By Nuuk correspondent Rangi Wehtu Eriksson
With cuts in government spending expected for the vital area of Climate Science, UN-IPCC scientists have engaged with peoples around the Arctic to explore new avenues of funding.
Climate scientists discovered irreversibly-melted Arctic ice more than a decade ago, but the phenomenon was, until now, not commercially exploited.
By Canberra, Australia correspondent Erica Quarterbee on assignment in Launceston
Australian experts have been scratching their heads on how to fix the electrical power link between Tasmania and the mainland since it failed in December but a permanent solution may be at hand from the opposite side of the planet. The Basslink undersea cable has been problematic from the outset and finally failed shortly after Tasmania’s hydroelectric generators tried to use the link to export electrical power to the mainland.
Sweden’s Vattenfall is proposing a sustainable solution that will provide Australia’s eastern seaboard with reliable, baseload, renewable energy capacity.
Bass Strait is a relatively narrow, shallow sea passage that separates Tasmania from the mainland by a few kilometres. It is infamous for its rough seas and high winds.
Vattenfall propose to exploit its experience in wind and hydro-power, deploying a chain of wind turbines, wave, tidal and pumped storage within Bass Strait. The ambitious plan is to build two land-bridges joining Cape Otway in Victoria to Cape Grim in Tasmania, via King and smaller Islands to the East; and Wilsons Promontory in Victoria to Cape Portland in Tasmania, via Flinders, Cape Barren and minor islands. Continue reading
The following appears to be a leaked draft of a speech to be given by the CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America at a press conference later today (USA time) . Author details will not be provided with this article to protect our sources.
Embargoed until 16:08, 1/8/2016
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I speak now to you as the most recent and indeed the last President of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Group has determined that it will be unable to sustain a profitable business in the USA and will have closed and abandoned all of its physical facilities in the nation by the time of this press conference. All factories, warehouses, offices and testing grounds have been abandoned without expectation of compensation. Continue reading
Every millimetre of sea level rise has consequences.
By Canberra, Australia correspondent Erica Quarterbee
Scientists in Australia have discovered giant, deadly funnel-web spiders nesting in trees in the Booderee National Park in New South Wales.
Dr Thomas Wallenius from the Australian National University suggested that a mutation from the ground-dwelling genus Atrax to the tree-dwelling genus Hadronyche could be a consequence of rising sea levels. As sea levels rise and inundation becomes more likely, the larger equally deadly, tree-dwelling genus is likely to become the dominant one.
By Canberra, Australia correspondent Erica Quarterbee
A draft advertisement for the position of Chief Engineer is circulating through the corridors of power in Canberra.
The Chief Engineer is to run an independent Bureau to advise on policies relating to technologies and to audit spending on infrastructure and deployment of technologies within all of government. The Bureau of the Chief Engineer will operate as an independent, professional, “corporate consultancy and inspectorate” to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Australia has lacked a Science Minister since the installation of the current government. It’s understood that the Prime Minister’s Office wants to install a permanent mechanism by employing independent professionals who are able to interpret the science and technology for relevance and effectiveness.
By Australian correspondents Erica Quarterbee and Jennie Drimmof.
Greg Hunt
Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott MP BEc LLB MA has instructed the Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt MP BA LLB MA to form the best possible team to represent Australia at the IPCC Olympics later this year, culminating in the COP21 Games in Paris.
A total budget allocation of $412,786.24 means that the Minister has had to cut some corners in terms of team numbers, travel and accommodation arrangements. The budget has to stretch to 2 sets of games, the 4-day UN-FCCC ADP preliminaries in Bonn, Germany in mid-October and then the 14-day finals in Paris, France starting at the end of November. Continue reading
By Tórshavn, Faroe Islands correspondent Arne Hjelingsson
Hundreds of brave Faroese men grabbed whatever sharp implements they could find as they rushed to the shore to repel an invasion of foreigners.
Photo: Daily Wail
By Ochsbridge, UK correspondent Summer Rose Winslip-Harrow
Picture Source: Guardian
The Prince of Wales today renewed his warning of the increasing urgency to tackle climate change, with the deadline for action drawing ever closer.
His Royal Highness today stated we have just 35 years to save the planet from catastrophic climate change.
HRH has been meticulously assessing the science of climate change for more than a decade; calculating and narrowing in on the deadline for climate action.
In May 2008 he urged action within 18 months to avoid a climate change disaster. Then again, in mid 2009, he reminded us that we had only 96 months to avert catastrophic climate change.
It may be too late to wait for the next warning in ca. 23 years; renewing the call for decisive action within the next 175 years to avert a real climate catastrophe.
By Potsdam, Germany correspondent André Visuel-Credable
The esteemed head of the much-lauded PIK – Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Professor Hans Joachim (“Call me John”) Schellnhuber is very pleased with the mid-summer installation of the Institute’s new heating system. “Warm Hans” Schellnhuber is perhaps best known for his inspirational contribution as advisor to Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences; as vocal, trusted advisor to Germany’s Chancelloress, Angela Merkel and as a long-term, full member of the Club of Rome (aka The Latter Day Church of Thomas Malthus) Continue reading
by Ochsbridge, UK correspondent Summer Rose Winslip-Harrow
Peeling Centrifuges
PETA calls for a boycott on Nylon following their research which reveals the inhumane treatment of animals in the production of Nylon. On a tip-off from an undisclosed source, an investigative team penetrated security at a DuPont plant filmed some of the production process and gained access to both process control PC’s and the research lab’s secret computer files. Continue reading
The Consternation 