UN top climate official Christiana Figueres sees the funny side of Abbott’s top advisor Maurice Newman
Maurice Newman’s climate conspiracy a joke: top UN climate official, The Age May 8, 2015 – Lisa Cox, Mark Kenny, Tom McIlroy Christiana Figueres who is visiting Australia to discuss progress toward a global deal said Mr Newman’s claim that climate change was an UN “hoax” designed to lead to world domination, was a joke.
Mr Newman, the chair of the Prime Minister’s business advisory council, used an opinion piece in The Australian on Friday to argue scientific modelling linking human activity and climate change is wrong and the UN’s real agenda was to impose authoritarian rule.
Speaking in Canberra, Ms Figueres said the comments must have been an attempt at humour.
“I really don’t take it very seriously because it doesn’t respond to the reality or to facts,” she said.
Her comments were mirrored by senior political figures on both sides of politics with government ministers privately expressing withering contempt for Mr Newman’s views and suggesting he had become a liability.
Ms Figueres even described the Newman comments as “really good fun”.
“We live in a world of free press and free opinion and, you know, if that’s the humour in Australia then that’s the humour in Australia ………….
the Academy of Science, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are affecting the climate……http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/maurice-newmans-climate-conspiracy-a-joke-top-un-climate-official-20150508-ggxlga.html
Australia’s Education Minister Pyne seeks new home for Bjørn Lomborg climate sceptic centre
Christopher Pyne vows to find new home for Bjørn Lomborg centre, Guardian, Lenore Taylor Calla Wahlquist 8 May 15 Education minister and Lomborg say ‘Australia consensus centre’ will go ahead in a new home after WA university handed back $4m in funding Australia’s education minister, Christopher Pyne, has vowed to find another university to host the Bjorn Lomborg “consensus centre” and is seeking legal advice about a decision by the University of Western Australia (UWA) to hand back $4m in federal government funding awarded for it.
UWA handed back the funding and dropped its connection with Lomborg, saying that lack of support among its academics made the centre untenable….
Pyne accused the UWA academics of “shouting down” views with which they disagreed…………..
UWA academics have been vocal in their opposition to the centre anddemanded that the university sever its contract with the federal government or risk jeopardising its international reputation.
Rachel Siewert, Greens senator for WA and a UWA alumnus, told Guardian Australia that she was relieved the university had responded to pressure from its academics.
“I can now be proud of my university again,” she said…………..http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/08/climate-contrarian-bjrn-lomborgs-centre-dropped-by-wa-university
Public and academic outcry force Uni of Western Australia to ditch Bjorn Lomborg centre
University of Western Australia pulls out of Bjorn Lomborg centre, The Age May 8, 2015 -Kate Aubusson The University of Western Australia has pulled out of its deal to create a “consensus centre” run by climate contrarian Bjorn Lomborg and partly funded by the federal government.
The decision is a blow to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose office drove the push to fund the centre.
UWA appears to have bowed to pressure from staff and the public following news the think tank would receive $4 million in government funding.
“I have today spoken to the federal government and Bjorn Lomborg, advising them of the barriers that currently exist to the creation of the centre and the university’s decision to cancel the contract and return the money to the government,” UWA vice-chancellor Paul Johnson said.
“The scale of the strong and passionate emotional reaction was one that the university did not predict,” Professor Johnson said on Friday evening. Continue reading
Cutback and inclusion of native wood burning – wrecking the Renewable Energy Target
Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesman, said: “Today, the Abbott government has agreed to cut the renewable energy target by 20%. This means less clean energy, less jobs, and less investment for Australia. This cut to the RET means 3,680 less jobs by 2020.”
[Industry Ministe MacFarlane] – we would expect that the cross-bench will support us on wood waste.”
