And the big year continues...

 

• Yesterday the UK government announced plans to make Britain the first country in the world to set legally binding limits on its carbon dioxide emissions. Under proposed legislation the UK will have to reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide by 60% by 2050, with an interim target of at least 26% by 2020. Failure could land the government in court.

 

As Australia gears up to get serious…

 

• The Business Council of Australia has called for the streamlining of climate change policy in Australia, claiming the current mix of state and federal schemes are "increasingly complex to operate within".

 

• John Howard has set up an Emissions Trading Task Group. Their terms of reference is as follows: " Australia enjoys major competitive advantages through the possession of large reserves of fossil fuels and uranium. In assessing Australia’s further contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, these advantages must be preserved.  Against this background the Task Group will be asked to advise on the nature and design of a workable global emissions trading system in which Australia would be able to participate. The Task Group will advise and report on additional steps that might be taken, in Australia, consistent with the goal of establishing such a system."

 

• The Task Group is due to report on 31 May 2007 – check out http://www.dpmc.gov.au/emissionstrading/index.cfm

 

• Watch this space…

More on Gore:

• Al Gore wins an Oscar for an Inconvenient Truth…
• …and then gets tomatoes for his massive US$30,000 annual home power bill (turns out it’s all green power)
• The New York Times has reported disquiet about the depiction of some of the science in the film and accusations Gore included deliberate exaggerations and distortions to create greater drama about the impending threats
• My view? We need outstanding leadership, robust science, vigorous discussion, intelligent policy, clear community commitment, and above all, shared objectives and definitive action. Bring it on.

 

 

Get Active - Some events

 

40 HOUR DROUGHT – 7am Wednesday 21 March - 11pm Thursday 22 March

Can you manage with just 40 litres of water in a 40 hour period?

That's the challenge being set by ABC Local Radio in a nationwide initiative launched today to encourage people to experience what it's like to live with a limited amount of water. The average person uses well over 200 litres a day so trying to use just 40 is quite a feat.

Whether or not you successfully meet the challenge, we hope that by spending more time thinking about our water usage at home, we can better understand the value of water and some of the problems facing those who are living with serious water restrictions.

Check out http://www.abc.net.au/water/40hourdrought/

FireUp! Fitness (www.fireupfitness.com.au) is rising to the challenge – well done guys – fantastic.

EARTH HOUR 7.30 pm Saturday 31 March – Sydney

 

Sydney plans to turn off its lights for one hour at 7.30pm on Saturday March 31, 2007 as a major step towards reducing the city's greenhouse gas pollution.

 

Great for Sydneysiders. Check out http://wwf.org.au/news/sydney-to-send-message-to-the-world-on-global-warming/

As always…

Will keep you periodically updated – keep that info coming in

Hi All

 

 

A very belated happy new year to all.

 

It’s already been a big year for climate news with the latest scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the weekend. IPCC brings together 2,500 scientists from more than 30 countries

 

The IPCC concluded that the likelihood that the climate change has been created by the burning of fossil fuels and other actions is greater than 90%.

 

This, the IPCC’s 4^th report said global warming is an "unequivocal" fact and likely to continue for centuries, warning of a likely rise in world average temperatures of up to 4C.

 

For a summary of the findings, go to http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf

 

Remember the key things that we can all do as individuals:

 

1. Reduce your energy usage – switch off appliances at the wall when not in use, use a water-efficent showerhead
2. Purchase greenpower for your home (available from all electricity companies, often at exactly the same price you already pay - check out http://www.greenpower.gov.au/pages/Home-Who-Sells.php)
3. Reduce your car and air travel (Where you must travel, carbon offsets are available from organisations like Climate Positive, Carbon Planet and Greenfleet - check the links on www.cooloz.multiply.com)

 

Some events

 

•       TONIGHT – MONDAY 5^TH FEBRUARY - for CITY OF PORT PHILLIP RESIDENTS – Climate Change in the City of Port Phillip

Tonight’s meeting of the Port Phillip council (Monday 5 February, 6pm) will feature a discussion of council's recent report titled "Climate Change in the City of Port Phillip - An Initial Perspective".

