Just 57 companies and nation states were responsible for generating 80% of the world’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement over the last seven years, according to a new report released by the thinktank InfluenceMap. This finding suggests that net zero targets set by the Paris climate change agreement in 2015 are yet to make a significant impact on fossil fuel production.

The report uses the Carbon Majors database, established in 2013 by Richard Heede of the Climate Accountability Institute, to provide fossil fuel production data from 122 of the world’s largest oil, gas, coal and cement producers.

The InfluenceMap report tells a sobering but informative story of the state of production in these high-emitting industries. Cement and fossil fuel production has reached unprecedented levels, with most of the emission growth traceable to a relatively small number of large companies.
The troubling reality is that the lack of progress of these large fossil fuel companies means the world will need to undertake ever more stringent and steep decarbonisation trajectories if countries are to meet the Paris agreement goal of keeping warming well below 2°C.
— from The Conversation: “Only 57 producers are responsible for 80% of all fossil fuel and cement CO₂ emissions since 2016 – new report” by Matthew Carl Ives , Belinda Wade and Saphira Rekker

Osborne Naval Ship yard is now a designated zone for nuclear-powered submarines under new Federal government legislation, bypassing and over-riding the civilian nuclear safety agency, ARPANSA.

Nuclear subs have never used this Port before, and now the nuclear fuel cycle will be established in the Osborne yard, less than a kilometre from homes. Naval nuclear reactors are to be authorized at Port Adelaide under the powers of a military nuclear regulator, the “Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator”, which will report directly to the Minister for Defence.

This is cold comfort for residents on the LeFevre Peninsula and Adelaide, previously declared nuclear-free zone by the former City of Port Adelaide.

Apart from the peacetime safety issues these subs would be military targets in a conventional or nuclear war.

If an accident were to occur, would Port Adelaide and beyond become uninhabitable?

The SA and Port Adelaide communities have a right to have a say on nuclear safety and on the risks in bringing naval nuclear reactors into the Port.

Key public interest questions are yet to be answered.

The UK coalition of offshore oil and gas workers, climate groups and trade unions are backing a new plan to deliver a fair transition away from fossil fuels, protect jobs, communities and climate.
In the face of political inaction, workers are ready to lead. ‘Our Power: Offshore oil and gas workers’ demand for a just energy
transition’ is an oil industry first, putting workers front and centre in a plan for decarbonisation and public ownership.
The list of 10 demands are:

1. 1.  A government-backed jobs guarantee
   2. An offshore training passport that
      supports workers to retrain in the
      renewables sector
   3. Investment in ports and renewables
      manufacturing hubs in the UK,
      creating and retaining local jobs
   4.  Full access to union representation and
      collective negotiation of pay, health
      and safety regulations and benefits
   5.  Equal pay for migrant workers and a
      higher minimum wage for all
   6. Trusted grievance and whistleblowing
      policies and protection from blacklisting
   7. Public ownership for public good
   8. A permanent ‘Energy Excess Profits
      Tax’ and a sovereign wealth fund
   9. Polluting companies to pay for the
      decommissioning of oil rigs
   10. Investing wealth in communities and
       supporting growth in new industries

More details: https://friendsoftheearth.eu/press-release/uk-oil-workers-demand-just-energy-transition/

From the Market Forces report:

The Australian Government continues to support fossil fuel exploration and development in Australia, despite 2021 modelling by the International Energy Agency (IEA), confirmed again in late 2022, which finds that there can be no new coal, oil or gas projects if the world is to achieve zero net emissions by 2050 and limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Six new coal mining projects were approved between the release of the IEA’s report and the ousting of the former Liberal-National government, while the new Labor government has granted 10 new oil and gas exploration licences since. There are also 118 coal, oil and gas projects currently in the investment pipeline nationally according to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The Labor government is actively supporting these developments even while its own Climate Change Bill enshrines in law a 43% reduction in Australia’s emissions by 2030.

[…,]

Hefty donations from the fossil fuel industry

In FY2022 [1], fossil fuel companies donated $2 million to the ALP, Liberal and National parties.

Yet given Australia’s reputation for woefully inadequate political disclosure and ‘dark money’ donations, with 35% of all contributions coming from unknown sources, the true figure could be significantly higher.

Leading the pack with $188,000 worth of largesse was Mineral Resources, followed by INPEX with $157,300 and Santos with $153,660. Fossil fuel lobby groups like the Minerals Council of Australia and the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) also donated nearly half a million dollars, with a combined total of $441,482.

Market Forces collates this data from the Australian Electoral Commission.
You will find the full list of fossil fuel donors from the last financial year at https://www.marketforces.org.au/politicaldonations2023/

Don’t Forget! The AGM is this Saturday, July 8th.

Zoom details, Reports and Forms are

available online at /agm2023