Browsing: <a href="/tag/adaptation-science">Adaptation, science</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/carbon-law-policy-nger">Carbon law, policy/NGER</a>

Three lessons can be drawn from the "cyclone" going through world financial markets, former Victorian environment minister John Thwaites told the launch of a Melbourne carbon market services guide. Thwaites said the latest science indicates there is greater than a 50% chance of more than two degrees warming even if there is no further increase in atmospheric CO₂.

As the release of a much-anticipated Treasury analysis of the economic effects of various emissions trajectories draws tantalisingly close, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Climate Change Minister Penny Wong on Friday released details of the underpinning assumptions.

Professor Ross Garnaut this morning handed to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd an all-embracing set of policy proposals to combat climate change. Garnaut warned that a failure by this generation to deal with climate change 'would haunt humanity until the end of time'.

• High emissions scenario could lead to 5°C warming by 2070
  
• Queensland minister launches 'low carbon' diet campaign
  
• Government and Opposition shadow box on transport fuels
  
• ACF calls for stronger renewables target
  
• AWU chief warns of jobs going offshore
  
• Xstrata refers open-cut coal mine to Rudd Government

• Climate department official: we know reporting scheme will be tough for new players
  
  
  
• The overshoot scenario: ‘are you feeling lucky, punk?’
  
  
  
• Wong: don’t overlook the costs of inaction

Between them, they have advised former NSW Premier Bob Carr, former Prime Minister Paul Keating, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Reagan, Clinton, George Bush and George W Bush administrations. And they joined forces for a panel session at a planning and climate change conference that wraps up in Sydney today.



Nick Rowley of Kinesis said emissions trading should be treated as an adjunct to legislative and planning responses, not the other way around. Professor Stephen Schneider criticised car companies for saying tougher standards put their industry at risk, when they have 'stonewalled' for decades against efforts to get them to make small improvements.



And Sam Mostyn of insurer IAG described why she will be stressing the importance of short-term thinking at this weekend's 2020 summit in Canberra.

• Rudd flags soil carbon push
  
• Sustainable buildings council briefs Garrett and Garnaut on 'white certificates' trading proposal
  
• Queensland EPA charges company directors over PCBs
  
• South Australia to ban plastic bags by year's end

Treasury tells Rudd to put Australia 'on a clean energy footing' * Wong says we will set an interim target, as UN climate change chief urges major emitters to deploy climate change 'Marshall plan' * Victoria's Hazelwood power plant a cleaner fossil fuels case study as global energy agency suggests replacing or upgrading more than a third of the world's coal-fired capacity



* NSW environment group weighs in against NSW power industry privatisation * Program offers industry a 'low-risk' chance to test sustainability, Garrett says * 6-star green building flurry continues * Wood waste power plant proposed for WA

The head of the UN has called for 'sweeping, concerted action now', as the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns even if greenhouse gas emissions peaked by 2015, temperatures would increase by up to 2.4°C and sea levels would eventually rise up to 1.4 metres – without factoring in melting ice. (plus extracts, audio)

Victorian coast strategy warns on sea level rise; Sydney Water sets out sewer access terms; Pilot coal-drying plant up and running; Federal department seeks legal advice on federal/state water laws; Flannery says price carbon at $50 a tonne (video link); Soot lands shipping company in court