From time to time, new technologies are proposed to help us use even more of Australia’s abundant coal.
Many of these technologies are designed to reduce emissions, either by drying the coal or capturing…
We need a more intelligent discussion about how to use our finite carbon, and it needs to be about metal.
AAP
The recent furore about the carbon tax in this country has not been a celebration of enlightened debate.
I think much of the debate misses a vital aspect of carbon use, namely, that using carbon to make…
State governments are walking away from emissions reduction, but it's thanks to poor policy from the ALP.
Takver/Flickr
In the past few days we have seen two states, Victoria and Queensland, announce cut-backs on action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They have been able to justify this by pointing out, correctly, that…
Melting Arctic Sea ice should be the warning we need about expanding coal exports.
Michael Sonnabend
Despite peak global temperatures in 2005 and 2010 (unprecedented in the instrumental record), a recent sharp plunge in volume of the Arctic Sea ice and a spate of extreme weather events, coal mining, coal…
There are limits to the amount of carbon dioxide plantations can absorb.
David Clarke
Australia’s agriculture and forestry – land-based abatement – can make a valuable contribution to lowering Australia’s greenhouse emissions. The scale of contribution has been widely discussed. But the…
Emissions spiked, thanks to more intensive energy use.
Louis Vest
By Frank Jotzo, Australian National University; Andrew Macintosh, Australian National University; David Stern, Australian National University; Paul Burke, Australian National University, and Peter Wood, Australian National University
Recessions are not the way to permanently cut greenhouse gas emissions. Global emissions surged during 2010, cancelling out the reductions from the global financial crisis (GFC).
Emissions took off in…
Looking at how other jurisdictions, such as Germany, are reducing emissions can help guide Australian policy.
AAP
Around the world an increasing number of detailed policy road maps are demonstrating the possibility, necessity and urgency of a rapid transition to a just and sustainable post carbon future. The key barriers…
Set the controls for the heart of the sun: recycled, programmable timber shutters on the City of Melbourne's CH2 building.
City of Melbourne
There may be no belching smoke stacks to be seen, but every time we thoughtlessly put up a poorly designed structure or resort to energy-intensive solutions to cool, heat, and operate an inefficient building…
Recent articles on low carbon homes and life cycle measurement difficulties left carbon groupies concerned about the complexity involved in measuring our emissions.
Measuring emissions isn’t as hard as…
Modern motorists have a pile of engine choices.
Flickr/ Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden
Like many countries, Australia is seeing a growth in the number of diesel vehicles on our roads. Since 2006 the number of registered diesel vehicles has increased by a remarkable 40%; diesel passenger…
Some jurisdictions are pushing for aviation emissions controls, but an international agreement seems far away.
Cardiff Friends of the Earth
Aviation is a growing source of emissions. Emissions from aviation are increasing against a background of decreasing emissions from many other industry sectors. Airlines – with their international reach…
Times have changed; the car industry needs to catch up.
aussiefordadverts/Flickr
The Australian Government has been bailing out automotive manufacturers since 1985. Both that year’s Button Plan and the 2008 Bracks Report recommended restructure and additional funding. But unless the…
An ice-free world isn't impossible – even though it seems the stuff of science fiction.
Alistair Knock
Last December’s meeting of the American Geophysical Union featured three of the world’s leading climate scientists: James Hansen (NASA’s chief climate scientist), Elco Rohling (National Oceanography Centre…
It's time to slice through the chit-chat and reach an agreement on aviation emissions.
donbuciak
DURBAN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE: Whatever fruits ripen out of the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference in Durban, a global aviation emissions agreement is unlikely to be among them.
Thus far, Durban…
You want to cut down your emissions: which one will you get rid of?
Greatist.com
So you accept that CO₂ from human activities is a major cause of climate change. What are you going to do about it? Buy a hybrid car? Install a PV system? Buy fresh produce with less food miles? Vote for…
Is Australia going down the East Asian high-rise route?
eugene
How dense could we be? Very, if you follow much of the commentary in Australian debates about the way we should plan our cities.
High-rise residential developments have been springing up in all Australia…
CO₂ has the longest residence time, but reducing other GHGs can help us achieve our targets.
AAP
Most of the discussion about slowing the impact of climate change has focussed on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. But carbon dioxide isn’t the only greenhouse gas. Methane, halocarbons and nitric oxide…
Ocean acidification is most acute in the polar regions.
Enzofloyd/flickr
Ocean acidification is often referred to as the “evil twin” of climate change.
Greenhouse gasses are doing more than just warming the globe. Increasing C0₂ levels are also changing the chemical make-up…
Car ownership is tightly regulated in Chinese cities such as Shanghai.
Dr Matthew Burke
How often do we hear the argument that Australia’s moves to limit carbon emissions will achieve nothing unless China finally takes some action?
This fails to recognise that China’s city mayors, the government…
Our weather systems are changing as the world warms.
Satoru Kikuchi/flickr
Speaking on the ABC, Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, chief climate science advisor of the German Government, made a point even the least-informed should be able to understand.
“Our body temperature…
She's got the book, but did she read it? Ross Garnaut explains the advice he gave.
AAP
Top Conversation author Professor Stephan Lewandowsky and former Western Australian Premier Carmen Lawrence were part of a group that sat down with Ross Garnaut during his recent visit to UWA.
During…
Believe it or not, sulphur emissions are keeping us cooler.
lillicomanche/flickr
The Earth energy balance – the difference between energy/heat absorbed by the Earth from solar radiation and the energy/heat emitted back to space – is currently offset by the cooling effect of sulphur…
Sound the alarm. It's a scientist's job to alert the public to the threats of climate change.
AAP
CLEARING UP THE CLIMATE DEBATE: CSIRO’s James Risbey explains why it’s not “alarmist” to describe the threat of climate change to the public and how the climate system will respond to half measures.
With…
An oil extraction project in Canada – a country absent from the Productivity Commission's carbon report.
AAP
One of the most basic questions to ask in any analysis of Australia’s carbon policy has always been: what is the rest of the world doing?
Last week, the Productivity Commission (PC) published a partial…
The decade ending 2010 was the warmest on record for Australia.
AAP
CLEARING UP THE CLIMATE DEBATE: Bureau of Meteorology scientist Karl Braganza explains why we know the climate is changing, and what’s causing it.
In public discussions of climate change, the full range…
Europe is leading the world in renewable technology.
AAP
This week, unpublished estimates from the International Energy Institute showed that 2010 was the most carbon-intensive year in human history.
Chief Economist of the IEA Dr Fatih Birol responded to the…
There is a compelling business case to reduce emissions, both here and globally.
AAP
A combination of science and economics provide compelling reasons for policy initiatives and decisions by businesses and households to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
The arguments are strongest…
The move away from nuclear energy may be counterproductive.
Greenpeace Finland
It won’t surprise many people that world carbon emissions have failed to slow down, but the fact we’re now at risk of surpassing targets set for nine years hence, intended to limit the global rise in temperature…
Being paid to drive is becoming a thing of the past.
Daniel Dionne/flickr
After 25 years, one of the craziest taxation rules in Australia is about to be fixed.
The federal government is expected to announce a revamp of fringe benefits tax rules for company cars in Tuesday’s…
