Water resources minister 'totally' accepts drought linked to climate change

The drought and water resources minister, David Littleproud, has acknowledged he “totally” accepts that worsening droughts are linked to climate change, as he signalled more taxpayer support for regional communities was coming as Australia’s big dry “escalates”.

Littleproud, who stumbled last month by first telling Guardian Australia he did not know if climate change was manmade, then later clarifying he had always accepted the science on the role humans play in the climate changing, told the ABC on Sunday he understood the link between global warming and drought because “I live it”.

David Littleproud says he understands the link between
 climate change and drought because ‘I live it’.

The minister said the government had a responsibility to deal with climate change by facing up “to try and reduce our emissions”. But he said adaptation was now the main game. “This drought in my electorate alone has been going for eight years”.

Read the story from The Guardian by Katharine Murphhy - “Water resources minister 'totally' accepts drought linked to climate change.”

(Acknowledgement of climate change is easy, acknowledging that humans are actually causing the climate to change is going to be the truly difficult step for Minster Littleproud and his “jobs and growth” rhetoric burdened government counterparts. Even more difficult for Minister Littlepround and his coalition cohort its going to be effective action to mitigate the impacts of this quickly unfolding climate crisis - Robert McLean)

Senate launches inquiry into threatened species 'extinction crisis’

The Senate has launched an inquiry into Australia’s threatened species crisis after an investigation of national threatened species management by Guardian Australia revealed problems including poor monitoring and a lack of funding.

The southern corroboree frog is critically endangered, with
fewer than 50 individuals recorded in the wild in 2012.

The inquiry, initiated by Greens senator Janet Rice and supported by Labor and crossbenchers on Wednesday, will examine issues including the country’s alarming rate of species decline, the adequacy of Commonwealth laws that are supposed to protect threatened wildlife, and the effectiveness of funding for threatened species. 

Scientists have described the situation confronting Australia’s threatened species as a “national disgrace” and the systems and laws that are supposed to protect them as “broken”.

Read the story from The Guardian by Lisa Cox - “Senate launches inquiry into threatened species 'extinction crisis’.”

Labor pleased Turnbull's Paris bound, but skeptical of policies

L

abor has welcomed the announcement that Malcolm Turnbull will attend climate change talks in Paris this year but says the government is selling Australia short by taking global warming “sceptic” policies to the key meeting.

The prime minister revealed to Guardian Australia on Friday that it was his “intention” to attend the UN climate change meeting, which his predecessor, Tony Abbott, had decided to shun.

The government has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by at least 26% of 2005 levels by 2030, with the possibility of reducing it even further to 28% if the target does not adversely impact the economy

Read The Guardian story - “Turnbull government selling Australia short on climate change – Bill Shorten”.