Governments at COP24 should focus on building a global electricity grid — Prof. Damien Ernst

‘Let’s be honest, all the plans that nations have put forward to decarbonise the economy are not working because if you look at the recent numbers, our CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions have risen (by 2.7%) in 2018. I would suggest at the next COP (UN climate change conference) they move away from their old recipes and focus on building the global electricity grid.

Prof. Damien Ernst believes a global energy
grid would put fossil fuels out of business.

‘Why is it the right way to decarbonise electricity? Because with such an infrastructure renewable energy would be so cheap they would put fossil fuels out of business. Once this infrastructure is built, you would lose money if you still use fossil fuels so the global grid would accelerate the decarbonisation of our economy.’

How would it make renewable energy so cheap?

‘Let’s take PV (solar) energy as an example. When you look at the price of electricity between 11am-3pm, prices are very low because it is when PV produces a lot of electricity. In a global grid they (energy producers) could sell the excess to other parts of the world at higher prices. It would really force the building of renewable energy (infrastructure) in many parts of the world because they could access a global market.’

Read the Medium story by Steve Gillman - “Governments at COP24 should focus on building a global electricity grid — Prof. Damien Ernst.”

Deposit return scheme proposed in England to fight plastic waste

The UK Government has put forward plans to introduce a deposit return scheme to dramatically reduce the amount of waste from drinks.

UK Government looks to deposit return scheme to cut plastic waste.

Single use containers, either plastic, glass, or metal, could soon be subject to a small charge which consumers will get back if they return the item. Businesses involved are then responsible for the bottle.

Similar schemes in other European countries have seen an increase in recycling rates; in Germany, it has helped recycling rates climb to an astonishing 97 percent.

Read the ClimateAction story - “Deposit return scheme proposed in England to fight plastic waste.”

Smothering charities: the plot to keep critics quiet next election

Can't stand politics?

Organisations like the Australian Conservation Foundation
would be allowed tax deductibility only if they cleaned up oil spills.

The good news is that when the election campaign proper begins, they'll ease off on the abuse and put forward policies. They'll have to.

And those policies will be scrutinised by just about every interest group there is. That's the way it works. They'll rate them, produce scorecards according to how they'll affect things such as education, health, defence, foreign aid and the environment, assessing what's being offered.

Unless the Coalition stops them. And it's minded to.

Read Peter Martin’s comment in today’s Melbourne Age - “Smothering charities: the plot to keep critics quiet next election.”