Fighting climate change will be hard, (not fighting it will be worse
Guardian 15th Dec 2019, One of the toughest things for those of us who actually accept the science on climate change is to maintain optimism that anything will be done. After weeks like the one we’ve just had, I sometimes wonder how long it will be before our major political parties shift from talking about reducing emissions and instead arguing over how to best deal with the impact ofclimate change.
You know the sort of thing – “Should we means-test free
access to P2 masks?” or “Should there be a mutual obligation regime for
climate-change relief?” – and before you know it the Australian and the
other climate change-denying News Corp media outlets will be running
editorials about how “we need to get more people off climate change
welfare”. It is a shift we need to fight against – the war to prevent
disastrous climate change is not lost, but it will be if we allow political
parties to raise the white flag.
Is the Minister Against the Environment, Angus Taylor, really bad at arithmetic, or just a liar?
 Angus Taylor spotted fiddling more figures, New Daily, 15 Dec 19The Minister for the Environment and Energy, Angus Taylor, seems to have a problem with numbers, whether it’s the Sydney City Council’s travel budget or what year Naomi Wolf was at Oxford. His latest figure fiddling though is much bigger and more serious than either of those embarrassments. And it’s possibly more absurd. At the COP25 climate summit in Madrid last week, Mr Taylor was pushing the government line that Australia would meet and exceed its Paris agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 – “in a canter”, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. But all the while, Mr Taylor had a graph from his department showing the claim was, shall we politely say, “false”. Without much fanfare, the Department of Environment and Energy earlier this month published its annual emissions projections. At the core of the report is the accompanying graph of Australia’s emissions of millions of tonnes of CO2-equivalent from 1990 projected out to 2030. Blind Freddy can see the government’s forecast reduction from nearly 600Mt in 2005 to 511Mt in 2030 does not represent 26 per cent. It’s actually less than 15 per cent. But with Mr Taylor’s talent for figure fiddling, the sun rises in the west, bears no longer defecate in the woods, and somehow less than 15 per cent is turned into more than 26 per cent. Because he says so. Blind Freddy can see the government’s forecast reduction from nearly 600Mt in 2005 to 511Mt in 2030 does not represent 26 per cent. It’s actually less than 15 per cent. But with Mr Taylor’s talent for figure fiddling, the sun rises in the west, bears no longer defecate in the woods, and somehow less than 15 per cent is turned into more than 26 per cent. Because he says so.\The government attempts this particular distortion of reality by claiming “carry-over credits” from overachieving in the previous Kyoto agreement reached in 1997. (That ‘overachievement’ was totted up primarily in LULUCF – “land use, land use change and forestry” – an area particularly prone to creative accounting as it involves such things as promising not to clear bush at some stage in the future.) How inconvenient that the government’s graph, including buying some for LULUCF, goes back to 1990 and shows our emissions reduction from then, or from the 611Mt peak in 2006, is still less than 15 per cent. [graph on original] The government’s claim is an international joke. What’s worse is that the Madrid meeting was supposed to be about moving the needle on from the Paris agreement. Salient nations were supposed to be able to feel the heat, smell the smoke, see the glaciers melt and therefore work to achieve more than Paris. Instead, Mr Taylor led Australia as one of the recalcitrant countries sabotaging that reasonable aim. And claiming black was white, or at least that coal isn’t a problem, wasn’t the Environment Minister’s only fiddle. He also declared that Australia is backing an unprecedented wave of clean energy investment. Well, yes – and no. Australia is enjoying a surge in clean energy generation investment this year, but then it falls away quite rapidly, as shown in another graph, this time by the construction industry analysts at Macromonitor. [graph on original] Macromonitor reckons the next clean energy investment boom doesn’t kick in until the middle of the decade when the need for storage – pumped hydro, batteries – is more acute. … https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2019/12/16/angus-taylor-emmissions-numbers/ |
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Scott Morrison, comfy in his Morrison bubble, trashes Environment Department
Morrison torches Environment Department, Independent Australia, By Stephen Saunders | 15 December 2019, For a time, Arts and Environment were in the same federal department. Both functions have taken a hit, in Scott Morrison’s Christmas departmental reshuffle.
Australia’s first federal Environment Department debuted 1971. The function has carried forward to this day, under varying departmental banners. Since 1993, “Environment” (or “Sustainability, Environment”) has always been the leading item in a departmental title.
