Bizarre anti-science Climate Sceptics go unchallenged in Australian media
Fifty metres from where I sit at the ANU, 300 meteorologists and oceanographers are listening to the latest research on climate change at the annual conference of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society.
But you wouldn’t know it. Instead of sending someone over to hear what the scientists are saying, Radio National this morning decided to give over its program to a charlatan, Lord Monckton, who expounded unchallenged his bizarre theories.
He earnestly told Fran Kelly on Radio National that decades of climate science research could not be believed because the scientists are being paid by governments and governments want to cede national sovereignty to a “world government”. Continue reading
Australia’s The Age gives ‘lord of climate sceptics’ free rein
Climategate gives lord of the sceptics plenty of ammunition – The Age Miranda Devine January 28, 2010 “….Public opinion has changed as the credibility of the IPCC ebbs, the crippling cost of climate change measures becomes apparent and the array of rentseekers and phonies grows. Monckton is a man whose time has come because he owes nothing to anybody and he has the capacity to interpret the science to a public looking for answers…..Monckton says public opinion is “galloping” in his direction, which bodes ill for Rudd as he prepares to push through his emissions trading scheme next month….
Climate sceptics Monckton and Plimer have no scientific credibility
they should present this data, analysis and research in exactly the same way as other scientists do. They should publish it in peer-reviewed journals. They should subject their allegations to the rigorous scientific system
Hot air, cold air ABC The Drum Unleashed, by Alex Cook 29 Jan 2010 This week we have seen the travelling roadshow of Lord Christopher Monckton and Professor Ian Plimer spruiking their views on the climate change debate……We should have no issue with Ian Plimer and Christopher Monckton having something to say.
What is at issue is how they put their case. Science has a structure to resolve such issues. Continue reading
Time for Australians to invest in renewable energy
As always, the market will shift suddenly when it does and being exposed to the wrong companies well, just remember you were told.
WAKE UP AUSTRALIA: Seize the low-carbon opportunity Business Spectator -by Paul Gilding 28 Jan 2010 “……………There is no realistic scenario for Carbon Capture and Storage being able to deal with carbon emissions at a time and a price that will prevent renewable energy winning the market for clean energy. Continue reading
Greens to promote energy efficiency and renewables
there will then be space in the 20 per cent target to bring on large-scale wind and other renewable energy sources,” Greens Senator Christine Milne
Greens renew push for energy target changes ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 27 Jan 2010 The Greens are making a fresh push for changes to the Federal Government’s renewable energy target scheme, saying it is blocking investment in large-scale projects.
They will introduce a Private Members Bill when Parliament resumes next month to change the way energy efficiency measures such as solar hot water and heat pumps are treated. Continue reading
Powering Australia with solar energy
How Many Solar Panels To Power Australia Renewable Energy News 25 JANUARY, 2010 Supporters of solar power often wonder how many solar panels it would take to power Australia and if grouped together, how much land would they occupy?
We can estimate the land coverage needed thanks to a project from the Land Generator Initiative. Continue reading
Victorian govt fails to support Milldura’s solar plant
Tennis funded, solar power left hanging Green Left Ben Courtice, Melbourne23 January 2010“…..Save Solar Systems spokesperson Chris Breen said: “The Mildura solar power plant would provide jobs and real climate action, for not much more than the $363 million being directly given to upgrade the Tennis Centre. Continue reading
Australia not interested in Abu Dhabi’s solar city?
Deutsche Bank ranks Australia, which had a low-key presence at the conference, as the best place for certainty on clean energy investments
A green city arises from the desert of Abu Dhabi Matt Chambers Australian January 25, 2010 IN the most unlikely of places, what could be the world’s most expensive clean energy project is just eight months away from its first residents moving in………… Continue reading
Interim carbon price would mean a start to action on climate change
We are under no illusions that this solution is perfect. It is clearly a third or fourth best solution. But, unlike the CPRS, there is no way it can hold back climate action.
This deadlock helps no one. The community is denied action on the climate crisis, the business community is denied the investment certainty it craves, the government looks increasingly impotent and the opposition looks like spoilers.
