Dealing with the Senate’s climate impasse

http://inside.org.au/dealing-with-the-senates-climate-impasse/
The Greens and government should at least be able to agree that some carbon price is better than none, writes Richard Denniss

Source: Inside Story

The Costs of Reducing Greenhouse-Gas Emissions

http://www.docuticker.com/?p=29949
Reducing emissions, through a cap-and-trade program or regulations for example, would impose a burden on the economy by lessening the use of fossil fuels and altering patterns of land use. Today CBO released a brief discussing the economic costs of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States, describing the main determinants of costs, how analysts estimate those costs, and the magnitude of estimated costs. The brief also illustrates the uncertainty surrounding such estimates using studies of a recent legislative proposal, H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.

Source: Docuticker

Australian cultural funding, by artform category

http://www.apo.org.au/research/australian-cultural-funding-artform-category
This analysis of arts funding by artform category shows that the big dollars go to the public sector cultural organisations: parks and wildlife departments, public broadcasters, libraries, museums and art galleries. The entire Australia Council budget is only $175 million out of this total figure of more than $5 billion – more than half of which goes to 29 major performing arts organisations. We can infer that relatively little funding goes to ordinary working artists.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Business guide to the low carbon economy: Queensland

http://www.apo.org.au/research/business-guide-low-carbon-economy-queensland
Commissioned by the Queensland Government and prepared by The Climate Group in partnership with Arup, this guide provides practical steps for businesses to get on top of measuring and curbing greenhouse gas emissions from their operations. It also provides an overview of climate change policies and programs in Queensland with a view to helping companies develop a strategy to suit their individual situation.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No.2]

The CPRS Bill sets up an emissions trading scheme as part of a framework designed to reduce pollution caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Source: Parliamentary Library, Australia.

Report Estimates Climate Change Adaptation Costs, Impacts to Utilities

http://www.docuticker.com/?p=29274
Climate change impacts to wastewater and drinking water utilities, which provide critical economic, public health, and environmental benefits, include sea level rise and extreme flooding that can inundate and incapacitate treatment facilities; water quality degradation and increased treatment requirements; water scarcity and the need to develop new drinking water supplies; and lower flows in drought conditions that can affect the operation of treatment facilities.

Source: Docuticker

Managing our coastal zone in a changing climate: the time to act is now

http://www.apo.org.au/research/managing-our-coastal-zone-changing-climate-time-act-now
New governance arrangements are needed for Australia’s coastal zone, according to this report, which makes recommendations to improve management of climate change and environmental impacts on the coast.

Source: Australian Policy Online

The basics of biochar

http://apo.org.au/research/basics-biochar
This paper introduces the concept and origins of biochar, discuss its production process, potential uses, and the benefits and costs of biochar in its key roles in agriculture and climate change mitigation. Soils have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and influence its concentration in the atmosphere. Biochar can be used to increase the ability of soils to sequester carbon and simultaneously improve soil health.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Workshop Report: Climate Change Mitigation: Considering Lifestyle Options in Europe and the US

http://www.docuticker.com/?p=27410
This report summarizes the presentations and outcomes of a European-American Workshop about lifestyle changes as a mitigation strategies for global warming.

Source: Docuticker

New blueprint needed to save biodiversity

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/08/17/2658266.htm
Climate change will demand a shift in how we protect biodiversity and how we view natural systems, says a new Australian report. The report, Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change: a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia's biodiversity to climate change, shows species are moving in response to climate change.
Will Steffen, from ANU, stresses that national parks will still be important, but will need to be connected by "corridors", which will allow movement of species seeking to escape to more suitable climates.

Source: ABC latest environmental news

Hybrid buildings: pathways for greenhouse gas mitigation in the housing sector

http://apo.org.au/research/hybrid-buildings-pathways-greenhouse-gas-mitigation-housing-sector
This report shows how the carbon emissions from 5-star rated homes can be reduced to zero, with the savings averaging eleven tonnes per house each year.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Environmental taxation and its possible application in Australia

http://www.apo.org.au/research/environmental-taxation-and-its-possible-application-australia
Environmental taxes are one of the available policy intervention instruments for correcting market failures with the allocation of and investment decisions for the environment. Effective environmental taxes provide national efficiency gains, with the revenue primarily as a welcome by-product.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009

The Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009 (‘the Bill’) is part of a suite of bills that provide for the establishment and administration of the government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). Extensive discussion of the CPRS is contained in the relevant Bills Digest.

Source: Parliamentary Library, Canberra

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Amendment Bill 2009

The Bill proposes minor amendments to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (the Act)

Source: National Parliamentary Library

Designing climate mitigation policy

This US paper provides an exhaustive review of critical issues in the design of climate mitigation policy by pulling together key findings and controversies from diverse literatures on mitigation costs, damage valuation, policy instrument choice, technological innovation, and international climate policy.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Plan B: an agenda for immediate climate action

Greenpeace Australia
The federal government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme needs to go back the the drawing board according to a coalition of green groups. In the meantime, here's a plan for implementing immediate solutions that will reduce emissions and create jobs.
The main points from the report:
1. Prioritise saving energy.
2. Fast-track the switch to a renewable energy economy
3. Drive the shift to low emissions vehicles and sustainable cities
4. Protect our forests and woodlands as a carbon store and make agriculture a part of the solution
5. Grow the green job economy

Source: Australian Policy Online

Government drought support: inquiry report

Governments need to commit to a long term reform path that recognises that the primary responsibility for managing risks, including from climate variability and change, rests with farmers, according to this report.

Source: Australian Policy Online

State Climate Policy Tracker Reveals Progress by 33 States

Source: New America Foundation
The New America Foundation’s Climate Policy Program team today released an online tool that allows state-by-state tracking of hundreds of carbon and energy saving measures now being implemented across the country. The State Climate Policy Tracker takes the form of a single spreadsheet with one tab devoted to each state that has completed or is in the process of completing a climate action plan. A seven column matrix captures the climate actions taking place across six economic sectors, and reports on the progress of each measure, its cost or cost-saving potential, and the estimated reduction in carbon emissions expected on an annual basis.

Source: Docuticker

Solving the Puzzle: Researching the Impacts of Climate Change Around the World

Source: National Science Foundation (US)
NSF responds to the needs of research communities by supporting teams that include experts from multiple disciplines. NSF is unique among other government agencies with a science mission because NSF funds research, infrastructure, and education across all disciplines of science and engineering.

Source: Docuticker

The Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism

The Clean Development Mechanism is an avenue for industrialised countries to undertake carbon abatement projects in developing countries. This Background Note provides information on the CDM and its associated emissions credits.

Source: Australian Policy Online/ Parliamentary Library