Saturday 30th of March 2024

under turnbull the country’s climate policies remain similar as abbott's, but with a touch of elegant blah blah attached...

tonyturnbull

Abbott has long been known to doubt the science of climate change. Naomi Klein went so far as to call him a climate “villain”.

But then this past September Turnbull challenged Abbott for the leadership of the Liberal Party and within half a day, had been voted the new leader. Environmentalists heralded this as an important win against climate denial.

However, Shorten argued yesterday that despite this change in leadership, the country’s policies have remained the same. 

“It’s a pretty low bar this Australian government had to measure up to,” he said.

"The fact of the matter is what Australia’s government is saying is we’re not Tony Abbott but the truth of the matter is we’ve still got Tony Abbot’s policies. What has changed other than the prime minister in terms of Australia’s climate change efforts? Nothing has really changed. Australia is playing it safe … and in the meantime we’re seeing for instance the Canadians who… not only have they changed their prime minister but they’re doubling the amount of money they’re putting into adaptation and climate fund programmes globally, and that’s not the case in Australia.”

Who is the boss? Paris UN Climate Conference 2015: Malcolm Turnbull blazes the path of least resistance https://t.co/CrwHER1RNv

— phil viva republique (@pwwingman) November 30, 2015

When pressed on whether this still marked an improvement given Abbott’s notorious climate inaction, Shorten said:

“Most Australians if they were replacing Tony Abbott would have done more than Tony Abbott has done. Using Tony Abbott as your benchmark on serious climate change policy is not really setting much of a test is it?”

This story was originally published by DeSmogBlog on 30 November 2015

 

Read more: https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/turnbull-implementing-tony-abbotts-policies-at-cop21-says-shorten,8440

 

three nations plus the rest...

While all contributions from the 195 countries at the UN’s global climate change summit in Paris will be important, three are critical. China, the United States and India hold the key to large-scale global progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

So far, the UN climate process has faced the challenge of rallying all countries behind one unified resolution. While this remains crucial, efforts to build global consensus are increasingly varied, emphasising the role that multilateral, national and subnational policies can play in responding to the unique circumstances faced by societies around the globe. The Paris meeting reflects this shift, as the UN increasingly looks to shape the individual national commitments of countries around the world into a new, dynamic global compact. This approach creates encouraging possibilities for China, the US and India – which together make up roughly 40% of global carbon emissions – to become global leaders in a new and more sustainable energy future.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/30/world-climate-india-china-us-renewable-paris-climate-summit

repacking the same cash...

The Turnbull government repackaged its existing spending on helping poor nations combat climate change and implied it was a new commitment in a "deeply disappointing" move on the world stage in Paris, according to the peak body for Australian aid agencies.

In a closely watched address to 150 world leaders at the UN's climate summit overnight, Mr Turnbull said Australia would spend $1 billion over five years helping developing countries, especially those in the Pacific, to cope with climate change impacts and cut emissions.

"Some of the most vulnerable nations are our Pacific neighbours and we are helping them to build resilience through practical action and assistance," Mr Turnbull said.


He conceded the money was not additional spending, and would be drawn from the existing foreign aid budget.

Australian Council for International Development chief executive Marc Purcell, whose organisation is the peak body for the nation's overseas aid organisations, said Australia already spends close to $200 million a year on climate change aid.

He said the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed this figure on Tuesday. The department has been contacted for comment.

Mr Purcell described Mr Turnbull's announcement as "deeply disappointing" and said he was "repackaging announcements".



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/this-is-not-new-money-turnbull-government-accused-of-repackaging-climate-aid-gift-20151201-glc845.html#ixzz3t3qJSDf3 
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the vanishing island...

The case of the disappearing island
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop thought she had found a chink in Tanya Plibersek's armour during Question Time today. 

According to the transcript of a radio interview Ms Plibersek conducted last month, the island of Eneko had "literally disappeared into the sea". 
Ms Bishop gleefully told Question Time, Eneko Island still exists and held up a photo to prove her point. 
But since then Labor has pointed out that its own transcript was wrong. 
Ms Plibersek was speaking about another island, Anebok, as the audio file confirms. Double whoops.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-01/abc-politics-live-blog-december-1/6988878

the gall of a stupid hunt...

 

The Australian government approved Adani’s controversial $16bn Carmichael coalmine in Queensland because it was not a “neo-colonialist”power that tried to tell poor countries what to do, environment minister Greg Hunt has told a side event at the Paris climate summit.

Hunt was speaking about the coalition’s Direct Action policy at an OECD event on different climate policies when he was challenged by a questioner about why the government had approved the Adani mine given the huge quantity of emissions its coal would create.

“This is not an Australian government project, it is a private sector firm from India and ... I thought we were over neocolonial moment where the wealthy decide what happens to the poor,” Hunt countered.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/02/australia-approved-coalmine-because-it-isnt-a-neo-colonialist-power-greg-hunt-claims

 

Hunt is a certifiable idiot. Adani, the Private Sector coal miner from India is not a poor outfit. Otherwise it would not get a look in. What Greg Hunt says is OUTRAGEOUSLY STUPID.

