Can a leopard change it’s spots? Australia’s schizophrenic #climate diplomacy at #COP21 reports @takvera

It seems Ministers from 62 nations were won over by Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s charm at Precop with applause being delivered to speeches from Ministers from both Australia and Canada. (see my article on the Paris Precop ministerial meeting) Australia is being seen as back on side diplomatically on the climate issue, especially after […]

Canada welcomed at Paris #PreCOP #climate Ministerial meeting says @takvera #COP21

A high level informal Ministerial pre-summit climate conference is currently under way in Paris to try and close some of the differences in negotiating positions to set up momentum for the Paris Climate Conference. The outstanding highlight has been the return of Canada to the serious climate discussion table, although it is still very early […]

Australia at sustainability crossroads at #Paris2015 #climate talks says @takvera #Auspol #COP21

There is much momentum for a binding climate change agreement in Paris, but success is by no means assured. In less than 4 weeks time leaders, ministers and diplomats will sit down to try and again thrash out an agreement over two weeks. This was supposed to happen six years ago in Copenhagen but the […]

Environment Minister roof protest by @climateGuardia over #Adani #coalmine approval reports @takvera

BREAKING: Melbourne’s climate Guardian Angels have descended on top of Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s electoral office in Hastings in a rooftop protest at the re-approval of the Adani Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee basin. The original Minister’s approval for the Carmichael Coal mine had to be set aside when challenged by the Mackay Conservation […]

Australian #climate targets half of what is needed say scientists – @takvera #Auspol

Australia’s post 2020 climate targets were approved in cabinet last night ahead of a Liberal and National Party room caucus meeting today. The post 2020 climate targets were announced at a press conference (See transcript and media release) today and amount to 26 to 28 per cent emissions reduction on 2005 levels by 2030. In […]

Labor’s 50 percent #renewables policy bare minimum for staying under 2 degrees. #Auspol says @takvera

Labor Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s advocacy of a 50 per cent renewables target at Labor’s National conference in Melbourne has effectively made action on climate change a policy point of difference from the Abbott government for the next election. But the target has been assessed as the bare minimum renewables target for staying on a […]

Will @LisaNevilleMP move fast enough on #GFNP to save Leadbeater’s possum from #extinction? asks @Takvera #vicpol

Leadbeater’s Possum, also known as Victoria’s fairy possum, is one of those species fighting for survival against the odds and against the juggernaut that is human industrial society. Finally last month, on the recommendation of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) was upgraded to being listed as critically endangered under the EPBC […]

Australian #climate emissions set to soar: new report shows #carbontax was working – @Takvera

Largest drop in Australia’s emissions with carbon tax, new figures from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reveal, as emissions from electricity generation start to trend up. Just two days before Christmas Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt released the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory June quarter update report which shows that Labor’s Carbon pricing, abolished in July […]

Burning issues for @TonyAbbottMHR: @burgewords #CreatingWaves on #DirectAction

CLIMATE change efforts in Australia have become a matter of simple mathematics. With the Coalition’s Direct Action Bill in place just this week, after a deal struck with the Palmer United Party and Senate crossbenchers, Australia is now attempting to reduce its carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020. It’s official: we’re trying, and […]

Innumerate or deceptive: @adropex dissects @TheIPA ‘report’ into ABC coal coverage #leardblockade

Innumerate Ignorance or Calculated Deception It is unfortunate that the IPA, and in particular James Paterson, did not take note of the ‘scholarship’ referred to in their recent report of the ABC’s coverage of ‘Australia’s energy choices’ and apply it to their own publication. It would undoubtedly have saved them the embarrassment of making public […]