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By comparison, the study says, ice breaking off and melting from Greenland’s ice sheet contributes 28 per cent of the world’s ice to the oceans, and the Antarctic ice sheet a further 12 per cent.

The accelerating contribution of glaciers and ice caps is due in part to rapid changes in the flow of tidewater glaciers that discharge icebergs directly into the ocean, the researchers say.

When the glacier with its "toe in the water" thins, they says, a larger fraction of its weight is supported by water and it slides faster and sends more ice into the ocean.

Alaska’s Columbia Glacier, which drops 3cukm into Prince William sound, had shrunk about 14.5km since 1980 and was expected to shrink the same amount in the next two decades, said geologist and co-author of the study Robert Anderson.

The melting of the ice sheets of Greenland and the Antarctic is not expected to catch up with that of glaciers and ice caps untilthe end of the century, the study says.

The researchers estimate the accelerated melting of glaciers and ice caps will add 10.2cm-24.1cm to the sea level rise globally by 2100. The figures do not include the expansion of the oceans as they get warmer, which could double the levels.

A 30cm rise in the sea level causes a shoreline retreat of 30m or more, they say, and about 100million people live within about 1m of sea level.

Co-founder of the Generator with EllaBee, Giovanni Ebono has taken a couple of months off air, to run as The Greens candidate for the seat of Richmond in the Federal Election. Listen to the Bay FM news offering Giovanni best wishes for the campaign.

Just dump it: The Government was using the best technology available in a bid to reduce emissions and research new ways to provide cleaner, greener energy. Clean coal research was identified as one of five key actions in the Government’s statement on innovation released in November last year. That was why the Government would contribute $22 million towards two pilot clean coal projects to reduce greenhouse emissions from power stations in New South Wales. This included a $20 million contribution to a geosequestration project and a freehold land grant valued at $1.9 million for the construction of an ultra clean coal demonstration plant at Cessnock.

Coal pulling power continues: This commitment to clean coal research was part of the Government’s longer-term response to climate change. "We cannot have a climate change policy that does not take into account short-term reliance on fossil fuels," he said. "Coal is the world’s most abundant and widely distributed fossil fuel source. In New South Wales about 90 per cent of our electricity needs are met from coal-fired power stations. Burning coal without adding to global carbon dioxide levels is a major technological challenge that must be addressed".

Tech options to store carbon: A number of technologies could be considered, including the strategy of advancing CO2 capture and storage, advanced pollution control devices, ultra clean coal as a turbine fuel, coal gasification and advanced coal-fired power stations including super critical generation, and oxy-firing technology.

CO2 dump sites sought: The initial stage of the project would identify potential CO2 storage sites in New South Wales. The second stage would capture and permanently store CO2 inside the geological formations. The total cost of the geosequestration project would top the $60 million mark. The $20 million contribution from the State Government was to be matched by the coal industry’s Coal 21 Fund, a voluntary fund set up by the coal industry to address greenhouse gas emissions.

Feds not cooperative enough: MacDonald said he had written to the Federal Minister for Resources, Ian McFarlane, asking for the Commonwealth to match the State Government and industry’s financial commitment to the project. But once again the Federal Government refused to provide a real financial commitment by offering only in-kind support to the project.

"Ultra clean coal project": MacDonald said the NSW Government was also supporting the ultra clean coal project that would produce a high-purity, clean coal that can be burnt directly in gas turbines to generate electricity. Ultra clean coal-fired turbines potentially could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the generator by 20 per cent to 30 per cent.

Reference: Eddie Obeid, Member of the Legislative Council, NSW; Ian MacDonald, Minister for Primary Industries, NSW 29 May 2007

Erisk Net, 29/5/2007

One of the biggest greenhouse gas polluters has backed Federal Labor’s long-term climate change target by committing to cut its emissions to 60 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050, reported The Australian Financial Review (4/7/2007, p.11).

Great expectations: TRUenergy, which runs victoria’s brown coal-burning Yallourn power station, said it would start upgrading plants, commissioning new-generation technology and using renewable energy.While Prime Minister John Howard has claimed that a Labor government would risk economic prosperity by cutting 2050 emissions by 60 per cent of 2000 levels, TRUchergy’s ambitions were greater than Labor’s because its target is relative to 1990 levels.

National scheme needed:TRUenergy chief Richard McIndoe said it would cap carbon intensity, with cuts starting by 2010, and undertake not to build any traditional coal-fired power stations. But he said success depended on a natonal emissions trading scheme that set a carbon price.

The Australian Financial Review, 4/7/2007, p. 11