Australia’s renewable energy target deal hits last-minute snag over wood burning, Guardian, Oliver Milman, 8 May 15
Labor accuses Coalition of trying to include burning of wood waste as a renewable energy source after both sides agree to 33,000GWh target A deal to end the lengthy stand-off over Australia’s renewable energy target has hit a dramatic late hitch after Labor accused the Coalition of trying to include the burning of wood waste as a renewable energy source.
The federal government and the opposition have held on-off talks for several months over a deal to cut the renewable energy target (RET), which mandates that 41,000 gigawatt hours of Australia’s energy must come from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2020.
Talks between Greg Hunt, the environment minister, Ian Macfarlane, the industry minister, and Mark Butler, Labor’s environment spokesman, in Melbourne on Friday agreed that the RET be cut to 33,000GWh, with exemptions for energy-intensive industries such as aluminium.
However, Labor has objected to part of the deal after claiming that the government introduced a last-minute amendment that the burning of wood waste be included in Australia’s renewables target. Continue reading
Abbott govt cutback to Renewable Energy Target will cost 1000s of jobs
RET cut a step backwards, says Solar Citizens http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/ret-cut-a-step-backwards-says-solar-citizens/2632812/ 8 May 15 THE announcement today of an in-principle agreement to drastically cut the Renewable Energy Target to 33,000 gigawatt hours will cost thousands of jobs, millions in investment and lock in more expensive power for all Australian consumers, according to Solar Citizens.The decision to slash the Target will take Australia backwards and increase pressure on already stretched family budgets, said National Director Claire O’Rourke.”This massive scale back of the RET could mean up to a $45 billion revenue windfall to the big power companies over the next 15 years and now it looks likely that households will continue to pay more,” she said.
“The vested interests of the power companies have received special treatment from the Abbott Government at the expense of ordinary Australians who want more solar and renewable energy, not less.
“Recent polling from The Australia Institute shows 75% of Australians support an increase in the Renewable Energy Target, not a decrease. The cut to the RET will cost 8,000 jobs and be particularly devastating for solar companies looking at installing big solar projects.
“The Coalition’s proposal to include burning wood waste in the Target, which is the remaining sticking point for the deal, would be yet another horrendous step backwards.
“Renewable energy is recognised globally for the jobs, opportunities and savings on power bills that it can deliver. More than 1.3 million households – that’s at least 2 million voters – have already installed rooftop solar power and are now benefiting from lower power bills.”Yet the decision today will take Australian renewable energy generation backwards.
“They have pledged to support a national goal of at least 50% solar and renewable electricity generation by 2030, an end to unfair fees for solar owners and to help all Australians with the rising cost of electricity bills,” Ms O’Rourke said.
Abbott govt’s new Renewable Energy Target deal freezes investment
Renewable Energy Target: Clean energy sector angry yearly reviews remain following deal http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-08/clean-energy-sector-angry-at-government-change-on-ret/6457070 By political reporter Dan Conifer The clean energy sector is opposing a key part of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) deal struck between the major parties.
The Federal Government and Labor have agreed in-principle to a 33,000 gigawatt hour target for clean energy production by 2020.
But the Government has backflipped at the last minute on a promise to ditch two yearly reviews.
While pleased a deal appears close, companies say the reviews by the climate change authority freeze investment.
“This is an issue we thought had been resolved now by both parties for the last 18 months,” Andrew Richards from wind farm operator Pacific Hydro said.
“We thought they had understood that constant reviews is not good for investor confidence. “We’d like to see it removed. We hope that saner people prevail eventually and they will remove it and will allow us to go on and invest with some level of confidence.”
Wind tower manufacturer Keppel Prince said while it was glad a 33,000 GWh deal has been reached, the reviews needed to stop.
“It just has that air of uncertainty and the industry just locks up any sort of spending for probably a good six to eight months beforehand,” Mr Garner said.
“Every two years we seem to run out of work because the investment just stops.”
The next review is scheduled for 2016 and would follow two reviews last year, including the specially-commissioned Warburton Review that recommended slashing the target.
