Category: Archive

CSIRO says emission cuts inevitable

admin /26 April, 2007

THE nation’s leading scientific body, the CSIRO, has undermined Prime Minister John Howard’s position on climate change by advising that big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions appear to be both inevitable and affordable for Australia.

As the Federal Government yesterday intensified its attacks on "crazy" pledges from Labor and the Greens to reduce Australia’s emissions by 60 to 80 per cent by 2050, it emerged that the CSIRO had told Mr Howard’s emissions trading task group last month that most studies agreed developed countries needed to cut emissions by 60 to 90 per cent to avoid "dangerous" climate change.

Mr Howard’s line on climate change was also publicly challenged yesterday by Australian of the Year Tim Flannery, when he urged all political parties to adopt long-term greenhouse targets before this year’s federal election.

 

Snowy electricity running out of water

admin /24 April, 2007

Water levels in Snowy Scheme storages have steadily decreased since 1997 and are currently around 10 per cent of active capacity.

Water levels dependent on number of factors: Water levels in Snowy Scheme storages are dependent on a number of factors including the amount of water inflows from rain or snow (in winter) and the demand for water for farms, townships, electricity and the environment.

Lake Jindabyne levels may fall 1.1m by May: In order to meet the needs of all Snowy water stakeholders including environmental releases and if the current drought conditions continue, then it was likely that by mid to late May 2007, Lake Jindabyne water levels would drop 1.1m to Minimum Operating Level (MOL) at around RL 896.1 metres.

Gas giant to pump salty water underground

admin /24 April, 2007

Gas company Santos this week announced plans to bury 9.000 barrels of salty water from its coal gasification plant in Queensland instead of dumping it into the Dawson River. The Santos Sustainability Report 2006 states that the company will establish a management committee to consult with stakeholders, review the information gathered and examine emerging water management technologies. The committee will ultimately draft a strategic plan for managing the water produced from its process in a way that would reduce costs and environmental and social impacts, 

Efficient water management: Santos managed the consumption and disposal of water through its Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) hazard standards for water resource and produced water management which were implemented in 2006. The primary means for disposing of produced water was via evaporation ponds under strict environmental regulations which stipulate treatment and recording of water quality.

 

Ethanol needs scarce water

admin /23 April, 2007

ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — David Pitts doesn’t begrudge the farmers and investors who see a new ethanol plant as a way to make some good money.

He’s just worried he won’t have any water to drink when they’re through.

The former state conservation official was horrified by news that a thirsty ethanol plant might rise up near his home in southwestern Missouri. The plant would draw 1.3 million gallons of water from the ground every day to produce the corn-based fuel.

Then there’s the 400,000 gallons per day of contaminated water from the plant — water that would be sprayed on land around the plant by irrigation equipment and then seep back into the ground. Pitts, 63, is soft-spoken — except at the thought of somebody sticking a giant straw into the region’s storehouse of precious water. His well already has dropped 60 feet in the last 10 years due to drought and development.

"The people who are investing in ethanol plants are the only ones who get anything out of it, and it stinks," he said.

Renewable energy numbers released

admin /23 April, 2007

The Australian Conservations Foundation, Greenpeace and the Climate Change Action Network today released figures showing that renewable energy would have minimal impact on electricity costs and make a major contribution to jobs.

Citigroup calls for end to coal

admin /23 April, 2007

The recent release of a report by Citigroup listing Australian companies vulnerable to climate change reveals an inconvenient truth both major parties deny: that dealing with climate change will inevitably mean reducing our reliance on fossil fuels like coal. Not just for domestic power, but as a source of export revenue as other countries begin to develop clean energy.

For the Liberal and Labor parties this is a truth that dare not speak its name for fear of alienating their corporate and union bases. Yet with the market, and an increasing number of ALP elected representatives, starting to recognise the need to quit coal, the pretence will become increasingly unsustainable. A smarter response is to start talking about how the transition away from coal will be made, and how to protect those vulnerable.

The Citigroup report essentially asked which companies would win and lose under climate policies, like an emissions trading scheme. Four scenarios were tested, including one putting a price on carbon. The most at risk companies under all four scenarios were mining, steel and oil companies like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.