Poor prices, environmental risks make Cameco’s proposed Yeelirrie mine an unwise project
WA conservationists oppose uranium mine, 9 News, 14 Dec 15 The environmental impact of what could be one of Western Australia’s first uranium mines outweighs its “scant” economic benefit, conservationists say.
As the Environment Protection Authority assesses Cameco’s proposed Yeelirrie mine in the state’s northern Goldfields, the Conservation Council of WA has warned the project could wipe out subterranean species, adding the Canadian company may then “warehouse” the product while prices are low.
Cameco conceded in its submission to the EPA that troglofauna habitat would be lost with the excavation of the mine pit, while habitat quality would be reduced in a small area around the pit due to drying…..
Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner Dave Sweeney said there was “scant economic incentive” for the mine while prices were depressed. …………. http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/12/14/15/20/wa-conservationists-oppose-uranium-mine#Mttrt2rFBj7I0tKs.99
Turnbull’s optimism – a new for of climate denialism
Turnbull advises “great optimism and faith in humanity’s genius” to control global warming in the future, rather than prevent it now.
Optimism Is The New Denialism In A Warming Malcolm Turnbull World, New Matilda By Dr Lissa Johnson on December 15, 2015 The COP21 talks in Paris delivered a compact to lead the world to global catastrophe. Malcolm Turnbull responded with optimism. Dr Lissa Johnson responds with facts.
What do you do as the leader of a nation left behind by a global pro-environmental shift?
At one of the most pivotal climate summits in history, how do you explain the fact that your country has been ranked worst performer among OECD nations in addressing climate change, and third worst overall, with only Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia beneath you?
This during the second half of the critical decade in which to act, “a decisive point in time,” according to French President Francois Hollande.
As your global peers endorse phasing out fossil fuels in favour of renewables, in order to prevent destruction of the earth’s biosphere, your government persists with the mantra, in slightly different words, that coal is good for humanity. Meanwhile you preside over a renewable energy industry that has been decimated by your government’s policies.
While your geographical neighbours, through no emissions of their own, find themselves steadily submerged by rising seas, you reserve your right to continue to emit, and to subsidise fossil fuels.
You refuse to stop your “Pacific brothers and sisters from drowning”, despite having said yourself that climate change poses a “profound moral challenge”.
How do you spin it?
With optimism. Continue reading
Paris Agreement Keeps the flames of hope and commitment alive
Philippa Rowland, 14 Dec 15 a new climate agreement struck last night with all countries on board – For me, one important outcomes is keeping the small flames of hope and commitment inside each and everyone of us alive and burning fiercely, for there is absolutely no doubt that the Earth needs champions at this time and that there will be hard yards ahead as we make out way through the next decades.
Australian Women in Agriculture back island communities in call for climate action NOW
remoter communities, these Indigenous communities, are being talked to, rather than being part of, the discussion.”
Another woman from the Maldives told the gathering that her community of small, low-lying islands off the coast of India, had now lost all their fresh water.
“She was extremely passionate in saying, ‘How much more do we need to know? Why can’t we act now?’.
“So the developed world sits back and argues about language, but the developing world is actually experiencing it.”
Listen to remote communities concerns on climate change says Australian Women in Agriculture representative from Paris http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-09/listen-to-remote-communities-on-climate-change-say-women/7013168 ABC Rural By Anna Vidot While some farmers are sceptical about human-induced climate change, one woman in agriculture says Australia needs to listen to the concerns of farmers and remote communities who say they’re already being affected.
Professor Daniela Stehlik is a member and former board member of Australian Women in Agriculture (AWiA). She is their representative on a self-funded trip to Paris during the COP21 climate summit.
Attending talks with other women in agriculture on the sidelines of the government negotiations, Professor Stehlik said agricultural women had sent a clear message.
“Listening to the women from the Maldives and from Ecuador, from Canada and North Dakota [in the United States], it’s affecting them right now,” Professor Stehlik said. “For them, the discussion about whether it is or it isn’t [affecting them] is moot. It’s kind of like, well … just get on with it.
“What I’d be saying to people is, let’s not always just look at our own backyard. “Let’s see what’s happening around the world, let’s hear from other people about how they believe it’s impacting them, and then let’s think about how what we’re doing can make a difference.”