Not any more. “Busting” congestion, blindsiding the public service, Morrison has reversed recent history. The Environment function of the previous Environment and Energy Department goes into the Agriculture Department. It’s never been parked there before. The Industry Department mops up most of Energy and Climate.
Apparent wins there, for fossil fuels and land conversion. And never mind the fire and smoke. Brand-new Environment chief David Fredericks has been recycled as Industry chief…….
With endless growth running the show, the Department has won battles and lost wars. Our first State of the Environment report surfaced in 1986. When you decode the polite language of the scientific committees, successive reports reveal steady decline up to 2016.
It’s simplistic to say, but the Department has prospered more under Labor……
In his [Morrison’s] inflated opinion, ministers can always be relied on to “set the policy direction” correctly. As they surround themselves with increasingly docile public service chiefs.
On top of all this, he cashiers the Environment Department. And puts Energy and Climate under Industry. His religion and ideology seem to be clobbering reason and science.
Labor’s bulldog adherence to Big Coal and Big Australia undermines their credibility to oppose environmental overreach. Still, Morrison’s arrogance might come back to bite him.
Over its first 30 or 40 years, the Federal Environment Department attracted a keen cadre of officials, whose commitment and knowledge could be turned to disparate environmental issues at short political notice. They had notable successes and signal failures. But their relationships with ministers held more nuance than the feudal deference that Morrison now demands.
You can’t throw the switch, to recharge independent and vigorous environment policy advice at a moment’s notice. Rationally speaking, we need those skills, more than ever.
Weather, rain and fire are visibly different, within our own short lifetimes. Environment and growth problems have never been more obvious. The environment has returned to the public consciousness bigtime.
The “bubble” isn’t around Canberra. It’s around Morrison himself. Sure, the weakened Environment and Climate bureaus will have to answer, to him and his ministers. The physical environment may not be so obliging. https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/morrison-torches-environment-department,13415
Yallourn could be replaced with renewables and batteries by 2023, says report — RenewEconomy
Less than 3GW of new renewables plus “big battery” storage and demand-side generation could replace Victoria’s Yallourn coal plant by 2023, a Reputex report claims. The post Yallourn could be replaced with renewables and batteries by 2023, says report appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Yallourn could be replaced with renewables and batteries by 2023, says report — RenewEconomy
COP25 talks labelled “lost opportunity”, as Australia burns its international reputation — RenewEconomy
Australia criticised for blocking role at COP25 talks, sacrificing Australia’s international reputation for a temporary reprieve on Kyoto carryover. The post COP25 talks labelled “lost opportunity”, as Australia burns its international reputation appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Wayne Swan joins revolving door from Canberra to fossil fuel industry — RenewEconomy
Revolving door between federal parliament and fossil fuel industry continues to spin, this time with former treasurer Wayne Swan named as director of coal generation company. The post Wayne Swan joins revolving door from Canberra to fossil fuel industry appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Wayne Swan joins revolving door from Canberra to fossil fuel industry — RenewEconomy
Shut up and watch the cricket: Morrison stokes embers of climate denial — RenewEconomy
Scott Morrison’s vandalism of climate talks is helping push the world towards 3°C warming. How good will the cricket be then? The post Shut up and watch the cricket: Morrison stokes embers of climate denial appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Shut up and watch the cricket: Morrison stokes embers of climate denial — RenewEconomy
December 15 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “UN COP25 Summit Ends With Anger With Global Warming’s ‘Window Of Escape’ Getting Harder” • Major economies have resisted calls for bolder commitments as a UN summit in Madrid limped towards a delayed conclusion, dimming any hopes that nation governments would act in time to mitigate the impacts of climate change. [ABC News] […]
RACV makes push into rooftop PV with Gippsland Solar purchase — RenewEconomy
One of Victoria’s biggest PV retailers, Gippsland Solar, acquired by major Australian insurer RACV, in deal that speaks volumes about Australia’s booming rooftop PV market. The post RACV makes push into rooftop PV with Gippsland Solar purchase appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via RACV makes push into rooftop PV with Gippsland Solar purchase — RenewEconomy
Anger erupts at U.N. climate summit as major economies resist bold action — Iowa Climate Science Education
From Reuters Matthew Green, Valerie Volcovici MADRID (Reuters) – Major economies resisted calls for bolder climate commitments as a U.N. summit in Madrid limped toward a delayed conclusion on Saturday, dimming hopes that nations will act in time to stop rising temperatures devastating people and the natural world. With the two-week gathering spilling into the […]
Solar garden bears fruit for NSW community housing tenants — RenewEconomy
First “solar garden” in Lismore hailed as breakthrough for community solar projects in Australia and for those “locked out” of solar. The post Solar garden bears fruit for NSW community housing tenants appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Solar garden bears fruit for NSW community housing tenants — RenewEconomy
Kimba already has the nuclear stigma, as property prices fall
Paul Waldon no nuclear waste dump anywhere in south australia, 14 Dec 19,
Kimba, a bifurcated community where the nuclear embracing dichotomy have failed to respect their predecessors, the generations of parents that have invested time and money into their future. It’s a town of people that are leaving the district, a place where property values continue to fall and funding for the mental health concerns fueled by nuclear waste site selection is now a reality. Nuclear Stigma is a reality and it’s here.
