros outlined her research into the impact of climate change (increased CO2, temperature and reduced water) on certain plants.

In general in high C02 conditions, the plants produce more woody growth, and fewer leaves, and those produce less protein (associated with the ease of producing carbohydrate so less enzyme required) and a slowing of the expected growth as the amounts of CO2 increase, as plants adapt.

Drought conditions in addition lead to decrease in overall production. As a bonus in high C02 conditions, the leaves also reduce their stomatal openings which has the benefit of limiting the transpiration of water, increasing the efficiency with which they use water

As protein in the leaf decreases, this leads to lower percentage of protein in seeds – and reduced gluten. This is likely to directly reduce the ability to make bread from those grains. This is also not good for animals that eat the leaves and grass themselves as the proportion of protein is lower. Grazing animals will need to eat more grass to get the same amount of nutrition; koalas will need to eat more leaves.

One of the side effects of a plant requiring less protein to be used for photosynthesis, is the redeployment of that protein into defence, eg making cyanide. (Some plants do this, some do not)

Casarva is one such plant used very widely around the world as a staple, which at the current levels of cyanide they produce is already causing significant disability (Konzo) and research shows that higher C02 and drought conditions both increase cyanide significantly. (There is also research into how to eliminate cyanide in preparing the food). Also being researched by Ros is Sorghum. Ros has provided links on this issue for the website below.

External links:

Catalyst: Toxic Crops - ABC TV Science
How plants respond to increasing carbon dioxide - Science Show - 3 July 2010 :
Toxic food on the menu as carbon levels rise. - Rural Online. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 03 May 2011.

Climate Change in the Pacific Islands

2011-09-14T14:15:00.016+10:00

The Oxfam Photographic Exhibition of the Pacific Islands
was launched at Q.P.O. in Kew, Victoria Australia on September 14.

Named 'Land is Life,' the exhibition contains photos taken by Rodney Dekker of Tuvalu and Kirabati. It was MC'ed by Carolyn Ingvarson of Lighter Footprints.This exhibition demonstrates that climate change is already having an impact on daily life.

Kiribati and Tuvula photo exhibition

As part of the program, Jade Ingvarson-Favretto sang her original song 'Beautiful Earth'. Jade's song matched the mood of this occasion, watch the video below. Other special guests included Josh Frydenberg (Federal Member for Kooyong) who launched the Exhibition, and Oxfam CEO Andrew Hewett who sponsored it.

From left: Andrew Hewett CEO of Oxfam, Josh Frydenberg Federal Member for Kooyong, MC Carolyn Ingvarson Convenor of Lighter Footprints, Ethan McGrath and Emeretta Cross Representatives of the Pacific Islands.

Public Forum: How to live well with a price on carbon

2011-08-10T19:00:00.040+10:00

Lighter Footprints Forum

HOW TO LIVE WELL WITH A PRICE ON CARBON

A panel discussion on why and how we can live in these changed times.

Wednesday, August 10th
Chandelier Room, Hawthorn Town Hall, Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

The forum was opened by:

Cr Nicholas Tragas - Councillor for Maranoa Ward and Mayor of Boroondara

Three speakers brought different perspectives: government, climate/energy expert, and community leader, they then responded to questions.

Anna Burke - MP for Chisholm

Alan Pears - RMIT, Sustainable Solutions

Dr Brett Parris - Monash University

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Carolyn Ingvarson

Cr Nicholas Tragas

Anna Burke

Alan Pears

Dr Brett Parris

Q&A

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Alan Pears - slides - price on carbon forum Aug 2011

Brett Parris - slides - price on carbon forum Aug 2011

Lighter Footprints meeting - Voices from the Pacific

2011-06-23T10:21:00.000+10:00

Our next Lighter Footprints meeting on Wed June 29th
7.30 pm
Guide hall
Faversham Rd
Canterbury

Voices from the Pacific
We have a speaker, Nic Maclellan. He is well known for his work on climate change and the the impact on our neighbours in the Pacific. We are lucky to have him.

Australia is currently debating the introduction of a carbon tax - but there is little public discussion of how government climate change policies are affecting people in neighbouring Pacific countries.
Join us for a discussion with journalist and researcher Nic Maclellan, who will talk on the impacts of global warming in the Pacific islands. Nic has recently visited island nations - including Kiribati, Tuvalu, Niue, Fiji, New Caledonia and Solomon Islands - to talk with communities that are responding to the challenges of global warming, peak oil and financial crisis.
As the world prepares for more climate negotiations in Durban next December, join us to discuss how global warming is affecting livelihoods for people living in our region and what we can do in Australia to work with our neighbours for a sustainable future.

Nic Maclellan works as a journalist and researcher in the Pacific islands. He has conducted research on climate change impacts for UNICEF Pacific, Oxfam International, the Lowy Institute and other organisations, and has written widely on environment and development in the Pacific region.

The first half of our meeting will be a presentation from Nic and discussion, before a break and then reforming to discuss other issues currently on our agenda.

We open the hall at 7 pm with drinks and nibbles and will start at 7.30pm.
Guide Hall on corner Faversham rd and Shierlaw Ave, Canterbury

For further information on either of these events contact me on 0411 115 186
Carolyn Ingvarson

Public Forum: Moving to clean energy options for baseload power

2011-06-08T19:00:00.012+10:00

Lighter Footprints Forum

Can we live well without coal?

Can renewable energy provide continuous, reliable power?
Can we escape our dependence on carbon polluting fossil fuels?
Is it nuclear or nothing?

Watch the three speakers on these issues at the Lighter Footprints’ public forum held on 8 June.

Matthew Wright, Executive Director of Beyond Zero Emissions

Josh Frydenberg, Federal MP for Kooyong

Lane Crockett, General Manager - Australia / Pacific, for Pacific Hydro

Lane Crockett - slides - clean energy forum June 2011

Photo slideshow

[please click on the image below for a larger version]

Public Forum: Sustainable suburbia

2011-04-28T18:58:00.015+10:00

Lighter Footprints Forum

Sustainable suburbia – what do we need to do?

Time: Thursday 28 April 2011

Venue: Holy Trinity Church Hall, corner Union Road and Montrose Street, Surrey Hills

Purpose

The forum discussed how we can create sustainable suburbs and take responsible action on climate change while enhancing our quality of life through a sense of local community.
It was an opportunity to be informed about local council actions and to engage in conversation about those actions.

Format

Welcome and introduction to LighterFootprints, and invitation to get involved
Rob Gell, Environmental scientist and communicator, set the scene
five 10-minute presentations:

Jane Monk, Director of State Planning Services, Department of Planning and Community Development outlined the key issues and challenges with a metropolitan perspective.
Sustainability officers from Whitehorse Council (Ian Goodes) and Boroondara Council (Adam Hall) outlined Council solutions to meet the challenges.
Mayors of Whitehorse Council (Ben Stennett) and Boroondara Council (Nick Tragas) outlined partnership engagement of Councils and citizen.

Rob Gell commentary, led to questions and discussion
40 minutes of questions/discussions with the presenter’s panel
Informal chat over a cuppa at the end.

Brochure (click for a larger version)

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Rob Gell

Jane Monk - Director of State Planning Services DPCD

Ian Goodes - Manager Engineering & Environmental Services
Whitehorse Council

Adam Hall - Manager Environmental & Sustainable Living
Boroondara Council

Ben Stennett - Mayor of Whitehorse Council

Nick Tragas - Mayor of Boroondara Council

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Ian Goodes - slides - Sustainable suburbia forum April 2011

Adam Hall - slides - Sustainable suburbia forum April 2011

Mayor's - slides - Sustainable suburbia forum April 2011

Five books on solar power

2011-04-05T09:41:00.002+10:00

Blog entry from The Browser has an interview with author Bob Johnstone about solar power. In this interview he lists and briefly discusses five books on the topic. Several of the books by Hermann Scheer (the architect of the German solar power initiative) are available in the Boroondara Library system.

Lighter Footprints Monthly Meeting

2011-03-26T16:15:00.003+11:00

Please note as of this year the Lighter Footprints monthly meeting will be on the last Wednesday of each month.

This means the next meeting will be next Wednesday on the 30th March.

March 2011 climate action and carbon price rally

2011-03-25T17:12:00.003+11:00

This is a link to the SMH article discussing the difference between the turnout for the anti climate action in Werribee and the huge carbon price rally turnout at Treasury Gardens in Melbourne.

It also includes a video of the Treasury Gardens rally.

http://www.greenlivingpedia.org/2011_climate_action_and_carbon_price_rally

Saturday 12 Rally imperative

2011-03-09T21:55:00.000+11:00

In response to an attempt to persuade Julia that the general public does not want to support a price on carbon, deniers will rally in front of her electorate office in Melbourne this Saturday. Getup and others have determined to show that a greater number of people do support it.

The support rally is at 11 am on this Saturday 12, at Treasury Place.

This is the first public demonstration of support in the face of Tony Abbott's campaign to undermine the confidence of the community in the tax. If a significant number turn out in support of the government's position to move on a price for carbon, then we can begin to turn the tide of the media focus on the negative.

If it becomes the norm to question this move, and community confidence is lost, then the chance of the government losing the vote on this is great.

This must surely spell the end of any attempts to act on pricing carbon or taking any significant action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for years to come - and our time for action is already so short.

Please consider making this the one rally you wouldnt miss

Here is the Getup invitation with an RSVP so they can assess numbers.

Carolyn Ingvarson

Convenor

Lighter Footprints

0411 115 186

5 books on climate change innovation

2010-12-08T09:08:00.002+11:00

Roger Pielke, a professor of environmental science at Colorado, posts a list of five books about climate change at the Five books blog. He also gives an interview in which he briefly discusses the books and makes some other comments about the climate change discussion in general. Australia gets a mention, although unfavourably, for introducing cane toads. The context was that one generation's solutions often end up the next generation's problems, and that because we don't know exactly what effects our actions are going to have, we should be advocating a range of initiatives rather than one big one. Thought provoking holiday reading. (The blog itself is really interesting too.)

