tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27664082477617436082012-02-29T12:42:25.456+11:00writings on the effects of human induced climate change, sea level rise, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, environmental and social impacts of global warming, and climate protests from a Melbourne Citizen Journalist.takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.comBlogger3311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-24432471858065822072012-02-13T23:54:00.001+11:002012-02-14T00:31:41.145+11:00

Back-to-back La Niña events has produced the wettest two year period on record for Australia according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). The two year rainfall total for 2010-2011 of 1409 mm, eclipsed the old record of 1407 mm set during the big wet of 1973-1974. But underlying this wet record is a strong drying trend in the southeast and southwest of the continent with a consistent reduction in

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-73866588071470415762012-02-10T21:51:00.000+11:002012-02-10T22:13:20.651+11:00

It looks like cold blooded species (ectotherms) in the tropics could be at an extreme risk of extinction with just moderate increases in temperature according to scientific studies. The latest study looked at the effects of increased temperature on the entire life cycle of one tropical ectotherm species, suggesting reproduction may suffer a catastrophic reduction as the climate warms with just

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-3458247064305524742012-02-09T10:32:00.000+11:002012-02-09T10:37:00.561+11:00

Alcoa have announced a review of the future of Point Henry Smelter near Anglesea in a press release to the Australian Stock Exchange. The smelter at Point Henry has been operating for 49 years and employs about 600 people. Maybe the government subsidies that prop up an inefficient industrial plant need to be redirected into reskilling, retraining and relocating the 600 odd workers that face

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-68516599803047116052012-02-06T23:31:00.000+11:002012-02-07T01:12:11.304+11:00

Locals and activists from Quit Coal stopped exploratory drilling in Bacchus Marsh today, 50km west of Melbourne. About 20 people occupied a drilling rig belonging to Mantle Mining on the side of Glenmore Road, near the corner of Daisybank Lane, Bacchus Marsh. Two people locked themselves to the Mantle Mining exploratory drilling rig this morning: Paul Connor climbed to the top of the rig and

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-54351690552625316662012-02-05T01:45:00.000+11:002012-02-05T01:53:33.738+11:00

Ocean acidification is a major threat to coral reefs and other marine zooplankton and creatures using calcium carbonate shells. Marine and Climate scientists working at the University of Sydney's research station, One Tree Island, on the Great Barrier Reef have discovered that sea cucumber poo increases the alkalinity of the reef water providing a buffer to the increasing acidity caused by ocean

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-57860985493279827382012-02-04T20:53:00.000+11:002012-02-04T20:54:20.150+11:00

A new study looking at the economic costs of tropical cyclone damage taking into account climate change, forecasts that tropical cyclones will cause $109 billion in damages by 2100. Increased vulnerability of populations and growing economic wealth is expected to double the costs from $26 billion per year to $56 billion by 2100. Climate change is predicted to add some $53 Billion in damages. Two

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-83521456078984409322012-02-04T20:00:00.000+11:002012-02-04T20:02:59.878+11:00

Fiji is experiencing heavy rain and major flooding with a 15-day state of emergency being declared in Fiji’s west coast areas. At least 8 people have died so far in the Fiji January-February 2012 floods with up to 51 reported cases of water-related diseases, thousands in evacuation centres and $30million in damages reported so far. The Government’s Provincial Development and Multi Ethnic

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-56484429340037495132012-02-01T21:51:00.000+11:002012-02-02T11:34:37.399+11:00

About 400 people gathered in the sun, on the steps of the Victorian parliament for a weekday lunchtime protest to say no new coal fired power stations. The Rally was against the propoed HRL coal fired power station for Victoria. Speakers included Adam Bandt, Greens MP for Melbourne, Kelvin Thomson, Labor MP for Wills, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Safe Climate Campaigner for Environment Victoria,

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-11942793133469498592012-02-01T11:48:00.000+11:002012-02-02T10:12:04.571+11:00

Climate change induced drought and water stress is increasing tree mortality in Canada's boreal forests, particularly in western Canada, resulting in a reduction in biomass which reduces it's capacity as a carbon sink. As tree mortality increases, there is reduced capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, resulting in a feedback loop where conditions become warmer and drier increasing the stress on the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-36148554683615305452012-01-30T22:53:00.002+11:002012-01-30T23:24:34.302+11:00

Victorian residents are fighting to stop the construction of a new 600MW coal fired power station at Morwell in the La Trobe valley. The HRL coal gasification plant proposes to turn brown coal into a synthetic gas which is mixed with natural gas to fire steam turbines to generate electricity. The pollution generated will be the equivalent of a black coal fired powered station, around 4 million

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-48298631460959850502012-01-30T02:39:00.000+11:002012-01-30T02:45:08.689+11:00

A new study has emphasised the importance of the carbon sequestration capacity of freshwater wetlands. The researchers suggest that temperate freshwater wetlands may have a significant part to play in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions as carbon sinks. The study was conduced by William Mitsch, an environment and natural resources professor and Blanca Bernal, a graduate student, both from

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-52987612137096276962012-01-22T17:35:00.000+11:002012-01-23T00:44:54.149+11:00

