Former fire chiefs warn Australia unprepared for escalating climate threat

More than 20 former fire and emergency chiefs from multiple states and territories say Australia is unprepared for worsening natural disasters from climate change and governments are putting lives at risk.

Two dozen former fire and emergency chiefs from all over
Australia want the next prime minister to ensure emergency
 services have the resources to fight natural disasters
caused by climate change. 

In a statement issued before a federal election date is announced, 23 former emergency services leaders and senior personnel have called on both major parties to recognise the need for “national firefighting assets”, including large aircraft, to deal with the scale of the threat.

The signatories include: Greg Mullins, the second-longest serving fire and rescue commissioner in New South Wales and now a councillor with the Climate Council; Neil Bibby, a former chief executive of Victoria’s Country Fire Authority; Phil Koperberg, a former NSW rural fire service commissioner and former Labor MP and NSW environment minister.

Read the story from The Guardian by Lisa Cox - “Former fire chiefs warn Australia unprepared for escalating climate threat.”

Five reasons to stay positive in the face of climate inaction

In the absence of Australian federal climate leadership, states, territories, cities and towns are getting on with it, and international action on climate change is forging ahead.

Here are just five examples of climate action happening right now:

Read this report from the Climate Council -  “Five reasons to stay positive in the face of climate inaction.”

’Frankenstein’s monster': Energy plan may allow states to 'free ride’

States and territories that slash greenhouse gas emissions will likely do the heavy lifting while others would be allowed to do less under the Turnbull government’s update of its signature energy plan.

The federal government is seeking to combine climate
and energy policy in Australia for the first time.

Energy analysts raised concerns about the latest updated National Energy Guarantee, with one describing it as a "Frankenstein's monster" rather than a "light hand" of management.

The nation’s energy ministers discussed the blueprint on Friday afternoon ahead of a meeting in Sydney on August 10 where states and territories will be asked to sign up to the deal.

Read the story by Nicole Hasham, Peter Hannam and Cole Latimer from The Age - ”’Frankenstein’s monster': Energy plan may allow states to 'free ride’.”

‘Big issue': Turnbull government's energy plan may curb state ambition

The Turnbull government is set for showdown with states and territories over its signature energy policy after new details of the plan revealed any additional efforts by the states to curb carbon emissions would not count towards the national target.

The emissions intensity of the power sector is on the increase.

A key policy design paper circulated among the states at the weekend and obtained by Fairfax Media appears to  recommend a review of the emissions reductions target only every five years and provides for exemptions of trade-exposed companies that constitute as much as a fifth of demand.

The exemption will be welcomed by manufacturers such as steelmaker Bluescope, but critics of policy regard aspects of the plan including the five-year reviews as inflexible at a time when the energy market is changing quickly.

Read Peter Hannam’s story from The Age - “‘Big issue': Turnbull government's energy plan may curb state ambition.”

‘Detrimental': government pressured to compromise on energy plan.

The federal government must overhaul its centrepiece power policy or suffer defeat at a crucial meeting with states and territories, the ACT government has signalled after a report found the package risked driving up electricity prices and may not reduce the chance of blackouts.

Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg is on Wednesday
expected to urge the states to adopt the national energy guarantee.

Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is due to address the National Press Club on Wednesday, when he is expected to issue a rallying cry to states and territories to sign up to the national energy guarantee and end the ideological stalemate that has paralysed Australia's climate policy for more than a decade.

But the ACT government – geographically Australia’s smallest jurisdiction – has received expert advice that cast serious doubt on aspects of the package, and on Tuesday warned it will not back a plan that is “detrimental” to its constituents.

The Turnbull government needs unanimous support to change electricity laws at a Council of Australian Governments’ energy ministers meeting in Melbourne next week.

Read Nicole Hasham’s story from The Age - “‘Detrimental': government pressured to compromise on energy plan.”