Querying the effect of the ministerial changes on environmental issues

Denis Wilson writes on the Ministerial change in responsibility for Environment, Heritage and Climate Change

This article.centres on his Climate Change responsibilities.
But he also is running the Environment and Heritage areas.
Does he have any knowledge thereof?
Who knows?
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/7/1/policy-politics/butler-enters-climate-cauldron?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=336645&utm_campaign=cs_daily&modapt

He is from Adelaide, and has had responsibility for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion. I understand he was well thought of for his command of issues in his previous portfolio.
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=HWK

But the details of the EPBC Act, and Great Barrier Reef , etc, as well as Climate Change will be very demanding. His first public task will be to deal with the pressure to dump the Carbon Tax and switch to a Market Forces mechanism for setting a price on Carbon.

Peter Garrett was scrupulously careful on the details of EPBC legislation.
Tony Burke was far less careful (he approved 40,000 CSG wells in Queensland in his first few weeks in the office).
Lets hope this new Minister gets across the issues quickly.
I fear Kevin will dominate on issues to do with the Barrier Reef, cattle grazing in National Parks in Qld, etc.

Wishing him all the best.

Denis Wilson
Thou shall not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.

"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au

Sign here please .... for viable baseload solar power stations - URGENTLY

BABY BOOMERS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION 

HAVE LAUNCHED A PETITION: 