Scientists meeting at the University of Copenhagen have warned that biodiversity is declining rapidly throughout the world, describing the loss of species as the 6th mass extinction event on the earth. The world is losing species at a rate that is 100 to 1000 times faster than the natural extinction rate, with the challenges of conserving the world's species larger than mitigating the negative

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-61966346720683462492012-01-22T16:34:00.000+11:002012-01-22T20:36:24.529+11:00

While writing the article on Biodiversity crisis: Habitat loss and climate change causing 6th mass extinction I came across this film - Call of Life - Facing the mass extinction made by Species Alliance and released in 2010. I found the interviews with scientists and academics engaging and in the sum total empowering to face this issue of the biodiversity crisis and the 6th mass extinction which

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-72856212386607697482012-01-18T01:18:00.000+11:002012-01-18T13:43:56.627+11:00

We are stacking the climate dice against the survival of many species on planet earth. A few species may be able to ride the changes, at least temporarily. And so it is with the largest of birds, the wandering albatross, with some populations of this species able to take advantage, so far, of the changing winds of climate change. But for how long? Global warming has caused the westerly winds in

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-17944245249084847832012-01-17T01:02:00.000+11:002012-01-22T17:39:26.604+11:00

A new multi-author scientific study says that preservation of plant biodiversity provides a crucial buffer to negative effects of climate change and desertification in drylands. Preventing ecosystem degredation in a warming world is significant with drylands particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and desertification. Dryland ecosystems cover 41% of the land surface of the Earth and

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-56989349454859258272012-01-13T17:26:00.001+11:002012-01-13T17:26:24.382+11:00

Climate and Environment activists along with Occupy Melbourne paid a call on thursday afternoon to Martin Ferguson's electoral office at 159 High Street, Preston. The office was closed early supposedly on occupational health and safety grounds, and had a Federal and Victorian police presence. Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy has pushed for increased surveillance of environmental

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-11263765399544134352012-01-07T23:33:00.000+11:002012-01-07T23:33:18.196+11:00

An improved method of removing carbon dioxide (CO2) cheaply from industrial smoketacks and even scrubbing the air has been discovered which may help in stabilising climate and reducing carbon emissions. Resolving the huge problem of climate change and global warming is going to take significant action on many levels. This new technology, if it can be rapidly developed and commercialised, may

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-79088560744097787312012-01-06T23:19:00.000+11:002012-01-06T23:24:42.832+11:00

Two new scientific papers have emphasised the threat to biodiversity from the impacts of climate change and habitat loss. A study by US ecologist Mark Urban identified that predictions of the loss of animal and plant diversity due to climate change may be greatly underestimated as most predictions of the rate of extinctions don't take into account species competition and movement. A second key

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-57284021047774119672012-01-04T03:08:00.000+11:002012-01-04T03:25:49.058+11:00

Scientists have been able to calculate the velocity of climate change on land and ocean environments using temperature records to determine isotherms and their change in a fifty year period from 1960 to 2009. So how fast are climate envelopes moving? The general median answer is 27.3 km/decade on land, and 21.7 km/decade in the ocean. This equates to a speed needed to outrun climate change on

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-18457082097161392012012-01-01T23:12:00.002+11:002012-01-01T23:33:28.687+11:00

One of the last tragic extreme weather events of 2011 was Cyclone Thane hitting the Tamil Nadu coast of India. It caused 46 deaths and damaged buildings, roads and crops. It was the strongest tropical cyclone of 2011 within the North Indian Ocean. Image from NOAA - Cyclone Thane in the Bay of Bengal on 28 December 2011, taken by Meteosat From the Bay of Bengal it made landfall as a very severe

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-43419796659839653632012-01-01T22:55:00.000+11:002012-01-03T11:54:51.822+11:00

A recent study linked increasing air pollution over the Indian sub-continent to an increase in the intensity of Tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea. The air pollution over the Indian sub-continent changes wind circulation patterns reducing wind shear in the Northern Indian Ocean providing more potential for intense cyclones to form. This is combined with warm sea surface temperatures in the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-55776845457867362132011-12-27T18:44:00.002+11:002011-12-28T12:08:42.135+11:00

New research by CSIRO scientists is showing a trend for fewer tropical cyclones forming off the Western Australian coast, but those that do form may become more intense and potentially destructive. The results apply across the Australian region according to CSIRO in an interview with Dr Debbie Abbs from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research published on December 21, 2011. Dr Debbie Abbs said

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-21833350266238003902011-12-23T20:22:00.001+11:002012-01-10T18:37:40.561+11:00

The NSW Draft planning regulations on wind farms was released on Friday December 23: on the very last working day before Christmas. You don't need to be a cynic to understand the Barrie O'Farrell conservative Government wants to bury news coverage of these draft planning regulations which impose strict limits on wind farm development which are very similar in scope to the draconian Victorian wind

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-29496256129891735562011-12-20T22:14:00.003+11:002011-12-21T00:35:02.998+11:00

Listen to this 55 minute webinar (voice presentation with slideshow) by Professor Kevin Anderson, on Climate Change: Going Beyond Dangerous. Professor Anderson is Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and holds a chair in Energy and Climate Change at Manchester University, and is an advisor to the British Government on climate change (see Wikipedia). Kevin Anderson

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-77019853120384861682011-12-20T20:34:00.000+11:002011-12-20T20:34:07.349+11:00

