"Unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territories [OTTAWA], 30 July 2020 – Teika Newton of Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat Canada applauds Minister Wilksinson’s decision
to designate the Vista Coal Mine Expansion for a federal assessment in
light of its potential adverse impacts to areas under federal
jurisdiction and to Aboriginal and Treaty rights, a welcome shift from
his December 2019 determination.
Canada’s domestic and international
leadership on phasing-out coal power would be severely undermined by
continuing to supply overseas markets with the dirtiest fossil fuel. The
Vista expansion must be closely scrutinized, and its climate effects
carefully taken into consideration throughout the federal assessment
process, as is to be expected under the newly released Strategic
Assessment of Climate Change (part of the Impact Assessment Act)."
Jake Sullivan says the former vice-president, if elected, won’t ‘pull any punches’ on what is a global problem Joe Biden
will not pull any punches with allies including Australia in seeking to
build international momentum for stronger action on the climate crisis,
an adviser to the US presidential candidate has said.
"If elected in November, Biden will hold heavy emitters such as
Biden and Harris
China
accountable for doing more “but he’s also going to push our friends to
do more as well”, according to Jake Sullivan, who was the national
security adviser to Biden when he was vice-president and is now in the
candidate’s inner circle.
In a wide-ranging podcast interview
with the Sydney-based Lowy Institute, Sullivan also signalled that
Biden would work closely with Australia and other regional allies in
responding to the challenges posed by the rise of China.
While Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison,
is likely to welcome the pledge of US coordination with allies on
regional security issues, there may be unease in government ranks about
the potential for tough conversations about Australia’s climate
policies.
The Coalition government has resisted calls to embrace a target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and it proposes to use Kyoto carryover credits to meet Australia’s 2030 emission reductions pledge. Some Coalition backbenchers still openly dispute climate science......"
In the lead up to last Christmas and during January 2019, blistering heatwaves swept across the country. January 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded in Australia, and the summer also went down as the hottest on record for Australia. This
summer, we are again facing intense heatwaves across the country, and
temperature records are expected to be broken once again. The entire summer is shaping up to be a terrible trifecta of heatwaves, bushfires and drought.
Preliminary results suggest that the 17th December 2019 was
Australia’s hottest day on record at 40.9 ºC, with the average maximum
across the country as a whole, exceeding the previous record of 40.3 ºC
on the 7th January 2013.
While we can escape to the air
conditioner or strip off to cool down, we need to consider our furry
friends in the extreme heat, both domestic pets and surrounding
wildlife.
Just like us, many animals can be
affected by heat stress or heat stroke. Similar to humans, the old and
the young are often the most vulnerable. However, while we can sweat it
out, dogs and cats can only release heat through areas not covered by
fur, mostly their paws.
HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS DURING A HEATWAVE?
Cat at window with dog watching
Image Credit: Unsplash
Cats
are normally pretty self sufficient and stay cool by seeking shade and
limiting physical activity. They will normally find a nice cool place to
sleep it off so just make sure they have water and shade and some wet
towels if they want them.
However, dogs need a little more TLC
when it gets hot. The small surface area of their paws are not a very
effective means of getting rid of excess heat from their bodies. Dogs
use the evaporation of moisture from their tongues, nasal passages and
lungs to cool down by panting.
Make sure if you are heading to work
your best friend has plenty of water and shade in a well-ventilated
area. If you want to get creative with ways to cool your pal down you
could whip up some refrigerated snacks, top their bowls up with cold
water from the fridge or simply dampen their bed. Got a garden? Perhaps
invest in a small paddling pool or turn the sprinklers or hose on so
they can get a bit of a shower.
Image Credit: ‘Young at Heart’ Flickr user DaPuglet licensed under CC BY-SA 2.
If your dog is riding with you never leave them locked in the car! It takes under 10 minutes for a car to reach lethal temperatures even when parked in shaded areas, with the windows open.
Dog in car
Image Credits: ‘FGE_7735” Flickr user Just Me licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Although they are eager to get out
and burn off some energy, reconsider going for midday walks as the hot
pavement can burn their feet (if it’s uncomfortable for you to walk
barefoot then it will be for them too!) Top tip: head out for a stroll
early in the morning or just before bed and stick to grassy areas.
Ultimately if you are melting and want to be in front of the fan or air conditioner, then they probably dotoo!
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PET IS AFFECTED BY HEAT?
Key signs you should look for are
changes in behaviour, disinterest in food and water, isolating
themselves and heavy panting. If your pet is lethargic, relentlessly
panting, drooling, vomiting or collapsing get them to a vet ASAP. Check
out the RSPCA for more information.
Dog in sunset
Image Credit: Unsplash
HOW DO YOU HELP WILDLIFE DURING A HEATWAVE?
And while you are out and about,
think of our native wildlife too: the same rules apply – water, shade
and rest. If you live in a rural area put some water out in shady areas
for any native wildlife that may be nearby.
