News

Treasury modelling of costs and opportunities of reducing climate change released

The Federal Treasury has launched its report into the costs and opportunities of acting decisively to meet the challenge of climate change, finding that it is in Australia’s economic interests to take early and decisive action on climate change.

The report - which measures the economic impact of cutting carbon emissions through the Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - has three key conclusions:

• The Australian economy will continue to grow strongly as carbon emissions are reduced.
• The earlier Australia acts, the cheaper the cost of action. The longer it is delayed, the more damage could be done to the Australian economy.
• Many of Australia's key industries will become more, not less, competitive.

The report positions Australia within the context of global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stabilise concentrations at 450-550 ppm around 2100. In all scenarios, Australia’s action is comparable to that of other developed economies. Developing nations’ contributions are differentiated, either through relatively less stringent per capita-based national emission pathways within a united global action framework, or through gradual adoption of emission reduction obligations under a multi-stage framework

The report also finds that average annual GNP growth will only be one tenth of one per cent less than it would be in a world without action to tackle climate change.

This report is not a complete assessment of the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of climate change policies. The modelling does not include the economic impacts of climate change itself, so does not assess the benefits of reducing climate change risks through mitigation.

A copy of the report is available http://www.treasury.gov.au/lowpollutionfuture/

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Comments sought for draft National Framework for Climate Change Science

The Department of Climate Change is seeking feedback on the draft National Framework for Climate Change Science.

The document aims to outline the climate change science agenda for Australia over the next decade.

The consultation draft was developed with key members of the climate change scientific community, including the Australian Academy of Science.

The National Framework will build on the past achievements of Australia’s climate change science community and enhance future efforts by:

• focusing Australia’s climate science expertise on an agreed set of national priorities;
• identifying the scientific capabilities required to address these priorities;
• identifying where there are capacity limitations in supply of those capabilities;
• fostering greater collaboration between scientific institutions across the country as the first essential step to addressing these capacity limitations;
• supporting global policy analysis by developing a new Australian Integrate Assessment Modelling capability that will couple climate simulations to economic and social models;
• driving international partnerships to leverage on national action; and
• ensuring that the science delivers what decision makers need.

The Department expects the National Framework will be an important mechanism to assist and support all spheres of government, business and the community in understanding the nature, magnitude and timing of climate change.

Comments are required by Friday 28th November. For further information, go to http://www.climatechange.gov.au/science/publications/draft-framework.html

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Research networks to investigate effects of climate change

The Federal Government will provide $10 million over four years to establish research networks investigating the effects of climate change on areas such as water resources, human health, emergency services, infrastructure and biodiversity.

The seven new 'adaptation research networks' are designed foster critical research into the effects of climate change.

The networks will be part of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, hosted by Griffith University, which is leading Australia's climate change adaptation research effort.

These institutions will host each of the networks below and will be awarded the amounts indicated for four years:

• Terrestrial Biodiversity - James Cook University - $400,000 per year
• Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity - Griffith University - $400,000 per year
• Marine Biodiversity and Resources - University of Tasmania - $400,000 per year
• Settlements and Infrastructure - University of NSW - $447,000 per year
• Disaster Management and Emergency Services - RMIT University - $205,000 per year
• Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions - University of Melbourne - $376,000 per year
• Health - Australian National University - $240,000 per year

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New research suggests methane levels on the rise

After eight years of near-zero growth in atmospheric methane concentrations, levels have again started to rise, according to a paper published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.

The paper,.co-authored by CSIRO researcher Dr Paul Fraser, suggests that the methane increase is, at least in part, due to methane releases in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

It may also be the result of a weakining of atmospheric oxidation, due to recovery from ozone depletion.

“Over recent years, the growth of important greenhouse gases, namely methane and the CFCs, had slowed. This tended to offset the increasing growth rate of carbon dioxide that results mainly from large increases in the consumption of fossil fuels, particularly in the developing world," Dr Fraser said.

“Now that methane levels have resumed their growth, global warming may accelerate.”

