Carbon Economy

From Gina’s mining note: The historic climate deal between the US and China may impact Australian coal exports less than feared, but will put pressure on Australia to toughen its emissions reduction targets domestically.

Fabulous news from CNN: At the end of a trade summit in China, U.S.

From Fairfax: The government’s plan to dilute the renewable energy target is in limbo as Clive Palmer has backed Labor’s decision to walk away from talks and declared he won’t be doing a deal with the Coalition either.

The Australia Institute (TAI) has released a new report questioning Prime Minister, Tony Abbott’s, claim that “coal is good for humanity” and poor people in particular.

From The Australian: BURNING coal for electricity must be eliminated by 2100 unless carbon dioxide emissions are captured and stored, according to a key report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

From Business Spectator: The federal government’s $2.55 billion Direct Action climate policy will pass the Senate after a deal was struck with the Palmer United Party.

An amusing take on carbon pricing today from Gotti: Take a bow Tony Abbott.

From ABC: European Leaders agreed early Friday to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the 28-nation bloc to at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

Sigh…from Farifax: Australia’s $20 billion alternative energy sector has been plunged into fresh uncertainty after the federal government indicated further policy changes to reduce the reliance on wind and solar power, potentially leaving billions of dollars invested in the sector stranded or devalued.

The ludicrously ideological attack underway on ANU ethical investment reaches new lows today at the AFR with a story attempting to concoct  conspiracy where, in fact, there is nothing more than various folks sharing green views.

I’ve been avoiding a story all week in the hope that it will go away.

by Chris Becker The scientific community at large has been successful at convincing a majority of the public that the risks of global climate change are rising, due to man-made contributions from carbon dioxide pollution.

By Leith van Onselen A lead advisor on climate policy to German Chancellor Angela Merkel has slammed Australia’s complacency on climate change and labeled the Abbott Government’s championing of the coal industry as an economic “suicide strategy”.

By Leith van Onselen The New South Wales Chief Scientist, Mary O’Kane, last night delivered her Final Report of the Independent Review of Coal Seam Gas Activities in NSW, which apears to have struck an appropriate balance between the economic opportunities of CSG and health and environment concerns.

by Chris Becker Sheriff 2.0 Tony Abbott is hearing but not receiving some powerful signals across the world that his government’s “she’ll be right” stance on climate change cannot continue.

From the AFR: The globe’s largest investment funds, worth a collective $20 trillion, have called on world governments to move urgently on climate change policy and provide a stable setting for green investment before a key United Nations summit next week.

Ah, the irony of it all, as the communists go where the capitalists fear to tread.

From the Australia Institute’s Richard Denniss today in Crikey: In a clear vote of no confidence in the Australian economy, Australia’s largest ever investment in solar energy was scrapped this week.

Cross-posted from The Conversation Reducing the renewable energy target would cost the federal budget about $680 million more to meet Australia’s target of 5% emissions reduction by 2020, according to modelling released today by climate and conservation groups.

From the AFR this morning: The federal government is moving towards abolishing the Renewable Energy Target rather than scaling it back in a move that will cost almost $11 billion in proposed investment and which is at odds with the views of its own Environment Minister.

Really, I thought our Maurice did a great job of slamming himself but Fairfax has made sure of it: The Abbott government’s chief business adviser Maurice Newman’s latest contribution to the national debate urges us to prepare for global cooling.

From the ABC: The WA Government has refused to commit to removing an extra charge added to public transport fares when the carbon tax was introduced.

Cross-posted from The Conversation: The review of the Renewable Energy Target is due to be handed to the federal government any day now, yet amazingly there are still conflicts over whether the policy makes electricity more or less expensive.