Category: Archive

Lawyers leap on global warming

admin /12 August, 2007

CLIMATE change litigation is heating up, with billions of dollars in projects already before the courts on greenhouse grounds.

This week, the world’s biggest producer of export thermal coal, Xstrata Coal, fronted a Brisbane court hearing in an appeal over a planned mine expansion in north Queensland, under challenge because of potential greenhouse impacts.

And on August 21-22, the Federal Court will carry out a judicial review — again prompted by carbon emissions — of government approvals of Centennial Coal’s Anvil Hill coal project in the NSW Hunter Valley.

"I’m advising my clients that there’s a present exposure — likely to increase — to actions being brought by people, based on inadequate exposure of carbon impacts on a company," John Taberner, a partner at major law firm Freehills, said.

Queensland ships most of world’s coking coal

admin /12 August, 2007

Paul Lucas, Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, said. He had appointed Stephen O’Donnell to undertake an independent review of the Goonyella coal supply chain. Queensland supplies almost 50 per cent of the world’s seaborne trade in coking coal and has invested strongly in improving the coal supply chain. In 2005-06, Queensland coal exports Continue Reading →

Turnbull announces climate change publication

admin /12 August, 2007

Environment minister, Malcolm Turnbull has written to thousands of Australians concerned about climate change, advising them that the government will soon publish a book of hints for addressing climate change. An example of the letter, shown below, was provided to the Ebono Institute by climate activist, Neville Gilmour. Members of Climate Change Action groups around the country have received similar letters in response to demands for government action.

Greens candidate for Richmond, Giovanni Ebono, quipped that the government could save millions of taxpayer dollars by purchasing a copy of his latest book Sydney’s Guide to Saving the Planet. "There is a crisis facing the globe and Turnbull reacts by going into the publishing game," he said. "What the nation needs is investment in alternate energy policies."

Siberian forest fires trip more warming

admin /12 August, 2007

By Roger Highfield
The Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/20

CSIRO calls for immediate adaptation plans

admin /12 August, 2007

There are many climate change adaptation options available and some are already being implemented, such as plans to manage coastal areas.

A greater focus on adapting to climate change is required to reduce Australia’s vulnerability, according to a final report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published today.

The report, which covers impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, highlights an array of potential adaptation responses for various regions and sectors across the world, including Australia, but says there are barriers, limits and costs.

Although the Summary for Policymakers was released in April this year, the full 20-chapter report, including regional chapters, was published today on the IPCC web site (www.ipcc-wg2.org).

According to CSIRO climate scientist and coordinating lead author of the IPCC report’s chapter on Australia and New Zealand, Kevin Hennessy, while future climate change impacts will vary greatly from place to place, all regions face potentially significant effects.

Nationals anxious over ethanol excise

admin /12 August, 2007

Nationals’ leader Mark Vaile was under pressure to promise that the Coalition would force oil companies to sell petrol blended with ethanol, reported The Age (3/8/2007, p. 8). State governments promise action: Influential Nationals were concerned that Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd would gazump them in sugar seats along the Queensland coast by promising that a Continue Reading →