“Over the past decade these methane sources have been close to balancing the absorption of methane through atmospheric oxidation and into dry soil,” says Dr Fraser.

“This fragile balance has resulted in little growth of methane in the atmosphere. Apparently some sources have been increasing, such as from fossil fuel use, cattle, and rice, while others have been decreasing, particularly natural tropical wetlands. However, over the past year, the total sources have overwhelmed the total sinks, and methane has again started to rise.”

The analysis was undertaken by CSIRO in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of Bristol.

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Acting head of Queensland Office of Clean Energy appointed

The Queensland Government has appointed sustainability expert, John Cole, as the acting head of the new Office of Clean Energy.

The State Government has set up the Office of Clean Energy to explore renewable energy and other methods for reducing the state's carbon footprint.

Dr Cole has previously held the position of Executive Director of the Sustainable Industries Division for the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.

As acting head of the Office of Clean Energy, Dr Cole will report directly to the Minister for Mines and Energy and provide regular progress reports to Cabinet

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WA Government wants delayed start to emissions trading scheme

The Western Australian Government says 2010 is too soon to introduce an emissions trading scheme and believes more work is needed on the design of the scheme.

WA Treasurer, Troy Buswell, says the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in its present form has “serious implications” for the economic wellbeing of growth states like Western Australia.

Mr Buswell made the comments as he released the state’s submission to the Federal Government’s Green Paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

The WA Government is concerned that introducing the CPRS in its current form as soon as 2010 would risk driving some of the state’s major industries overseas and causing future investment interest to dry up, while not leading to an overall decrease in global greenhouse gas emissions.

The WA submission urges the Commonwealth to consider the ramifications for the liquid natural gas industry, which it warns may decide to shelve new projects in favour of overseas options.

Mr Buswell says it is “extremely important” that revenues from the scheme are directed in full to compensate affected parties, and that WA supports the proposition that households should receive the bulk of the compensation.

He says strategies will be needed to help WA manage energy price rises arising from the scheme, and to assist regional and remote communities who would not be able to avoid increased costs because of the limited low-emission alternatives available to them for power and transport.

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Conferences & Events

NSW Sustainable Development Conference

The NSW Sustainable Development Conference is being held on April 1 & 2, 2009 in Sydney.

The NSW Sustainable Development Conference 2009 will bring together decision-makers from the private and public sectors, industry leaders, local government, scientists, conservationists and others to discuss the current and future directions and frameworks for sustainability in NSW, and how it will affect NSW state and local government, business and the community.

The Conference will provide an opportunity to examine progress towards sustainable objectives in a range of key areas such as: NSW policy and progress, water, waste and resource recovery, energy efficiency, climate change response and planning and urban design.

The Conference will also feature best practice case studies in sustainable development, including supporting workplaces to become more sustainable, addressing challenges of sustainability, and provide advice on how state and local government and business can achieve their sustainable development goals in a cost-effective manner.

For further information, and to register interest in the Conference, please go to www.halledit.com.au/nswsdc

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Melbourne Planning Summit

The Melbourne Planning Summit is being held on April 28-29th 2009 at Zinc in Federation Square, Melbourne.

The Summit will provide an opportunity for discussion and review of challenges confronting urban planning in Melbourne, as well as facilitating the exchange of ideas on how to achieve sustainable planning objectives. 

The conference will cover issues including:

• Melbourne 2030 Audit;
• Urban design
• Integrated transport;
• Housing affordability;
• Climate change;
• Population growth;
• Water management.

It will also feature sessions on innovative urban partnerships and planning best practice case studies.

To register interest in the Conference or for more information, go to http://www.halledit.com.au/mps

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Publications

Is there any hope for a renewable hydrogen economy? What are the latest developments in alternative fuels? Subscribe to New Scientist for the answers

Is there any hope for a renewable hydrogen economy? What are the latest developments in alternative fuels? Subscribe to New Scientist for the answers

An upcoming issue of New Scientist asks what is preventing us from pursuing a hydrogen economy? We discuss the latest research and development, the problems and the possible solutions.

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