We thought Australian cars were using less fuel. New research shows we were wrong

In several speeches of late, Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted with a straight face that Australia is doing its bit on climate change. The claim was swiftly and thoroughly debunked. The truth is that the Morrison government is piggybacking on the efforts of others, to varying degrees of success.

We saw it in electricity generation, where the federal government has rejected a string of schemes to reduce emissions. Nonetheless the electricity sector is getting cleaner as ageing coal-fired power stations are replaced by renewables. This outcome owes nothing to federal government action. It reflects state government policies and the residual effects of the previous Labor government’s Renewable Energy Target, and public pressure that forced banks and insurance companies to stop supporting fossil fuels. 

In the transport sector, after decades of inaction, the government rejected recommendations from the Climate Change Authority to impose fuel efficiency standards on passenger vehicles, leaving Australia as the only OECD country without such standards. It has similarly derided action to promote the use of electric vehicles.

Read the story from The Conversation by John Quiggin and Robin Smit  - “We thought Australian cars were using less fuel. New research shows we were wrong.”

Josh Frydenberg rules out stronger climate policies despite Wentworth debacle

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has insisted the government’s climate policies are “settled” despite acknowledging the issue was a factor in the Wentworth byelection, where the government suffered a battering on Saturday night.

Kerryn Phelps is embraced by her wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps
 during her victory speech on Saturday night.CREDIT:

Mr Frydenberg brushed aside suggestions the Morrison government needs to overhaul its climate action policies, saying its suite of existing measures were enough to “meet and beat” Australia’s emission reduction pledges.

Independent Kerryn Phelps campaigned hard on climate change and Liberal volunteers on the booths have reported it was a key issue for Wentworth voters. Dr Phelps still appears to have won the Sydney seat in one of the largest byelections swings in federal political history, though pre-polls and postal votes that are still being counted will make the final result close.

Read the story from The Sydney Morning Herald by David Wroe - “Josh Frydenberg rules out stronger climate policies despite Wentworth debacle.”

‘Improved following consultation’: Turnbull’s awkward defence of backflip

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has insisted his signature energy policy was “improved following consultation”, prompting loud jeers from inside the House of Representatives.

Labor's Bill Shorten couldn't help smiling throughout question time. 

Mr Turnbull announced radical changes to the National Energy Guarantee on Monday morning as MPs threatened to cross the floor to oppose the policy and publicly questioned his leadership.

“The policy that we took to the party room last week has been improved following consultation,” he told Parliament on Monday afternoon.

When that answer attracted a raucous response, he said: “Well, it has been.”

Read the story by Jackson Stiles from The New Daily - “‘Improved following consultation’: Turnbull’s awkward defence of backflip.”

The Energy 202: Scott Pruitt's climate message is now official EPA guidance

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt has long insisted it is difficult for scientists to precisely measure the extent to which humans cause climate change.

Chief of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt,
insists it is too difficult for scientists to precisely measure the
extent to which humans cause climate change.

Now EPA's regional staff engaging with local communities and Native American tribes have been instructed to push the same message too.

This week, EPA staffers received an email instructing them to underscore the uncertainties about how human activity contributes to climate change.

Read Dino Grandoni’s story from The Washington Post - “The Energy 202: Scott Pruitt's climate message is now official EPA guidance.”