Try to avoid disturbing our native
wildlife more than you have to. Everyone is feeling hot and bothered, so
the last thing you’d want to do is stress them out and use up any more
of their already low energy stocks.
However, rescue babies if they are particularly vulnerable and reach out to a local wildlife helpline:
Tony Wolfe has worked in coal for over forty years. But he knows it's time for a change - it's time to embrace renewables.
Australia needs clean jobs to reboot its economy. That's why we created the Clean Jobs Plan.
The Climate Council is Australia's leading independent, community-funded climate change communications organisation. We're a catalyst propelling Australia to take bold, effective steps to address the climate crisis.
We're made up of some of the country’s leading climate scientists, health, renewable energy and policy experts, as well as a team of staff, and a huge community of volunteers and supporters who power our work.
"As climate change worsens, the future of fossil fuel jobs and infrastructure is uncertain. But a new energy storage technology
invented in Australia could enable coal-fired power stations to run
entirely emissions-free. The novel material, called miscibility gap alloy (MGA),
stores energy in the form of heat.
MGA is housed in small blocks of
blended metals, which receive energy generated by renewables such as
solar and wind.
MGA
The energy can then be used as an alternative to coal to run steam
turbines at coal-fired power stations, without producing emissions.
Stackable like Lego, MGA blocks can be added or removed, scaling
electricity generation up or down to meet demand.
MGA blocks are a fraction of the cost of a rival energy storage technology, lithium-ion batteries. Our invention has been proven in the lab – now we are moving to the next phase of proving it in the real world."
............................................
"If our electricity grid is to become emissions-free, we need an
energy storage option that’s both affordable and versatile enough to be
rolled out at massive scale - providing six to eight hours of
dispatchable power every night. MGAs store energy for a day to a week. This fills a “middle” time
frame between batteries and hydro-power, and allows intermittent
renewable energy to be dispatched when needed."
If only the current Australian government would take advice like this. This is from the United Kingdom's Committee on Climate Change to the U.K. government in 2020.
Climate Action Now
"Ministers
must seize the opportunity to turn the COVID-19 crisis into a defining
moment in the fight against climate change, the Committee on Climate
Change (CCC) says today.
In its annual report to Parliament,
the Committee provides comprehensive new advice to the Government on
delivering an economic recovery that accelerates the transition to a
cleaner, net-zero emissions economy and strengthens the country’s
resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Cities might become unbearable.
Important steps have
been taken in the last year, but much remains to be done. For the first
time the Committee sets out its recommendations government department by
government department. These are the urgent steps that must be taken in
the months ahead to initiate a green, resilient COVID-19 recovery.
They
can be delivered through strong coordination across Whitehall. Doing so
will propel the UK towards more rapid climate progress and position the
country as an international climate leader ahead of the pivotal COP26
climate summit in Glasgow next year.
CCC Chairman, Lord Deben, said:
“The UK is facing its biggest economic shock for a generation.
Meanwhile, the global crisis of climate change is accelerating. We have a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address these urgent challenges
together; it’s there for the taking. The steps that the UK takes to
rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic can accelerate the transition to a
successful and low-carbon economy and improve our climate resilience.
Choices that lock in emissions or climate risks are unacceptable.”
Climate Change is a fact
Chair of the CCC’s Adaptation Committee, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, said:
“COVID-19 has shown that planning for systemic risks is unavoidable. We
have warned repeatedly that the UK is poorly prepared for the very
serious impacts of climate change, including flooding, overheating and
water shortages. Now is the moment to get our house in order, coordinate
national planning, and prepare for the inevitable changes ahead. The
UK’s domestic ambition can be the basis for strong international climate
leadership, but the delivery of effective new policies must accelerate
dramatically if we’re to seize this chance.”
The Committee’s new analysis expands on its May 2020 advice to the Prime Minister in which it set out the principles for building a resilient recovery. In its new report,
the Committee has assessed a wide set of measures and gathered the
latest evidence on the role of climate policies in the economic
recovery. Its report highlights five clear investment priorities in the
months ahead:
1. Low-carbon retrofits and buildings that are fit for the future.
Hydrogen energy still requires research and development
There are vital new employment and reskilling opportunities across the
country if Governments support a national plan to renovate buildings and
construct new housing to the highest standards of energy and water
efficiency, to begin the shift to low-carbon heating systems, and to
protect against overheating. Roll-out of ‘green passports’ for buildings
and local area energy plans can begin immediately.
2. Tree planting, peatland restoration, and green infrastructure.
Investing in nature, including in our towns and cities, offers another
quick route to opportunities for highly-skilled employment, and outcomes
that improve people’s lives. By making substantial changes in our use
of land, which are needed to meet the UK’s Net Zero target, we will
bring significant benefits for the climate, biodiversity, air quality,
and flood prevention.
