Why Australia needs to become Asia’s innovation partner

If Australia wants to be a participant rather
 than a casualty of the Asian century, it
needs to engage with Asia’s huge and
growing capability and invest in innovation.

Asian economies are growing rapidly and the region is emerging as a major innovation hotspot. Some countries, such as Singapore, South Korea and Japan, now exceed Australia on the Global Innovation Index, and other smaller economies, although at a more formative stage, are catching up quickly. Science, technology and innovation have always been an important part of Australia’s trade and economic diplomacy presence in the region. An opportunity exists, however, for a new form of regional collaboration where the primary purpose is to co-develop innovation capacity. This recognises that Australia’s innovation capacity is not only held within its national borders but also includes the innovation capacity of other countries that it trades and collaborates with. Increasingly, those other countries are the emerging economies of Asia. The relationships created through this new form of collaboration will be critical to Australia’s ability to harness innovation for a prosperous and sustainable future.

Following in the footsteps of the twentieth century success of Japan, South Korea and Singapore, a new cluster of Asian countries, led by China and India, have achieved staggering levels of economic growth since the start of the 21st century. There are predictions that by 2050, three of the four biggest economies in the world will be Asian. China and India are tipped to take first and second place with the United States pushed into third place and Indonesia fourth. Countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are also rapidly moving up the rankings. Welcome to the Asian Century.

Read the story by Andy Hall and Jen Kelly from CSIROscope - “Why Australia needs to become Asia’s innovation partner.”

Climate change 'will push European cities towards breaking point’

Major British towns and cities, including Glasgow, Wrexham, Aberdeen and Chester, could be much more severely affected by climate change than previously thought, according to new research.

 A rescue boat in a flooded street of Nemours,
 near Paris, France, after downpours in June 2016.

The study, by Newcastle University, analysed changes in flooding, droughts and heatwaves for every European city using all climate models.

Looking at the impact by the year 2050-2100, the team produced results for three possible outcomes – low, medium and high-impact scenarios.

But even the most optimistic case showed 85% of UK cities with a river, including London, would face increased flooding.

In the high-impact scenario, some cities and towns in the UK and Ireland could see the amount of water per flood as much as double. The worst affected is Cork, which could see 115% more water per flooding, while Wrexham, Carlisle, Glasgow, and Chester could all see increases of more than 75%.

Read Tom White’s story on The Guardian - “Climate change 'will push European cities towards breaking point’.”

ANALYSIS: No market for Trump’s huge coastal oil exploration plan

Many energy analysts say flat prices, exorbitant costs, civic opposition, climate concerns and new transportation technology make major new offshore drilling enterprises unlikely, at least outside the Gulf of Mexico.

Energy analysts say flat prices, exorbitant costs, civic opposition,
climate concerns and new transportation technology make major
new offshore drilling enterprises unlikely.

With characteristic flamboyance, the Trump administration has set in motion a grand scheme to lure energy companies to explore for oil and gas across virtually all of America’s outer continental shelf, a deep marine domain encompassing billions of acres of ocean bottom.

Drawing a distinction from the Obama administration’s concerns about climate change and restricting offshore fossil energy development, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke cast President Donald Trump’s offshore drilling campaign as a study in American strength. “We’re embarking on a new path for energy dominance in America,” Zinke said. “We are going to become the strongest energy superpower.”

Read the Providence Journal story by Keith Schneider - “ANALYSIS: No market for Trump’s huge coastal oil exploration plan.”

Donald Trump Hasn’t Faced a Single Climate Change Question Since Hurricanes Hit

On Friday, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, declared that it was not appropriate to discuss the issue of climate change in the midst of a major set of hurricanes hitting the United States.

Hurricane discussions at the Whitehouse,
but no talk of climate change

Environmentalist and some lawmakers scoffed at the logic, equating it to a government official declaring counter-terrorism strategy taboo in the aftermath of a terrorism attack.

But though he has no actual control over what gets discussed, Pruitt’s position seems to be winning out. Few pundits are talking about climate change, and fewer reporters are asking about it, even as parts of Texas remain underwater from Hurricane Harvey and Florida braces for potential devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma.

Since August 23, there have been a dozen opportunities for reporters to question either President Donald Trump, top aides, or top White House spokespeople during on-the-record sessions. 

According to transcripts of those briefings, press conferences, and gaggles, not a single question about climate change or global warming has been asked in those sessions.

Read the Daily Beast story by Sam Stein - “Donald Trump Hasn’t Faced a Single Climate Change Question Since Hurricanes Hit.”