Why are we being asked to spend money on plebiscites to determine who is allowed to love whom, or watching a government preoccupy itself with how we help children through gender confusion, while there is no leadership over climate change?
Killer storms, starvation and the loss of land
‘Climate change is unfair. While rich countries can fight against rising oceans and dying farm fields, poor people around the world are already having their lives upended — and their human rights threatened — by killer storms, starvation and the loss of their own lands’. (Mary Robinson, former UN Commissioner for Human Rights).
February the warmest month in recorded history
‘Our planet went through a dramatic change last month. Climate experts revealed that February was the warmest month in recorded history, surpassing the previous global monthly record – set in December. An unprecedented heating of our world is now under way. …
‘Meteorologists believe that this year is destined to be the hottest on record, warmer even than 2015. Nor is this jump in global temperature a freak triggered by an unusually severe El Niño, say researchers. “It is the opposite,” said Professor David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey. “This is a catch-up of a recent hiatus that has occurred in rising global temperatures. We are returning to normality: rising temperatures. This is an absolute warning of the dangers that lie ahead.” (The Guardian, 20.3.16)
- February 2016 the warmest month in recorded history »
- What does the science really say about sea-level rise? »
Australia and its Pacific Island neighbours
Fiji is the most recent victim of a devastating storm. Speaking to The Guardian Australia, Mary Robinson said that ‘Australia has not been a good neighbour to the Pacific islands vulnerable to climate change and needs to get out of fossil fuel-based growth faster’.
- Australia a bad neighbour to the Pacific Islands »
- Rise and fall: social collapse linked to sea level in the Pacific »
- All in the same canoe »
Unprecedented bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef
Unprecedented bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef
- Great Barrier Reef bleaching event: what happens next? »
- Barrier Reef coral bleaching threat level increased, Greg Hunt announces funding for survey »
- Reef coral bleaching hits ‘severe’ level »
- Almost 20 per cent of North Queensland reefs show coral bleaching »
- Next few weeks critical »
- Stephen Miles invites Malcolm Turnbull to see the Great Barrier Reef bleaching »
Queensland Government policies
‘The Queensland Government recognises the need both to adapt to the effects of a changing climate, and to mitigate the effects of climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Queensland is willing to play its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Queensland Government is in the process of exploring options for climate change mitigation.’
Is it time for a clearer statement about fossil fuels?
Meanwhile Adani Mine reaches another approval milestone
On March 17 Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham reported further progress towards approving the contentious Adani Carmichael Mine.
- Lynham media release on Adani agreements »
- Adani freezes investment in Carmichael mine until world coal price recovers »
- Adani boss failed to disclose link to African pollution mine disaster before Carmichael mine approval »
And tree clearing accelerates
The attempt by the Palaszczuk Government to rein in tree-clearing in Queensland (which rapidly accelerated following legislative changes passed in the dying days of the Newman Government) has pitted farmers against environmentalists. For the arguments on both sides see the link below.