Candidates Forum - Wednesday November 10

2010-11-08T18:31:00.000+11:00

Date: Wednesday November 10 ,
Time: 7 for 7.30 pm start
Where: GuIde Hall, 1 Faversham Rd, Canterbury

Gold coin entry

Lighter Footprints has organised this forum primarily for its members and friends to have the opportunity to listen to their candidates, and to be able to have a conversation with them.

The forum has two elements to it - a panel discussion (focused on Energy, Public Transport and Forests) and then small groups to discuss a range of issues with candidates.

We are fortunate to have three candidates, Robert Clarke (Liberal) Brian Tee (Labor) and Damian Magner (Greens) who have made themselves available for the night.

This evening will be as good as those who participate in it. Please come, and bring your friends.

Refreshments will be available after the panel and before the small groups.

Contact
Carolyn Ingvarson
Convenor
Lighter Footprints
9836 0925
0411 115 186

The 2010 Walk Against Warming in Deakin

2010-08-16T00:09:00.001+10:00

Lighter Footprints members attended the 2010 Walk Against Warming event in Mitcham, in the electorate of Deakin.

The event changed in 2010 from mass rallies to distributed gatherings in selected locations, including several marginal seats in the 2010 Australian federal election.

For more photos and videos of the Deakin event see http://www.greenlivingpedia.org/2010_Walk_Against_Warming

Marginal electorates of Deakin, McEwan and Melbourne were targeted in an attempt to motivate both Labor Government and the Coalition opposition to adopt policies during the final week of the Australian federal election that will result in immediate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

So far, both the major parties rate a dismal fail on climate change policy and are keeping it off the campaign airwaves for the 2010 federal election, despite it being "the greatest moral challenge of our time" (Kevin Rudd) and "delay being denial" (Julia Gillard).

Labor has refused so far to countenance the carbon tax proposed by their own advisor Ross Garnaut, and Tony Abbott has ruled out putting any price on carbon emissions (by either a carbon tax or an emissions trading scheme) if he wins the election and forms the next government.

Some additional information about party policies on climate change can be viewed from the links below

Public Forum: “Meet the candidates” Community Climate Forum for the Federal election 2010

2010-07-29T23:19:00.005+10:00

Lighter Footprints Forum

Citizen’s assembly in Kooyong last night rejected both Labor and Coalition policies

Over 200 people attended a forum to meet the candidates in the federal seat of Kooyong last night.

One question from the audience in the Q&A type forum and hosted by Walkley Award winning Age journalist Liz Minchin asked people to raise their hands if they thought Labor, the Coalition or Greens were doing enough on climate.

While there was a handful of support for Coalition policies, ironically there was not a single supporter among the crowd for the current Labor approach including the proposal on a citizen’s assembly announced by the Prime Minister this week. Around 70% supported the Greens proposals for climate action.

Three candidates for the lower house seat, one Senator and two Senate candidates formed the panel that faced tough questioning from both their host and the audience.

Josh Frydenberg (Liberal candidate for Kooyong), Steve Hurd (ALP candidate), Des Benson (Greens candidate), Scott Ryan (Liberal Senator), Richard Di Natale (Senate candidate for Greens), and Antony Thow (Senate candidate for ALP) attended the forum organised by community group Lighter Footprints.

Carolyn Ingvarson, Convenor of Lighter Footprints, said the response revealed the level of dissatisfaction in the community on the climate proposals from the major parties in the federal election campaign.

“This response supports the findings of our report on community attitudes earlier this year. This showed people are very disillusioned with the quality and nature of the debate in political circles, and the focus on political point-scoring rather than appropriate action. Those who do understand the profound implications indicated by the science want to see action right now,” Ms Ingvarson said.

“It is also interesting to see the direct response of the community to the proposals by the political parties. If these potential politicians take away the knowledge that an open meeting in a conservative area wants much more action on climate change - that can only be good.”

For copies of the report from the Rewrite the Future: Climate Conversations forum, click here.
Media enquiries or for further information, call Carolyn Ingvarson: 0411 115 186.

Videos

Des Benson, Greens candidate for Kooyong

Richard Di Natale, Greens senate candidate

Steve Hurd, Labor candidate for Kooyong

Josh Frydenberg, Liberal candidate for Kooyong

Anthony Thow, Labor senate candidate

Senator Scott Ryan, Liberal

“Meet the candidates” Community Climate Forum for the Federal election 2010

2010-07-16T10:28:00.001+10:00

What: “Meet the candidates” Community Climate Forum for the Federal election 2010

When: Wednesday 28 July @ 7.00pm
Where: Chandelier room, Hawthorn town hall, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn
Who: Candidates for Kooyong and a senator from each major party

Entry: $5 donation.

Age journalist Liz Minchin, a Walkely award winner and co-author of a book on climate change Screw Light Bulbs, will run a Q&A session that will put climate change policies of the major parties under the microscope and allow the public and candidates to quiz one another. This should prove both entertaining and illuminating and we are very pleased to have her services..

The battle for the senate is crucial for passing climate change legislation so we are particularly pleased to have the senate candidates who will be fighting it out for Victorian senate positions in attendance.

Please put this date in your diary and come with friends and neighbours to demonstrate that this electorate does care strongly about climate change and that we want real action.

The Kooyong candidates attending are:

Josh Frydenberg (Liberal)
Steve Hurd (ALP)
Des Benson (Greens)

The three senate candidates attending are:

Richard Di Natale (Greens).
Antony Thow (ALP)
Scott Ryan (Liberal)

Report clears "climategate" scientists

2010-07-08T10:02:00.000+10:00

There have been a few blog posts about the report by Sir Muir Russell (.pdf file) into the so-called "climategate" affair. (This controversy has gone over the horizon somewhat; it all happened last November when email messages that were hacked into from the university computer network were released to the media. The messages were supposed to show that scientists at the university had ignored or suppressed data that disproved the anthropogenic climate change hypothesis.)

From Andre Revkin's post on Dot Earth:
"The Independent Climate Change Email Review is finished and, within its constrained mandate, has cleared climate scientists and administrators at the University of East Anglia of claims of malfeasance rising out of the contents of folders of e-mail messages and files extracted from computers there and posted around the Web last November. Two other inquiries with slightly different focal points also cleared the scientists and school."

From Gavin and Mike's post on RealClimate:
"The main issue is that [the report authors] conclude that the rigour and honesty of the Climate Research Unit scientists is not in doubt [ ... ] Secondly, they conclude that none of the emails cast doubt on the integrity and conclusions of the IPCC, again, something we have been saying since the beginning. They also conclude as we did that there was no ‘corruption’ of the peer-review process. Interestingly, they independently analysed the public domain temperature data themselves to ascertain whether the could validate the CRU record. They managed this in two days, somewhat undermining claims that the CRU temperature data was somehow manipulated inappropriately. (Note that this exercise has been undertaken by a number of people since November – all of which show that the CRU results are robust). All in all, none of the various accusations and insinuations that have been floating around the blogosphere have been sustained."

The report has received some coverage in the local media, but with nowhere near the same fervour as the original allegations. Mud sticks.

Co2 and communication

2010-07-01T10:15:00.000+10:00

A couple of recent articles:

Climate control: is Co2 really in charge? Well-written article from New Scientist takes as its starting point apparent inconsistencies in the relationship shown to exist between atmospheric CO2 levels and warming (i.e. high CO2 leads to high temperatures). Good information about methods to determine previous CO2 levels and climate sensitivity.
Scientists from Mars face public from Venus. NYT article about the challenges facing scientists communicating with the public. Will more information alone change people's attitudes? Or do scientists have to bone up on social science to learn about how people form and hold beliefs?

Submission to Boroondara Council on Cycling opportunities for East West link in Boroondara

2010-06-21T23:49:00.000+10:00

Further to my address at the Services Special Committee Meeting (Boroondara) on Monday 21 June, the Lighter Footprints group strongly supports the creation of safe East-West cycling routes in Boroondara.

Lighter Footprints suggests that:

Council raise the priority of developing a safe East West route (or routes) in light of the significant local demand for safe cycling in Boroondara along this direction.
Sections of a safe East West route would be used by families, school and university students and children for both local and transit bicycle and pedestrian trips.
Many busy local shopping centres and precincts such as Maling Road, Union Road, Camberwell Junction and Glenferrie Road could all be connected by such a route.
The use of the Box Hill railway line easement from the Yarra River to Surrey Hills station be noted by Council for possible cycle route development in a revision of the Boroondara Bicycle Strategy.
Council recommend to the Victorian Government Department of Transport and Minister for Roads & Ports and Major Projects Tim Pallas that a study be urgently undertaken to assess East West route options for safe cycling along the Box Hill railway line easement through Hawthorn, Camberwell and Canterbury and adjacent arterial roads such as Burwood Road, Rathmines/Canterbury Road and Riversdale Road.
The scope or East West cyling routes not be limited to a single route. For example, safe cycling lanes (e.g. Copenhagen lanes) along Burwood Road Hawthorn could be supplemented with off road routes along sections of the railway line easement.
Several thousands of cyclists could eventually use a safe East-West route daily, with a commensurate decrease in car usage, road congestion and carbon emissions.

The Boroondara Sustainability Network and the Boroondara Bicycle User Group also strongly support development of a safe East-West cycle route through central Boroondara.

Please note that the latest draft Principle Bicycle Network plan recently circulated by VicRoads to Councils for comment shows a priority bicycle route marked along Burwood Road Hawthorn. This a major concern as this road is currently unsafe for bicycles.

Some more information on route options:

East west link information and history: http://boroondarabug.org/wiki/Eastern_Rail_Line_Trail
Project proposal: http://www.greenlivingpedia.org/Melbourne_eastern_cycle_route
Principle Bicycle Network http://www.greenlivingpedia.org/Principal_Bicycle_Network_Melbourne

Peter Campbell, on behalf of Lighter Footprints

Submission to Boroondara Council on GHG targets and strategies

2010-06-21T23:40:00.000+10:00

Further to my address at the Services Special Committee Meeting (Boroondara) on Monday 21 June, the Lighter Footprints group strongly supports Boroondara's "Our Low Carbon Future" (July 2009) strategy document.

