Safety problems, conflict of interest in Lynas rare earths factory
“Section 11 of the law allows the minister to direct regulators toward certain policies and so there’s massive 
conflict of interest,” said Dr Peter Karamoskos, an Australian nuclear radiologist.
Problems at Lynas factory can cause radioactive leaks, say experts The Malaysian Insider, 24 Nov 13, Prevailing problems in waste management, storage, disposal facility and waste cleaning at the Lynas factory can lead to radioactive leakages if the Australian firm fails to address the issues, said experts t at a seminar in Kuala Lumpur today.
The mining company’s refinery near Kuantan, Pahang, has several problems, which experts said in the event of an accident or carelessness, could harm to residents near the factory. Continue reading
Australia a fossil fool at the international climate talks
Australia left exposed on the climate front The Age, November 25, 2013 EDITORIAL So intense has been the focus on axing the ”carbon tax”, for which a repeal bill has passed the lower house, that this seems to have become an end in itself, divorced from the policy goal of averting dangerous climate change. The politics of the issue will dominate for some time, should the Senate block the legislation. Yet once Prime Minister Tony Abbott gets the result he promised – which depends on the new senators who take their seats in July – the policy question of how best to cut greenhouse gas emissions is likely to become ever more pressing. Experts doubt the Coalition’s ”direct action” policy can achieve even the minimum target of a 5 per cent cut from 2000 levels by 2020, especially as Mr Abbott insists funding will not increase to ensure it is reached. Where does that leave Australia if the required target increases?
The difficulty of answering that question may have prompted the government’s decision not to have ministerial representation at the latest UN climate conference in Warsaw. The minister would have faced embarrassment at being so out of step with other nations. This would also have drawn Australians’ attention to the actions economic giants such as the US, China and the European Union are taking to make deeper, earlier cuts to emissions………
Negotiators in Warsaw were dismayed that Australia, which once led the way, ”obstructs the process at every turn”, as one said. Coming from the world’s worst greenhouse gas emitter per person (and 15th in total emissions), this is seen as an act of bad faith. Australia won multiple ”fossil of the day” awards from environment groups at the Warsaw talks…….
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/australia-left-exposed-on-the-climate-front-20131124-2y43b.html#ixzz2lhO3sf2N
Strong financial case for home solar energy, despite government disincentives
Home Solar in Australia : Study http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=4043 25 Nov 13 13 per cent of homes in Australia now have a solar panel system and 3 million Australians live in a solar household – and the RET is costing far less than some would have us believe.
A report by Green Energy Markets for the REC Agents Association (RAA) shows Australians installed more than 1 gigawatt of solar panels last year, but during the last 12 months, installations have dropped 22% as a result of winding down of rebates and incentives.
The report also reveals a very important point about the costs of that support.
While the Federal Government appears to have Australia’s Renewable Energy Target in its sights, when taking into consideration the impact solar has had onreducing wholesale power costs, the real cost of the SRES to all households will be just $1.90 per quarter by 2016 – or just 0.38% of a typical household quarterly bill. Continue reading
Rio Tinto boss among heads of Abbott’s ‘Indigenous Advisory Council’
Corporate big hitters Gail Kelly and David Peever recruited to Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, Yahoo News, November 23, 2013,Prominent business figures have been recruited to Tony Abbott’s Indigenous Advisory Council as part of the Prime Minister’s aim of creating a “new engagement” with Aboriginal people.
Westpac’s chief executive Gail Kelly and Rio Tinto boss David Peever are among the 12-member group, dubbed “the Indigenous dozen”, who will address a lack of opportunity in Indigenous communities.
The head of the council, Warren Mundine, a former president of the ALP, says the inclusion of senior business people will help drive economic development. Mr Mundine says getting corporate Australia on board is critical to solving Indigenous disadvantage……. Other members of the panel include successful Indigenous businessman Daniel Tucker, the managing director of Carey Mining – an entirely Indigenous-owned mining and civil contractor.
Ngaire Brown, one the first group of Aboriginal medical students in Australia, is also included. Andrew Penfold, the chief executive of the Australian Indigenous Education Council, and Peter Shergold, chancellor of the University of Western Sydney are also among the 12.