This will be a terrific opportunity for residents to see how council views the issue of climate change, what local impacts are being assessed and what actions are being considered.

Council meetings are held at Council Chamber at the St. Kilda Town Hall, 99a Carlisle Street St Kilda.
If you wish to speak at any council meeting you can make a request to speak when you arrive at the meeting - for more information on attending and participating in council meetings see http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/about_council.html

•       CLIMATE CHANGE FORUMS – 7 Feb, 21 Feb, 8 Mar, 6pm to 8pm – a series of presentations by international experts – The first is “Climate Change, Despair and Empowerment” featuring John Seed. It’s at Richmond Town Hall, 333 Bridge St. Check it out at http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Services/Arts%20&%20Culture/pdf/climate%20change%20forum2.pdf

•        

•       SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL – Sustainability – How do you do it? 16-18 Feb, Federation Square. It’s advertised as “The Sustainable Living Festival showcases a huge range of exhibitors, talks, workshops, art, films and performances celebrating and inspiring sustainable communities.” Info at http://www.slf.org.au/festival/

More to follow…

Looks like it’s going to be a big year for taking action.

Hi All

 

In this blog:

•       Great news – the launch of ClimatePositive – a very Victorian way to combat climate change

•       A round up of the phenomenon of people power

ClimatePositive launch

You may remember at the movie night that Brendan from ClimatePositive drew the raffle. It’s great to announce that ClimatePositive (www.climatepositive.com.au) is now up and live. Congratulations!!

The $200 donations received from the Inconvenient Truth movie night have been contributed to ClimatePositive – a big thank you! This offsets 10.4 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – well and truly offsetting the cinema’s power use and all our transport in getting to the movie – a truly ClimatePositive event!

ClimatePositive is a not-for-profit project to reduce carbon emissions, build the renewable energy industry and replant some of the world's most majestic forests right here in the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria. I recently went out to the Turra-Bulga National Park, one of the few remnants of this forest – a beautiful, tiny and vulnerable place.

Remember it’s always more effective to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions first and foremost (buy green power, reduce your car and air travel). And for all the rest there are carbon offsets (but be careful which ones you buy).

Here are a few features of CarbonPositive:

•       Offset 100% of your CO2 footprint with government-certified renewable energy. (This also gives a boost to the renewable energy industry)

•       Plant indigenous trees to absorb 0.3 tonne of CO2 for each tonne you offset. ClimatePositive’s biodiverse forests are grown in the Strzelecki Ranges where some of world's most carbon-rich forests once stood.

So for every 1 tonne of greenhouse gas emissions you buy, you get 1.3 tonnes of offset. And it’s here in Victoria, working to re-establish rich and biodiverse forest – something that feels particularly critical right now as we sit here in the smog from the 410,000 hectare bushfire.

 

There’s loads more information and answers to your questions on the website – Check it out at www.climatepositive.com.au

In praise of optimism…

Phenomenal to believe that it’s just 2 months since our Inconvenient Truth movie night – look at how much has happened – what influence we’ve had!

Here are a few of the catalogue of events and developments…

•       An astonishing increase in awareness of the Australian public about the realities of climate change

•       The world’s largest solar power station getting significant funding right here in Victoria

•       Both the Howard government and Rudd’s opposition putting climate change and new energy policy at the centre of their rhetoric (whatever you might think of the merits or otherwise of nuclear power, the ability of renewable energy to meet our base load needs etc…)

•       The Stern review on the economic impact of climate change creating global waves

•       The creation of a new Alliance for Climate Protection in the US, using the proceeds from “An Inconvenient Truth” (http://www.allianceforclimateprotection.org). It is a campaign, focused on the US as the lynchpin of global change, to:

• Motivate a critical mass of the public and influential constituencies to demand strong and just action to cut U.S. emissions and to make solving global warming a national political imperative.
• Implement solutions to global warming that cap and cut U.S. global warming pollution emissions in the near term, setting a framework and trajectory to reduce emissions by more than half by mid-century.
• Develop a political consensus for further international agreements that includes full participation by developing economies in achieving emission reduction targets.