Eight days ago shoppers in Melbourne CBD were treated to Santa on a seven seater bike and elves asking people to sign a petition for Julia Gillard not to fund the HRL coal gasification power station. "I’m confused", Santa told onlookers. "I thought nobody wanted coal for Christmas. But then why would Victoria have plans the new coal fired power station HRL? Not to mention a new coal mine in

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-81877812328346486782011-12-18T23:24:00.003+11:002011-12-29T18:11:09.164+11:00

Heavy rain and flash flooding on Friday night and Saturday in the Philippines associated with tropical cyclone Washi, known locally as Sendong, has killed 521 people, with many still missing and unaccounted for, and displaced over 100,000 people. The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were particularly hard hit. Tropical Storm Washi dumped on the island of Mindanao more than a month of average

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-8998101146361958352011-12-18T00:37:00.001+11:002011-12-18T12:21:23.161+11:00

The climate is changing in Canada. New research indicates that large areas of Canada are approaching a threshold value where they may experience a rapid increase in the size of wildfires. Both the area burnt down annually and the average size of the fires would increase, write the researchers of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the University of Michigan who undertook the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-9839535601721823992011-12-17T19:23:00.000+11:002011-12-17T21:33:06.395+11:00

"The paleoclimate record reveals a more sensitive climate than thought, even as of a few years ago. Limiting human-caused warming to 2 degrees is not sufficient," said NASA climatologist James Hansen at the American Geophysical Union meeting on December 6 2011, "It would be a prescription for disaster." In a press conference at the American Geophysical Union Fall meeting 2011 in San Fransisco

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-74383798922321313062011-12-16T03:18:00.000+11:002011-12-16T03:18:11.822+11:00

Is it possible to decouple economic wealth from carbon dioxide emission rates? Dr Tim Garrett applies basic thermodynamic physics principles to the economics of wealth, carbon emission rates and civilization and comes up with some very disturbing results. I came across this randomly chasing youtube links. This talk captured in a 3 part video was given at the Pacific Institute for Climate Studies

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-56804362803061266852011-12-15T12:26:00.000+11:002011-12-16T11:23:53.543+11:00

In a landmark judgement concerning climate change, a judge in the NSW Land and Environment Court has given approval for the expansion of the Xstrata Ulan coal mine near Mudgee in Central western New South Wales, but conditional on the mine offsetting all of its greenhouse gas emissions generated in mining the coal. The Hunter Environmental Lobby brought an appeal against the $1.2 Billion Ulan

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-24525609070487823352011-12-14T02:38:00.000+11:002011-12-16T11:16:40.317+11:00

The Victorian Coalition Government have given a green light to their logging mates by announcing the expansion of native forest logging and locking in to place much longer native forest logging contracts. In a statement yesterday Agriculture and Food Security Minister National Party MP Peter Walsh released the Timber Industry Action Plan. Under the plan Vicforests would be able to harvest and

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-69868993508237280042011-12-10T19:49:00.001+11:002011-12-12T00:35:11.606+11:00

The Durban UN climate talks - COP17 - are drawing to a close. Ministers and heads of state met through Friday night to thrash out some meaning from these talks. The sticking point is that developed countries are not taking the lead in initiating the deep emissions cuts of 25-40% as stated in the Bali road map in 2007 and the Kyoto Protocol. Europe, The US, Canada and Australia are responsible for

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-35779096691698948052011-12-10T18:26:00.000+11:002011-12-16T11:09:57.600+11:00

One World TV interviewed Sione Taulo Fulivai from the small Pacific Island state of Tonga on the last day of the UN climate negotiations at COP17 in Durban. Small Island states face rising atmospheric and sea surface temperatures, rising sea levels spoiling freshwater reservoirs and agriculture and threatening to innundate their land, and changing rainfall pattens. They are on the frontline of

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-21491526902883662112011-12-09T22:14:00.001+11:002011-12-09T22:16:12.447+11:00

Anjali Appadurai, a youth from College of the Atlantic in the US, gives perhaps the most power speech at COP17 meeting in Durban, South Africa. Following the high level intervention statement on Friday, December 9th, 2011, Anjali and Audience members proceeded to mic check the UN. Read the full speech below: TEXT of SPEECH I speak for more than half the world's population. We are the silent

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-88437182902374634902011-12-09T07:30:00.000+11:002011-12-16T11:06:27.988+11:00

The Clean Energy Council of Australia announced at the climate negotiations in Durban that 9.6% of Australia's power now came from renewable sources: solar photovoltaic, wind, and large scale hydro-electric. More than half a million household solar power systems were now installed on Australian rooftops – around 35 times the amount just three years ago at the end of 2008. Clean Energy Council

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-48942846430902799332011-12-08T23:00:00.000+11:002011-12-16T11:00:31.967+11:00

Efficient energy capture and conversion from Click2it on Vimeo.Surf coast residents in Victoria may be drawing some of their electricity from the ocean waves that comes crashing into the beaches in the not too distant future. The Victorian state Government has awarded Ocean energy company, BioPower Systems (BPS) $5 million of funding under the Sustainable Energy Pilot Demonstration Program to

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-15409214790025207492011-12-08T16:57:00.001+11:002012-02-09T10:36:42.284+11:00