 

the dinosaurs took refuge in the australian CONservatives...

Saying one thing and doing the opposite is clearly not a smart political strategy but it seems to be becoming the prime minister’s modus operandi, especially on climate change policy.

As Malcolm Turnbull demonstrated in Paris this week, the climate dinosaurs of the coalition parties still pull the strings on what he can actually do to tackle global warming. On the other hand, what he says about climate change does appear to be crafted with the intensifying public momentum for climate action in mind.

The government’s many climate deniers are determined to stick with Tony Abbott’s weak climate policies. The Nationals handcuffed Malcolm Turnbull to those dangerous policies in their coalition agreement which locks him in for the life of his prime ministership.

 

read more: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/02/no-matter-what-he-says-in-paris-turnbull-is-still-handcuffed-to-the-climate-change-dinosaurs

unfair fuel subsidies...

 

 

Launching a bid for climate breakthrough in Paris

World leaders launched an ambitious attempt on Monday to hold back the earth's rising temperatures as they met in Paris.

Australia is at the centre of a stoush that is enraging developing countries, as some industrialised nations fight for the decades-long demarcation between wealthy and major emerging economies to be broken down as part of a global pact to fight climate change.


The move at the Paris climate summit prompted angry representatives of developing nation to warn that a deal would be at risk unless agreement was reached on the financial help offered to poor nations.


Australia, the US and Canada are trying to expand the number of countries paying climate funding to include advanced developing economies such as China, India and Brazil.

 



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/un-climate-conference/un-climate-summit-paris-2015-australia-trying-to-push-open-richpoor-divide-20151203-glf58j.html#ixzz3tIPfD5IT 
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Meanwhile on the fossil fuel and mining shirt-front:

Wealthy nations spend 40 times as much money subsidising fossil fuel production as they contribute to the Green Climate Fund to help poor countries adapt to global warming, a research group has found.

Eight industrialised nations - Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States - spend a combined $80 billion a year on public support for fossil fuel production, but have pledged only about $2 billion a year to the Green Climate Fund, Oil Change International said.

"Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies could be a massive double win," Alex Doukas, the group's senior campaigner, said in a statement on the research analysis.

read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/un-climate-conference/paris-un-climate-conference-2015-rich-nations-fossil-fuel-subsidies-exceed-climate-aid-40-to-1-20151203-glf4zi.html

 

undermining paris in geneva...

Secret trade talks in Geneva could outlaw subsidies for renewable energy, undermining climate discussions in Paris that aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions, anti-poverty campaigners have warned.

The Geneva summit involving 22 countries including the US, Mexico, Australia and the 28 EU member states, aim to create a “level playing field”, with the possible consequence that fracking companies could dispute subsidies for solar or wind power.

Unions and anti-poverty campaigners said the implications for developing world economies that want to promote investment in renewable energy would prove disastrous.

According to leaked documents, a draft chapter of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) would, if adopted, force governments to accept “technological neutrality”. Disputes over subsidies to renewables would be resolved in a tribunal system outside national government control.

read more: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/03/secret-trade-talks-climate-targets-paris-geneva

 

The major problem in solving global warming isn't that the new technology is not quite up to speed — it is — but the dinosaurs of the fossil fuel industry are fighting tooth and nails to make sure renewables do not come online to save the planet. They don't care beyond making cash. Tony Abbott was a master at fiddling the books. Greg Hunt and Malcolm Turnbull are not far behind on this deception, appearing to do something worthwhile (they are not and are full of hot air) but at the same time approve more coal mining than ever before. Sick. Rotten. Idiotic. 

 

 

windbagging it in paris...

While the world enters a climate emergency, Malcolm Turnbull brings rhetoric to new heights at COP21, with sonorous sounding and beautifully presented inaction on climate. Lyn Bender reports.

Our new, verbally effusive leader Malcolm Turnbull is achieving great success – in his own fantasy world – regarding climate savoir-faire in Paris.

Like a reincarnation of the central protagonist in the Leo Tolstoytrilogy, Childhood Boyhood and Youth, the still new Prime Minister, is grasping at comme il faux.

This may be loosely defined as the fine art of seeming to do something; while in fact doing nothing much. Or trying to look sophisticated and accomplished, while concealing ineptitude.

Malcolm’s speech was one that would have been as handsomely befitting in its delivery, as any given by a Lord Mayor opening a new council chamber. The tone was sonorous, yet soporific and calculated not to arouse the fear of supporters, fossil fuel vested interests, or the far right in his party.

At the same time, it gave the impression of being designed to lull and reassure the soft left of centre, who so want to believe in Malcolm’s stealth, agility and concealed good intentions.

But what if Malcolm Turnbull’s hidden depths are instead exactly what they seem to be: obvious shallows? What if his main intention is staying alive politically, rather than working to keep the planet alive?

 The rhetoric began:

Mr President, Secretary General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

From Australia we come with confidence and optimism.

