Category: Archive

Archived material from historical editions of The Generator

Politicians `hot air’ about global warming

admin /7 July, 2006

No government will adopt the draconian restrictions on economic growth and personal freedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might curb global warming, maintains an article in The Australian Financial Review (6 July 2006 p63).

Politicians will be politicians: Still, politicians want to show they’re "doing something". The result is grandstanding. Consider the Kyoto Protocol. It allowed countries that joined to castigate those that didn’t.

Kyoto much ado about little result: But it hasn’t reduced carbon dioxide emissions and many signatories didn’t adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008-2012 targets. By some estimates, Europe may overshoot by 15 per cent.

The Australian Financial Review, 6/7/2006, p. 63

Source: Erisk Net  

Canberra puts the brakes on renewables

admin /7 July, 2006

According to Clive Hamilton, executive director of the Australia Institute, climate change policy is determined in Canberra with no regard for the public interest and without reference to the long-term implications for Australians, reported The Sydney Morning Herald (8 June 2006 p11).

Hence the Government’s reliance almost solely on voluntary programs that have failed to stall the growth of emissions. It is all the more remarkable because the Government’s own economic modelling suggested the costs of making the transition to a low-carbon economy would be very small.

However, it now seems reasonable to conclude that it has decided to move to kill off the wind energy industry which is consistent with its view that the Mandated Renewables Energy Target program worked too well in stimulating the growth of the industry and it is now conjuring from thin air reasons to veto wind power developments.

The shift of government research funding from renewables to geo-sequestration and the recent interest in nuclear power suggest that the Government’s strategy is to actively delay any moves to temper the growth of Australia’s emissions for 20 years or more.

Reference: This is an edited version of an address given by Clive Hamilton Macquarie University.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 8/6/2006, p. 11

Source: Erisk Net  

General Motors sales for SUVs fall 37per cent

admin /6 July, 2006

While General Motors posted its best month this year, with 413,473 new cars and trucks sold in June, it reported a 26 per cent decline from the same time last year, reported The Australian Financial Review (5/7/2006, p.15). SUV sales plummet: Sales of light trucks – or SUVs – fell 37 per cent compared with Continue Reading →

Aust records fifth-driest June ever

admin /6 July, 2006

It was the fifth-driest June on record for the entire country, with Western Australia recording its lowest June rainfall of just 24.6mm – barely one seventh the average of 179mm.

Low figures for Vic, too: Victoria recorded its third-driest June, with Melbourne receiving just 8.6mm for the month. Across Victoria, the average minimum temperature was the second-lowest on record for June.

Consistent highs mean low rainfall: David Jones, from the National Climate Centre, said last month had been "remarkably anti-cyclonic, which means there has just been a complete dominance of high pressure systems". Dr Jones said Victoria had not had a good rainfall year since 1997.

"Desperate" prospects for WA winter crop: Ron Storey, of Australian Crop Forecasters, said the winter cereal crop outlook for much of Western Australia was desperate.

The Australian, 5/7/2006, p. 7

Source: Erisk Net  

Australia records fifth driest June on record

admin /6 July, 2006

It was the fifth-driest June on record for the entire country, with Western Australia recording its lowest June rainfall of just 24.6mm – barely one seventh the average of 179mm. Full Story

«« 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 »»