Anglesea residents presented a petition containing 850 signatures to State parliament on November 23, 2011 calling for an independent study into health impacts of the Alcoa coal mine and power plant, according to a report in the Geelong Advertiser. In stark contrast to the Government's draconian wind power planning regulations allowing residents a veto if they live within 2km of a proposed wind

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-6365806067421037392011-12-08T16:32:00.001+11:002011-12-09T02:53:42.099+11:00

The Baillieu Government in Victoria has put in place draconian planning regulations for new wind farms which will stifle rural development and slow shift to clean energy according to Friends of the Earth. These regulations include residents within a 2km distance of a planned wind turbine able to veto the development, and no development within 5km of any town, plus numerous No Go Zones. In late

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-89903909451533808812011-12-02T13:54:00.001+11:002011-12-02T14:16:39.318+11:00

Climate negotiators in Durban were urged to consider ocean acidification and changes taking place in the southern ocean due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and ocean researchers released important briefings on ocean acidification and changes taking place in the southern ocean on November 29, 2011. At the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-12802924973697631002011-12-01T17:20:00.000+11:002012-02-02T10:13:41.966+11:00

The carbon sink capacity of urbanized river estuary and coastal environments to mitigate climate change has reduced by 100 fold according to scientists from the University of Technology Sydney. The Scientists used core samples from Botany Bay in Sydney to reconstruct the sedimentation changes in the past 6000 years, highlighting the changes in the ecology. The plant samples in the sedimentation

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-35226375496337513092011-11-29T23:10:00.001+11:002011-11-29T23:40:26.221+11:00

2011 is likely to be the world's tenth warmest year on record. This is despite a particularly strong La Niña which usually acts to dampen global temperatures, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The WMO has released its summary and status of the global climate and weather for 2011 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change talks taking place in Durban

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-22940225257406421462011-11-28T23:24:00.001+11:002011-11-29T23:37:26.273+11:00

UK Naturalist and documentary maker David Attenborough has warned about the implications of melting ice sheets in the polar regions but emphasised the changes under way in Antarctica "is likely to have the most dramatic effects of all". His comments were made in a November 2011 article in the BBC Radio Times reported by the Independent newspaper. While the title of the Independent newspaper

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-8019616316564752192011-11-26T01:12:00.001+11:002011-11-26T10:39:18.725+11:00

A major new report on climate change in the Pacific Ocean region reports that the region is getter hotter, sea levels are rising, rainfall is changing and equatorial winds have weakened. While cyclone may tend to decrease slightly in the future, cyclone intensity is likely to be greater. The report launched today - Climate change in the Pacific, scientific assessment and new research - contains

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-85682191409345978532011-11-24T13:18:00.001+11:002011-11-24T13:19:20.159+11:00

Large scale grid power storage for energy may become possible with use of nanoparticle electrodes for batteries being researched and developed by researchers at Stanford University in the US. The copper compound nanoparticle electorodes are cheap and easy to make for easy scaling for industrial production. This break-through development could lead to building batteries big enough for economical

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-59151261417299661482011-11-23T21:55:00.001+11:002011-11-26T10:31:48.075+11:00

More emails by climate scientists have been publicly released from the break-in to the University of East Anglia servers two years ago. The theft was dubbed Climategate, and although climate sceptics argued that the emails showed scientific misconduct, a total of nine separate independent investigations exonerated all the climate scientists. Climategate was all about throwing mud at climate

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-76331943812992416492011-11-23T01:33:00.001+11:002011-11-23T01:48:32.826+11:00

Over the weekend the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX). There were no surprises for anyone who follows climate science, and the report succinctly integrates a discussion of vulnerability, risk management and adaptation strategies for extreme weather

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-63728491540905587132011-11-18T00:28:00.001+11:002011-11-18T00:34:08.792+11:00

An interesting seminar was held at the Australian National University on November 10, 2011 on logging of native forests and the timeframe for dealing with CO2 emissions for climate policy. The seminar was given by Dr Judith Ajani, an economist at the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society and the author of The Forest Wars (MUP 2007). She examines both sides of the debate regarding logging

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-15199309012382599472011-11-17T11:21:00.001+11:002011-11-17T11:29:52.302+11:00

Environmental activists have been out in old growth Forests in East Gippsland this week attempting to stop more rape of our natural environment and protecting important refugia habitats for endangered species. Logging operations on Survey Rd on the Errinundra Plateau were halted by a tree-sit attached to five logging machines and suspended 40 metres up in the tree canopy. "In the face of recent

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-53476666285233082002011-11-17T10:41:00.001+11:002011-11-26T10:21:40.766+11:00

As Australia's climate warms up we are facing increased bush fire risk. Old growth forests trap moisture and provide an important bulwark against bushfires, while previously logged forest regrowth with trees of the same maturity will tend to burn at a much higher intensity. Chris Taylor from Beyond Zero Emissions and Melbourne University has done an extensive bushfire data analysis that proves

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-37724578374310603402011-11-15T21:29:00.001+11:002011-11-15T21:34:04.354+11:00

The BBC has relegated the seventh and final episode of the Frozen Planet series presented by Sir David Attenborough to an optional extra. The seventh episode - On Thin Ice - deals with how climate change and global warming is impacting the polar regions and how it affects us all. The final episode is heavily narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Managers at the BBC decided the series would sell

