Australian capital going to overseas low carbon industries
great a risk of capital leakage – money moving offshore for low-carbon exposure, the money that will go to china, Europe or south America where governments are setting policies in place…....Not that it got a heck of a lot of media traction. That was afforded only to miners warning of the perils of a mining tax,
Australia’s capital leak, Business Spectator, Giles Parkinson, 6 Sep 2010, Climate Spectator As various industry groups marshal their forces to try and add momentum to the push for a carbon price, institutional investors are also mobilising to ensure that their members are not excluded from the opportunities of a low-carbon economy. Continue reading
Australia should follow the successes in Europe with a carbon tax
It is to be hoped the discussion will soon turn from the rather nebulous concept of a carbon price to actual mechanisms – and for that the most appropriate tool is a carbon tax.
No need to be afraid of a tax on carbon, Sydney Morning Herald, Fiona Armstrong, September 4, 2010 – The most significant policy issue in the deal struck between the Australian Greens and the Australian Labor Party was that of climate policy. Continue reading
Australians can cut power bills with solar hot water subsidies
hot water accounts for 25 per cent of energy consumption, so switching to renewable energy can cut power bills dramatically.
Half not aware of hot water subsidies * Paul Cleary * The Australian * September 03, 2010 1 FEWER than one in two Australians are aware of the government subsidies available to install energy-saving hot water products. Continue reading
Australia’s future economy – non nuclear, non uranium – theme for September
It’s time for Australia to see through the nuclear hype, and move towards 21st Century industries that have a real future.
Australia’s ‘resources boom’ cannot last indefinitely, and already threatens this country with an imbalance of industries. Australia needs to foster its more permanent industries – they will still be there when the mining quarries are emptied.
Mineral exports are at present a large contributor to the Australian economy, but there is no reliance on uranium, which is only a modest contributor.
Australia pioneered renewable energy technologies, and could lead again in these industries.
Meanwhile uranium mining and nuclear waste are negatives for Australia’s tourism industry, Australia’s agriculture, and our precious fresh water and groundwater.
It’s time to promote Australia as a clever, forward-looking society, and to see through the lobbying of desperate corporations and their propaganda for the ailing, aging, out-dated nuclear industry.
Energy efficiency and renewable technologies can combine beautifully with Australia’s needs to conserve water, promote agriculture, and to adapt to climate change, which is already happening in Australia.
For example – drought areas offer the potential for solar farms. Australia’s hot weather makes decentralised solar power a very economic option for homes, farms, schools, small and large businesses
Lord Stern advises Independents on economics of Climate Change
Act on climate or be left behind, says Stern, Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Arup, September 2, 2010, ONE of the world’s leading climate change experts, Sir Nicholas Stern, has warned countries such as Australia will face future trade barriers unless it moves to a low-carbon economy. Continue reading
Australia urged to get with California’s R20 Climate Group
Details of the R20 will be launched at a Global Climate Summit in November along with a ”green bank,” backed by the United Nations Development Program, to help participating governments fund low carbon development.
Act on climate or be left behind, says Stern, Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Arup, September 2, 2010, “……..Terry Tamminen, the climate adviser to the Californian Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is in Melbourne to address a business conference. Continue reading
Global warming impacts on nuclear power plant
Last week, TVA violated its permit with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management when the river temperature topped 90 degrees……..
Hot river forces costly cutback for TVA | Chattanooga Times Free Press, By: Dave Flessner 23 Aug 2010, The Tennessee Valley Authority has lost nearly $50 million in power generation from its biggest nuclear plant because the Tennessee River in Alabama is too hot. Unless the summer cools down, TVA could lose millions of dollars more, pushing up fuel costs and consumer electric bills even after seven consecutive monthly increases. Continue reading
USA fossil fuel energy use decrease, renewables increase
(USA) Hey kids, we used less energy and more renewable tech in 2009! | ZDNet, By Heather Clancy | August 30, 2010, Well, here’s a refreshing bit of news for a Monday afternoon: A new data set released by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory reports that we used a lot less coal and petroleum last year, compared with 2008. Meanwhile, there were demonstrable increases in the use of renewable energy sources, especially generation systems based on wind technologies.
The researchers attribute the decrease in coal and petroleum use to lower electricity demand, a shift to natural gas as a fuel source, and wind power production offsets……Hey kids, we used less energy and more renewable tech in 2009! | ZDNet
Climate change denialists’ aggressive politics in Australia
[Tony Abbott] A champion of voters who reject climate change, he has turbocharged his party and could within a couple of weeks be prime minister.
Aggression pays in king hits on Labor, Sydney Morning Herald, Shaun Carney, 28 Aug 2010, CLIMATE change can be a killer. This has nothing to do with the science and everything to do with its impact on political leaders. Look at the list of those who have felt its sting in the past three years: John Howard, Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull, Kevin Rudd. And Julia Gillard…… Continue reading
Victorian energy company award winner
The company has set its goals high – to become the leading solar supply and install business in Australia and to play its part in ensuring all Australians have access to a cleaner, greener electricity supply
Energy Matters A Melbourne Awards Winner : Renewable Energy News, 30 Aug 2010, In a gala ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday night, Victoria-based national solar company Energy Matters emerged a winner in the Melbourne Awards. Continue reading
Stopping mindless consumption – no more ‘politics as usual’
all these issues – environmental, social and economic – have their source in a world view that sees the central purpose of our society as pursuing ever more material enrichment in order to allow us to consume more……….
Fiddling while the Earth burns, The Age, Richard Eckersley, August 27, 2010 No more ‘politics as usual’ should mean having enough courage to tackle the sickness of mindless consumption…… Continue reading
Business looks to new Australian Parliament for action on Climate Change
Trillion-dollar climate question, Sydney Morning Herald, August 28, 2010 Hopes surged this week that a swing to the Greens will result in meaningful action on climate change in the new Parliament. Continue reading
NSW Solar scheme needs improvement, but energy efficiency still the best
Dr Diesendorf said schemes such as the solar bonus had long-term potential but ”bang for buck, energy efficiency is the cheapest and fastest”.
Solar bonus generates a mega-load of energy, Sydney Morning Herald, Jennie CurtinAugust 28, 2010 THE NSW Government’s solar bonus scheme, which pays householders for the electricity they generate from their rooftop panels, has proved so popular it has reached a 50-megawatt milestone 18 months before expected. Continue reading
Australia’s economy needs new renewable energy industries, not fossil fuel ones
Relying on our fossil fuels for energy and future wealth is no longer a sensible option…Despite the claims of the fossil-fuel lobby, renewable energy can provide a vital new industry and energy source to power Australia’s economy day and night
Where’s the vision that will take us to a brave new world?, The Canberra Times, BY FIONA ARMSTRONG20 Aug, 2010 Call me fussy, but I have always expected leaders to provide leadership……while we’ve seen plenty of special interests in this election campaign, we haven’t seen much that captures what might be best for all of us…. Continue reading
Victorian govt aiming for Renewable Energy inverstment
Brumby to streamline planning for renewable energy projects – Government News By Rob O’Brien, 25 Aug 2010, Planning processes for renewable energy projects will be streamlined with Victorian councils receiving support to administer wind farm permits, the State Government has announced. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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