ASKING GOVERNMENT TO KICKSTART SOLAR 

BY FUNDING LARGE BASELOAD SOLAR POWER STATIONS.

~~~~

It would mean a lot to us if you took a moment to add your name because:

•           Unless CO2 emissions drop dramatically in the next few years, the planet is likely to heat up by 4°C by the end of the century, making parts of it  uninhabitable for most species, including ourselves.  

•           Australia is on track to becoming the world’s fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter, and one of the planet’s biggest contributors to climate change.

    

•           This is because of the massive amount of coal we export for coal-fired power stations, as well as our own domestic use.  And our coal exports are rising rapidly.

•           Australia therefore needs to take urgent action to switch to renewable energy and break our dependence on fossil fuels.  

•           A plan for Australia to make a complete change to renewable energy by 2020 has been designed and costed by Beyond Zero Emissions, using technology which is now available.  This plan includes Baseload Solar Power Stations, which can store energy.  The designers of the BZE plan suggest NSW, SA and Queensland as the most suitable locations for the initial three power stations. All Members of Parliament have been presented with the BZE plan.

•           The switch to renewable energy is possible but needs full government support to get started and encourage investment.  The cost of three Baseload Solar Power Stations is estimated at approx. 1 billion dollars.

•           The Carbon Tax introduced in 2011 was a good start but will not have an effect on investment in renewables for around 15 years, which is too late. 

•           We believe the government needs to take the hard decisions to fund large baseload solar power stations and make them viable as a matter of urgency.

http://www.communityrun...org/petitions/fund-construction-and-development-of-of-three-baseload-solar-power-stations  

After you've signed the petition please also take a moment to share it with others.  Together we can reach heaps of people and help create change around this important issue.

Thank you!

Naomi and the BBCCA group

Australian Conservation Foundation: AGM, Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Carbon Price, Stop Logging

Together we've kicked some big goals, with a carbon price being legislated, but there is still so much more we need to work together to do for our environment. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is soon to be released and we need to ensure it meets the long-term water allocation needs for a healthy river system. Appeal for real action on the Murray-Darling In less than two weeks the draft of a national plan for the Murray-Darling will be released for public review. Scaremongers are telling us there is a conflict between a healthy river and regional communities. This is false. We have a shared interest in a healthy river. We are stepping up our campaign to ensure that our leaders support a Murray-Darling Basin Plan which returns enough water to our river system and provides greater certainty for its communities. With only one sitting week remaining in Federal Parliament this year it is a perfect time to send a message to your MP asking them to protect Australia’s lifeblood. We said YES! Australia’s Parliament has made a price on carbon pollution law. Big polluters will pay, not individual taxpayers. So now there’s a new incentive to cut pollution and innovate. And finally, we’re doing something about climate change!  Our video shows how we came together to 'say yes' to a cleaner Australia.

Stop logging forests you promised to protect! In August the Prime Minister and Tasmanian Premier signed a breakthrough agreement to protect 430,000 hectares of Tasmania’s forests in immediate informal reserves. This is urgent. Email Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke and tell him to stop stalling and move logging out of the forests identified for protection, now. It's your ACF, your AGM We invite you to join ACF President Ian Lowe, CEO Don Henry and staff at our 45th Annual General Meeting. Join in the discussion on our goals, achievements and plans for the next 12 months. RSVP here. When: 6.30pm Saturday, 26 November, 2011. Where: Ground Floor, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria.

GOING BACKWARDS UNDER BAILLIEU! - Join the Backwards March, Melbourne, 13 November

Click to enlarge

GOING BACKWARDS UNDER BAILLIEU!

Join the Backwards March and call on the Premier to stop taking Victoria backwards!

WHEN: 

Sunday, 13 November from 1.00 - 2.30pm

WHERE: 

Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne

WHY: 

In just one year Premier Baillieu has taken Victoria 

decades backwards on the environment:

* Cattle trampling our national parks

* New wind farms blocked

* Co2 emissions target ignored

* Endangered species habitat logged

* New coal-fired power station approved

* Green Wedges threatened

* Westernport destruction fast-tracked

Premier Baillieu said he would 'fix the problems, and build the future', but when it comes to our environment his government has created new problems and is threatening out future!

His government has no formal environment or climate change policy, and no clear vision for a more sustainable Victoria.

So after 12 disappointing months we're marching backwards to demonstrate the direction the Premier is taking us.

JOIN HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONCERNED VICTORIANS 

TO TURN THINGS AROUND FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT 

AND ASK: 

WHERE IS YOUR PLAN PREMIER?

Organised by 

Victorian National Parks Association

The Wilderness Society

Environment Victoria 

and 

Friends of the Earth.

A Facebook page is available here.

Australia moves to control carbon emissions - it's a taxing time

The Greens Leader - Senator Bob Brown (centre)

with Greens Deputy Leader - Senator Christine Milne

and

House of Representatives Member for Melbourne -

Adam Bandt

Australia's current version of the carbon tax passed the Senate and into law to-day.  There was great cheering in the Senate with The Greens indulging in celebratory hugs and kisses.  Don't blame them.  A lot of work has gone into coming this far.  A few words of caution though - how far will this take us?  That is the unknown ..but the work of the climate change sceptics and deniers and their supporters is not an unknown quantity and the current Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, has promised that - if and - when he becomes Prime Minister he will repeal the legislation.  So this is not the end of a story...it is one more chapter in a saga whose end is yet to be finally proven, settled, and law becomes a lifestyle.

How the clean-energy package will roll out:

1.              Carbon emissions tax for the 500 biggest polluters starts on July 1, 2012

2.              Tax moves to an emissions trading scheme in 2015

3.              Advertisement: Story continues below

4.              Tax begins at a fixed price of $23 a tonne and rise by 2.5 per cent a year until 2015.

5.              Tax will not apply to agricultural emissions or light on-road vehicles

6.              Electricity generation, stationary energy, some business transport, waste, industrial processes and fugitive emissions will be covered by the initial tax

7.              Average households will see a $9.90 weekly cost rise

8.              Average households will receive assistance of $10.10 weekly

9.              Free carbon permits will be the given to the most emissions-intensive and trade-exposed industries

10.            The government wants to cut pollution by 80 per cent by 2050.

(Source: Australian government)

Picture from here

Prime Minister Julia Gillard hugs Greg Combet, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

Labor had its moment in the sun and of self-congratulation on October 12 last when the legislation passed the House of Representatives with the support of the one Green member in the lower house and two independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.  