The new CEO is Cathy Zoi, formerly Assistant Director General of the NSW EPA. She was the founding CEO of the NSW Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) and Chief of Staff of Environmental Policy in the Clinton White House. So a very strong Ozzie flavour.

 

 

Cheers

Hilary

 

 

Hi All

 

Not sure if any of you managed to get a seat to hear Al Gore? Be interested in your feedback. Great to see so much media coverage and street talk on climate change.

 

Also, I’ve been doing a little research on the different offset programs available and might make that the subject of a future email – pros, cons and regulation in the industry. I’d be interested to hear of any you’ve subscribed to and your views.

 

Recently I’ve been indulging in a little background reading and thought I might share one of the snippets with you. So, as a result thoughts in this email relate to Rebounding on the Khazzoom! - Energy Efficiency vs Energy Reduction. Again, a little bit lengthy but worth the read.

 

Overall the message is – Reducing our energy use comes first and foremost. Energy efficiency in the absence of energy reduction policies is not only a waste of time – counter-intuitively it’s counter-productive! ie being more efficient actually increases the amount of energy we use. Crazy.

 

Rebounding on the Khazzoom! - Energy efficiency vs Energy Reduction

 

One of the great axioms of environmental wisdom is to do more with less. A book with a fire engine red cover challenges that.

 

The book, guaranteed to start conversations on the tram, is “HEAT – how to stop the planet burning” by George Monbiot a controversial environmental thinker. Whether you are deep green or murky brown, George has something to outrage and incense you but takes nothing for granted and might even change your views on a few things. In HEAT, George designs his blueprint for how to achieve a 90% cut in carbon dioxide by 2030 without bringing civilization to an end.

 

So, on to doing more with less, otherwise known as energy efficiency.

 

Here’s a section from the book…

 

“The commonest and most understandable mistake made by people engaging with the problem of greenhouse gas emissions is to assume that energy efficiency is the same as energy reduction. People imagine that if a piece of equipment uses 30% less energy than the one it replaced that 30% has been saved. This was what I believed before I had the misfortune to encounter the Khazoom-Brookes Postulate.

 

The postulate works like this. As efficiency improves, people or companies can use the same amount of energy to produce more services. This means that the cost of energy for any one service has fallen. This has two effects. The first is that the money you would otherwise have spent on energy is released to spend on something else. The second is tha as processes which use a lot of energy become more efficient, they look more financially attractive than they were before. So when you are deciding what to spend your extra money on, you will invest in more energy-intensive processes than you would otherwise have done. The extraordinary result is that, in a free market, energy efficiency could increase energy use.

 

It sounds ridiculous and my instinct, when I first came across it, was to try to argue my way out. But the facts were not kind to me.

 

…Between 1980 and 2002, energy use in the 30 richest countries rose by 23%, even while they exported their most energy-intensive industries to poorer nations. There is some evidence to suggest that this happened because the cost of energy per service fell. The Khazzoom-Brookes Postulate appears to explain why the corporations, by pursuing their own cost-cutting interests, have not saved the planet…

 

The postulate is similar to, but not quite the same as, the other great paradox of energy efficiency, which is known as ‘the rebound effect’. While the Khazzoom=Brookes works on the economy as a whole, the rebound effect operates within your own pocket. If you live in a well-insulated house, you need burn less gas to maintain a certain temperature. But as your gas bills are therefore lower, you will be tempted to turn the temperature up. Car engines are far more efficient than they used to be, but over the past 20 years their fuel consumption has scarcely declined. The driver’s lower overall furel costsw permitted manufactgurers to make cars bigger, beavier and faster and to make them do more: such as power steering, air conditioning and heating the windows…

 

None of this is to suggest that energy efficiency should not be pursued. But what the paradoxes appear to show is that in the absence of proper government policies, it is not just a waste of time: it is counter-productive.”