The council will meet three times a year with the Prime Minister and other senior ministers to inform the policy implementation of the Government. http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/19982010/corporate-big-hitters-gail-kelly-and-david-peever-recruited-to-prime-ministers-indigenous-advisory-council/
Senator Ludlam gets evasive answers on Toro Energy’s uranium mining plans
Senator LUDLAM: The company [Toro Energy] may be telling markets one thing and regulators another, which is a dangerous situation for it to be in, if that is the case.
Senator LUDLAM: If I understood your colleague correctly, the assessment of uranium mines is being delegated to states and you are leaving the door open for approvals of uranium mining to also be conducted by states. If these powers go ahead, what will our environment minister actually do? What would be left for the minister to do? Would we even need one?
Senator LUDLAM: This is a 30-year ark of Commonwealth environmental law being dissolved and handed back to the states.
Senator Ludlam asks questions about WA uranium mining approvals
WA uranium mining approvals Senate estimates committee 18 Nov 2013 | Scott Ludlam
Senator LUDLAM: I presume one of the 48 is the Toro uranium proposal, which was on the minister’s desk when the government changed hands. The former minister had made a number of quite extensive and complex requests of Toro. Would you provide us with an update as to whether officers of agencies have met with the company or exactly where that proposal is up to.
Senator LUDLAM: No, it has not-or it was approved, but the minister would not sign off until quite a large number of conditions had been met, and they had not yet been met. Continue reading
Senator Waters gets no straight answers on the Government’s plan to hand uranium assessment to the States
Senator WATERS: …..Am I clear in that you will attempt to retain Commonwealth land and water but will not attempt to retain jurisdiction over state-run projects?
The hand over of EPBC nuclear approvals to states, Senate estimates committee 18 Nov 2013 | Scott Ludlam
“……...Senator WATERS: “…….Could you please explain to me: what is the intended effect of the alteration to the scope of the bilateral agreement as regards nuclear actions and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park waters and Commonwealth waters? What is the effective change? It is on page 7, particularly clause 12.3. ……..
Individual energy choices are steadily driving the renewable energy revolution
China’s romance with coal has ended. Recent announcements, including a cap on coal use and a reduction in coal burning around Chinas largest population centres of 5% in the next four years, signal a dramatic turnabout. Chinese investment in renewables reached $63bn in 2011.
There is little individuals can do about global negotiations, but a huge amount they can do about renewable energy. . One million Australian households now generate their own electricity with solar power, and two community owned wind-farms have been set up, supplying electricity to thousands. Energy efficiency is also having an impact.
Cleaner energy: a revolution that ordinary people can drive http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/22/cleaner-energy-revolution-warsaw There will be no decisive moment in the climate battle. Rather, it’s a war of attrition, being won one solar panel, one wind turbine, and one electric car at a time Tim Flannery theguardian.com, Friday 22 November 2013
The fully electric Tesla S sedan. Electric vehicles are to oil what solar panels and wind turbines are to coal – disruptive technologies that even in small volume present a severe challenge to the fossil fuel industries.
All too often people judge progress on climate change by treaties.Warsaw marks the 19th year of negotiation of a global climate treaty, and with nations in charge the prospect of brokering a strong treaty in 2015 seems limited. It would appear that there will be no decisive moment in the climate battle. Rather, it’s a war of attrition, being won one solar panel, one wind turbine, and one electric car at a time.
Government policy is important in setting the pace. The Cancun agreements in 2010 saw 98 countries representing 80% of global emissions, set their own targets to reduce emissions by 2020, have been vital in fostering the uptake of renewables. But so too has the astonishing cost reductions that have occurred in wind and solar. The cost of production of solar panels has reduced 80% in the past four years, while the cost of electricity from wind will half in the next five years. Continue reading
Tasmania’s electricity fully supplied by renewable energy
Renewables completely supply Tasmania’s electricity https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/news/renewables-completely-supplies-tasmania-s-electricity According to the latest Carbon Emissions Index (Cedex) released by pitt&sherry, Tasmania’s electricity is now virtually 100% provided from renewable sources.