We support the statement that "Council has committed to stepping up its action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions" ( Intro para., page 1) .

Lighter Footprints suggests that:

To achieve the "Low Carbon Future" target of 30 - 40% reduction in GHG's by 2020 (Corporate target) , the Council needs to set a Performance target of 3 to 4% reduction each Budget over the 10 years from 2010 to 2020. (reference page 65 of SSC Agenda 21 June 2010, and also p.29 of DRAFT Budget 2010-11).
Council consider engagement of a consultant to do an extensive energy audit of all Council facilities and one who can work collaboratively with Council stakeholders to develop the required 'Performance target' roadmap. (for example consultants with expertise in Energy Efficiencies Opportunities for major businesses - Federal legislation)
Council accelerate its "Buildings Sustainability" program in 2010-11, by adopting specific measures (such as 6-star standards) to provide assets that will be assets rather than legacies, in a 'low carbon', 'low rainfall' future.
Council adopt a fiscal approach whereby the additional 10% building cost is seen as an investment. An investment that ensures Council assets will be cheaper to operate for the next 25 years. The 10% capital cost for 6-star assets could be covered by phasing of cashflow in budget cashflow terms of one building 6 months later. For example, Hawthorn Library, Hawthorn Town Hall Arts Precinct and Camberwell Library & Office projects will cost $12.8m.....in order to achieve 6-star with 10% on-cost of $1.2 million, one building would be delayed 6 months.

The GHG target be achieved by a strategic & systematic approach to :

Energy efficiency of buildings, particularly for new and re-development capital projects ;
roll-out of Cogen projects;
modernize HVAC (heating, ventilating, air-conditioning),
Procurement Policies e.g. Vehicles with low emission (including diesel), bikes, etc;
Eco-buy procurement forum;
T5 street lighting; Behavioural awareness training of all employees;
carbon-storage in form of trees and soil, other generated from comprehensive energy audit.

Michael Nolan, on behalf of Lighter Footprints

CLIMATE FORUM - meet your Kooyong and Senate candidates July 28

2010-06-20T23:36:00.000+10:00

What: “Meet the candidates” Community Climate Forum for the Federal election 2010

When: Wednesday 28 July @ 7.00pm
Where: Chandelier room, Hawthorn town hall, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn
Who: Candidates for Kooyong and a senator from each major party

Entry: $5 donation.

Josh Frydenberg (Liberal)
Steve Hurd (ALP)
Des Benson (Greens)

The three senate candidates attending are:

Richard Di Natale (Greens).
Antony Thow (ALP)
Scott Ryan (Liberal)

Risks of carbon-based economy

2010-06-10T09:53:00.002+10:00

"Continued reliance on oil is risky and expensive for business, say the authors of a new report from Lloyd's global risk assessment department, 360 Risk Insight, and UK think tank Chatham House.
The way forward for businesses, the report says, is renewable energy - but the chaos and uncertainty following the Copenhagen climate summit has stifled investment."
Read the rest of this report from the New Scientist's Short Sharp Science series.

Ready to try doorknocking on climate change?

2010-06-02T06:45:00.001+10:00

Lighter Footprints is organising a Doorknocking Day in Boroondara this Sunday 6th June from 2-5pm.

This is an easy and fun way to talk to people in your community about climate change and the opportunities for action.

We will also be promoting our upcoming Meet the Candidates forum at the Hawthorn Town Hall on 28th July (facilitated by Age journalist and author Liz Minchin).

It’s easy! We will be doing it in pairs, you will get a script to help avoid being tongue-tied at the door, you will be provided with materials (brochure/petition), and we will have a short ‘training session’ before you set off. Climate Code Red author and climate campaigner David Spratt will be available to provide some door knocking tips and training to the Lighter Footprints group before we hit the streets.

How it works: We start after lunch and do about an half an hour of training. Then we all get a map with an area to cover, we knock on doors for about two hours and then get together for a coffee or drink and talk about how it went. It's that easy! People are friendly and usually very happy to take some information.

Where we start: We meet at 70 Through Road, Camberwell at 2pm for the training session this Sunday 6th June and to pick up materials (brochures etc). Meet back there again at 4.30-4.45pm for a drink and debrief!

Please RSVP to Fiona Armstrong, 0438 900 005, or fiona-armstrong@bigpond.com

Next doorknocking date: Saturday 19th of June from 2-5pm.

Ethanol Without The Guilt? Nation's First 'Trashanol' Plant Opens In Iowa

2010-06-01T09:28:00.002+10:00

Excerpt from this Care2 blog post:
"In a converted corn ethanol plant 25 minutes from Cedar Rapids, four-story tanks of renewable fuel are quietly bubbling away ready for conversion into fuel-grade ethanol. What makes this batch of fuel special is its main ingredient: instead of corn, Fiberight LLC is producing fuel-grade ethanol from International Paper's recycling process organic waste.

Five or six years ago, ethanol was one of the most popular biofuels on the block. But recently, many had given up hope that ethanol could ever become a sustainable, affordable, and accessible gas-alternative, until a Maryland based company found a way to turn one company's organic waste into valuable renewable fuel."

Read the rest of the story at Care2 Global warming channel. Any chance of a Visy initiative along these lines?

Living in denial: Why sensible people reject the truth

2010-05-20T15:07:00.002+10:00

A lengthy but rewarding article from The New Scientist about the emotional basis for denialism. Why do people deny climagte change? According to the author, "denial is largely a product of the way normal people think. Most denialists are simply ordinary people doing what they believe is right. If this seems discouraging, take heart. There are good reasons for thinking that denialism can be tackled by condemning it a little less and understanding it a little more." She also has some pointers for people presenting on the topic, like use anecdotes! Scientists have traditionally rejected such techniques, relying instead on statistics and accumulation of detail. However, as we have seen, one desn't persuade people with logic alone.

Conservatives won't be nudged into cutting home energy

2010-05-06T10:10:00.002+10:00

This story originally had the headline "Republicans won't be nudged into cutting home energy", but I rebadged it for an Australian context. Excertp from the abstract:
"It was hailed as a breakthrough in the fight to cut carbon emissions. In 2007, researchers found that heavy electricity users cut their consumption after being told that they used more energy than their neighbours. Almost a million US households have since received similar feedback and have cut electricity use by an average of 2.5 per cent.

But a new study has identified a wrinkle in the plan: the feedback only seems to work with liberals. Conservatives tend to ignore it. Some even respond by using more energy."

This story from New Scientist is further evidence of a tendency for climate deniers to inhabit the right-wing end of the political spectrum. (I am not, and neither is the story, saying that every conservative is a climate change denier, or vice versa.)

Mobilising for the Climate

2010-03-30T15:42:00.003+11:00

UPCOMING EVENT: 7 APRIL 2010

Mobilising for the Climate

Lighter Footprints, First Wednesday Monthly Meeting:
7.30pm, 7 April 2010,
Guides Hall, 1Faversham Road,
Canterbury 3126

GUEST SPEAKER: GISELLE WILKINSON

Giselle Wilkinson is the President of the Sustainable Living Foundation, founder and board member of Safe Climate Australia, and author of The Conscious Cook, the bestselling guide to eating simply and sustainably.

A social and environmental activist for over 30 years, Giselle will talk about her work in developing a model for mobilising whole communities to demand a transition to a safe climate - the “saturation mobilisation” concept.

Join us for the chance to hear from this inspiring speaker AND purchase your own copy of the latest edition of ‘The Conscious Cook’ which will be available on the night.

RSVP: Carolyn Ingvarson 0411 115 186
All welcome
Entry by donation

Public Forum: Rewrite the Future, Climate Conversations

2010-03-20T12:12:00.000+11:00

Lighter Footprints Forum

Rewrite the Future: Climate Communities 2010

18 February 2010, Hawthorn Town Hall, Burwood Road, Hawthorn.

Has the political debate left you unsure about climate change? About your role in responding to it? Do we have the solutions needed? How can we make the necessary changes?

Lighter Footprints held a forum in February 2010 to engage with the community with the aims of: improving climate literacy; enhancing people’s respect for climate science; and encouraging a committment to action on climate change.

This event featured two short presentations from expert climate scientist Professor David Karoly and safe climate campaigner Victorian McKenzie McHarg followed by a session of small group discussions led by experienced facilitators discussing three key themes: climate literacy; available solutions; and the respective responsibilities of various stakeholders in acting on climate change. Participants recorded their responses to these discussions in a Workbook that was collected and used to prepare a Summary Report of the forum.

The Summary Report of the forum

LFP Report - Rewrite the Future

To download this Summary Report document click here.

The following documents formed the package of materials for this forum:

Australia: 100% renewable energy by 2020

2010-02-28T09:05:00.001+11:00

Upcoming event

Lighter Footprints will host environmental engineer Richard Keech from Melbourne consultancy Beyond Zero Emissions who will outline a new report which demonstrates how currently available renewable energy technology could be used to supply 100% of Australia’s energy needs by 2020.

7pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010 Guides Hall, 1 Faversham Road, Canterbury.

Call Carolyn 0411 115 186.

Malcolm Turnbull on the CPRS

2010-02-20T09:43:00.000+11:00

Malcolm Turnbull makes the sort of speech all Libs should take lessons from. Note in particular his swift demolition of the sceptics argument on recent temperature rises and his use of Maggie Thatcher as an advocate for the precautionary principle.

http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/homepage/speech-in-the-house-carbon-pollution-reduction-scheme/

A Safe Climate Bill for Victoria

2010-02-09T21:54:00.004+11:00

Lighter Footprints are involved in a collaborative project with Friends of the Earth (Melbourne) and Greenleap Strategic Institute to develop a Safe Climate Bill for Victoria.

The project aims to develop a draft Bill that, if implemented, would establish Victoria’s commitment to climate protection and create a framework to meet Victoria’s share of the global obligation to reduce carbon emissions to address its historical carbon debt and provide for a safe climate future.

This draft Bill will be developed through collaboration between the above parties and other climate action groups, and it is hoped will provide a contrasting and alternative piece of legislation to the draft Climate Change Bill currently being developed by the Victorian Government.