This is not progress. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/
Federal nuclear inquiry report: Lunatics in charge of the asylum — RenewEconomy
Scott Morrison has thrown a bone to the conservative culture warriors pushing nuclear power, and now they’ll be demanding a rump steak with tomato sauce. The post Federal nuclear inquiry report: Lunatics in charge of the asylum appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Federal nuclear inquiry report: Lunatics in charge of the asylum — RenewEconomy
Scott Morrison and Liberals recommended lifting Australia’s ban on nuclear power
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Josh Burns Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA, 13 Dec19 Today, Scott Morrison and his Government MPs ignored the experts and recommended lifting the bipartisan ban on nuclear energy in Australia.
I’ve been part of the Parliamentary Inquiry into nuclear energy for the past few months. The overwhelming evidence said that Australia should not move towards this expensive and dangerous technology. Instead of actually creating a national energy policy, Scott Morrison is now looking at a location near you to build Australia’s first nuclear power station https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/ |
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Relief for Flinders Ranges as Minister Matt Canavan scraps nuclear waste plans for Wallerberdina
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Nuclear waste plans for Wallerberdina Station in Flinders Ranges scrapped after community ballot, ABC North and West SA
By Gary-Jon Lysaght , Angela Smallacombe and Shannon Corvo 13 Dec 19, The Flinders Ranges will no longer be considered a potential site for a nuclear waste facility.
Key points:
The Federal Government was considering Wallerberdina Station, near Hawker, for a facility that would permanently store low-level nuclear waste and temporarily store intermediate-level waste. Hawker, along with other Flinders Ranges communities were given the opportunity to vote on whether they supported the facility. That ballot showed 454 votes opposing the facility and 408 supporting it. That represented a 52-48 split. “While the community ballot was just one of many measures I am considering, I have said that achieving at least a majority level of support was a necessary condition to achieving broad community support,” Resources Minister Matt Canavan said.
“I especially want to thank the communities of Hawker and Quorn for their patience and resilience through this process. They are a fantastic community that I have had the privilege to know better through this process.” ‘The result we were hoping for’ Greg Bannon lives at Quorn and has been a vocal opponent of the facility for the past four years. He said it was a “huge relief” the facility would not go ahead near Hawker. “It puts an end to four years of argument and debate and trying to make the case to preserve the Flinders Ranges,” he said. “It’s been a long process but in the end, we got the result we were hoping to.
“We’ve always said that the process was wrong, that it’s not fair to do this, to make one small community make the decision for the whole of Australia’s nuclear waste.”……. Kimba votes in favour The Flinders Ranges was only one of two sites being considered for the facility.The other one was Kimba, on the Eyre Peninsula. That town had a similar ballot, which found more than 60 per cent of voters were in favour of the facility going ahead. Mr Canavan said a final decision on where the facility would go would be made in 2020.
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1 This month.
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
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/235274195556
19 May – Webinar- Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-05-19 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-05-19 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
20 May – Webinar – The dangerous world of AUKUS, US, military occupation and suppression of dissent
National Webinar, 20th May, 2026, 6.30pm AEST. Confronting laws restricting/suppressing protest speech and action
Speakers: Former Sen. Rex Patrick, Lawyer Nick Hanna ,Arthur Rorris ,Jorgen Doyle, Sen David Shoebbridge,
Facilitator Kelley Tranter.
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 