 

George does point out that the postulate is just that – a postulate and not a theory – and there are fierce critics of it. But it’s certainly food for thought.

 

So…the conclusion from HEAT is that it’s pointless doing more with less if we don’t also do with less overall. Focus on reduction first. Energy efficiency without reduction policies leads to an increase in energy use.

 

As an interesting twist, have a look at the Australian-sponsored “Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate” http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/ – its main purpose is to “facilitate the development, diffusion, deployment, and transfer of existing, emerging and longer term cost- effective, cleaner, more efficient technologies and practices among the Partners”. It has no targets for energy reduction.

 

Cheers

Hilary

 

 

 

A massive turnout on Saturday for the Walk against Warming – 30,000 people in Melbourne! On a long weekend even.

 

On the theme of driving…

 

 

How many cars in Australia – 11 million (roughly 1 between 2)

How many CO2 emissions - 46 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year

 

…and growing…at a rate of 60%

 

To achieve a reduction of 30% by 2030, there are a few things we can all do…

 

Here are a few tips from WWF-Futuremakers (www.wwf.org.au) on reducing the impact of your car

 

Reduce your car use

•       Use public transport

•       For short trips, consider walking or riding a bicycle instead. (Half of all journeys are less then 3 km)

•       Run a number of errands on any one car trip

 

Use your car more efficiently

•       Drive in high gear – change up through the gears as soon as you can. For Automatic cars, ease back on the accelerator once the car gathers momentum.

•       Drive smoothly - Braking and accelerating back up to full speed uses more petrol than driving at a consistent speed.

•       Turn your engine off instead of idling – when your car is stopped for as little as 30 seconds - saves more fuel than is lost from the burst of fuel involved in restarting the engine.

•       Reduce your speed - At 110 km/h your car uses up to 25% more petrol than it would cruising at 90 km/h.

•       Reduce your drag- Additional parts on the exterior of your car - such as roof racks (and the things you put on them), spoilers and having the window open - can increase 'drag' and how much petrol you use by more than 20%.

•       Look after your tyres- Inflate your car tyres to the highest pressure recommended and ensure your wheels are properly aligned..

•       Use the air-conditioning sparingly - Car air conditioning uses around 10% extra fuel. But at speeds of more than 80 km/h, air-con use is better for fuel economy than an open window.

•       Travel light - The more a vehicle carries, the more fuel it uses so don't carry more cargo than you need to and clear out your boot. An extra 50 kg of weight can increase your petrol bill by around 2%.

•       Service your vehicle regularly - Keeping your vehicle well tuned will mean it is operating at its most efficient, which means it will use less petrol.

 

Offset your car's emissions

If you want to reduce your emissions to effectively zero, consider carbon offsets. – check out www.cooloz.multiply.com for organizations that do offsets (Greenfleet, CarbonPlanet, itseasybeinggreen, ClimatePositive)

 

In the market for a car?

Consider purchasing a hybrid (part electric, part petrol), or a high-efficiency diesel model. Hybrids can reduce your emissions by around 40%. There are only a few hybrid models currently available in Australia (such as Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, or the luxury sedan Lexus GS450h), but more are on the way. Check out the Green Vehicle Guide.

 

Car share

Consider sharing travel for all or part of a journey, especially regular trips like traveling to work, social or sporting events (this is also known as "ride sharing").

Consider joining or starting up a car pool/car share. Some links to get you started:

• GoGet: Sydney and Melbourne
• Need a ride: Post your request or offer on this site to link up with others that are offering/looking for a lift.
• The Car Pool: This free site puts people in contact with others who want to save money by sharing their traveling costs.
• Google search for 'car share australia' and 'ride share australia'

 

Cheers

Hilary

 

 

 

Thoughts in this blog relate to:

 

•       What’s on – a walk and another movie

•       The very Stern report

•       A few Victorian facts and figures on climate change

•       A 10 point plan towards a planet-friendly life

 

Walk against Warming – Saturday 4^th November 1pm

 

This Saturday there is a peaceful walk urging action on climate change now, organized by a collection of environmental organizations. The aim is to get the Australian Government to take real action on climate change. It starts at the Town Hall and goes to Birrarung Marr.