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-57121352830853086752011-11-14T02:06:00.001+11:002011-11-14T15:16:16.413+11:00

The Sea Surface temperature Anomaly around Australia in November 2011 remains elevated. A slow cooling in the tropical mid Pacific indicates that La Niña is also slowly building. A persistently warm Indian Ocean is also a main driver for forecast wetter conditions in Australia this summer. The forecast is for a La Niña weaker than the 2010 one, which was one of the strongest on record. Sea

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-68194658435844185512011-11-13T23:28:00.001+11:002011-11-17T21:21:56.865+11:00

Victorian Environment groups gathered to protest the Environment and climate actions of the Baillieu Victorian State Government on Sunday November 13, 2011 on the steps of State Parliament. To highlight the direction the Government is taking Victoria's environment, the protesters marched backwards to the Treasury Gardens. Related: Flickr Photos from Friends of the Earth | Takver Background:

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-70192826870789765252011-11-10T10:24:00.001+11:002011-11-26T10:17:25.598+11:00

A Bold change of direction is needed to limit global average temperature rise to a 2 degree limit as per the commitment made in Copenhagen in 2009 and re-affirmed in Cancun in 2010, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook for 2011. Related: Record increase in Greenhouse gas emissions for 2010 | Carbon Emissions need to peak this decade to meet 2 °C temperature

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-24250164998994645312011-11-06T13:06:00.000+11:002011-11-06T13:07:41.848+11:00

An in depth study of the CO2 supply chain by scientists argues that enacting carbon pricing mechanisms at the point of extraction could be efficient and avoid the relocation of industries that could result from regulation at the point of combustion. Most of Australia's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions comes from the export of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. But because

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-61468022055584709582011-11-06T00:01:00.000+11:002011-11-26T10:13:57.803+11:00

Scientists have been studying the climate change impacts on ice shelfs and glaciers for some time in Antarctica, and particularly around the Antarctic Peninsula where there is substantial warming occurring increasing ice shelf melt and the speed and discharge of glaciers. The most recent studies predict a faster retreat for the Thwaites Glacier and that warm ocean currents are already speeding

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-84574514778297940782011-11-04T23:54:00.000+11:002011-11-26T10:10:25.921+11:00

Greenhouse gases increased 6 per cent during 2010, one of the largest annual increases on record according to the US Department of Energy. In 2010 about 512 million metric tonnes more of carbon was emitted to the atmosphere than in 2009. Total emissions for 2010 were 30.6 Gigatonnes, 5% higher than the previous record year in 2008, according to an International Energy Agency report in June 2011.

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-14948316670729822092011-10-29T04:14:00.000+11:002011-10-29T12:39:25.734+11:00

A new study by NOAA - the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - has highlighted that climate change is a major contributor to more frequent Mediterranean droughts. According to the study in the last 20 years, 10 of the driest 12 winters have taken place in the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Water security, food security, and increasing wildfire frequency and intensity

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-84231713819460327652011-10-27T04:45:00.001+11:002011-10-27T04:46:25.485+11:00

Climate scientists using statistical modeling have estimated an 80 percent chance that climate change was responsible for the July 2010 Russian heatwave. The paper by Stefan Rahmstorf and Dim Coumou from Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research - Increase of extreme events in a warming world - was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on October 25, 2011

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-38558945931950048622011-10-25T21:24:00.000+11:002011-10-27T10:26:45.613+11:00

Professor Marco Tedesco from the City College of New York reports that extreme melting continues from the Greenland Ice sheet this year with close-to-record simulated surface mass balance, bare ice exposure, albedo and runoff anomalies. He warned that glaciers could undergo a self-amplifying cycle of melting and warming that would be difficult to halt. Related: Record summer melting in 2010 |

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-51247712084573031202011-10-24T11:27:00.002+11:002011-10-24T11:29:53.568+11:00

Limiting global average temperature rise to 2 °C may be slipping from the world's grasp without urgent action this decade on emission reduction to combat climate change according to new review of climate modeling of emission pathways by a team lead by Dr Joeri Rogelj. The two degree limit on global warming was adopted in 2009 at Copenhagen and reaffirmed a year later at the UN climate conference

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-32504380934419286092011-10-22T02:01:00.001+11:002011-10-25T18:41:19.445+11:00

'Global Warming is real' declares new scientific work from an independent group of researchers called the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Study. The research team is at least partially funded by the Koch Brothers who fund several climate denial groups. The team was setup to identify flaws in the climate science of global average temperature trends, but has confirmed the analysis undertaken by

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-67811381975013820762011-10-20T22:50:00.000+11:002011-10-20T22:52:37.965+11:00

A Stanfoord University Professor of civil and environmental engineering has suggested that installing solar photo-voltaic panels on your house would be a better contribution to reducing global temperatures than the geo-engineering solution of painting vast numbers of urban roofs white to combat the urban heat island contribution to global warming. "There does not seem to be a benefit from

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-88405489899843395952011-10-20T14:21:00.001+11:002011-10-20T14:21:37.988+11:00