The talks have provided practical examples of what communities in developed countries like Australia can do, and are already doing, Professor Stehlik said.
Parisians undertake to meet renewable energy target Continue reading
Pressure now on Turnbull to improve Australia’s climate policies
Heat turned up on Malcolm Turnbull’s domestic climate policies as world pledges to act, SMH, December 14, 2015 Nicole Hasham Environment and immigration correspondent A watershed climate pact in Paris has stepped up pressure on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to act at home to curb emissions and phase out fossil fuels, as the federal government warns it will not risk the economy to meet the new global commitment.
Labor says the Paris agreement struck over the weekend, under which all nations will aim to keep global warming below 2 degrees or lower compared with pre-industrial levels, shows Australia’s domestic policies are “out of step with the rest of the world” and inconsistent with the new global accord.
The Greens and environment groups say the agreement shows the coal era is over and renewable power – set for an investment boost following the Paris talks – is now undeniably central to the world’s energy future. Continue reading
Climate news in brief
Australia ranked third-last in climate change performance of 58 countries
2016 Climate Change Performance Index released at Paris climate summit, day after Julie Bishop said Australia was meeting and beating its climate targets
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/20 15/dec/08/australia-ranked-third-last-in-climate-change-performance-of-58-countries
R** Hannah Aulby: Paris talks expose Australian climate hypocrisy
Australia’s inglorious position at the bottom of the developed world’s ranking on climate change policy comes in sharp contrast to the triumphant rhetoric of Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Paris.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/12/08/comment- paris-talks-expose-australian-climate-hypocrisy
R** Coal critical to alleviate hunger: Bishop
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has told a sidelines event at major climate talks in Paris that fossil fuels will be critical to reducing poverty and hunger for years to come. …
The message differed somewhat to fellow speaker and former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who said it was politicians who had the most work to do on climate change.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/coal-critical-to-alleviate-hunger-bishop/news-story/b9c5e17f6321bc58d13397465ac87447
Kellie Tranter: Who is really setting the agenda for Australia’s position in relation to fossil fuels and CO2 reduction? Singing from the Concept Paper, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott led the charge with his insistence that ‘coal is good for humanity’.
Freedom of Information documents reveal that the mining sector, capitalising on its access to government officials, has been busy laying the groundwork for Australia’s position in relation to any emissions reduction commitments struck in Paris. …
In October participants at the New South Wales Liberal State Council scoffed at Malcolm Turnbull, with good reason it seems when he asserted, “Nor are we [the Liberal Party] run by big business or by deals in back rooms.” When it comes to action on climate change the Government has permitted ‘big business’ to take out public insurance against democracy. http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=17882
10 facts that show why cities are the key to climate change and global health
To mark cities day at the UN Climate Conference in Paris, here’s why urbanisation should be at the heart of any conversation about the planet’s future http://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2015/dec/08/statistics-show-cities-key-future-planet-un-climate-change
Feted by Hollywood, city mayors take starring role in Paris climate talksWhen Leonardo di Caprio and Robert Redford arrived at the UN Climate Conference, their first priority was to talk to city leaders. It’s one indication of where the power to reduce climate emissions now lies, writes John Vidal
ExxonMobil is OK with a carbon tax Even Big Oil is ahead of the Republican Party when it comes to climate change
December 8, 2015. Even ExxonMobil says climate change is real. So why won’t the GOP?
To understand how dangerously extreme the Republican Party has become on climate change, compare its stance to that of ExxonMobil. http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2015/12/08/ExxonMobil-is-OK-with-a-carbon-tax/stories/201512080009
Moving away from coal: essential for any climate agreement
Any climate change agreement must include moving away from coal: Richard Di Natale, ABC Radio AM Michael Brissenden reported this story on Thursday, December 10, 2015 MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: The Green’s leader Richard Di Natale is also in Paris and he joins me on the line now…..
RICHARD DI NATALE: I think the feeling here in Paris is that absolutely there will be an agreement.
The question really is, is the agreement going to put us on the footing to ensure that we continue to make progress – and on that front, one of the disappointing things is that Australia really hasn’t taken the sort of level of ambition that’s necessary to be able to drive the change that we need to see both in terms of tackling climate change but also just in terms of transitioning our economy to put it on a footing so that we can take advantage of the huge opportunities that exist in the renewable energy sector.
MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: Okay, we’ll talk about Australia’s negotiating position in a minute but do you think that the deal, if it is struck, will it be enough to keep temperatures to two degrees?
RICHARD DI NATALE: Uh, no.
I mean, what you’ll see is that the targets that people are taking, the various nations are taking, will lock us into a trajectory of three degrees unless they’re revised, and so that’s why the review mechanism is just so critical and there is, again, a sense that there will be a review mechanism built in.
It looks at this stage that it will be somewhere around 2023. And you have to remember that’s still eight years away so from the perspective of national governments, they need to be reviewing their targets inside that time frame.
Australia again needs to ensure that it does that because its target won’t get us anywhere near two degrees – and that’s why each nation needs to lock in within its own framework a review. And I think Australia must commit to a review in 2017 after the election.
But one of the more positive things is it looks like there may be a reference to a 1.5 degree target over the longer term – and if we are to do that, then clearly there are some major changes that need to happen both here in Australia and within other domestic economies.
Here in Australia, that’s really a prescription for ending the use of coal both in terms of coal exports and transitioning generation away from coal-fired power generation towards renewable energy. …..
I think you’ll see Australia will shift a little. I think they’ll have to. Australia can’t risk being one of the parties that, you know, is responsible for sinking an agreement. And so there will be some movement, I’m sure of that, and I suspect you’ll also see a little bit of movement from developing nations as well.
MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: How has Australia’s negotiating position been received generally?
RICHARD DI NATALE: Well, to be frank, I think there was a significant relief that Tony Abbott is not here and he’s not playing a spoiler role – so I think Australia has been given some credit simply for not actively undermining the agreement. There was widespread consternation yesterday when Julie Bishop again reiterated the nonsensical position that expanding our coal exports and coal more generally is a pathway to poverty alleviation. I think, in fact, Australia received the fossil of the day award, which is an award given to those nations that don’t play a constructive role in the negotiations. ….http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4369344.htm
Julie Bishop’s coal speech at Paris wins international fossil fool award
Australia wins ‘fossil of the day’ for Julie Bishop’s coal speech at Paris climate talks, Guardian, Lenore Taylor http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/10/australia-wins-fossil-of-the-day-for-julie-bishops-coal-speech-at-paris-climate-talks?CMP=share_btn_tw#
Foreign affairs minister earns mock award for claim that ‘coal will remain critical to promoting prosperity, growing economies and alleviating hunger for years’ Australia has finally won the “fossil of the day” award – bestowed each day by young climate activists at big international climate summits.
Australia traditionally wins the award early and often, but the Paris talks had reached their 10th day before Australia got the gong – accepted, in sorrow and to loud boos, by Greens leader Richard Di Natale.
The award, shared with Argentina, recognised a speech by foreign affairs ministerJulie Bishop to an Indonesian side event on Tuesday in which she said “coal will remain critical to promoting prosperity, growing economies and alleviating hunger for years to come.”
Bishop also said the world was undergoing a “profound upheaval” as it transitioned to a low carbon economy and that a strong Paris agreement was an important signal for “efficient long term investment”, but the award focused just on the coal remarks.
“In France you say ‘let them eat cake’, but in Australia we say ‘let them eat coal’,” said comedian Dan Ilic, who presented the award on behalf of the Climate Action Network.
He said Australia had backed a target to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees at the Paris summit, but “still supports the construction of the largest coal mine in the southern hemisphere, right on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef.”
Jaden Harris of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition said: “the Australian government is all talk, no action. Australia is dragging its feet here in Paris, desperately spruiking the fossil fuels of the past, whilst we miss out on the opportunities from clean energy.”
“It just no longer makes sense to construct new coal projects, this train won’t be turning around. Turnbull needs to match his innovation rhetoric with reality and embrace the clean energy jobs of the future,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, widely seen as playing a blocking role in the talks, has won the award most days so far.
Far West NSW Federal MP says no plans for nuclear waste dump there
No plans for nuclear waste storage in far west: federal MP, ABC News, Declan Gooch 7 Dec 15 The far west’s federal MP says the region is not part of any plans to built a nuclear waste storage facility, despite a suggestion from her state government counterpart…….