Prior to July, hydro was already producing the majority of the state’s electricity at about 11TWh, followed by gas and wind, both around 1TWh. However, the state’s major gas fired generator – the Tamar Valley Power Station – was shut down for an indefinite period in July. Hydro output is now at its highest ever annual level and wind is growing, while gas output has fallen essentially to zero.
Dr Hugh Saddler, principal consultant, energy strategies at pitt&sherry said: “There are striking changes in Tasmanian generation. Prior to the commissioning of BassLink in 2005, hydro output was constrained to the level of demand within the state. While energy regularly flows in both directions across BassLink, the net flow is now strongly from Tasmania to Victoria.”
In addition, there is evidence the impact of higher wholesale gas prices, triggered by the linkage of eastern Australia gas markets to international prices through the LNG export projects in Queensland, is beginning to be felt in the national electricity market. The decline in gas fired generation appears to be accelerating throughout Australia, Saddler added, and is particularly marked in South Australia and Tasmania.
As has been the case for some months, all growth in the national energy market generation came from hydro, wind and other renewables; their combined share of total energy send out generation was over 17% in October, and for the year to October was approaching 14%.
The report is a monthly benchmark for Australia’s carbon emissions from the energy sectors based on electricity, petroleum and natural gas data. The report is available here.
South Africa joins the critics of Australia’s anti climate action performance
South Africa adds voice to Australia critics at climate change talks SMH, November 22, 2013 Tom Arup Environment editor, The Age South Africa’s environment minister has joined the chorus of voices attacking Australia for being obstructionist at the latest United Nations climate change negotiations.In a speech on the conference floor in Warsaw, South African Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said her country was deeply concerned that Australia and Japan were reducing their climate change commitments. South Africa is part of a powerful negotiating bloc of developing countries, known as BASIC, that includes Brazil, India, and China.
Australia has also been blamed for a brief “walkout” by developing countries including China at a important meeting earlier in the week. The complaints ranged from Australian representatives moving to block any parts of the conference negotiating text to the delegates wearing T-shirts and giggling during the talks.
Australia did not send a minister to the conference, and observers say the delegation of diplomats have been forced to stick to a limited negotiating brief set down by Canberra. That includes not making any new commitments to financially help poor nations deal with climate change – a critical issue at the talks.
Countries have also been concerned about statements by Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week that appeared to narrow conditions under which Australia would adopt a more ambitious 2020 emissions target than the 5 per cent cut currently offered…….http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/south-africa-adds-voice-to-australia-critics-at-climate-change-talks-20131122-2y0yt.html
Marathon uranium project closed – unviable due to poor uranium market
Explorer says uranium project unviable Yahoo 7 Finance 21 Nov 13, Minerals exploration company Marathon Resources has turned its back on the uranium industry for good. The company says its experience suggests the “risks were more likely to exceed rewards” in a sector hit by low ore prices.
“Both the political and regulatory regimes have deterred us permanently from the uranium industry,” chairman Peter Williams told the company’s annual meeting in Adelaide on Thursday. Marathon previously has been involved in exploring a section of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges with a view to developing a significant uranium deposit.
However, it fell foul of the South Australian government over the disposal of waste while the government eventually moved to ban all mining in the environmentally-sensitive area anyway.
Since then, the uranium industry has been hit by falling commodity prices which also has prompted mining giant BHP Billiton to mothball its plans for a $30 billion expansion of its Olympic Dam copper and gold operations…… industry is presently witnessing that part of the cycle where the spot price for product has fallen dramatically below production costs sufficient to amortise large capital costs,” he said…….. http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/explorer-says-uranium-project-unviable-032809245.html
Australian delegation’s contemptuous attitude to UN climate talks the ‘last straw’ for developing nations
Developing nations blame Australia for loss and damage talks ‘walkout’ http://www.rtcc.org/2013/11/20/developing-nations-blame-australia-for-loss-and-damage-talks-walkout/ 21 November 2013, Delegation accused of wearing t-shirts and “gorging on snacks” during critical UN talks By Sophie Yeo in Warsaw Australia’s team at UN talks in Warsaw have been accused of lacking respect after delegates turned up to critical discussions wearing shorts and teeshirts.