Rising seas are one of the more long-term catastrophic effects of global warming that will not end at 2100, even with the most drastic emission reductions, but will continue for centuries. Researchers based at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen have calculated the long-term outlook for the next 500 years for rising sea levels in relation to the emission of greenhouse gases and pollution of

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-1031265834017126972011-10-19T17:33:00.002+11:002011-10-19T17:34:01.784+11:00

A statement calling for urgent action on climate change has been issued by doctors, health professionals and military personnel participating in a London conference on the health and security implications of climate change convened by the British Medical Journal. Professor Hugh Montgomery, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at the University College London and Director of the UCL Institute for

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-61191683944935113742011-10-16T17:02:00.001+11:002011-10-16T17:19:52.943+11:00

Do you fancy a bit of chocolate every now and then? Perhaps a hot cup of drinking chocolate and milk before going to bed? or a few small pieces of a bar of chocolate while watching TV? Maybe a fancy imported Swiss or Belgium chocolate with coffee and liquers at the end of a dinner party? or maybe some cool chocolate icecream on a hot summer's day? This could all become a thing of the past as

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-83378214049177261712011-10-13T23:00:00.000+11:002011-10-13T23:05:06.892+11:00

Could our carbon pricing package be a "game changer" at the next UN climate talks to be held in Durban, South Africa from 28 November - 9 December 2011? Australia's climate change ambassador, Louise Hand thinks it is possible. But first a look at the passage of the legislation through the House of Representatives and some community reactions. Yesterday the House of Representatives passed the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com01 Capital Cir, Capital Hill ACT 2600, Australia-35.30840140169162 149.1236114501953-35.36023790169162 149.0446474501953 -35.25656490169162 149.20257545019533tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-53910839003023888572011-10-11T19:08:00.000+11:002011-10-11T19:08:59.627+11:00

New scientific research published in September 2011 highlights that logging in Victoria’s mountain ash forests is increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. The cycling of logging and wildfire is creating a landscape trap where the wet forest ecosystem is being permanently converted to a new landscape replaced by other species, particularly wattle, increasing the frequency and intensity of

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0Highlands VIC 3660, Australia-37.0914594 145.4062509-37.1927884 145.2483224 -36.9901304 145.5641794tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-78062057000571775272011-10-08T23:57:00.000+11:002011-10-09T00:00:16.671+11:00

Motorists, pedestrians and tram passengers were entertained by environmentalists from Climate Action Moreland during Saturday mid morning shopping traffic snarl on Sydney Road, Brunswick. Wielding a huge blow up planet earth, the activists asked motorist to honk for climate action, cyclists to ring their bell, and pedestrians to sign a petition against the proposed HRL coal fired power station.

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia-37.767872 144.961929-37.780424 144.942188 -37.75532 144.98167tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-85093567479531511722011-10-08T22:05:00.000+11:002011-10-10T15:04:25.069+11:00

On Wednesday October 5 Tony Abbott attended a 'community forum' at the Capital Theatre in Bendigo (See Report in Bendigo Advertiser - Bendigo forum a chance for some sticky questions). Attendance was by a selected audience of about 190 who attended by invite only. Unfortunately the 'community forum' was neither representative of the community nor very open. About 100 people, mainly younger

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-42832941623609122992011-10-07T00:03:00.000+11:002011-10-07T09:11:40.018+11:00

Filipinos are fighting for survival amid worsening climate change according to the Philippine delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) round of talks in Panama. The main island of Luzon and the national capital Manila have been blasted and battered in late September and into early October by two consecutive typhoons which have killed at least 76 people and

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-32622179699639287622011-10-06T03:28:00.001+11:002011-10-06T03:28:56.474+11:00

Grass fires and bushfires are starting already, and it is only early October - with bushfire season officially still nearly a month away. The extremely wet season Australia had at the end of 2010 and start of 2011, brought on by one of the strongest La Niña on record, has stimulated vegetation growth and is set to cause great concern as it dries and cures in the summer heat with the onset of the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-71916432729356776302011-10-03T02:56:00.000+11:002011-10-04T00:56:50.805+11:00

Average global sea level is rising at the fastest rate in 2000 years according to scientists, and north and western Australia is copping more than double the global average in sea level rise. The rate of increase has accelerated in the last 20 years which has been attributed by scientists to thermal expansion, small glacier melt and accelerating ice sheet loss from the Greenland and West

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-43054468998993042512011-09-26T22:19:00.002+10:002011-09-26T22:27:32.925+10:00

Did you miss the action over the weekend? Thousands of people around the world from Cairo to Canberra participated in events to move the planet beyond fossil fuels. There were over 2000 events in more than 175 countries with more than 40 Moving Planet events taking place across Australia from the Blue Mountains, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne joining the thousands

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-70318748732969149072011-07-31T19:18:00.007+10:002011-08-02T01:22:19.793+10:00

A misconduct complaint has been filed against the US Interior Department on behalf of an Arctic scientist who has been under investigation since the start of the year. The scientist, Dr. Charles Monnett, PhD, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) formerly known as the Minerals Management Service, has not been told why he is under

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-85146904511454745872011-07-30T03:14:00.004+10:002011-07-30T03:31:40.676+10:00

