Feds out of touch on climate issues

September 17, 2018

A growing number of Australians are concerned about the impact of climate change, and more than half of a survey of 1,756 voters believe the Morrison government needs to stay in the Paris agreement, despite Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US.

A study tracking voter sentiment for more than a decade, funded first by the Climate Institute and now by the Australia Institute, finds 73% (up from 66% in 2017) of respondents concerned about climate change, and a clear majority, 68%, believes the government should set domestic targets to comply with our Paris commitments.

An increased 67% want coal-fired power to be phased out within 20 years, up from 61% in 2017.

The findings suggest the Morrison government is politically vulnerable on climate change at the next federal election. The prime minister has declared Australia will not pull out of Paris but also abandoned the national energy guarantee that imposed an emissions reduction target on the electricity sector.
— from The Guardian, 17 Sept, “Climate poll shows Morrison politically vulnerable as more voters back action”

Clean Futures, Old_Notes

Snap Action: No UCG at Leigh Creek

September 17, 2018

Alert from Conservation SA

Tuesday September 18, 2018, 9am
SUPREME COURT OF SA
1 GOUGER ST, ADELAIDE, SA

Government plans for an Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) plant at Leigh Creek.

“We’re very concerned because people live in that area and it’s time for healing of the site, not any more destruction. Leigh Creek is the basis for our law this must be stopped.”
Vince Couthard, Adnyamathnha Traditional Lands Association.

Local community say NO WAY and, with people around the state, are urging the Marshall Government to dump plans for UCG at Leigh Creek and ban this risky and extreme technology.

UCG was banned in Qld after it caused the biggest pollution disaster in that state’s history.
If it’s banned in Qld, why is it coming to SA?!

On Tuesday September 18, 2018, Adnyamathanha Traditional Owners are seeking an injunction on the UCG trial on their lands at Leigh Creek.

Can’t make the snap action? It only takes a few minutes to call Mining Minister Dan Van Holst Pellekaan on 08 8642 3633.
Urgent action is required to bring this dirty plan to a halt!

Show your support and take a stand against dirty and unwanted gas projects in our state.
— Conservation SA

Actions, Clean Futures, Old_Notes

Symposium: South Australia’s Nuclear Past, Present and Future

September 6, 2018

Saturday, 8 September 2018. 10am-4pm
Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building
UniSA City West Campus, 55 North Tce, Adelaide

This one-day symposium will shed light on South Australia’s nuclear history and related environmental and social effects:
ranging from the British atomic tests at Maralinga in the 19505 and 1960s, to the effects of uranium mining and recent proposals to store nuclear waste in South Australia near Hawker and Kimba.

The symposium will explore how artists have reflected on nuclear issues through their practice and give voice to communities affected. Nuclear campaigners and community members will present an update on current developments in regard to the proposed nuclear waste dumps in SA and illustrate the current campaigns against these.

Among the speakers are:
Jessie Boylan (artist), Merilyn Fairskye (artist), Paul Brown (producer), David Noonan (nuclear campaigner),
Mara Bonacci (Conservation Council SA), Jim Green (Friends of the Earth), Karina Lester (antinuclear activist),Tilman Ruff (Nobel Peace Prize laureate), Dr Gavin Mudd (Chair Minerals Policy Institute), and community representatives from Kimba and Hawker.

The event is free, but please book via eventbrite

Nuclear, Old_Notes

Rise for Climate!

September 6, 2018

Lots of activities on Saturday: meet at Tardanyangga at 11am — with umbrella! — for a walk to the Central Markets, then to the Joinery for the Climate Bazaar from noon to 2pm. FoE Adelaide will be there with our Playford Declaration, copies of Chain reaction and other goodies! Remember: the Future is Renewable

Old_Notes

The facts about SA energy renewables

September 6, 2018

An excellent article on Sept 4th by in the Guardian:

It’s now clear that Taylor will continue Josh Frydenberg’s campaign of half truths and politicisation. When Taylor faced the media (sort of) for the first time in his new role last Thursday, he spoke forcefully of South Australia’s “failed experiment” with renewables.

The truth is that South Australia is an international model of success for energy transition. That such a statement goes so far against the orthodoxy shows the depravity of our national energy conversation – bear with me:

Exhibit A: Wind and solar have pushed coal completely out of South Australia and even displaced some gas. While the state imports 8% of its power from Victoria, it sends more in the other direction

Exhibit B: Electricity prices in South Australia have always been high, but while its wholesale prices are lower than a decade ago in real terms, prices have risen elsewhere.

Exhibit C: Over the past decade, South Australia has reduced its electricity sector emissions by 56% from 10.1 MtCO2-e to 4.5 MtCO2-e

Exhibit D: In the same decade SA cut its emissions intensity (measured in kg CO2-e/MWh) from 734 to just 340, five times as fast as the reduction in NSW, Victoria and Queensland

Exhibit E: And while we’ve been regaled with endless stories about blackouts, the truth is that SA has only been caught short of generating power for 1.9 “load minutes” this decade (0.00004%), down from 16.8 load minutes last decade (0.00032%).

— read the full article at https://www.theguardian.com/

Clean Futures, Climate, Old_Notes, Renewables