FoE – Page 6 – Friends of the Earth Adelaide

Coalition’s obsession with coal and gas will go down like lead balloon when renewable energy is the best option

roman December 14, 2018

Dec 13, 2018 by Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson

Environment group Friends of the Earth Australia reject indications that the Morrison government will seek to use public funds to underwrite new coal and gas projects, and say they should be 100% focused on landmark renewable energy projects like the proposed Star of the South offshore wind farm instead.

“Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the federal Coalition have learned nothing from the Liberal party’s drubbing in the recent Victorian state election,” said Friends of the Earth climate spokesperson Leigh Ewbank.

The Liberal party’s support for coal and gas was resoundingly rejected by voters in the Wentworth by-election and at the November state election in Victoria.

“When community support for action on climate change is on the rise, the Coalition government’s support for polluting fossil fuels will go down like a lead balloon” added Ewbank.

While time is running out to act on climate change, the Coalition’s obsession with coal and gas only imperils Australia’s future.

Instead of wasting more public money on polluting fossil fuels, Friends of the Earth Australia says the federal Coalition should be taking landmark renewable energy projects like the proposed Star of the South offshore wind farm to the next stage to create jobs and cut emissions.

“New renewable energy is cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels, so it’s bizarre that the supposedly free-market Liberal party wants to intervene in the market to back in polluting, old technology like coal and gas,” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.

Read more at FoE Australia about the coalition’s coal obsession.

FoE, Old_Notes

Genetic extinction technology challenged at UN Convention on Biological Diversity

roman November 23, 2018

FoE International Press release, 18 November, 2018

SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT — Today, the African Centre for Biodiversity and Friends of the Earth International held a press conference at the 2018 UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) 14th Conference of the Parties to call for a global moratorium on the environmental release of gene drives, a new genetic extinction technology, and to caution for stronger regulation of synthetic biology.

From November 17-29^th, international conservation and environmental leaders will meet to call on governments to protect biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ rights from controversial new biotechnologies. Gene drives have the capacity to wipe out or alter species forever, and to significantly disrupt or modify the ecosystems on which humanity strongly depends for its survival. Gene drives pose serious and potentially irreversible threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, human health, as well as national sovereignty, peace and food sovereignty.

The first proposed application for gene drive is being led in Burkina Faso by the Target Malaria Project, funded by the Gates Foundation, designed to eradicate mosquito populations and thus malaria transmission. This Trojan horse project is exploiting a public health crisis in Africa, despite the lack of underlying science to support its efficacy as a sound medical intervention.

“We should not be used as lab rats in an experiment that could devastate African ecosystems. We ask delegates at COP14 to put the brakes on any release of gene drives.”

Mariann Bassey, Friends of the Earth International and chair of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa

“Burkina Faso is about to face a health and ecological catastrophe. This project risks creating a social and environmental crisis in these local communities. Burkinabe civil society groups are denouncing the project: we refuse to be the guinea pigs of the science of the unknown.

FoE, Gene Technology, Old_Notes

2018 Envt Awards December 6th — book now!

roman November 23, 2018

Don’t miss the 2018 SA Environment Awards!

Registrations close this Sunday (25 Nov), so RSVP now — if you haven’t already done so — to secure your
place at this very special celebration of SA’s nature champions.

Commemorating 20 years of the Jill Hudson Awards for Environmental Protection,
the 2018 SA Environment Awards also honour our state’s Young Achievers and Unsung Heroes.

This year they continue the Lifetime Achiever Awards for significant and lasting
contributions to protecting SA’s precious natural environment.

Drinks and nibbles provided

Book via eventbrite

FoE, Old_Notes

SA Household battery scheme announced

roman October 31, 2018

FoE, Old_Notes, Renewables

IPCC Report a stark wake-up call on climate change

roman October 31, 2018

MEDIA RELEASE – 8 October 2018 – Friends of the Earth

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its highly-anticipated Special Report into the impacts of 1.5 degrees global warming.

The report finds climate change is already impacting communities around the world through increased severity of flooding, storms, drought and heatwaves, and that radical action is required to limit warming to well-below 1.5C.

Friends of the Earth Australia says the report is a stark wake-up call on climate change and reaffirms that all governments must undertake immediate, transformative action on climate or risk catastrophic impacts.

The Federal Coalition’s failure to address climate change leaves communities exposed to impacts.

“The Coalition’s head-in-the-sand approach to climate change exposes communities to intensifying impacts such as heatwaves, droughts, bushfires, and extreme weather,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth’s climate change spokesperson.

“Now’s the time for governments to double their efforts and get serious about delivering emissions cuts. We have no time to waste on climate action.”

Friends of the Earth say it is time for all levels of government to build on the efforts of communities when it comes to tackling climate change:

“Communities around Australia are taking action on climate change. Millions of households have installed solar power, communities are building their own renewable energy projects and planning for climate impacts,” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.

“All levels of government must do a heavier lift than the community when it comes to tackling climate change” added Simons.

The Federal Coalition’s failure to tackle climate change requires greater political leadership from Bill Shorten and the Labor opposition.

“With the Federal Coalition failing to tackle climate change, it’s time for Bill Shorten and the Labor opposition to show political leadership and make climate change a priority,” said Leigh Ewbank

More info at foe.org.au

Climate, FoE, Old_Notes, Sustainability