On July 26, 2011 in the Salt Lake City Federal courthouse Tim DeChristopher was sentenced to two years prison and a $10,000 fine for making false bids as 'Bidder 70' in disrupting auctions of public lands by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in December 2008 in the final days of the Bush Administration. DeChristopher was successful in 22 bids amounting to $1.8million and caused the prices to

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-2532588566832750952011-07-28T00:30:00.002+10:002011-07-28T00:37:42.178+10:00

A new report by the Climate Commission says the Illawarra region and South Coast of New South Wales highlights the increasing risks of the impacts of climate change. These impacts include an increase in the likelihood of large and intense fires as temperatures increase, rising sea levels causing coastal flooding of buildings and infrastructure, changing rainfall patterns and more intense storms

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-39856937183494172762011-07-22T23:37:00.005+10:002011-07-23T14:01:50.531+10:00

Over fourteen hundred maximum temperature records have been broken or tied across the United States so far this July as a heatwave lingers from the mid-western and southern states and expands to encompass the eastern states. High humidity accompanies the high temperatures making the heat further unbearable. Little relief is being found overnight with highest minimum temperatures recorded also

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-726420514174922842011-07-22T03:34:00.006+10:002011-07-23T15:09:23.074+10:00

Some of Australia's most iconic animals are feeling the heat of climate change and global warming. Scientists have already reported that Koalas face starvation, extinction due to climate change and now it seems the Platypus is under threat due to increasing summer temperatures.The video above of a platypus seen feeding mid-afternoon surrounded by half a dozen people watching is unusual. Platypus

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-20493914960510731812011-07-17T17:19:00.007+10:002011-07-17T18:49:39.342+10:00

Caption: Comparison of absolute forest area and deforestation rate trends for peat swamp forest (top) and all forest in Sarawak including peat swamp forest (bottom) during 2005-2010. (Sarvision 2011)A report by Wetlands International in February reported on the Borneo Orangutan Survival website reports "Two thirds of Sarawak's peatlands were until recently covered by thick, biodiversity-rich

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-39478368489045176562011-07-17T17:04:00.006+10:002011-07-17T18:32:20.612+10:00

Conservationists have today participated in a protest on Hobart's wharf, where a vessel is being loaded for the Malaysian logging company Ta Ann. The protest highlights the ongoing loss of high conservation value temperate forests in Tasmania and the rapacious logging of tropical rainforests of Borneo and destructon of habitat for Orangutan and dispossession of the indigenous Penan people from

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-21783385990938835942011-07-16T05:33:00.006+10:002011-07-18T13:16:21.689+10:00

The world's forests remove over one quarter of current annual human carbon emissions from the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of about 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon according to the latest published scientific research. An international team of scientists, including from the US Forests Service and the Australian CSIRO, have quantified the greenhouse gas carbon sink provided by the world's

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-92209182264078440702011-07-15T15:21:00.003+10:002011-07-15T15:29:22.393+10:00

In an early morning session on Thursday the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, addressed the Four degrees or more? conference and spoke on the scientific imperatives driving the Government to price carbon and outlined the Government's carbon pricing policy and addressed some of the consequences of that policy for science and innovation. Despite the policy failing to

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-14401074017474592092011-07-14T03:37:00.005+10:002011-07-15T15:19:34.891+10:00

This was the 1st keynote address to the Four degrees or more? conference Australia in a hot world which is currently meeting in Melbourne. After a day and a half of listening to climate scientists detailing the present climate impacts and future projections, understandably I, and many others, felt a little depressed. But most of these scientists and other delegates are possessed of a human

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-75205509878131813952011-07-12T06:01:00.005+10:002011-07-14T09:41:43.496+10:00

On Sunday the Gillard Federal Government announced it's carbon tax at $23 a tonne of carbon to be imposed on the 500 largest carbon polluting companies starting from July 1st, 2012. More than half the money raised will be returned to low and middle income earners, pensioners and retirees as compensation. Additional packages include $10 billion renewable energy and low emissions technology fund,

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-56226220409756047692011-07-10T16:49:00.002+10:002011-07-10T16:56:40.114+10:00

Australian Prime Minister Julia Guillard announced the major details of the carbon price (carbon tax) at midday today flanked by Climate Change Minister Greg Combet and Treasurer Wayne Swan. The package entails substantial compensation to middle and low income households, taxpayers, pensioners and self funded retirees. It also establishes a $10billion renewable energy fund. More on the details

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-19655143071882639882011-07-09T21:39:00.001+10:002011-07-09T21:43:02.614+10:00

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations is increasing atmospheric temperatures changing the dynamic of the sub-tropical jet stream and thus the number and intensity of storms bringing autumn and winter rainfall to southern Australia, according to CSIRO climate scientist Dr Jorgen Frederiksen. He was addressing the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics conference in Melbourne

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-50999229711635038042011-07-09T13:22:00.001+10:002011-07-09T13:27:39.915+10:00

Arctic air temperatures are warming faster than anywhere else on Earth. Although the level of precipitation is remaining unchanged, there is reduced snowfall in summer which is being replaced by increasing rain. The loss of summer snow and increase in rain is resulting in a positive feedback mechanism increasing warming and melting of the Arctic ice.We are already witnessing an increase in the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-1934725444325740292011-07-08T22:08:00.001+10:002011-07-08T22:10:22.082+10:00

Some satirical commentary by comedians John Clarke and Brian Dawe on the launch of the Carbon tax for Australia. Originally aired on The 7.30 Report on Thursday July 7, 2011.