Read the Discussion Paper here

Read the Draft Principles here

For more information about this project, contact Fiona Armstrong, Safe Climate Bill project coordinator: fiona-armstrong@bigpond.com, or phone 0438900005.

REWRITE THE FUTURE: Climate Conversations

2010-01-11T22:32:00.003+11:00

Has the political debate left you unsure about climate change? About your role in responding to it? Do we have the solutions needed? How can we make the necessary changes?

Hear from respected climate scientist David Karoly and other experts, then join local residents and community groups for interactive discussion on climate change and our options and priorities for a sustainable future.

This event aims to inform people about the latest climate change science and solutions for effective mitigation as well as facilitate participants’ contributions to a discussion about priorities for action.

It is intended for people who are concerned about climate change but are confused by the current debate; those who wish to know more about the solutions and options for effective mitigation of further climate change; and those who would like to move from interest to action on climate related issues.

This forum is being organised by local climate action group Lighter Footprints, with organic refreshments courtesy of the City of Boroondara's Living for our Future program.

Local community groups are invited to attend and space for a display will be made available.

Details: 18 February 2010, 6 - 9pm, Hawthorn Town Hall, Burwood Road, Hawthorn.

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT HERE

To RSVP call Fiona Armstrong on 0438 900 005 or email fiona-armstrong@bigpond.com

The 2009 Walk Against Warming in Melbourne

2009-12-12T22:22:00.007+11:00

Lighter Footprints attended the 2009 Walk Against Warming in Melbourne, complete with our banner and the Turtles Against Climate Change.

The day was a great success - a strong message was sent to state and federal politicians that much stronger action is required to tackle climate change and move us back towards a safer climate future. Up to 90,000 people marched across Australia in capital cities and regional centres.

For more information and photos see: 2009 Walk Against Warming, Greenlivingpedia.

2009-12-04T09:07:00.000+11:00

The Center for Biological Diversity and 350.org filed an historic Clean Air Act petition with the EPA today asking the agency to scientifically determine the safe atmospheric CO2 level, just as its does with six other pollutants judged to endanger to human health and welfare. We also asked that the safe level be set at 350 parts per million or less. The current CO2 level is 385 parts per million, indicating that the planet is already outside the safety zone.

Our goal is to establish a federal scientific standard that will inform state and federal emission legislation, administrative rulemaking, and international negotiations. One of the critical reasons why the United States has proposed much weaker climate legislation than much of the world is that U.S. policymakers and many environmental groups are negotiating without a clear scientific standard as to what's needed to stop runaway global warming.

Supporters of the current House and Senate bills were none too pleased at the prospect of a scientific panel that would conclude that both bills fall far short of the greenhouse gas emission cuts necessary to control global warming. Nor is the White House pleased that scientific standards have been raised as Obama prepares to ask world leaders in Copenhagen to only reduce emission levels 3 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. To stop global warming, we need to cut emissions by 45 percent below 1990 levels.

Source: Endangered Earth Online email alerting service, 'Weekly newsletter of the Center for Biological Diversity', 4 December 2009.

The Manufactured Doubt industry and the hacked email controversy

2009-11-30T11:38:00.002+11:00

What has climate change got to do with tobacco, asbestos, and CFCs? All these products have been the subject of PR campaigns concocted by various industry groups. Their intention, and effect, has been to muffle and delay the impact of emerging research into the harmful effects of these products. Similarly, the recent hacked email controversy has been seized on by climate change deniers to allege censorship on the part of climate scientists. This is just part of the quite organised campaign to blunt the impact of mainstream climate science. This lengthy but quite fascinating post from Dr Jeff Master's Wunderblog is both an expose of denialist tactics and a review of 'Climate cover-up' by PR practitioner James Hoggan, which details the amorality of these manipulative campaigns.

China announces climate targets

2009-11-27T09:57:00.002+11:00

China announced on 25 November that by 2020 it will cut its emissions per unit of GDP by between 40 and 45 per cent relative to 2005 levels. This announcement followed Barack Obama's announcement of US carbon emission targets. Read the rest of the story from New Scientist.

Past climate anomalies explained

2009-11-27T09:51:00.002+11:00

Lead paragraphs from the BBC story:
"Unusually warm and cold periods in Earth's pre-industrial climate history are linked to how the oceans responded to temperature changes, say scientists.
The researchers focused particularly on intervals known as the "little ice age" and "medieval warm period".
In the journal Science, they report that these climate "anomalies" were likely caused by changes to El Nino and the North Atlantic Oscillation."

This story, interesting in itself, gained an addition dimension for me when I recognised the name of the lead researcher, Michael Mann. Professor Mann (as climate mavens will know) was one of the researchers named in the emails recently hacked and publicised on the Web. (These emails are being represented as evidence of a conspiracy to stifle dissent in climate research - see the NYT story here.)

Climate change 101

2009-11-25T14:16:00.002+11:00

Andrew Revkin, the New York Times blogger on climate change, has contributed a topics page on climate change to the NYT . Anyone who would like a basic and up-to-the minute guide on the science might like to check it out. In his blog post on this topic Andrew said it will be a work in progress.

A surprising sneak peek at the clothesline revolution

2009-11-19T12:20:00.002+11:00

Can we save the world by hanging our clothes on a line instead of using a dryer? Maybe not, but there is an interesting movement in the United States, Project Laundry List, to encourage line drying clothes. Maybe this is not such a big deal in Australia (we all hang our clothes on the line, don't we?). However, this article from Grist has some pertinent information about how the movement arose, some of the roadblocks in its path, and how it is trying to change people's behaviour and raise their consciousness of green issues.

Walk against warming 2009

2009-11-02T09:19:00.001+11:00

Walk Against Warming

12pm Saturday 12 December

State Library, Swanston Street

Walk Against Warming is Australia's biggest day of community action on climate change. The Melbourne event will begin at 12pm, Saturday 12 December at the State Library, Swanston Street. As World Leaders are gathering to discuss what action they are prepared to take on climate change, we'll be walking down Swanston Street to Princes Bridge, where we'll form a giant human sign to send them a message that Australians want a safe climate future. Details at waw.org.au. Please RSVP if attending.

Run for a Safe Climate

2009-11-02T09:13:00.005+11:00

Run for a Safe Climate

2pm Sunday 29 November

St Kilda Sea Baths, St Kilda

Run for a Safe Climate is a 6000 Kms run, from Cooktown to Melbourne. Twenty-five emergency workers, policemen and fireman, are running to raise awareness of the need for a strong government response to climate change. They are also running to highlight the solutions that already exist to deal with the problem. The run commenced on 2 November, and will finish at the St.Kilda Sea Baths, St.Kilda Beach, at 2pm on Sunday 29 November. Here, until 5 pm, there will be a free celebration, with bands, entertainers, celebrities and children's entertainment. Details at runforasafeclimate.org. Please RSVP if attending.

Melbourne Climate Policy Forum (MCPF)

2009-10-30T22:07:00.000+11:00

After many years of debate, climate policy has moved squarely into the implementation stage. The next six months will be critical in determining what policies will be will be put in place and how effective they will be in containing global warming.

Leading experts from the Melbourne Climate Policy Forum (MCPF) are presenting six briefing seminars on the key policy issues facing Australia:
1. Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change: The Dynamics of Global Action
29 October 2009, 5 - 7pm
2. Making Adjustment Payments to Electricity Generators Effective
5 November 2009, 5 - 7pm
3. Australia’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme: Can Carbon Markets Deliver?
12 November 2009, 5 - 7pm
4. Australia’s Approach to Renewable Electricity Generation
19 November 2009, 5 - 7pm
5. The Challenge of Adaptation: Victoria as a Case Study
26 November 2009, 5 - 7pm
6. The New Industrial Revolution: Implications for Australia and Victoria
3 December 2009, 5 - 7pm

Following each briefing, two distinguished discussants will comment on the policy issues and introduce general discussion.

The briefings will be held at the University’s City Flinders Campus.

Register now
Attendance is free. To register for the above sessions please email nupur.sethia@vu.edu.au or phone 03 9919 1340.

The MCPF is a joint initiative of Victoria University, through the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies (CSES), and Carbon Market Economics Pty Ltd (CME).

CC Deniers and 'debate'

2009-09-16T07:35:00.004+10:00

An extract from Monbiot, relevent to Australia in that he's on Plimer's case . . .

"Creationists and climate change deniers have this in common: they don’t answer their critics. They make what they say are definitive refutations of the science. When these refutations are shown to be nonsense, they do not seek to defend them. They simply switch to another line of attack. They never retract, never apologise, never explain, just raise the volume, keep moving and hope that people won’t notice the trail of broken claims in their wake.

This means that trying to debate with them is a frustrating and often futile exercise. It takes 30 seconds to make a misleading scientific statement and 30 minutes to refute it. By machine-gunning their opponents with falsehoods, the deniers put scientists in an impossible position: either you seek to answer their claims, which can’t be done in the time available, or you let them pass, in which case the points appear to stand. Many an eminent scientist has come unstuck in these situations. This is why science is conducted in writing, where claims can be tested and sources checked.

So when the Australian geologist Professor Ian Plimer challenged me to a face-to-face debate in July(1), I didn’t exactly leap at the chance. His book Heaven and Earth, which purports to destroy the science of climate change, contains page after page of schoolboy errors and pseudoscientific gobbledegook. As the professor of astrophysics Michael Ashley wrote, “It is not ‘merely’ atmospheric scientists that would have to be wrong for Plimer to be right. It would require a rewriting of biology, geology, physics, oceanography, astronomy and statistics.”(2) But never, as far as I can determine, has Plimer responded to the devastating points made by his critics. He just keeps shifting his ground"

The rest of the article.

Related Mobiot articles:

Correspondence with the Spectator

Correspondence with the Spectator

2009 A.V.G. Lecture - Dr Paul Sinclair

2009-08-23T18:16:00.004+10:00

Please see the below flyer for Camberwell High School's event "Our Environment - Time to Act Now!"