In a joint statement last month, the environment and industry ministers said: “We will also remove the requirement for regular two-yearly reviews of the RET to give the industry the certainty it needs to move ahead.”
Industry minister Ian Macfarlane now says Cabinet insisted the reviews remain, and Labor did not oppose the plan in talks on Friday.
But Labor’s environment spokesman Mark Butler said the ALP was unlikely to support continued reviews.
“I want to have discussions with the industry about the two year reviews, but our position has been clear on that for almost two years now: we think we need to move away from regular reviews,” Mr Butler said.
Climate change defines Christine Milne’s fine legacy in Parliament
Given our climate politics, who can blame Christine Milne for retiring?, Guardian 7 May 15 Tim Hollo
After 25 years of campaigning, Milne’s retirement from parliament is an indictment of how little progress Australia has made on climate change. egardless of the surprise of the press gallery, anyone paying attention realised Christine Milne would have been thinking deeply about her future. With her first grandchild on the way, the planet’s future would also have been brought into a stark new light.
Milne can be confident that she steered the Greens through a hugely difficult period, bringing a new strategic focus to campaigning and beautifully mentoring a new crop of advocates. But it is climate change which keeps her awake at night, and she has had to consider where she could most effectively focus her efforts in the critical years ahead.
Who can blame her for concluding that Australian parliamentary politics is a poor place right now from which to work for radical climate change action?
Milne’s deep knowledge of (and passion for) climate science and policy is legendary in and around parliament. Less well known is her record on climate change over the last quarter century.
In 1990, while a member of the Tasmanian Parliament, she was appointed alongside Joan Kirner and Rupert Hamer to Australia’s first Greenhouse Council. She moved to the international arena in 1998 and was elected to the Global Council of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 2000. She was elected its vice president in 2004, the same year she was elected to the Senate.
From all of these positions, Milne worked to build awareness and acknowledgement of climate change. More deeply, she challenged us to grapple with its deep ramifications for our economies, our politics and our lives.
From all of these positions, Milne worked to build awareness and acknowledgement of climate change. More deeply, she challenged us to grapple with its deep ramifications for our economies, our politics and our lives……………..
Milne’s role in bringing depth to the climate change debate through that period was vital to the tremendous election result for the Greens in 2010. She capitalised on that by proposing the Multi Party Climate Change Committee as a condition of supporting the Gillard government, insisting on experts sitting on the committee, and shepherding through it the best possible result that could have been achieved. She also used the process to increase the understanding of climate change in the community.
While we have, of course, lost the carbon price, the Climate Change Authority and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation remain – and both are Milne’s hard-won achievements. More importantly, the idea that we cannot be serious about climate change without phasing out coal remains and is growing ever stronger. No future government will be able to get away with what Tony Abbott has done, and that is in no small part thanks to Milne’s efforts…….http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/07/given-our-climate-politics-who-can-blame-christine-milne-for-retiring
Greens leader Christine Milne steps down
Christine Milne resigns as Greens leader, will not contest 2016 election, SMH May 6, 2015 – Lisa Cox National political reporter The Greens will elect a new leader on Wednesday morning after Christine Milne revealed she would not contest the 2016 election and resigned as party leader……………
Australian Labor Party to roll over on nuclear policy and become indistinguishable from Liberal
AUDIO Labor set to debate expanding Australia’s role in the global nuclear fuel cycle http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/labor-set-to-debate-expanding-australias-role/6436276 1 May 2015 More uranium mining, more Australian involvement in the global nuclear fuel cycle, and the potential for taking back spent Australian nuclear fuel.
With the prospect of bi-partisan support, these options are all on the table with moves to free up the Labor Party’s nuclear policy at the ALP National Conference in Melbourne in July.
Labor in South Australia is already considering its nuclear options, with a Royal Commission set up earlier this year.
The nuclear re-think here in Australia comes as national nuclear societies meet in France over coming days to sign a Nuclear for Climate declaration.