 

Take a little time out of your day and come and join me and thousands of others on the walk. Meet at 12.30 outside the Hairy Canary at 212 Little Collins Street to walk down to the Town Hall at 12.45. (yes, I only know my way round via the bars!). Let me know if you’re coming – bring your friends and family.

 

www.walkagainstwarming.org

 

Who killed the electric car? – Thursday 9^th November – roughly 7 pm

 

This documentary looks at the birth and death of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in the future. The film explores the roles of automobile makers, the oil industry, the US government, batteries, hydrogen vehicles, and consumers in limiting the development and adoption of this technology.

 

I haven’t seen the film as yet so can’t recommend it, but check out the cool website at http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/

 

The plan is to go to the movie at the Kino Dendy (45 Collins St) at the 7 pm showing (exact time to be confirmed) and then a drink at Bridie O’Reillys on Little Collins Street afterwards

 

To book your ticket call the Kino Dendy on 9650 2100. Let me know if you’re coming

 

The Stern Report

 

This is a report commissioned by the UK Prime Minister the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Economics of Climate Change. It has been prepared by Sir Nicholas Stern, former former chief economist with the World Bank and current Head of the Government Economics Service and Adviser to the UK Government on the economics of climate change and development.

 

The conclusions of the report are:

 

•       There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now.

 

•       Climate change could have very serious impacts on growth and development.

•       The costs of stabilising the climate are significant but manageable; delay would be dangerous and much more costly.

 

•       Action on climate change is required across all countries, and it need not cap the aspirations for growth of rich or poor countries.

 

•       A range of options exists to cut emissions; strong, deliberate policy action is required to motivate their take-up.

 

•       Climate change demands an international response, based on a shared understanding of long-term goals and agreement on frameworks for action.

 

For the 4 page executive summary visit http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/999/76/CLOSED_SHORT_executive_summary.pdf

 

For all the documents, visit http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm

 

Did you know…? A few Victorian facts and figures

Over 100,000 Victorians purchase GreenPower – more than in any other state. This is 38% of GreenPower customers nationally. By making a choice to switch to GreenPower Australians have saved 2,440,000 MWh since 1997. The impact is equivalent to removing 540,000 cars from roads across Australia for one year.

That’s the good news. Here are a few other facts and figures…

At 123 million tonnes per year, Victoria produces more greenhouse gas emissions than Austria or Switzerland. The average Victorian household creates around 11.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. If everyone in the world lived like Victorians, we would need 4 planets

In 2002 Victoria’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions were 24.7 tonnes and Australia’s per capita emissions were 28.2 tonnes. This is higher than any other developed country. Even the USA has lower per capita emissions.

Over 90 per cent of electricity generated in Victoria is from coal-fired power. With current technology, this form of electricity generation accounts for over 50 per cent of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Source: Our Environment Our Future. Sustainability Action Statement 2006. Victorian Government http://www.vic.alp.org.au/alp/pdf/policies/Our_environment_our_future_sustainability_statement.pdf

 

A 10 point plan for a planet-friendly life

 

As suggested by the Victorian Government in “Our Environment Our Future”.

 

Below is a list of just ten things you can do in and around your home.

