We’ve run out of elections to waste – this is the last chance to make a difference on climate change

I’m no expert on Australian politics – I don’t know all the cross-currents that will determine this week’s balloting.

 “No matter what country you’re in, “fundamental
transformations” don’t come overnight; if you want
to dramatically trim carbon emissions in 2030, it means
you better start in 2020.” 

But I do know a fair amount about the climate crisis, having written the first book on the subject back in 1989. So I can say with confidence that if Australians want to play a serious role in fixing the greatest challenge we’ve ever faced, this may be about the last election where people retain enough leverage to make a real difference.

Global warming, after all, is a math problem: how quickly can we reverse the flow of carbon into the atmosphere? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its report last year, said that unless a fundamental transformation was fully underway by 2030, we stood no chance of meeting the targets the world set in the Paris climate accords. No matter what country you’re in, “fundamental transformations” don’t come overnight; if you want to dramatically trim carbon emissions in 2030, it means you better start in 2020.

Read the story from The Guardian by Bill McKibben - “We’ve run out of elections to waste – this is the last chance to make a difference on climate change.”

10 hot trends shaping Australian clean energy

Last year was a remarkable one for the clean energy industry by any standard, and confidence is high as we enter 2019.

Last year was remarkable in Australia for the clean energy industry.

Between record levels of clean energy and businesses recognising the value of low-cost renewables to cut their operating costs, we are starting to see a whole-of-economy energy transformation taking place.

It’s amazing and inspiring to watch the changes in real time, and below we’ve captured some of the biggest trends and milestones we saw in the year that was.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Kane Thorton - “10 hot trends shaping Australian clean energy.”

At least Donald Trump is true to himself about climate change

We are trying – admittedly, without much success so far – to make our home a Tr*mp-free zone. It's just too depressing. Watching a great nation disgrace itself before the rest of the world.

The former proudly self-proclaimed leader of the free world suffering a loss of confidence and applying for early retirement.

A nation that every year scoops the pool of Nobel prizes, electing a crazy, ignorant, wilful old man, not so much Trump as Chump.

His latest stroke of genius – reneging on America's commitment to the Paris climate agreement – has been almost universally condemned, including by a great number of Americans, especially many business leaders.

Read the comment piece by Ross Gittins in today’s Melbourne Age - “At least Donald Trump is true to himself about climate change."