Liberal MP Dan Tehan dares question Abbott strategy on Renewable Energy Target
Renewable energy target: Liberal MP Dan Tehan pushes for higher RET to end political stalemate, save jobs ABC TV 7.30 By Sabra Lane and Lucy Barbour A Liberal MP is urging the Government to settle on a higher renewable energy target (RET) to prevent further job losses across the sector.
Companies from the trade-exposed energy intensive industry and the clean energy sector have told 7.30 they want the major parties to settle on a final target of 33,000 gigawatt hours (GWh).
The Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, agrees and believes the Government should resolve the impasse swiftly. “[My constituents] have been saying that politics is put in front of jobs and what I have been reassuring them is that, as far as I’m concerned, what I want to see is jobs put before politics,” Mr Tehan told 7.30.
The RET mandates that 20 per cent of all Australia’s energy come from renewable sources by 2020.
The current target is legislated at 41,000 GWh, but electricity demand has dropped dramatically in recent years, meaning the amount generated will far exceed 20 per cent.
It is why the Coalition and Labor have been at loggerheads for months over what the target should be.
The Coalition will not budge from 32,000 GWh, while Labor is fixed on 33,500 GWh.
Businesses in ‘state of limbo’ as result of impasse
The community of Portland, in south-west Victoria, is fed up with the political stone-throwing and the latest push for agreement has been pushed by two of the region’s key businesses, Keppel Prince Engineering and Portland Aluminium.
Both companies rely on the RET debate being resolved to prevent further job losses.
The general manager of Keppel Prince, Steve Garner, said his company — which builds wind turbine towers — is in a “state of limbo”………….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-30/liberal-mp-pushes-for-higher-ret-target-to-end-political-impasse/6435712
Abbott govt’s unreasonable delaying on decision about Renewable Energy target
a year and half has passed since the government set about reviewing a policy that they had made no mention of planning to cut during their election campaign. A review of the scheme had only just been concluded 12 months prior, saying no need to change it and no need to review it again.
So a few months later, and after spending several hundred thousand dollars, they find out what the earlier review had concluded. This scheme does not significantly increase household electricity bills, in fact if cut it is most likely to increase electricity bills.
But they decide they want to cut the scheme nonetheless
It has become a complete farce. Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane’s story for why he couldn’t accept lower cuts to the target have changed every few weeks.
Can Dan Tehan get Abbott to stop playing games over renewable energy?, Climate Spectator, TRISTAN EDIS 1 MAY, Backbench Liberal MP Dan Tehan’s seat of Wannon in southwest Victoria is probably suffering the most from the government’s decision to throw the future state of the Renewable Energy Target into uncertain turmoil.
His seat has one of the best land-based wind resources available in the world with a major power transmission line running right through the middle of it. There’s already several hundred megawatts of wind power capacity built, but also several thousand megawatts proposed in the area.
Meanwhile in the struggling town of Portland with high unemployment, one of Australia’s leading wind tower manufacturers and also wind servicing businesses, Keppel Prince, lays largely idle.
Construction of the wind farms proposed in the area would provide a very large employment boost to a region that badly needs it, while also providing a significant new income stream for local farmers that host the turbines.
His appearance on the ABC’s 7.30 Report last night clearly reflected an incredible degree of frustration with his own government’s lack of interest in giving the wind industry the regulatory stability required for it to come out of its coma…….. Continue reading
This week’s Nuclear Notes, from Mia Pepper
Mia Pepper , Beyond Nuclear 30 April 15 Last week the Federal Government gave conditional approval to the Kintyre uranium mine proposal on the edge of Karlamilyi National park. You can still send a message to the minister even though he’s made the decision here online action supporting Parnngurr’s. You can read the minister conditions here – which basically says they need to resubmit everything before they can start mining – reaffirming our frustration that everything we looked at through public review was a draft and could change as it goes through the DMP assessment. An article about this in the NW Telegraph is attached.