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-74393388188815890642011-07-08T21:26:00.003+10:002011-07-08T21:32:48.160+10:00

For the USA the 'normal climate' just got warmer. Every decade the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updates a range of climate measures averaged over the previous 30 years. These measures are called the climate normals. From July 2011 the latest climate normals will be for the 30 years from 1981 to 2010. Climate measures for the 1970s has been dropped and the first decade of

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-76671800174467169102011-07-04T23:50:00.002+10:002011-07-04T23:53:41.103+10:00

This is Tony Abbott in 2009, denying climate change, arguing against the 'complex' CPRS scheme and arguing for a 'simple carbon tax'. At least former leader Malcolm Turnbull was approaching climate change action in a bipartisan way. Abbott doesn't even have the intellectual rigour to appreciate climate science and the impacts already being felt in a warming world.Tony Abbott: "If you want to put

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-87749347632516665402011-07-04T21:35:00.003+10:002011-07-06T13:27:51.197+10:00

On July 1st 2011 the Victorian Climate Change Act became law. It was passed last year with bipartisan support. The Act sets into law that Victoria will cut the state's emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 based on year 2000 emissions baseline and empowers the Environment Protection Authority to regulate emissions from industry.The former Brumby Labor Government had committed to partially close the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-46138168052871279302011-06-29T23:24:00.000+10:002012-02-02T10:16:08.929+11:00

Sunny winter day...to good to spend inside. Stop reading the latest scientific reports on accelerating climate change, or arguments over the carbon tax. Quickly hang up the washing and it was time to head out exploring the bike paths of Melbourne's northern suburbs and the magic of Merri Creek. I wanted to visit the Galada Tamboore grasslands up in Campbellfield. I chose to ride up the Merri

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-29822964602463180892011-06-28T01:32:00.003+10:002011-06-28T01:42:16.316+10:00

A friend sent me the link to this youtube video song - Solartopia - produced in 2010. It was good to see Pete Seeger still singing such topical and empowering songs. Songs easy to sing along with and be motivated by. An positive climate change anthem with a vision for a better future for ourselves and our children.In 1967 my parents bought their first record player. Peter Seeger's Broadside

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-58351802569936894502011-06-27T03:31:00.004+10:002011-06-27T03:55:35.800+10:00

A report issued last week from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) has strongly warned of the damage to the health of the world's oceans and marine life and that if the current business as usual trajectory of damage continues "that the world's ocean is at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history."Dr. Alex Rogers,

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-75893562779594336792011-06-22T16:40:00.003+10:002011-06-22T16:47:15.136+10:00

An extreme shift in weather in June across much of southern and eastern China has been put down to the effects of global warming and climate change. Usually light rains start in June in the middle and lower Yangtze valley leading in to the summer monsoonal rains and typhoon season, but this year torrential rains and storms struck on June 3 and have continued unleashing devastating floods, the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-8191602106481230742011-06-21T21:55:00.003+10:002011-06-21T21:59:09.500+10:00

Just as Australia is about to get a price on carbon, the Federal Government is funding a new coal fired power station for Victoria. On Monday a little bit of street theatre for the media was enacted in Treasury Place outside the Prime Minister's Melbourne offices.Report from Indymedia: Look at Fergo and Gillard did!Onlookers were shocked in Melbourne on 20th June by the sight of Prime Minister

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-61008431470030314512011-06-21T04:03:00.003+10:002011-06-21T04:07:15.898+10:00

A new scientific study published in Nature Geoscience says that major afforestation will have little impact on slowing global warming and that "afforestation is not a substitute for reduced greenhouse-gas emissions".The study was authored by Vivek K. Arora & Alvaro Montenegro and published in Nature Geoscience on 19 June 2011. The authors argue that forests are less reflective than croplands, and

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-45115908060797506542011-06-21T02:30:00.006+10:002011-06-21T04:10:27.477+10:00

The CSIRO and Australian Bureau of Meteorology have launched a website showing the monthly data for greenhouse gases measured at the windswept Cape Grim Station located in the path of the roaring forties on the west coast of Tasmania. Cape Grim is one of three important baseline atmospheric stations for measuring background greenhouse gases, the other two being Mauna Loa in the middle of the

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-43250767394694128512011-06-19T22:06:00.004+10:002011-06-19T22:25:52.664+10:00

Large parts of the US midwest are experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding, not unlike what Queenslanders saw in December and January this year when Brisbane was inundated. A major problem with urban infrastructure on flood plains is the risk of innundation during flood events, flood events likely to become more frequent with climate change. In Nebraska two nuclear power Stations are threatened

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2766408247761743608.post-86372090278597062152011-06-19T14:07:00.004+10:002011-06-19T15:17:29.316+10:00

An engaging radio show from New Zealand discussing the latest on climate change. This episode discusses the latest Christchurch earthquakes, ash clouds from Volcanoes in Chile and Eritrea disrupting flights, extreme weather in the US and the impact of La Nina, massive flooding in the Mississippi, drought impacts on France's nuclear plants most of which are located next to drought affected rivers,

takverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834239542685399015noreply@blogger.com0