The Australian delegation turned up in casual attire and “gorged on snacks” during negotiations on whether developed states should make reparations to vulnerable countries as the impacts of climate change become more severe, according to a spokesperson for CAN International.
Their behaviour caused over 130 developing nations to abandon discussions on the controversial issue of climate compensation at 4am last night. Continue reading
Will BHP Billiton pursue Aboriginal activist Kevin Buzzacott for legal costs?
Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott gets no answer from BHP AGM BHP Billiton would neither confirm nor deny that it plans to pursue a South Australian Aboriginal elder for court costs.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/aboriginal-elders-asks-bhp-to-drop-costs/5107622 ABC Rural Babs McHugh Kevin Buzzacott of the Arabunna people was ordered by the Federal Court to pay costs to the SA and Federal Governments and BHP after a failed appeal over the expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium, copper and gold mine.
Mr Buzzacott argued the proposed expansion, which has since been shelved, was approved without proper consideration of the long term environmental impact. But three judges ruled that lawyers for Mr Buzzacott failed to make out the grounds for appeal and ordered him to pay court costs.
Sources close to the world’s largest mining company told the ABC it’s very unlikely the the miner would consider pursuing Mr Kevin Buzzacott for costs. They added that BHP Billiton doesn’t have a track record of pursuing individuals on this basis.
Australia a “rogue nation” on climate change – says Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands hits out at Australia and Japan over carbon target cuts http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/an-marshalls-climate-minister-lashes-out-at-australia-and-japan/5106838 21 Nov 2013, The Marshall Islands’ Climate Change Minister has lashed out at Australia and Japan for cutting their carbon reduction targets at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw. Tony de Brum says his country will be one of those that suffers the most from global warming and says Australia and Japan are setting a bad example.
The Australian delegation has already faced criticism from pressure groups for not taking the Warsaw negotiations seriously and attempting to derail the conference…….
Lack of leadership on climate change Australia’s plans to scrap the carbon price has won praise from the Canadian Government, but Mr de Brum has criticised Australia as a rogue nation.
“At a big conference like the UN you might expect one or two rogues to emerge, but never in our wildest dreams did we expect that those rogues might be our own big brother neighbours of Canada, Australia and Japan.” he said…..When the Pacific Rim is responsible for more than its share of world pollution it should be the Pacific countries that take the leadership vision in making sure the rest of the world follows.
“Instead we have Japan, Canada and Australia doing this number on us,” Mr de Brum says he has issued an open invitation to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to visit the Marshall Islands to see the impacts of climate change first-hand, but she has not yet set a date for the trip.
Biggest polluter BHP is Australian government’s advisor on carbon policy!!!
BHP in talks with government to help formulate carbon policy
BHP Billiton reveals it is working with Abbott government on the development of carbon policy, and praises Coalition’s ‘direct-action’ policy for protecting companies that compete in the international arena.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bhp-in-talks-with-government-to-help-formulate-carbon-policy-20131121-2xyqa.html
Almost two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources can be traced to 90 entities, including BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, a peer-reviewed study has found.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/bhp-billiton-ranked-in-top-carbon-polluters-20131121-2xyqi.html
Poor countries give up on Warsaw climate talks; Australia not taking them seriously
Poor countries walk out of UN climate talks as compensation row rumbles on Bloc of 132 countries exit Warsaw conference after rich nations refuse to discuss climate change recompense until after 2015 John Vidal theguardian.com, Wednesday 20 November 2013 Representatives of most of the world’s poor countries have walked out of increasingly fractious climate negotiations after the EU, Australia, the US and other developed countries insisted that the question of who should pay compensation for extreme climate events be discussed only after 2015……..
Australia was accused of not taking the negotiations seriously. “They wore T-shirts and gorged on snacks throughout the negotiation. That gives some indication of the manner they are behaving in,” said a spokeswoman for Climate Action Network……http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/20/climate-talks-walk-out-compensation-un-warsaw
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