New Anthropocene
Climate Science
There’s consensus and then there’s consensus: Climate “Sceptics” Just Don’t Get It
Every single time researchers go to the otherwise wasted effort of reviewing the standing position of climate research in relation to anthropogenic climate change (for, in what other field of science do scientists undertake such analyses?), we hear the same backlash from the committed sceptics. In fact, looking at the dismissal charges of conservative columnists … Continue reading
Building more dams will bring a bigger emissions headache
In mid February, a Coalition draft dams plan was leaked to the media. This plan suggested the potential for an additional 100 dams across Australia to help with water security and flood mitigation as well as provide hydro-power. While this plan does not officially form part of the Coalition’s environmental strategy, Tony Abbott has thrown his … Continue reading
Tim Wilson and the Institute of Public Affairs Demonstrate Why Their Message Cannot Work
Returning home from field work yesterday, I was listening to Triple J’s Hack program. To round off the week, they were debating the balance of power in Australia with Tim Wilson from the Institute of Public Affairs Australia and Sam McLean from GetUp (listen the podcast here). Firstly, Tim referred to himself as “central right” in … Continue reading
How to Win a Climate Change “Argument”
Just some fun. Have a good weekend.
Greg Hunt’s unusually cool US winter that wasn’t
By Graham Readfearn. OPPOSITION spokesperson on climate change Greg Hunt has been quoted across the news wires today as saying that while Australia has experienced its hottest summer on record, it’s been unusually cold elsewhere. The story is based on an interview with ABC Radio, where Mr Hunt is commenting on a new report – The Angry Summer – from … Continue reading
Many Inconsistencies From Greg Hunt on the Carbon Price
The claim that the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan, firstly, is an alternative to taxpayers paying is absurd. The analysis I undertook and the material I referenced therein suggest that the taxpayer is directly forking out for the Direct Action Plan, should the Coalition come into power and implement it. The Direct Action Plan is directly aimed at … Continue reading
One Angry Summer… Oh, Anthropogenic Climate Change was Involved.
Sure, Australia is a country of drought and flooding rain, but not often at the same time, year after year! Key facts: The Australian summer over 2012 and 2013 has been defined by extreme weather events across much of the continent, including record-breaking heat, severe bushfires, extreme rainfall and damaging flooding. Extreme heatwaves and catastrophic … Continue reading
Will the Opposition’s Direct Action Plan work?
The Coalition has promised that if it takes government in September, it will get rid of the price on carbon emissions established by the Australian Labor Party. In its place, the party will implement a Direct Action Plan, its way of reducing emissions. This plan relies mainly on carbon sequestration and funding industrial improvements through … Continue reading
Fact check: has global warming paused?
By Andrew Glikson, Australian National University “The UN’s climate change chief, Rajendra Pachauri, has acknowledged a 17-year pause in global temperature rises, confirmed recently by Britain’s Met Office, but said it would need to last ‘30 to 40 years at least’ to break the long-term global warming trend.” – The Australian, Feb 22 2013 Since … Continue reading
There is no such thing as climate change denial
By John Cook, University of Queensland In a sense, there is no such thing as climate change denial. No one denies that climate changes (in fact, the most common climate myth is the argument that past climate change is evidence that current global warming is also natural). Then what is being denied? Quite simply, the … Continue reading