Farrer MP Sussan Ley said no private landholders volunteered their properties which means the region can’t be considered in the federal government’s process.
“There were no volunteers, if I can put it that way, in the far west to house the facility,” she said…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-07/no-plans-for-nuclear-waste-storage-in-far-west3a-federal-mp/7006482
Solar energy making financial sense down on the farm
some people might look at renewable energy and identify it as a green policy or identify it as a political statement. But we’re not about that.
We want to look at the financial case of any energy system that’s going in the property and present it to the farmers that way. So we try to keep away from going to the politics side of it and just look at it from the basis of financials
Farmers turning to renewable energy, ABC Radio PM David Mark reported this story on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 TIM PALMER: It’s as different a scene as one could imagine from the back rooms in Paris where negotiators are now wrestling over the details of a climate deal but on a dusty outback cotton farm in far west New South Wales Andrew Gill is reaching for the same goal – a reduction in carbon emissions.
With 400 solar panels installed to run his irrigation bore, he’s at the vanguard of farmers in Australia who are embracing renewable energy.
And as David Mark reports, it’s a movement that has the backing of traditionally conservative farming organisations. Continue reading
In Paris, youth push for climate action
‘If nothing’s done, we have to clean up the mess’: youth push climate action in Paris, SBS, 7 Dec 15 Young environmental advocates attending the Paris climate talks have warned if immediate and effective action is not taken to reduce carbon pollution, future generations will be left to ‘clean up the mess’. They could become the generation who’s left to clean up the mess in decades to come.Or they could campaign hard for immediate and effective action on climate change.
That’s how they see it – the young environmental advocates attending the UN’s international climate change conference in Paris.And their numbers at such conferences are increasing rapidly – from a couple of hundred to around five thousand.
They hope their growing presence prompts action from global leaders.
Sarah Abo reports from Paris. With their drive and energy, the fresh, young faces attending the Paris climate change talks command attention.
When Bali hosted the United Nations summit in 2007, about 200 youth delegates attended the inaugural Youth Conference which preceded it. That grew to 1,500 in Copenhagen in 2009, and six years later, about 5,000 have ventured to the city of lights.
Twenty year old Jaden Harris, is one of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s five members accredited for the main event, COP21…….. Continue reading
Malcolm Turnbull – the Stately Fake
Malcolm Turnbull: Faking it in Paris, Independent Australia, Lyn Bender 5 December 2015, While the world enters a climate emergency, Malcolm Turnbull brings rhetoric to new heights at COP21, with sonorous sounding and beautifully presented inaction on climate. Lyn Benderreports.
OUR NEW, verbally effusive leader Malcolm Turnbull is achieving great success – in his own fantasy world – regarding climate savoir-faire in Paris.
Like a reincarnation of the central protagonist in the Leo Tolstoy trilogy, Childhood Boyhood and Youth, the still new Prime Minister, is grasping at comme il faux.
This may be loosely defined as the fine art of seeming to do something; while in fact doing nothing much. Or trying to look sophisticated and accomplished, while concealing ineptitude.
Malcolm’s speech was one that would have been as handsomely befitting in its delivery, as any given by a Lord Mayor opening a new council chamber. The tone was sonorous, yet soporific and calculated not to arouse the fear of supporters, fossil fuel vested interests, or the far right in his party.
At the same time, it gave the impression of being designed to lull and reassure the soft left of centre, who so want to believe in Malcolm’s stealth, agility and concealed good intentions.
But what if Malcolm Turnbull’s hidden depths are instead exactly what they seem to be: obvious shallows? What if his main intention is staying alive politically, rather than working to keep the planet alive?
The rhetoric began:…….
Malcolm Turnbull’s address to COP21 had the air of a bygone era. So calm, relaxed and comfortable. Who would have thought that the entire globe is on the brink of a massive climate emergency? Or, that we are staring down the possibility of capping rising temperatures at a disastrous two degrees of warming — if we are lucky. Or, that before our very eyes, Pacific Islands are being submerged.
Instead, like a latter-day Wilkins Micawber – the unflinchingly optimistic windbag of Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield – Malcolm seems certain that “something will turn up”…..https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/malcolm-turnbull-faking-it-in-paris,8456
Australia at Paris Climate Summit
Australia rejects call for 1.5-degree global warming target
Australia won’t support a 108-country-strong call in Paris to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, but backs a United Nations review of the science.
