Arctic Deep sea oil: Cairn Energy oil spill response plan missing

Activists from Greenpeace have been harassing the drilling program of Cairn Energy in the Arctic off the Greenland coast citing the lack of a publicly available oil spill response plan for drilling in the sensitive Arctic environment. Cairn Energy, an Edinburgh registered company, is presently involved in exploratory deep sea oil drilling in the Arctic in the Davis Strait (Iceberg Alley).

Greenpeace targets BHP Billiton over Carbon Pollution

A Busy week for the activists of Greenpeace Australia who did a banner drop outside BHP Billiton headquarters in Melbourne on Monday and followed it up midweek with erecting a Pollution Tax Collection Point at BHP’s Mount Arthur Mine in the Hunter Valley holding up a BHP coal train temporarily.

According to Greenpeace BHP Billiton is one of the top ten polluters in Australia. In 2009 BHP produced nearly 13 million tonnes of carbon pollution. The company operates some of the most polluting coalmines in Australia. The pollution from its coal mining is set to increase by 100% by 2020 - wiping out any carbon cuts Australia makes with the introduction of a carbon tax from July 1st 2012.

Read more from Greenpeace Australia on these actions:

* BHP Billiton – time to pay up

* Coal Train stopped in tracks

Legal Challenge to Xstrata Ulan Coal mine expansion

An expansion of the Xstrata owned Ulan coal mine near Mudgee in the upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales is being challenged partly based upon it's long term impact of exacerbating global anthropogenic climate change.

Xstrata has applied for a doubling in coal production to 20MT/annum and a 21 year lease but is being challenged in the NSW Land and Environment Court by the Hunter Environment Lobby with assistance from the Environmental Defenders Office. The appeal was lodged in January 2011 citing that the former NSW Government approved the Part 3A development without conducting a Planning Assessment Commission to independently assess the effect of the mine expansion.

Update: 8 Dec 2011 - Xstrata Ulan coal mine expansion required to offset greenhouse gas emissions

Thousands rally to price carbon on World Environment Day

An estimated 10,000 people packed the lawns of the State Library on Swanston street Melbourne on World Environment Day to Say yes to a safe climate and support the introduction of a carbon price by the Gillard Federal Labor Government. About 8000 people also gathered in Sydney, 5000 people rallied in Adelaide's Victoria Square, 5000 in Brisbane, 3000 in Perth, 3000 in Hobart, and 2000 in Canberra. Organisors estimate up to 45000 may have attended rallies across Australia today to support climate action and pricing carbon.

Flickr photos: Melbourne | Adelaide | Canberra | Sydney

World Environment Day Rallies to say YES to a safe climate

Time to say Yes: to start the ball rolling on taxing the major carbon polluters. The Say Yes Australia campaign and rallies have been organised by a broad coalition of groups in Australia in support of the Federal Government Interim carbon tax to tackle carbon pollution to start on July 1st 2012. The campaign brings together the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Australian Coservation Foundation, Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Climate Action Network Australia, The Climate Institute, Environment Victoria, GetUp!, World Wildlife Fund Australia and many more (Read PDF statement and signatores)

Come along to one of the family-friendly YES events this Sunday. Here are the locations:

* Sydney: Prince Alfred Park, 11 am

* Melb: Outside the State Library, 11 am

* Adelaide: Victoria Square, 11 am

* Brisbane: Riverstage, 1pm

* Perth: Perth Cultural centre - Wetlands stage, 11am

* Hobart: Franklin Square, 11am

* Canberra: Regatta Point (near the bridge), 1.30pm

More details about the YES campaign can be found at: http://www.sayyesaustralia.org.au/

Global Carbon emissions achieve record high in 2010

Global CO2 emissons have reached a new record high of 30.6 Gigatonnes during 2010 exceeding by 5% the previous record of 29.3 Gt set in 2008. Emissions dipped during the Global Financial Crisis as global industrial production decreased. The emissions estimate was prepared by the Internatonal Energy Agency (IEA) who warned that the prospect of limiting the global increase in temperature to 2ºC is getting bleaker.

Carbon price needed for climate mitigation says UN Climate Head Pachauri

Rajendra Pachauri, head of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has weighed into the Australian debate on a carbon price by telling the ABC PM radio program he agreed with Australia setting a carbon price.

"A price on carbon is by far the most effective means globally to bring about mitigation of emissions of greenhouse gases because you know then you are providing a price signal by which new technologies will be developed, consumer actions would be influenced and producers would move towards low carbon technologies and processes and products." he told ABC reporter Sarah Clarke, "So I think a carbon price is an important part of actions to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases."

Solar panels mounted on Minister's office in budget protest

The electoral office of Climate Change Minister Greg Combet was targeted by climate activists this morning. A banner was hung from the roof of the building saying "Make Polluters Pay, Fund Renewable Energy!", and four photovoltaic solar panels were put in place on the building roof.

The protest in Cardiff NSW was to draw attention to the Federal Government winding back funding for solar programs in the budget just at a critical time for the renewables sector and as the Government negotiates implementation of a carbon tax from July 1, 2012. The banner and the panels were later voluntarily removed by the activists.

Climate scientists rap attack on climate sceptics

Those iconaclastic young journalists of the ABC's Hungry Beast program presented this humourus comedy rap - I am a Climate Scientist - during this weeks program (No 28) broadcast on May 11. Written and performed by Dan Illic and Duncun Elms with several Australian climate scientists, including lead IPCC author Professor Roger Jones. The story was titled 'CLIMATE SCIENCE RAP- there are climate change believers and deniers, but what do the climate change scientists say?'

The song is an attack on climate sceptics who continue to deny that climate change is occurring and is being contributed to by human caused emissions. Journalist Andrew Bolt and Radio talkback compare Alan Jones get special mentions in the song.

You can read about Climate scientist rappers reveal why they did it at Graham Readfearn's Blog. You can read the lyrics, play or download from Dan Ilic's page on Soundcloud - I'm A Climate Scientist - Extended NSFW

Retreating on climate policy - Victorian Government stops discussions on Hazelwood closure

The ABC program Hungry Beast has produced a fact file on Hazelwood.

While all eyes focused on Canberra and the Federal Budget this week, the Victorian Government quietly announced that all discussions have been discontinued on retiring all or part of the Hazelwood brown coal fired power station. Environment groups strongly criticised the decision.

"Sadly, what this announcement seems to confirm is that the Coalition government has absolutely no plan to reduce greenhouse emissions in the state. Although environmental groups were unanimous in demanding the full closure and replacement of the ageing and dirty Hazelwood power station, the promised partial closure would have been a good step in the right direction" said Friends of the Earth campaigns co-ordinator, Cam Walker.