To be held at 7.30pm in the Sssembly Hall on Wed 2 September 2009. Pls RSVP to 9836 0555 by Mon 24 Aug.

(click for larger version)

How psychology can help the planet stay cool

2009-08-20T16:11:00.002+10:00

A perennial problem faced by people trying to promote environmental issues is how not to bamboozle people with environmental scare stories, thus bringing about a state of apathy because it's too late to do anything! The psychologists whose work is the subject of this article from New Scientist are obviously very aware of this trap. They are exploring the question whether an environmental (and obviously organic) carrot is more effective than a scary stick in changing people's behaviour. The answer? Read the article! But, generally ... yes.

Email from Bill McKibben

2009-08-14T15:22:00.002+10:00

Excerpts from Bill McKibben's email (omission indicated by [ ... ] ):
****************************************************************************
Dear Friends,
I'm back home with my family for a few days, after the third long organizing trip of the past few months.In a way, this trip was the most extraordinary, because it took me to places where you wouldn't necessarily expect climate organizing to be going full force. But it is--people everywhere are figuring out that 350 is the most important number on earth, that October 24 is going to be the most widespread day of climate action ever, and that six weeks before the big UN talks in Copenhagen we'll stand together to change the debate on climate change.
The biggest lesson from my trip? That this movement is building in the most unlikely of places. India, for instance--whose people are not, by and large, big emitters of CO2, and whose leaders have so far been reluctant to even consider taking on international commitments to fight against warming. But from the Rotary Clubs of Mumbai to the temples of Varanasi to the lawn of Delhi's Nehru Museum and Library (where thousands of schoolkids formed a giant 350 and a gorgeous Bengal tiger), I found people gearing up for October 24, and determined to play their part in helping prevent the melt of Himalayan glaciers or the drying of the Ganges.
And in the oil-rich states of the Persian Gulf, I had no idea what to expect. But our friends at IndyAct, the Arab world's climate leaders, connected us with amazing organizers in places like Abu Dhabi and Oman. Some were in chadors or flowing dishdasha; all were eager to spread the word. [ ... ]
One of the messages I kept hearing as I traveled was: "we're eager to be heard!" In the developing world, especially, people are excited at the thought that the rest of the planet will be paying attention to them on October 24--that by taking action, photographing their local event, and spreading it online, they'll be collaborating with people spreading exactly the same message no matter where they are on this planet.
It's a beautiful vision--Kansas and Cancun, New York and New Delhi, Boston and Beirut, connecting and collaborating across borders. It's exactly what we need to do with this most global of all problems--thanks for playing your part!
Onwards,
Bill McKibben
**************************************************************************
350 now has a Facebook and a Twitter page .

350 organisation comes to Australia

2009-08-14T15:15:00.002+10:00

Excerpt from Emily Mulligan's email:
**************************************************************************
New Website!
I wanted to let you know that 350 Australia is up and running, with our brand spanking new web-page: http://www.350.org/Australia
We're working on having Australia specific resources for you to use for your action. There are of course lot's of helpful things to be found on the 350.org site here; http://www.350.org/action-resources
Also a brilliant new resource and program has been developed by a 350.org volunteer in Melbourne. If you are interested in getting into schools and helping to promote 350 in that way, check out
http://www.350schools.com/
Film Screenings
A new film raising awareness around climate change, "The Age of Stupid" is coming to our shores. In global partnership with 350.org this film is travelling the world, in an environmentally friendly way, with the London premiere having just 1% of the usual Hollywood film premiere's emissions. To see where it's showing near you, or to host your own screening see below: http://www.ageofstupid.net/screenings/country/australia
PowerShift
I also wanted to tell you about Powershift, the Youth Climate Conference I and 1,500 young people from around Australia attended, hearing from speakers such as Al Gore and Tim Flannery. It all culminated in a Flash Mob dance outside the Opera House demanding an end to coal mining and a sustainable future, which you can watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S2T5vPHjS8
Say G'day
With so many creative ideas flowing in, we'd love to hear from you! 350 Australia is here to support your actions and we'd like to let you know of one of the big actions for October 24th, the Sydney Opera House and the City of Sydney have given us the go ahead for a major action on the Opera House steps! Let us know what you're up to, and be sure to register your action on the main 350.org website so we can keep count!
Stay Connected
Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102269751129&ref=mf …and twitter: http://twitter.com/350Australia
In other 350 News…
We're not the only ones calling for a strong target of 350ppm…http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=2378
Can You Help Us?
We need someone to get underwater and snorkel or scuba for 350! If you live near the Great Barrier Reef or own an underwater camera and might be interested in getting wet for 350, or know someone who might, let us know at infoaustralia@350.org
Thanks for all that you do,
Emily & Blair
*************************************************************************
I will add the 350 Australia link to the sidebar of this blog. Refreshing to hear from someone afire with enthusiasm, not middle-aged and discouraged like me!

Australian Greens Donation - CPRS Advertisement

2009-08-12T09:03:00.004+10:00

Help Bob Brown talk to Australia about climate change

This week, Kevin Rudd is asking Parliament to pass laws that give polluters $16 billion and sets emissions reduction targets way too low to fix the climate crisis.

His CPRS – what we call the Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme – locks in failure.

Bob Brown has recorded a message to explain why the Greens will oppose the CPRS if the Government refuses to toughen it up.

We need your help to get as many Australians as possible to see this message!

We need $30,000 to screen this ad 12 times on television so Bob can directly explain to hundreds of thousands of Australians why the Greens will oppose the CPRS: because it locks in failure on the climate crisis.

See the website/donate here: https://greens.org.au/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=27

Take Action - Switch Off Hazelwood

2009-07-28T09:34:00.003+10:00

On Sunday Sept 13, people from across Victoria will gather to protest the extension of life given to Australia's most greenhouse polluting power station.

More information on how to join the protest is here: http://www.switchoffhazelwood.org/

The organisers are also looking for the action to be endorsed by more goups . . . http://www.switchoffhazelwood.org/endorsements.

Slamming the climate sceptic scam

2009-07-27T11:31:00.002+10:00

Post from Jim Hoggan's blog explaining climate change scepticism in the context of public relations. The PR practitioner's task is to move the public perception in the desired direction, i.e. one that is more favourable to the client. A couple of points he makes:

climate change believers include the 2,500 scientists in the IPCC, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Royal Society of London and the Royal Society of Canada, and the editor-in-chief of Science magazine;
University of California, San Diego science historian Dr. Naomi Oreskes had published an analysis in Science in which she had combed through 928 peer-reviewed climate studies published between 1993 and 2003 and found not a single one that disagreed with the general scientific consensus.
the environmental movement isn't blameless either: 'You could also criticize environmentalists, whose tendency has been to stray too far in the other direction, extrapolating scientific assumptions to create scare stories so dispiriting that they create apathy rather than activism. These, in turn, have made easy targets for the energy industry's climate change deniers.'

Read the rest of this post.

Top 10 environmental policies

2009-07-24T09:50:00.004+10:00

The top 10 environmental policies in the Clean Energy & Security bill currently before the US Congress:

Invest in Clean Energy: Invests $190 billion into clean energy like wind, solar, geothermal and advanced coal technology.

Cuts Foreign Oil: Invests $20 billion in advanced fuel efficient vehicles like plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars and trucks

Reduces Carbon Pollution: For the first time, puts a cap on the carbon pollution causing global warming—reducing carbon and other heat-trapping pollutants 83 percent by 2050.

Creates Jobs, Trains Workers: Will create millions of new clean energy jobs that can’t be sent overseas to China and India, and provides $865 million in job training assistance for America’s new clean energy workers.

Builds a Smarter Grid: Encourages a Smart Grid that uses E-Chips—electricity computer chips—and other technologies in appliances, homes and businesses that will empower consumers to save money and energy using Internet and other telecommunications technologies.

Efficiency Savings: Saves consumers $69 billion annually by 2030 by making our buildings, homes, appliances, and lights use less energy. New buildings and homes will be 50 percent more efficient by 2016, and old buildings will be retrofitted with energy-saving technology.

Saves Families Money: Provides hundreds of dollars in energy rebates annually to low-income families and helps all families reduce their electricity bills. Cumulative energy cost-savings would total more than $4,000 per household by 2030.

Price Spike Protection: Over 50 percent of the program is dedicated to protecting consumers from the price spikes typical of the old energy economy.

Funds New Technologies: Establishes a “Clean Energy Bank” to leverage $75 billion in loans to fund established clean energy technologies like wind and solar, and to breakthrough technologies that have yet to be invented.

Fiscally Responsible: The Congressional Budget Office found Waxman-Markey will not raise the federal budget deficit.

Makes the CPRS look pretty lame! I have abbreviated this list - the full one is in Ed Markey's Daily Beast blog (scroll down). Brought to my attention in Al Gore's blog.

Syndication for these blogs:

Al Gore (XML and Atom)
EdMarkey (XML)

Politics, technology and the environment

2009-07-22T09:44:00.003+10:00

Interesting post from the Dot Earth blog on geoengineering and research funding. The former is being advocated by the American Meteorological Society, the latter by 34 American Nobel Prize winners and the Federation of American Scientists. Geoengineering has its critics, and the AMS is not advocating it as the answer, but as a backstop strategy. (I came across a good post on carbon sequestration also, by way of contrast.)

As for funding - the climate and energy bill that recently passed through the US House of Representatives did not include research dollars. Unfortunately, while the development of technologies like photovoltaics requires continuing funding, "politics is about building short-term coalitions by satisfying demands presented by influential players, from coal companies to unions". We may not be able to do it without the scientists and engineers, but we can't do it without politicians either - although some may disagree there.

350 Climate Action in China

2009-07-22T09:23:00.002+10:00

"This past weekend, students from all over China came together for the first-ever youth organized conference on climate change and energy. This event, put together one of our closest friends, the China Youth Climate Action Network, provided youth leaders with workshops, lectures and field trips, to educate and empower. You could feel the energy in the room, as the future leaders of China found new ways to make their voice heard." Rest of the post from the 350 web site. China gets some stick for being an A grade (aggregate) polluter, but there are also groups like the Network & the Green Long March which are trying to be part of the solution.