 

1.      Take four minute power showers – instead of the average seven minutes

2.      Avoid plastic bags, and take reusable ones shopping

3.      Turn off lights and appliances when you don’t need them

4.      Switch to Green Power by calling your electricity retailer

5.      Choose efficient appliances

6.      Put your food and plant scraps in a worm farm or the compost

7.      Avoid unnecessary packaging

8.      Walk, cycle or use public transport – and leave the car at home

9.      Grow plants native to your area

10. Go chemical free when you clean – and use low salt content soap and detergent.

Thoughts in this blog relate to:

 

•       Tackling climate change will stimulate the global economy – new report due out next week

•       A website to find the original science underpinning our understanding of climate change – read it for yourself

•       Search at sensis and plant trees

 

The economy and a climate solution

Next week a new UK study is coming out, prepared by Sir Nicholas Stern, a former chief economist with the World Bank. Here is a synopsis (plagiarized from the UK Guardian newspaper – check it out at http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,1931542,00.html)

 

The report will warn that governments need to tackle the problem head-on by cutting emissions or face economic ruin. The findings will turn economic argument about global warming on its head by insisting that fighting global warming will save industrial nations money.

The report, due to be released on Monday, has been described by Sir David King, the UK government's chief scientific adviser, as "the most detailed economic analysis that I think has yet been conducted".

 

Sir Nicholas will argue that tackling the problem may not prove as economically painful as some experts predict. Investment in low-carbon technologies could stimulate the global economy. Sir David said: "[Stern's] analysis, I think, will also surprise many people in terms of the relatively small cost of action."

 

"In my view this is the biggest challenge our global political system has ever been faced with. We've never been faced with a decision where collective decision making is required by all major countries." The timescale too is unprecedented. "Actions being asked of the political system today are only going to play through into mid-century and beyond. So for the first time we are asking a global political system to make decisions around risks to their populations that are well outside the time period of any election process."

 

FAQ The Stern review
What is the Stern review?
Gordon Brown (UK Treasurer) asked Sir Nicholas Stern last July to analyse the financial implications of climate change.
What will it say?
Climate change poses a threat to the world economy and it will be cheaper to address the problem than to deal with the consequences.
Why does it matter?
The global warming argument seemed a straight fight between the scientific case to act and the economic case not to. Now, economists are urging action.
What next?
International action beyond 2012 is debated in Nairobi next month.
What about the US?
The great sticking point. Some believe only a change of president will bring serious action.

 

A few more websites

Firstly, some science….

I’ve had one email questioning the science behind climate change. Helpfully, someone else sent me a link to this useful site.

www.realclimate.org

 

RealClimate bills itself as a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists. They aim to provide a quick response to developing stories and say they will not get involved in any political or economic implications of the science.

Then, searching for a better climate….

Each time you search at the www.sensis.com.au homepage you’ll be removing 100 grams of CO2 from our atmosphere. Sensis donates money for each search to Greening Australia. 

 

 

No doubt you would have seen yesterday's news of the biggest solar power station in the world to be built in Mildura - great news. Some facts and info below. Check it out at www.solarsystems.com.au

 

Fantastic to see a shift away from dependency on oil and coal, helping us towards a carbon-neutral world.

 

Solar Systems press release....

 

A $420 million large-scale solar power plant – the biggest and most efficient solar photovoltaic power station in the world - is to be built in north-west Victoria.

Australian company Solar Systems will demonstrate its unique, world leading design incorporating space technology in a 154MW solar power station connected to the national grid.

The power station will use high performance solar cells originally developed to power satellites. Solar Systems has developed the capability to concentrate the sun by 500 times onto the solar cells for ultra high power output.

The Victorian power station will generate clean electricity directly from the sun to meet the annual needs of over 45,000 homes with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, announced a $75 million grant to the project under the Federal Government's Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (LETDF). Solar Systems was one of more than 30 companies that bid for $500 million under the LETDF program, which aims to foster competitive technology that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, announced that the Victorian Government will also support the project with a grant of $50 million; recognising the significant benefits that the project will bring to the State.

 

Hi All

 

The interesting feedback and great list of initiatives continues....

 

Latest on the Actions...

 

One of the audience from Monday night is embarking on influencing thousands of landlords and tenants in Melbourne to go carbon-neutral in their rental properties - GOOD JOB!

 

 

Greenpower and the (not so) humble consumer