Australia’s use of accounting loophole to meet Paris deal found to have no legal basis

Australia’s plan to use an accounting loophole to meet its commitment under the Paris climate agreement has no legal basis and suggests it has reneged on a pledge to make deeper emissions cuts once a global deal was reached, a new report says.

Climate Analytics says there are no grounds for Australia
to claim credit towards its Paris emissions target for
having beaten targets under the Kyoto protocol.

An analysis by Climate Analytics, a Berlin-based science and policy institute, found there were no grounds for Australia to claim credit towards its Paris emissions target for having beaten targets under its predecessor, the Kyoto protocol.

It found the two agreements were separate treaties and should not be treated as a continuation of one agreement.

Read the story from The Guardian by Adam Morton - “Australia’s use of accounting loophole to meet Paris deal found to have no legal basis." 

Britvic commits to 100% renewable electricity

Britvic has announced their commitment to 100% renewable electricity across all of their British manufacturing site from October 2018.

The soft drinks company, responsible for brands including Robinsons, Tango and J20, has partnered with E.ON on a new four year deal to provide power needs for British manufacturing sites. This includes 100 per cent wind generated electricity which will be sourced from the UK.

Iain Walker, Director of Business Energy Sales at E.ON, said: “We are proud our bespoke solutions are contributing to the ongoing energy security of Britvic’s site and in reducing the environmental impact - by providing our expertise and services when it comes to energy solutions we can allow the business to get on with what they do best – providing quality drinks for consumers.”

This initiative will ensure 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year are saved. This forms part of Britvic’s ‘Healthier Everyday’ programme which is designed to focus on the issues that matter most to its stakeholders to deliver sustainable solutions.

Read the ClimateAction story by Rachel Cooper - “Britvic commits to 100% renewable electricity.”

‘No gas supply shortage forecast,' energy operator says

A commitment from producers to increase domestic gas supplies after government threats to curtail exports will stave off gas shortages until at least 2030, a new report shows.

The ACCC forecast gas shortages of between 55 and 108
 petajoules if more domestic supplies weren't immediately secured.

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s 2018 gas outlook for the east coast said the forecast domestic gas shortfall that was predicted late last year by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had now been averted.

Read the story from The Age by Cole Latimer -“‘No gas supply shortage forecast,' energy operator says.”

India, France come together to reiterate their climate commitment

NEW DELHI: India and France came together to reiterate their commitment to provide leadership to slow down global warming and transition to a sustainable and low carbon development pathway to economic growth and development. As the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance got underway in New Delhi, co-hosts Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron left little room for doubt that concrete action would be the defining principle of the alliance. 

India and France have emerged as proactive leaders on climate
action, even as United States has retreated from global action.

“Now let’s get to work”, French President Macron told leaders at the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance. Macron called on the leaders from the ISA member countries to use the opportunity of the summit make concrete announcements that would pave the way for rapid deployment of solar energy. 

Read The Economic Times story by Urmi Goswami - “India, France come together to reiterate their climate commitment.”

(France and India appear intent on powering their respective countries with renewable energy sources, therefore removing fossil fuel powered generators from their energy infrastructure, leaving the proposed massive Adani Queensland coal mine as a stranded asset and as such  a financial catastrophe for the Indian Adani company, as it will be for Australia, along with being an ethical, moral, and environmental embarrassment - Robert McLean)

France to commit 700 million euros to International Solar Alliance

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - France will commit 700 million euros to the International Solar Alliance (ISA), President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday at the founding conference of the organization, reiterating the European country’s commitment to the alliance and clean energy.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with French
President Emmanuel Macron as he arrives to attend the International
 Solar Alliance Founding Conference in New Delhi, India, March 11, 2018.

ISA is an inter-governmental organization that aims to mobilize $1 trillion in funds for future solar generation, storage and technology across the world. It has 60 signatories, with 30 of those countries having ratified the agreement.

The treaty-based organization, launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, aims to promote solar energy in 121 countries.

Speaking at the conference, Macron said France was more than tripling its commitment to the alliance, and its total monetary contribution to the alliance stood at one billion euros.

Read the Reuters story by Sudarshan Varadhan - “France to commit 700 million euros to International Solar Alliance.”

Coalition pledge to turn on the gas could imperil Australia's climate target

Any move to boost gas production in Victoria by drilling onshore threatens to undermine Australia's commitment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, energy experts warn. 

  

The Coalition wants to end Victoria's
moratorium on onshore gas exploration. 

Political pressure is growing for Victoria to cut short its moratorium on onshore gas exploration, after Opposition Leader Matthew Guy joined Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in blaming the ban for soaring power prices.

The state Coalition promised on Monday to open up Victorian farmland to gas extraction before the end of the decade, reversing a ban it brought in more than three years ago in order to allay community fears about fracking.

One Melbourne-based gas drilling company is already eyeing off reserves in Gippsland and the Otways, should the Matthew Guy-led opposition take power and lift the ban. 

Read Adam Carey’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Coalition pledge to turn on the gas could imperil Australia's climate target.”

Biggest city in Florida, Orlando, commits to 100% renewables

US city Orlando has approved on Tuesday the new target of reaching 100 per cent clean and renewable energy by 2050.

Florida's Orlando aims for renewable energy by 2050.

Orlando is 40th US city to make the commitment, and the largest city in Florida to join the movement.

Carol Davis, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Orange County (LWVOC) – which leads the First 50 Coalition – said: “Today, Orlando takes its place on the regional, state and national stage as a forward-thinking city committed to a healthier, sustainable future. This is a first, important step, and we plan to continue to support and encourage the city to follow with concrete measures that solidify this commitment.”

Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando, had already signed the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda a few months ago, and has been involved in various green energy initiatives, including the Sierra Club’s Mayors for 100% Clean Energy campaign.

Read the ClimateAction story - “Biggest city in Florida, Orlando, commits to 100% renewables.”

U.S. commits $100bn a year by 2020 to fight climate change in developing countries

Yesterday, the US announced that by 2020, they would invest $100 billion per year to help developing countries fight climate change.

India and the US committed themselves to the new agreement in a joint statement, which took place during the Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in New Delhi.

Both countries also re-announced their commitment to ratify the Paris Agreement.

Within the statement, the two nations “reiterated their commitment to pursue low greenhouse gas emission development strategies in the pre-2020 period and to develop long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies.”

Read the ClimateAction story - “US commit $100bn per year by 2020 to fight climate change in developing countries.”

Earth Hour - will you 'turn off' to turn on to climate change mitigation

E

arth Hour - Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 to 9:30 PM local time

Join hundreds of millions of people around the world and turn off your lights for one hour to show your commitment to climate change action now.

It's time we speak up and demand a better future for our planet. Earth Hour demonstrates your commitment.

Countries around the world are committing to reduce their carbon emissions in an effort to work toward a new global agreement to tackle climate change. Now is the time to raise our voices and demand strong action from world leaders.

What starts as a simple flick of the light switch for Earth Hour brings us all together in a collective display of our commitment to creating a better future for the planet. We need your help to ensure our commitment is stronger than ever and seen all around the world.

Turn out your lights for one hour on Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 pm local time and take a stand against climate change. Can we count on you?