Kevin Rudd's blog and Twitter page

2009-07-21T08:21:00.003+10:00

Kein Rudd has started a blog, with an RSS feed. (I have put the link in the link list for future reference.) The current blog "Focus on climate change" is only open until Wednesday 22 July 2009. The link to register and post your comments is here. KR obviously wants to be PM 2.0 as he also has a Twitter page.

Meet VicForests - Victoria's biggest Wally with water . . .

2009-07-21T07:54:00.003+10:00

The Wilderness Society aims for at least 3,000 signatures to it's latest online campaign petitioning Mr Brumby to stop the logging of our water catchments. Please add your name.

Low carbon way 'to reshape lives' in UK

2009-07-16T08:47:00.002+10:00

Ambitious plans to generate one third of UK electricity from renewables by 2020 form the centrepiece of government plans for a low carbon future.
Financial packages for wind and wave energy and changes to planning procedures are among key components of the Low Carbon Transition Plan.
"Smart" meters are to be deployed in 26 million homes by 2020. The government says the plan will create up to 400,000 "green jobs" without a major hike in energy prices. Hope Kevin and Penny read the rest of this story from the BBC Science & Environment web site. How about some targets, guys?

And a follow-up commentary on the LCTP containing a useful overview of the plan - introduction of special interest to cyclists!

Australian Town, State Government Ban Bottled Water

2009-07-13T10:14:00.001+10:00

An Australian town has banned bottled water, claiming to be the first in the country to revert to the tap for the sake of the environment and prompting the nation's largest state government to stop buying bottled water.

Residents of rural Bundanoon, a picturesque, tourist destination 150 kms (93 miles) southwest of Sydney, voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to rid the town of bottled water to combat the carbon footprint from bottling and transporting it.

Local businesses in the town of 2,500 people have agreed to replace all single-use bottles with reusable bottles that can be filled from water fountains and to bear the loss of sales.

"Bottled water has a role to play in various parts of Australia and many parts of the world but we don't really need it as we have a wonderful municipal water supply," local businessman Huw Kingston, who led the campaign, told Reuters.

"We're not a bunch of raving greenies but this is us showing we can work together as a community for sustainability."

Full story.

Belinda Goldsmith, Reuters.

Is a two degree rise small enough?

2009-07-13T09:28:00.003+10:00

The G8 leaders' recent announcement setting a limit of two degrees to global warming above today's global average (and cuts in emissions by 2050) is the subject of a blog post in the NYT's Dot Earth blog. Andrew Revkin explores the pros and cons of setting targets like two degrees; 'It’s not hard to find climate scientists and policy experts who strongly feel the world needs to move rapidly to curb emissions, but who say there are no such clean lines. Some go further, saying that setting such thresholds can be counterproductive.' Quotes from various sources illustrate some of the issues with the announcement.

Greenpeace publicises 350

2009-07-10T15:09:00.002+10:00

Check out this 3.5 minute video of Greenpeace activists abseiling down Mount Rushmore to hang a huge banner saying 'America Honors Leaders, Not Politicians: Stop Global Warming'. Tweeted to the 350 Twitter site.

Cash for clunkers program

2009-07-10T11:15:00.002+10:00

An federal program in the USA is offering cash incentives to drivers of petrol-guzzling old cars to upgrade their car. Owners of cars built since 1984, with fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less, can pe paid up to $4,500 purchase a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. Details in this Reuters story.

Preserving biodiversity helps prevent the spread of disease

2009-07-09T10:16:00.002+10:00

'New Scientist shows us another reason why preserving biodiversity is so important: Preventing the spread of diseases from animals to humans. A new paper from scientists at Portland State University looks at the spread of the Sin Nobre Virus, otherwise known as the Hantavirus (which kills about 500 people per year in the US) and found that increased biodiversity limited the spread of the virus among deer mice. It's the droppings of the deer mice which spreads the disease among humans:

Low Diversity = High Disease
The researchers made the connection between increased mammal diversity and lower infection rates among deer mice after conducting field work in Portland's parks for the past four years. In place where mammal diversity was lowest infection levels increased dramatically.' Read the rest of this post from Treehugger. Good to have some (more) positive consequences of successfully limiting climate change to point to.

Is climate the new asbestos?

2009-07-08T11:39:00.002+10:00

"Just hours after the United States House of Representatives passed legislation curtailing greenhouse gas emissions, business groups were talking about going to court. The US Environmental Protection Agency proposition that greenhouse gas endangers public health and contributes to global warming is expected to result in a tsunami of litigation. [ ... ] Elsewhere, climate change litigation is shaping up as an issue that will tie up the judiciary, companies and politics worldwide for years. While other sectors of the global economy are bracing for the negative impact of government legislation on climate change, the litigation industry is set to boom." Among its clients may be 'climate refugees' like Torres Strait Islanders suing for relief. Read the rest of this article by Leon Gettler on the back page of the Business Age.

Energy independence day for US community college

2009-07-08T10:23:00.002+10:00

The Taos campus of the University of new Mexico is completely powered by a 500kw solar array. Any unused energy goes back into the grid. (Hope they get a gross feed-in tariff!) Maravilloso! The Read the full story from Tree Hugger blog.

Science at the bleeding edge

2009-07-07T14:15:00.002+10:00

A post looking at the role of controversy in science. All right, it may not sound that rivetting, but it's really interesting. A taste:

'The vast majority of mainstream media items about science are related to new hot-off-the-press studies, often in high profile journals, that report a new breakthrough, or that purportedly overturn previous ideas. However, while these are exciting news items, this preponderance of coverage given to these state-of-the-art studies compared to assessments such as from the National Academies, can give a misleading impression about the state of a scientific knowledge. The more mature and solid a field, the less controversy there is, and thus the fewer news stories. Ironically, this means the public is told the least about the most solid aspects of science.

One effect of this tendency is that quite often news stories are focused on claims that turn out to be wrong, or if not actually wrong, heavily reduced in importance by the time the dust settles.' Rest of the story at RealClimate blog.

Tropical zone expanding due to climate change

2009-07-07T14:11:00.002+10:00

'Climate change is rapidly expanding the size of the world’s tropical zone, threatening to bring disease and drought to heavily populated areas, an Australian study has found.

Researchers at James Cook University concluded the tropics had widened by up to 500 kilometres (310 miles) in the past 25 years after examining 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles.

They looked at findings from long-term satellite measurements, weather balloon data, climate models and sea temperature studies to determine how global warming was impacting on the tropical zone.

The findings showed it now extended well beyond the traditional definition of the tropics, the equatorial band circling the Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.' Read the rest of this story at Grist blog. Ironic that I'm reading about an Australian research study (James Cook University) from an American blog; they got it from Agence France-Presse.

Cement not in stone

2009-07-07T11:32:00.000+10:00

A privately owned Melbourne company about to bring low-carbon cement into commercial production has taken issue with the government's proposed emissions trading scheme, saying it offers no incentive to the incumbent cement producers to lower emissions and might even allow them to collect windfall profits from gaming the system.

Zeobond, a company established and owned by the family of University of Melbourne professor Jannie van Deventer, has developed a product called E-crete. It claims 80 per cent less emissions are produced than conventional cement. E-crete is created by using geopolymers and a less emission-intensive chemical reaction than conventional cement, which releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide -- one tonne of carbon for every tonne of cement -- mostly when limestone is broken down using extreme temperatures. It is estimated that three tonnes of cement are produced per person, per year. It is now estimated as the third-largest human contributor to greenhouse gas emissions after the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Professor van Deventer's concern with the proposed ETS is that the cement industry has convinced the government there are no low-emission alternatives, and because it is treated as an emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industry, it will get 94.5 per cent compensation through free permits.

Read the rest of this story from The Australian. Further story about Zeobond from Ecos magazine (NB .pdf file). Thanks Julia for forwarding these.

Safe Climate Australia - new group with a Climate Transition Plan

2009-07-06T09:49:00.002+10:00

A new group with a practica; mission and approach. Found by people like Ian Dunlop and suppported by Al Gore . . .

Safe Climate Australia and the Safe Climate Transition Plan will encompass an all-sector approach including stationary energy, energy efficiency, housing and commercial buildings, transport, industrial and extraction processes, land use and agriculture. The plan will be developed with the intention of protecting and enhancing the key economic, social and environmental parameters of Australian society, including the maintenance of a high standard of living, security of energy and food supply, access to mobility and comfort and well-being for all.

ACF busts the big polluters’ climate myths

2009-07-04T08:56:00.000+10:00

Press release from the Australian Conservation Foundation. Date: 3-Jul-2009

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) will be busting the big polluters’ myths about climate change and the economy this weekend, taking out full page advertising space in some of the country’s largest newspapers.

ACF will place ads in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Courier Mail and The Canberra Times tomorrow, Saturday 4 July.

“Leading scientists and economists agree that strong and immediate action on climate change will create jobs for Australians and help secure our economic prosperity,” said ACF executive director Don Henry.

“Big polluters are making mythical claims of financial disaster as a consequence of action on climate change in an attempt to weaken Australia’s response to the climate crisis.

“Big polluters are loading the problem of climate change onto the rest of us, instead of doing their fair share.

“We’re placing these ads to expose the big polluter myths and tell them it’s time to stop holding up progress and do their share,” Mr Henry said.

The advertisements follow the historic passing of climate legislation in the US House of Representatives, placing increasing pressure on the Australian Government to strengthen its climate legislation.

“Our politicians need to stand up to the plate and reduce assistance to polluters and put more money towards clean energy jobs,” Mr Henry said.

“We need investment in energy efficient production and effective climate legislation to cut greenhouse pollution, so Australia can have a credible voice at climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.”

Planetary Boundaries and the New Generation Gap

2009-07-03T15:35:00.002+10:00

Long and thoughtful post from Worldchanging . An excerpt to give you the flavour:
'We can't simply plan to cut our own impacts down to a level that could be shared by everyone over the next four or five decades. Even if we had that long a time to reduce our impacts -- and we don't -- there is no way the rest of the word can get stable and sustainably prosperous in that time frame unless we lead the way right now. Anything less than an all-out effort now is morally inexcusable. Small steps, incremental reductions, slow plans -- unless these are tied to big, systemic and quick solutions, they will not be enough. We need a bright green future, right now.