We are not daunted by our challenge. It inspires us. It energizes us.

We do not doubt the implications of the science, or the scale of the challenge.

But above all, we do not doubt the capacity of humanity to meet it — with imagination, innovation and the prudence that befits those, like us, who make decisions that will affect not just our own children and grandchildren but generations yet unborn.

He continued regally:

“Here in Paris, Australia supports a new – and truly global – climate agreement.

It is an agreement that must drive humanity’s capacity for inventiveness and a new wave of technological advances.

Good for our environment, good for our economies.”

Turnbull is still handcuffed to the climate change dinosaurs @LarissaWaters on #COP21#Paris2015 #UNFCCC #auspol https://t.co/2n8WEbpvg7

— Matthew Rimmer (@DrRimmer) December 4, 2015

Malcolm Turnbull’s address to COP21 had the air of a bygone era. So calm, relaxed and comfortable. Who would have thought that the entire globe is on the brink of a massive climate emergency? Or, that we are staring down the possibility of capping rising temperatures at a disastrous two degrees of warming — if we are lucky. Or, that before our very eyes, Pacific Islands are being submerged.

Instead, like a latter-day Wilkins Micawber – the unflinchingly optimistic windbag of Charles Dickens' novel David Copperfield – Malcolm seems certain that “something will turn up”.

read more: https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/malcolm-turnbull-faking-it-in-paris,8456

what about it, malcolm?...

ARENA shortlists 22 renewable energy projects for $100 million funding with solar projects falling well below its benchmark. RenewEconomy's Giles Parkinson reports noting that the Turnbull government is yet to withdraw legislation seeking to close down the CEFC and ARENA. 

HYBRID PROJECTS that feature both solar and wind and other energy technologies feature among the 22 projects shortlisted for a total of $100 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency(ARENA), which also suggested that solar project costs would fall below $A100/MWh by 2020.

ARENA on Thursday said the 22 projects — totalling some 767MW in capacity, had been invited to progress to the next stage of its $100 million large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) competitive round. These projects may also qualify for debt finance from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Among the companies making the shortlist are Origin Energy, Infigen Energy, and other Australian players including Genex, APA, Windlab and Ganawarra Solar. It also includes a host of international players, including Canadian Solar, Suntech, FRV, Juwi, Neoen, and Ratch. (See below for full list).

The CEFC and ARENA are two of Australia's biggest drivers of innovation in renewables and the PM wants to axe them.

— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) December 7, 2015

ARENA said some project bids suggested costs well below its benchmark of $A135/MWh, and suggested costs in Australia would head below $A100/MWh (US$71/MWh) by 2020. That is still well behind costs elsewhere in the world – particularly the U.S., India, China and Latin America – but suggested Australia could start to catch up.

Another of the interesting aspects of the tender is the proposal that will combine solar PV with other technologies. Goldwind want to site a solar farm next to its proposed White Rock wind project, Infigen is looking to do the same next to the Capital wind farm, and Windlab is looking to combine wind and solar at the Kennedy hybrid complex.

Genex, meanwhile, is looking to combine solar PV and pumped hydro, while Ratch is considering solar PV with a range of other technologies at Collinsville, where a coal fired power station has been closed down.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the expression of interest (EOI) phase had attracted strong interest, including several new entrants to the market, and the overall quality of proposals was high. And the costs proposed included some “significantly below” the cut off of $A135/MWh.

read more: https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/arena-tender-suggests-solar-pv-costs-to-fall-below-a100mwh,8577

 

 

The Turnbull government HAS TO to withdraw the legislation seeking to close down the CEFC and ARENA. 

going down the chute...

 

 

The index that Greg Hunt used to defend Australia’s record on climate change has placed the country lower in its rankings, leaving only Saudi Arabia with a worse ranking among wealthy nations in some categories.

Yale’s environmental performance index ranks countries’ performance in protecting human health and ecosystems, and looks at nine areas including air quality, climate and energy, forests and water resources.

When Australia’s climate change policies were questioned in November, the environment minister relied on the index to defend its record. “The Yale environment performance index, the most credible, scientifically based, hard data-based analysis in the world, ranks Australia number three of 178 countries in terms of our environmental performance,” he told ABC’s 730.

The index’s report, released this week, shows Australia has dropped 10 places overall, leaving it at 13 out of 180 countries examined.

It performed worst in the climate and energy category. It was ranked 150th for its trend in carbon emissions each kilowatt hour, leaving only Saudi Arabia behind among wealthy nations. Overall in the climate and energy category, Australia was ranked 82nd.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/28/australia-drops-10-spots-in-greg-hunts-most-trusted-climate-rankings

 

On these figures alone, a minister called Greg Hunt should resign or be sacked. But nothing will happen BECAUSE no-one in the CONservative party knows what this means nor do they want to know. And after the Abbott departure, we've discovered (we knew that beforehand of course) that there is no personnel able to take over any proper portfolio successfully, including Environment. THEY'RE ALL DORKS.!