Land ice is melting
3. Energy networks must be strengthened for
the net-zero energy transformation in order to support electrification
of transport and heating. Government has the regulatory tools to bring
forward private sector investment. New hydrogen and carbon capture and
storage (CCS) infrastructure will provide a route to establishing new
low-carbon British industries. Fast-tracked electric vehicle charging
points will hasten the move towards a full phase out of petrol and
diesel cars and vans by 2032 or earlier.
4. Infrastructure to make it easy for people to walk, cycle, and work remotely. Dedicated
safe spaces for walking and cycling, more bike parking and support for
shared bikes and e-scooters can help the nation get back to work in a
more sustainable way. For home working to be truly a widespread option,
resilient digital technology (5G and fibre broadband) will be needed.
5. Moving towards a circular economy.
Within the next five years, we can not only increase reuse &
recycling rates rapidly but stop sending biodegradable wastes to
landfill. Local authorities need support to invest strategically in
separated waste collections and recycling infrastructure and to create
new regional jobs.
There are also opportunities to support
the transition and the recovery by investing in the UK’s workforce, and
in lower-carbon behaviours and innovation:
1. Reskilling and retraining programmes. The
net-zero economy will require a net-zero workforce, able to install
smart low-carbon heating systems and to make homes comfortable; to
design, manufacture and use low-carbon products and materials; and to
put carbon back, rather than taking carbon out, from under the North
Sea. Now is the time to build that workforce and to equip UK workers
with vital skills for the future.
Our children want answers.
2. Leading a move towards positive behaviours. There
is a window for Government to reinforce the ‘climate-positive’
behaviours that have emerged during the lockdown, including increased
remote working, cycling and walking. The public sector must lead by
example by encouraging remote working. It also needs to innovate in
order that customer service can be provided effectively remotely.
3. Targeted science and innovation funding. Kick-starting
research and innovation now in low-carbon and adaptation technologies
will facilitate the changes needed in the decades ahead and build UK
competitive advantage. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the
importance of research if we are to understand fully the threats and
learn how to manage them.
Cities must retreat from the coast.
Achieving the UK’s climate goals
and rebuilding the economy fit naturally together. Each makes the other
possible. Success demands that we do both. The actions recommended by
the CCC will deliver an improved economy, better public health, improved
biodiversity and access to nature, cleaner air, more comfortable homes
and highly productive and rewarding employment."
"U.S. President Donald Trump has undone many major pieces of climate policy during his term, walking out on the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming and eliminating numerous Obama-era environmental regulations.
Trump's Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, has promised as part
of his presidential campaign to invest $1.7 trillion in a "clean energy
revolution and environmental justice" over the next decade. It falls
some $14 trillion short of what the progressive U.S. senator from
Vermont, Bernie Sanders, pledged on climate action during the Democratic
primaries.........................."
"...... Growing Impatience Among Young Republicans
Some younger Republicans are starting to become critical of
their party's inattention to climate change. During the recent
Republican National Convention, a small group turned to Twitter during
the online event, to ask "#WhatAboutClimate"?
Another Pew study
from June 2020 found that millennial and Gen Z Republicans, currently
aged 18 to 39, are more likely than older GOP voters to think humans
have a significant impact on the climate and that the federal government
is doing too little to tackle the problem.
Trump and climate
That doesn't mean they're ready to switch allegiance to the Democrats, though.
"Being
a Republican is very much rooted in my upbringing," said Kiera O'Brien,
who founded the group Young Conservatives for Carbon Dividends (YCCD).
"Conservatism at home in Ketchikan, Alaska, has a focus on community and nature."
O'Brien
dislikes the Democrat's "regulatory approach to climate" and is instead
lobbying for free market solutions to climate change through YCCD.
Biden and climate change
Reframing Climate Action
Environmental policies can be a complicated issue when it
comes to federal elections and hard to address for presidential
candidates. Many regions in the U.S. have unique challenges: from
wildfires in California and storms wiping out harvests in Iowa to water pollution in Flint, Michigan.
Harvard's
Ansolabehere also pointed out that opposition to climate policies in
the past were typically connected to the fear of losing jobs and that
prohibiting coal or retooling the auto industry will "adversely affect
employment" in places like Kentucky and Michigan.
How Climate Change is Killing Us: Book
Daron Shaw added
that Republicans typically "try to frame environmental issues as a
matter of high taxation and job killing proposals with the hope that
they can peel off Democrats."
Biden might be trying to assuage
fears that tackling climate change means job losses by framing his plan
as an opportunity for employment in new industries and a reinvigorated
green manufacturing sector.
But when it comes to the swing states
of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio, Trump's climate record and support
for jobs in the fossil fuel sector might give him the upper hand. His
backing for ethane cracker plants, which take natural gas
and converts it into the basis for making plastics, has received a lot
of support, said Ansolabehere, especially from local unions.
Trump and climate