All that is the bad news.

Here's the good news: We can build that bright green future. We have the technological prowess, the design insight and even many of the working examples we need to transform our systems and reinvent our cities. We have the money. We may even be gaining the most needed components, vision and political will.

Here's the better news: Not only can we build it, but we'll be better off when we live in it.'

How to talk to a climate change sceptic

2009-07-03T12:34:00.002+10:00

Wish the Chief Scientist had a copy of this Grist blog post when she talked to Steve Fielding! (Although I think Steve is one of those people who look for evidence which confirms their prejudices and screen out evidence that contradicts them.) I think this piece is a useful summary of the major "But ..." statements and evidence refuting them. The author is following up with an occasional series tracking and responding to the latest misinformations.

Good news story: greening of China

2009-07-03T09:10:00.002+10:00

China is usually seen as one of the black hats in the global warming movie, particularly when it comes to global agreements. ("We shouldn't do anything unless China does" being climate sceptic code for "we don't want to do anything".) But although China's aggregate emissions put it in the big league, the green movement in China is growing rapidly, and is in some ways ahead of the West. As this New York Times article points out, 'While the House of Representatives approved a requirement last week that American utilities generate more of their power from renewable sources of energy, [ ... ] China imposed such a requirement almost two years ago.'

Good news story; cars, smart grid and clean tech

2009-07-02T16:05:00.002+10:00

Encouraging post in Grist weblog about how the Obama administration has unblocked the US$25 billion in funds to the car industry that had been provided in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. To be used for supporting electric car manufacturing and increasing energy efficiency in car plants.

Why couldn't we have put aside a few billion for energy efficiency, retraining or green industry in Australia instead of giving everyone $900 to pay off their mortgage or buy a plasma screen TV! Someone please tell me I've missed an important announcement & I'm just an old whinger (OK, middle-aged).

Sea level rise estimates; too conservative?

2009-07-02T12:14:00.003+10:00

A well-written but rather gloomy story from the New Scientist about estimated rises in sea level. The 2007 IPCC report forecast a sea level rise of between 19 and 59 centimetres by 2100, but this excluded "future rapid dynamical changes in ice flow". The Victorian Government climate change green paper (.pdf file) has assumed sea level rises in the forecast range. However, much more is now known, & it isn't looking good.

Boroondara low carbon strategy

2009-06-30T15:52:00.002+10:00

City of Boroondara passed a low carbon strategy last night. The final plan is yet to be released but the draft plan (NB .pdf file) is available on the Low Carbon Future Draft Strategy page.

A postage stamp a day

2009-06-24T11:25:00.005+10:00

Al Gore's blog has a good way to put the costs of the American Clean Energy Security Act currently being debated in the USA. At an estimated $175 per family in 2020, that equates to a postage stamp a day. That gets you a $40 benefit for using less foreign oil and helps create green jobs. As they say in the States - you do the math!

Good News dept. - organic farming gets a boost

2009-06-24T09:00:00.002+10:00

Organic farming has been derided as too inefficient to replace conventional agriculture, reliant on agrichemicals and biotechnology. However, a recent post in challenges this view. A report published in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (NB .pdf file) finds organic agriculture competitive with the agribusiness way. Originally posted in Grist blog in the context of a piece about Nina Federoff, Hillary Clinton's chief technology adviser (who supports organic farming about as much as Peter Batchelor supports solar power).

Copenhagen Synthesis Report

2009-06-23T09:56:00.002+10:00

'In March the biggest climate conference of the year took place in Copenhagen: 2500 participants from 80 countries, 1400 scientific presentations. Last week, the Synthesis Report of the Copenhagen Congress was handed over to the Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen in Brussels. Denmark will host the decisive round of negotiations on the new climate protection agreement this coming December.

The climate congress was organised by a "star alliance" of research universities: Copenhagen, Yale, Berkeley, Oxford, Cambridge, Tokyo, Beijing - to name a few. The Synthesis Report is the most important update of climate science since the 2007 IPCC report. [ ... ]

From a natural science perspective, nothing stops us from limiting warming to 2ºC. Even from an economic and technological point of view this is entirely feasible, as the report clearly shows. The ball is squarely in the field of politics, where in December in Copenhagen the crucial decisions must be taken. The synthesis report puts it like this: Inaction is inexcusable.' Read the full blog posting with links to other material at RealClimate.

New York's Carbon Counter

2009-06-21T08:02:00.003+10:00

click on the counter to view the live version

New Yorkers leaving Penn station and the tenor Andrea Bocelli's concert at Madison Square Garden stadium were confronted with an unusual advert yesterday – a huge sign showing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

Updated in real time, using projections from monthly measurements of CO2 and other greenhouse gases by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Carbon Counter is designed to get everyone to reduce their emissions.

Kevin Parker, the global head of Deutsche Bank's asset management division, which put up the 21-metre sign, said: "Carbon in the atmosphere has reached an 800,000-year high. We can't see greenhouse gases, so it is easy to forget that they are accumulating rapidly."

Yesterday the counter, which uses 40,960 low-energy LEDs and carbon-offsets its electricity usage, gave a figure of 3.64tn tonnes.

The Climate Nightmare is Upon Us

2009-06-18T14:01:00.003+10:00

This may go down as a landmark speech on the state of our planet. Not just on climate change but the bigger picture too.

Being given today at the National Press Club: http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/06/17/milne-the-climate-nightmare-is-upon-us/

Here's a video of the speech:

Senator Christine Milne - Press Club Address June 2009 from Christine Milne on Vimeo.

Significant new report on Climate Change in the US

2009-06-18T13:52:00.003+10:00

Opening salvo in the Obama adminstration's attempts to steer a new course on climate change in said country? He's in the ship's control room, now he has to wrestle to get his hands on the helm.

Climate Change Impacts in the United States

Power Boss in Terror Threat

2009-06-15T20:15:00.002+10:00

Green Terrorism has no place.

Fear and intimidation of individuals is abhorrent in a civilised society. The Power boss of Hazelwood does not consume all that electricity we all do. It is the fault of our government for failing to legislate higher emissions standards for power plants as Hazelwood , keeping it open when it should be shut, not the man who is providing for his family.

However desperation leads to desperate acts. Politicians are arguing amongst themselves about schemes which will make little difference whilst extinctions are happening now and our chances of rescuing the situation are diminishing with every day.

We need to demand an increase in energy prices. The Earth can no longer absorb our debt and has already exceeded her credit limit.

Climate Change Groups need to publicly state that this action is abhorred and demand it stop.

Green Terrorism has no place.

Sue King

How Carbon Markets Can Make Both Economic and Ecological Sense

2009-06-09T10:07:00.001+10:00

"Preserving forests might make economic sense for governments and forest dwellers, and it could also help preserve the habitats of endangered mammals such as orangutans and elephants, according to a study released this week.
The study, published in the journal Conservation Letters, is part of a larger effort by conservation organizations to protect tropical forests from the industries that threaten them by using charismatic species to harness public support and generate money for conservation." Read the rest of this story from the New York Times' Dot Earth blog.

Values vs. Data in Environmental Care

2009-06-05T15:02:00.002+10:00

"Some people attack the modern environmental movement for tending toward religious/values arguments these days. Is that trend, in fact, under way? Is it a bad thing?" Brief post about the role of values in environmental discourse from the Dot earth blog.

A Positive Post Carbon Society?

2009-06-05T11:15:00.006+10:00

A bit of thinking has been going on at Lighter Footprints about how to positively visualise a "Post Carbon Society". How can people can visualise themselves living and working in a low carbon economy? How will it affect lifestyles? What will people actually be doing (rather than not doing)? What will we be taking on (not giving up)?

A book not specifically on "post carbon living" but with some linked propositions is

Wilkinson, R., & Pickett, K. (2009). The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better. London: Penguin Books.

Google books link here. http://www.google.com.au/books?id=qqt7OAAACAAJ&dq=the+spirit+level+why+more+equal+societies

Review link here. http://reviewsien.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/the-spirit-level/

Other more specific thinking on the Post Carbon Society can be found in journals like 'Future'.Some articles with abstracts below.

Low-mobility: The future of transport

Moriarty, Patrick; Honnery, Damon

Futures, Volume 40, Issue 10, December 2008, Pages 865-872

Abstract

Nearly all researchers into the future of global passenger transport assume that both car-ownership and overall vehicular travel will continue to rise. But they also increasingly acknowledge the environmental and resource problems facing vehicular transport, particularly global climate change and oil depletion. In order to meet these challenges, researchers propose a variety of technological solutions, including greatly improved vehicular fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and propulsion systems, and carbon capture and storage. In this paper we question whether these optimistic solutions can be developed and widely deployed in the limited time frame available, and argue instead that not only are ever-rising vehicular mobility levels unlikely to occur, but that the human costs of continuing this approach are also too great. Instead we argue that because transport is a derived demand, we must first articulate a preferred vision of the future, then design an appropriate, sustainable transport system. Finally, we briefly outline what such a low-mobility future transport system would look like, using our own city, Melbourne, Australia, as a case study.

What foresight! Understanding Australia's housing future

Burke, Terry; Hulse, Kath

Futures, Volume 41, Issue 5, June 2009, Pages 325-333

Abstract

Futures analysis has been little used to inform housing policy debate, despite the fact that historical precedent is becoming increasingly limited as a guide for policy direction. This paper examines the potential utility of ‘strategic foresight’ in considering possible housing futures for Australia. It examines the particular foresight methods employed, and processes used, to develop possible housing futures in the year 2025 and their policy implications. The paper concludes that foresight analysis, although not without its problems, creates the opportunity to move beyond current thinking and ‘path dependent’ policy parameters, enabling discussion of housing futures in a way that prompts critical discussion of the institutional arrangements and policies that shape housing policy in the present.