Interim carbon price preferable to time-wasting political stunt Christine Milne: The Australian January 22, 2010 There is a solution to this deadlock, one that Ross Garnaut suggested a year ago in his final report, Continue reading
Greens proposing practical carbon scheme
Unlike Kevin Rudd’s scheme, it would be in surplus from the start and there would be no compensation for the coal and electricity sectors and less assistance for high-emitting industries.
Greens propose interim carbon tax ABC News By Alexandra Kirk for AM 21 Jan 2010 The Greens are attempting to break the political deadlock over emissions trading by suggesting an interim two-year scheme with a fixed price on carbon.Greens Senator Christine Milne is writing to the Government and the Opposition proposing a carbon price of $20 a tonne…………. Continue reading
Australia participated in sabotaging progressive initiatives at Copenhagen
On December 18, the international NGOs Avaaz and the Climate Action Network awarded Australia their Fossil of the Day award for “bullying Tuvalu and other small island nation states”.
Australia’s dirty role at Copenhagen Green Left Simon Butler16 January 2010 With the help of an all too submissive local media, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has crafted an image for himself as a world leader on climate change. This image took a beating at December’s Copenhagen climate change summit. Continue reading
Roxby Downs uranium mine will blow out greenhouse gases
“All of our efforts to reduce emissions, to conserve energy, will be undone by just one company, one project” The Advertiser DAVID NOONAN, 20 Jan 2010
The science of climate change demands action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. BHP Billiton’s proposed new open-pit mine at Roxby Downs would blow out SA’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12 per cent. Continue reading
Review- the nuclear week that has been
Australia: Climate denialists Monckton and Plimer touring Australia (wonder who’s paying for this tour?). Maralinga nuclear veterans must take their case to England. Tony Abbott calls for uranium sales to India, as India builds its nuke weapons arsenal. Australian Super decides that uranium is ethical enough. Point Lowly Action group trying to save iconic Great Australian Cuttlefish. ERA uranium shares and production fall. Govt considers airport scanning amid public ignorance on the issue.
International: Huge global renewable energy summit. France’s nuke industry embroiled in strife. Critical talks about Iran’s nukes. Germany in dilemma over mounting nuclear waste. Future very complicated for USA’s nuke industry. Colorado anti-uranium legal bid moves along. Revelations of Israel’s uranium tests on workers. Doomsday clock – slight improvement. USA – anti-uranium protest. Court action over depleted uranium in Hawaii. Protest against NASA’s radiation testing on squirrel monkeys.
Australian media, Climate Denial, and Pro Nuclear Hype
I used to think that the Australian media publicised fraudulent and anti-scientific opinions just out of a desire to have a controversy, and stir public attention to the media. I now think, alas, that it also has to do with the ignorance about science of not only the public, but also of the journalists.
Australia is now in grave danger of falling for the simplistic views of people who put up good-sounding information about very complex problems, with little regard for the scientific or economic facts.
We can now expect a year of this, with Tony Abbott in the lead position, expert in claimimg “green” credentials, while in fact furthering the interests of powerful fossil fuel and nuclear lobbies.
I would hope that climate-denialist speakers like Lord Monckton, and Ian Plimer will be met byt the media with sceptical srutiny – with those tried and tested old questions; – “Does he really make sense?, and What’s in it for him?
Beware of slick anti-science Climate Denialists
It’s a huge problem for Australian democracy and political debate in general.
Quiggin: Why I won’t debate Lord Monckton by John Quiggin Crikey 15 Jan 2010 Lord Christopher Monckton believes the hypothesis of human-caused global warming is a fraud, extended as part of a plot to destroy the world economy and establish a communist world government………… Continue reading
1 This month
7 April – WEBINAR – Australia and the Doomsday Clock – Preventing nuclear war through NoFirstUse and other policies
Online | Tuesday April 7, 4:00-5:30pm, Australian Eastern Time / 8:00-9:30am Central Europe Time
– Access the registration link
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 