The call for a special report by the UN climate science body is understood to have come from a group of vulnerable nations, who believe the two-degree goal would severely damage their countries.
Those nations, like the Pacific Islands, want the 1.5-degree goal included in a global agreement to curb emissions, which is being negotiated an major climate talks in Paris.http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/12/05/australia-rejects-call-15-degree-global-warming-target
Julie Bishop chided for ‘joke’ about rising seas flooding Marshall Islands
Australia still has not learned not to make jokes about the impacts of climate change on its low-lying neighbours, Marshall Islands minister says at Paris talks
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/05/julie-bishop-chided-for-joke-about-rising-seas-flooding-marshall-islands
UN climate summit Paris 2015: Australia trying to push open rich-poor divide
Australia is at the centre of a stoush that is enraging developing countries, as some industrialised nations fight for the decades-long demarcation between the wealthy and poor to be broken down as part of a global pact to fight climate change.
The move at the Paris climate summit prompted angry representatives of developing nation to warn that a deal would be at risk unless agreement was reached on the financial help offered to poor nations.http://www.smh.com.au/environment/un-climate-conference/un-climate-summit-paris-2015-australia-trying-to-push-open-richpoor-divide-20151203-glf58j.html
Australia no longer a responsible nation regarding uranium and proliferation risks
Australia’s retreat from nuclear responsibility http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/12/02/comment-australias-retreat-nuclear-responsibility Australia’s new uranium sales deals are derelict and dangerous, writes Dave Sweeney. 2 DEC 2015
The deal is in direct conflict with a finding in September by a government-controlled Parliamentary review that “Australian uranium not be sold to India” until unresolved safety, security, legal and nuclear weapons issues were addressed.
The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) recommended that no uranium sales take place at this time or under the current terms of the Australia-India Nuclear Co-operation Agreement.
It further argued that uranium must not be sold to India until key checks and balances including evidence of improved safety, monitoring and regulatory standards, the establishment of an independent Indian nuclear regulator and full separation of the military and civil dimensions of India’s nuclear sector were put in place.
Despite this clear call for caution only two months later in late November the federal government issued a response that “the Government does not accept the Committee’s recommendation that exports of uranium to India should be deferred” and further announced that all formalities had been completed so that ‘uranium exports can begin immediately’. Continue reading
Australia’s opportunity – to exploit the renewable energy boom
How can Australia benefit from this boom? Could we manufacture high tech parts? Could we be investing more in research and development to create new innovative technologies? Australia already produces more lithium than any other nation, what opportunities are there in the world mass-producing lithium-ion batteries? Already a Chinese company has agreed to buy 100 per cent of the lithium mined from the Mount Marion mine in Western Australia.
The longer we delay, the greater the risk opportunities to create global innovative leadership will pass us by, and we will become simply technology and equipment buyers, rather than innovators and business creators……..
The Paris conference will mark the incredible transition the world is making from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The question for Australia, and for Malcolm Turnbull, is: can the sunny country reap the rewards?
Australia has much to gain by exploiting our sunshine for renewable energy November 29, 2015 Amanda McKenzie, SMH, Malcolm Turnbull could use the Paris climate talks to repair Australia’s reputation globally in the renewable energy industry.
It won’t be easy. Earlier in the year Australia became one of the only countries to legislate to reduce its commitment to renewable energy, with the federal government slashing the renewable energy target. It’s estimated it will cost the country $5-6 billion in lost investment until 2020.
Turnbull has historically been supportive of renewables and tackling climate change. Environment Minister Greg Hunt was recently in China, touting Australia as being “open for business” on renewables at a summit in Shanghai. However, the talk, so far, hasn’t translated into action.
Many renewable energy companies shut up shop in Australia during the past few years due to the detrimental policy environment. Nonetheless there remains a strong appetite for investment in Australia given our huge resources………. Continue reading
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/2352741955560
15 April – Zoom –Nuclear Power is Not the Solution
Apr 15, 2026 01:00 AM in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) on Tuesday, April 14th for a timely webinar exploring the risks associated with nuclear power and challenging the myth that it offers a simple, safe, carbon-free solution to the climate crisis
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 