Future images of meat consumption in 2030

Vinnari, Markus; Tapio, Petri

Futures, Volume 41, Issue 5, June 2009, Pages 269-278

Abstract

The issue of meat consumption has been a subject of interest that has been looked at from environmental, animal and human perspectives. This paper contributes to the discussion by clarifying the diversity of views with regard to the future of meat consumption. Two round Delphi expert interviews and a consumer survey were conducted in order to collect information. Five coherent future images were constructed: Traditional Approach, Business as Usual, Humans First, Wellness and Vegetarian Society. The discussion part of the paper presents possible ways of influencing meat consumption according to the holders of these different images of the future.

How would you like to see a "Positive Post Carbon Society"? What aspects of society are the most important to keep positive? What would your community look like? Do you have any research or readings to contribute on the topic?
Add a comment below.

How to shut down 93% of coal without building new plants or reducing power supply

2009-06-03T09:22:00.002+10:00

In the USA, more MW are generated by gas than coal power stations. (MWh is another story.) As Sean Casten's story from Grist asks, 'When it runs, the natural gas fleet emits just 50% of the CO2 of the coal fleet, which raises a rather interesting question: what would we have to do to make it run harder? And how big a difference would that make in our national CO2 footprint?' Wonder what the gas vs coal breakdown is in Australia.

Growing biofuel without razing the rainforest

2009-06-03T09:05:00.002+10:00

'You can't grow biofuel without cutting down trees, right? Not so, says plant scientist Marcos Buckeridge who tells Jan Rocha how Brazil can supply the world with green ethanol.' Could this work for Queensland too? Read the rest of this New Scientist article.

Green roofs compulsory in Toronto

2009-06-03T08:53:00.002+10:00

' Roofs make up 21% of the area of Toronto, so it is logical that they should be put to good use. Now they will be green; by a stunning 36-2 vote, council approved new rules that require green roofs on residential buildings next year and on industrial buildings in two years. Like most good legislation, people at both ends don't like it; Steven Peck of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities says in the Globe and Mail that "We would have liked it [the Toronto bylaw] to be more aggressive,” while the real estate industry lobby group says Cost is an issue,The market is so price-sensitive now.” ' Read the rest of this post from Treehugger. Listening, Mr Doyle?

Working Sustainably Workshop

2009-06-02T14:18:00.003+10:00

In June Boroondara Council will be presenting the final workshop in the current Community OnBoard Program.

The Working Sustainably workshop will provide the essential practical strategies and advice that will assist you to reduce the environmental footprint of your organisation, group or club.

This workshop will be led by Council’s Environment and Sustainable Living team and Swinburne University's Centre for Sustainability who have developed and presented the Living for our Future Sustaining our environment program and the annual Boroondara Living for Our Future Sustainability Expo.

The workshop will include a range of information on the following areas;

Introduction to environmental sustainability
waste, water, energy and biodiversity, sustainable transport, green purchasing and green cleaning.

Case studies
sustainability in action.

Getting started
integrating environmental sustainability into your organisation or club’s operations and policy a whole of organisation approach.

Working Sustainably, Tuesday 16 June, 7pm – 9pm Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre, 157 Union Road, Surrey Hills.

To RSVP for this workshop or advise on your access requirements, please contact the Community Planning Department on 9278 4753 or email onboard@boroondara.vic.gov.au.

Climate change and biodiversity

2009-06-02T09:08:00.002+10:00

Animals have been used as bioindicators since canaries were taken down into coalmines (and probably long before that.) Now there is increased concern about the impact on animal and plant species of climate change, there are numerous projects and studies focused on biodiversity.

A virtual book of all life on Earth is being created by UK and US scientists.
The online reference work will create a detailed world map of flora and fauna and track changes in biodiversity ... Over time the database will log shifts in species and other data such as changes in the density of forests and when plants first flower. The backers of the idea hope that the vast, virtual book of life will eventually be comparable to the global system used to watch for and record earthquakes.
More dolphins, porpoises and whales could be at risk from the effects of climate change than was previously thought, a new study has claimed.
An Aberdeen University scientist said rising sea temperatures could affect 88% of areas where cetaceans are found. Dr Colin MacLeod said areas of suitable habitat for many were likely to shrink, meaning fewer animals.
And he warned a decline in habitat could be so dramatic that it could increase the extinction risk for some.
A bumblebee which is extinct in the UK is to be reintroduced from New Zealand under plans being announced. The short-haired bumblebee was exported from the UK to New Zealand on the first refrigerated lamb boats in the late 19th Century to pollinate clover crops. It was last seen in the UK in 1988, but populations on the other side of the world have survived.

All these stories from the BBC Science and Environment web page (RSS feed).

Economic impacts of carbon pricing

2009-05-28T14:30:00.002+10:00

How much extra will putting a price on carbon add to the household power bill?

The result of course depends on what price is set for carbon by the Federal Government. Currently this is $10 per tonne, although a recent report suggests the price is not expected to remain at this level. But even at $25 per tonne, the Government's fact sheet estimates a rise of, on average, $4 per week for electricity and $2 per week for gas and other household fuels.

Sean Casten has done some calculations for US electricity prices. The result? $13.60/MWh, or 1.4 cents/kWh. Given that the average price for electricity in the USA is 9.75 cents/kWh, this amounts to a 14% rate increase. (The US prices carbon at $20/ton.)

However, as he points out, electricity prices vary between states; this increase amounts to the difference between Maine (13.9 cents/kWh) and Massachusetts (15.3). On this basis, saying that Australia would be disadvantaged by setting a carbon price is like saying that Massachusetts would lose its industry to Maine because of this price differential. (As a recent post to this blog pointed out too, changeover costs tend to be overestimated because they don't take implementation efficiencies into account.)

Prince Charles is a greenie!

2009-05-28T09:54:00.004+10:00

There may not be a huge number of royalists in the Australian environmental movement (although as an issue, the environment cuts across party lines). But when establishment figures like Prince Charles urge action on climate change, I think two things happen. First, and obviously, it gets the issue into the media, at least in Britain. Second, Charles has a history of using his profile for commenting on social issues. His comments normalise the issue; it's more difficult now to portray concern about climate change as alarmist or the preserve of a radical minority.

Excerpt from this BBC story: 'Hesitation over tackling climate change could be catastrophic, Prince Charles has told global warming experts. Speaking at St James' Palace, in London, the prince said: "It seems to me that in many ways we already have some of the answers to hand. "We know about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and how to reduce deforestation... but we seem strangely reluctant to apply them," he went on.' Read the full story.

Cap & trade: Carbon tax or wealth transfer?

2009-05-27T11:41:00.002+10:00

Excerpt from this article by Sean Casten:
"It’s an article of faith that cap-and-trade will raise our energy costs, but it’s not necessarily true.

The ubiquity of this faith makes clear that the Smart People who write, talk, and vote about CO2 policy don’t really understand the issues. A quick discussion, and then some math to clarify.

There are two core problems with the theory that carbon pricing schemes will raise energy costs:

We habitually confuse sector-specific wealth transfers with economy-wide pain; the two are not necessarily the same.
Rather than admit our failure to imagine how the world would adapt to carbon pricing, we tend to assume stasis, thereby overstating the costs of compliance. "

Tim Flannery makes a similar observation in The weather makers. The rest of this article discusses both these points is well worth reading.

New web site about economics of climate change

2009-05-26T09:19:00.003+10:00

Excerpt from a Dot Earth post:
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There’s a new star out there in the online constellation of viewpoints, a Web site called RealClimateEconomics.org. [ ... ] The people involved with the new economics Web site have a strongly stated point of view: “The peer-reviewed literature demonstrates that there is rigorous economic support for immediate, large-scale policy responses to the climate crisis.” They note that three themes reverberate through their work, all of which have been explored at one point or another on Dot Earth (the links in their statement are to relevant posts):

Risk and uncertainty are fundamental to the climate problem; the magnitude and the irreversibility of uncertain, but possible, worst-case climate impacts dominate the analysis of policy options.
Ethics and equity are inseparable from economic analysis; there are deep questions of fairness between rich and poor today, and between present and future generations, at stake in the debate.
The severity of the problem and the scope of the required response are so great that marginal analysis of small changes and modest adjustments of market-based instruments are inadequate to the task of understanding and protecting the earth’s climate.

More on green jobs

2009-05-26T09:08:00.002+10:00

Excerpt from AAP story:
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... Hoping to create a global carbon market, the organisers of a world business summit on climate change said 2 million new jobs would be created in the US alone if it increased its reliance on cleaner sources of energy.
The Copenhagen Climate Council study said the US would gain that many jobs, if its electricity use grew by just half of 1 per cent a year and a quarter of its electricity came from wind energy and other renewable sources.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the CEOs of major international corporations that similar investments could produce a million new jobs in European Union countries.
"Change also brings big economic opportunities," he said.
In 2007, EU leaders pledged that by 2020 the European Union would cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other major warming gases by at least 20 per cent from 1990 levels, and increase its reliance on renewable energy sources to one-fifth of all its energy used.
"Achieving a 20 per cent share for renewables, for example, could mean more than a million jobs in this industry by 2020," Barroso said. Such a plan must be joined, he said, by "a satisfactory international climate agreement in which other developed and developing countries contribute their fair share to the limiting global emissions."

Copenhagen climate agreement

2009-05-22T10:22:00.003+10:00

We all know world leaders and their delegates will be grinding out a new global climate agreement this December in Copenhagen. But have you ever wondered what document they will be arguing over? This post from the Dot Earth blog includes some excerpts from the United Nations negotiating text for the 192 countries to meet in Copenhagen. There is also some commentary about the likely "pinch points" in the agreement.

Green David vs brown Goliath

2009-05-15T14:06:00.002+10:00

Of course environmental groups can't outspend the energy bloc when it comes to lobbying government. However we can work smarter and arm ourselves with some effective arrows. A recent post by Billy Parish looked comes up with four strategies for the smaller dog in the fight:

Make it a battle of wills, not a battle of skills
Empower people to think and act in real time
Attack where they are weak
Defy social convention (and be ready to do what is socially horrifying)

The full article from the Grist web site is definitely food for thought.