The atmosphere is to the earth as a layer of varnish is to a desktop globe. It is thin, fragile and essential for preserving the items on the surface.150 years of burning fossil fuel have overloaded the atmosphere to the point where the earth is ill. It now has a fever. Read the detailed article, Soothing Gaia’s Fever for an evocative account of that analogy. The items listed here detail progress on coordinating 6.5 billion people in the most critical project undertaken by humanity.Â
Miliband’s coal decision is cynical and meaningless If coal plants go ahead on the condition that their emissions will one day be abated through carbon capture and storage technology, then emissions are a certainty Comments (0) Digg it It’s simple: there should be no new coal burning without 100% carbon capture and storage (CCS) Continue Reading →
Mangroves ‘protect coastal villages during cyclones’ Mangroves cut coastal deaths during cyclones — but their effectiveness during tsunamis is inconclusive, says a new study. From SciDev, part of the Guardian Environment Networ From SciDev, part of the Guardian Environment Network Debate is growing on using mangrove forests as a protective shield against cyclones Mangrove Continue Reading →
Budget 2009: Darling promises 34% emissions cuts with world’s first binding carbon budgets Environmentalists warn that emissions targets are out of date Juliette Jowit guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 22 April 2009 16.53 BST There was widespread criticism that the rest of the budget did not include enough money for renewable energy such as tidal power. Continue Reading →
The governments proposed subsidy for polluters will extend to private motorists, the petrol company Caltex confirmed last week. Work done by the Australian Conservation Foundation shows the Carbon Pollution Reward Scheme proposed by the Rudd Government will subsidise private motorists at least $150million a year until 2025. Caltex spokesman for government affairs, Frank Topham said that the company predicts the governments scheme would see an increase in emissions from private vehicles for 15 years. Caltex wants the transport sector to be removed from the mandatory scheme and contribute to offsetting emissions on a voluntary basis.
Plagues of mice, rabbits, locusts and feral pigs are descending on Western NSW as Mother Earth hammers home to rural Australian’s that she can be a tough parent. Locusts have been on the move since Christmas 2008 but mice and rabbits populations have exploded after rains earlier in the year provided the first flush of new feed in years. A shortage of mouse baits stymied initial attempts to control the plague by poisoning the rodents, but the poison is now flowing freely. While the coast and northern Australia have experienced high rainfall over the last two months, the inland continues to struggle with ongoing drought. One third of Australia’s wheat is grown in NSW. It is expected that the crop will be below average this year.
Coral at the Great Barrier Reef Photograph: HO/REUTERS
Scientists studying Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have been pleasantly surprised by the reef’s ability to recover from a major bleaching incident in 2006. Dr Guillermo Diaz-Pulido said there were a number of factors contributing to the recovery. “The first was exceptionally high regrowth of fragments of surviving coral tissue. The second was an unusual seasonal dieback in the seaweeds, and the third was the presence of a highly competitive coral species, which was able to outgrow the seaweed.” Despite the good news in this instance, scientists remain concerned that regular bleaching events may outpace the coral’s ability to recover.