Browsing: Adaptation, science

Suing large emitters for climate-related damage to buildings and infrastructure is 'not going to happen', says legal academic Jan McDonald, who warns a national levy might be necessary to deal with the massive task of retrofitting and relocating assets that are vulnerable to these risks.

The U.S. Waxman-Markey climate bill, which recognises carbon offsets from changed agricultural practices, will 'fundamentally change the game that's being played in Australia', says Peter Cosier, director of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.

Insurance company Zurich is to roll-out nationally a program to train insurance brokers to advise companies on adapting to climate change.

G8 leaders accepted a goal of preventing more than two degrees warming, but 'ignored' the path for getting there – ensuring global emissions peak by 2015, says UN chief climate scientist Rajendra Pachauri (plus video link).

Nobel Prize winner and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore this morning launched a project that aims to develop a costed program to rapidly transition Australia to a zero net emissions economy and which draws heavily for its inspiration on his Repower America initiative.

New scientific findings indicate climate change is occurring faster than previously thought and could result in 'extreme' high sea-level events becoming at least 10,000 times more frequent in Sydney and 1,000 times more fequent in Melbourne, Hobart and Brisbane by the end of the century, says a report released today by Climate Change Minister Penny Wong.

• New Zealand consults on 2020 target
  
• Governments back national forum on local-level power generation
  
• Growth in SA wind power must be backed by network investment, report says
  
• Green Building Council releases new rating tool
  
• Gore set to fly in for regional summit
  
• Oxfam climate change report warns of food shortages

• SA to make more sites prepare water plans
  
• NSW finalises energy savings scheme rule
  
• No need for new NSW power plant, study says
  
• Flannery criticises industry’s ‘Precambrian’ attitudes
  
• SA issues guideline for waste-derived fuel
  
• NSW issues guidance on radioactive residues from sandmining

• Generators win extended exemption from EEO scheme
  
• Local government must lead in climate change fight, Combet says
  
• Coalition backs Greens call for stronger action on HFCs
  
• White House pushes green jobs benefits ahead of House vote (with video)
  
• Major economies climate talks wrap up in Mexico
  
• IEA warns of collapse in funding of renewables projects

• Senate postpones Xenophon's CPRS motions, agrees to Milne's
  
• ACCI report calls for tax breaks or permits for smaller firms
  
• WA Government eyes waste levy funds
  
• What the scientists told Fielding
  
• Garrett seeks audit services for green loans program