Now we wait...

• for the implementation of the legislation
• for the surprise of the electorate when the legislation works without hardship or a jobs crisis
• to see the making and breaking of political leadership: Gillard or Abbott
• to see more artful dodging and vile slander from the sceptics
• to cheer for Australia as she makes a major contribution to caring for our planet, other species, and ourselves.

Further reading:

Clean Energy Future 

And it passed! Australia sets a price on pollution

Beginning of a new era as Clean Energy Future bills pass into law

Carbon tax gets green light in Senate

Price on pollution becomes law.  The clean-up of our polluting economy begins.

We officially have a price on pollution

Landmark climate law decades in the making

The little carbon tax that could

Climate change: ABC news special coverage

Speech:  Minister Wong Clean Energy Bill 2011
Gracious in defeat on carbon pricing? Hardly

David Suzuki in Melbourne:

Last night, I went to hear David Suzuki speak at BMW Edge in Federation Square, Melbourne as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival.

David Suzuki at BMW Edge -

while being introduced by Don Henry of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)

Suzuki is a great communicator and an inspirational speaker.  Personally, I found his words self-affirming of my own directions in spiritual, intellectual, political and activist terms.  

I was surprised though at the numbers who did not turn up to hear him speak.

BMW Edge is, perhaps, my favourite Melbourne venue.  It is well utilised so I have attended many and various events beneath its marvellous Yarra-viewing glassed walls.  I have been there for standing room only crammed in crowds for Michael Leunig, Tim Flannery and a Melbourne conversation on water. Last night, in spite of the Wheeler Centre site declaring the event was booked out and, at the entrance to BMW Edge, a space for waiting list placement, there were vacant seats and standing room only was not an issue.  Perhaps, there was too much on - on a Monday night? Perhaps, Suzuki has been seen and heard in Melbourne sufficiently - in a an ever-changing environmental debate?  Had Melbournians traipsed up to Ballarat the night before or been to the Byron Bay Writers Festival in August? 

David Suzuki is in Australia to promote his latest book, The Legacy, and you can hear an interview with him here as well as in the video below:

Another surprise last night came from the Q & A session after the lecture.  A member of the audience asked Suzuki his view on a carbon price, currently an angst-ridden issue in Australia.  Suzuki spoke of taxation as one means that government has to encourage or deter certain actions.  He saw no problem in government imposition of a carbon tax.  Note the word tax - not just price.  All other answers to questions received applause.  This one answer was not applauded!  What did that mean?  Apathy? Antagonism? Stunned into silence? Or, could it be, that the citizenry of Melbourne are in support of  business antagonism to this form of taxation - the great big new tax?

Related reading and media:

The Legacy: An Elder's Vision for Our Sustainable Future

The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Place in Nature

The Big Picture: Reflections on Science, Humanity, and a Quickly Changing Planet

David Suzuki's Green Guide

Tree: A Life Story

NATURE OF THINGS WITH DAVID SUZUKI: VOL.1: VISIONS OF FUTURE

David Suzuki: The Autobiography

Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature

The David Suzuki Reader: A Lifetime of Ideas from a Leading Activist and Thinker

On the way to a bran nue day #1: the Carbon Price Committee

Picture from here

Networkers, it is too early to tell if Australia is on the way to a bran nue dae in its governance.  However, the Carbon Price Committee or Climate Committee or Climate Change Committee (the press to-day are giving it a variety of names - but a rose by any other name would smell as sweet) may well be the first sign of changes which are still to come.

We have a hung parliament followed, within a matter of weeks, by a hung AFL Grand Final.  Could the Universe be trying to tell us something?  That now is the time for co-operation - not do or die competition.  Is competition so yesterday, so last century, so Gordon Gecko 1980s?  Is competition in politics to become the sole province of the Liberal/National Parties whose aggression and pugnacity will become more and more odious?

I am not asking for sweetness, light and fairy tales at bedtime in Australia's public life.  But.....

• Wouldn't it be great to see a co-operative spirit where people could come together and formulate policies that emerge from broad discussion which turn out to be greater than the sum of the contributions brought to the table? 
• Wouldn't it be great to do away with prescriptive self/party interested public policy which is fought down to the death with politics and numbers and invective?
• Wouldn't it be great if we avoided the "do it my way for the next three years attitude", and instead set about finding the best way and the right way of doing things that benefit this nation - its people, its, environment, its future?  .....

.....Wouldn't it?

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Keane - Climate Change & Carbon Tax : Part 1

Picture from here 

Networkers, I would like to draw your attention to Bernard Keane's article, Taking stock of climate change — what now?  Keane's assessment is reasonable and worth noting.  I would particularly draw attention to the following paragraph:

As the recalcitrants like to note, we only account for a tiny part of the world’s emissions. In climate change terms, we are a mendicant state. Our future is heavily dependent on the actions of the world’s biggest economies. As a country that will be more exposed, and more quickly exposed, to the impacts of climate change the highest priority is any sort of effective international regime that will reduce the growth in emissions, with the aim of stabilising carbon levels.

Click to enlarge

Map comes from here.

The linked site is useful for basic characteristics of island nations.

I would also like  focus on the following paragraph and will do so in a second part to this post:

Australia also needs to develop a stronger position on assisting communities overseas, or at the very least in its Pacific backyard, that have limited resources for dealing with the immediate and future impacts of climate change. Both Labor and the Coalition have buried their heads in the sand on this issue; Wong and Stephen Smith announced some limited climate change funding for Pacific nations in 2008 but it is far too little.

Australia's attitude to Pacific Island neighbours is chequered at best and paternalistic and ignorant at its worst.  Australians seem to think that colonialism went out the door on 1 January 1901 when Australia became a nation with its own national government and parliament.  There are a lot of people within Australia and nearby who wish this was true.  

Colonialism and colonising attitudes are alive and well in Australia.  We do paternalism very well.  And that's before we get to racism, latent or overt.  Followers of Pacific affairs over the decades will have noted that our neighbours, when in need of advice or a helping hand, prefer to talk to New Zealand first, not Australia.  Continued in Part 2

Carbon Sustainability & Your Business: Melbourne, 20 July 2010

My friend Ed Adamson has been in touch and asked me to tell Networkers about the event below.  Click on each of the pictures to enlarge.  Ed is part of Landscape for LIfe P/L which does the land suitability assessments, farm plans, plantings and project management for not-for-profit Carbon Neutral in Victoria and Southern NSW.  This seminar, Ed Says, is an update about what people and organisations can do to contribute to environment improvement and sustainability.

Edwin Adamson

Director

Landscape for Life Pty Ltd

ACN 137 459 306

<edad@landscapeforlife.com.au>

665 Glenroy Road, Merrijig  VIC  3723

T 03-5777 5757 F 03-5777 5758

M 0428 775 758