Also this week we saw the Mineral Council of Australia push for the Government to reconsider nuclear power as they also celebrated the $4 million gift to Climate denialist Bjorn Lomborg (*sigh). The South Australian Royal Commission has released papers for comment please have a look and make comment – if anyone is keen we’d love volunteer help to look through a make comment on behalf of CCWA, ANAWA or WANFA. Can pick your choice of org. We have computers, internet, photocopiers and phones to assist you in doing this.
Last week the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Conference was opened in NYC – some strong statements have been made about the humanitarian cost of war and nuclear weapons, and calls to ban nuclear weapons. Unfortunately Australia is not one of those countries. Can see statements from Austria and
Mexico. Reaching Critical Will have put together this great little briefing book on the NPT, for a short read on background and demands for this conference. Yesterday there was a great action against US warships in Fremantle with Dr Death, the doomsday clock, Baloney Abbott and the CWA *concerned womyn anarchists – thanks to all involve for a very fun, engaging and peaceful protest.
The World Uranium Symposium in Quebec has now been and gone – check out the very inspiring declaration from the Symposium.
And remember to tune in to Understorey – and the Radioactive Show this week for all the latest nuclear and peace news.
Western Australia ready to gamble with the radioactive uranium industry
The uranium lobby is one of the nation’s most powerful.
The State Labor Opposition carries on that it supports a uranium ban however this is hogwash. It was former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s Government, helped along by Gary Gray and Martin Ferguson, who talked up uranium mining no less than Bob Hawke did, and who negotiated with India. State Labor despite its promises at its annual conferences will never reinstate the ban on uranium.
Western Australia ready to dice with uranium & radiation, The Stringer by Gerry Georgatos April 26th, 2015 “…….Yesterday, the Federal Government ‘green 
light’ welcomed in a uranium mine in the Pilbara. There are now four uranium projects in advanced development stages. The Government will sell the underwriting of revenue and jobs but it is their mining chums who will get rich not the Australian nation – but the burden of any radiation leaks will be borne by the Australian people.
Mining companies are investing huge fortunes in research, exploration and development projects for the mining of uranium. Nuclear energy is not just touted but will be the energy fuel of the future. Previous and incumbent Australian Governments have signed off uranium export deals and not just with India.
Western Australia has four uranium mining projects in the advanced stages leading to their establishment – Kintyre, Mulga Rock, Wiluna and Yeelirrie.
For now, they are mostly by the communities – Homelands – of First Peoples. The communities are being told that jobs will be waiting for them at the uranium sites. The uranium sites are being sold as world’s best practice – Continue reading
Minerals Council wants to overturn Australia’s environmental laws- in the cause of the nuclear chain
I recently reported on the plan outlined by pro nuclear propagandist Oscar Archer to bring the entire
nuclear fuel chain to Australia.
In Archer’s glossy spiel on how great it would be – he just barely touched on the fact that Australian federal and state environmental laws will have to be overturned.
Now the Minerals Council comes out spruiking for this overturning of laws as the first step in the toxic chain of events to bring the toxic nuclear chain to Australia
Review emissions target, nuclear ban: Minerals Council The Minerals Council of Australia has called for a review of the ban on nuclear power and warned that Australia’s post-2020 emission-reduction target cannot be properly formulated without extensive economic modelling… (registered readers only)
New Matilda’s Guide to Greg Hunt’s Climate Nonsense
A Simple Guide To Understanding Greg Hunt’s ‘Nonsense’ Carbon Con, New Matilda 26 Apr 15 More than a decade in, Australia still doesn’t have a credible carbon abatement policy. Thom Mitchell explains.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt is doing a stellar job of muddying the rising, warming waters which threaten to submerge the government’s “inadequate” climate policies, but experts say his claims are “quite outrageously misleading”.
After half a decade of rhetoric the government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), the centre-piece of its ‘Direct Action’ climate policy, has faced its first real test. Continue reading
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