Coronavirus tipped to trigger record fall in global emissions

Global carbon emissions are tipped to fall 6 per cent this year, more than during any previous economic crisis or war, led by a plunge in fuel consumption as the coronavirus hits economic activity and travel.

Emissions from global aviation are estimated to fall
by up to 350 million tonnes by the end of the year.

But experts say that won't be enough to achieve the Paris Agreement's ambition of limiting global warming to as close to 1.5 degrees as possible.

Climate change publisher Carbon Brief expects reductions in factory output and travel as countries try to control the spread of coronavirus will cut 2 billion tonnes from worldwide emissions, which hit a record 36.8 billion tonnes last year.

"The coronavirus crisis could trigger the largest ever annual fall in CO2 emissions in 2020, more than during any previous economic crisis or period of war," Carbon Brief says.

Read the story from The Age by Mike Foley - “Coronavirus tipped to trigger record fall in global emissions.”

Melbourne, get set for a warm spring and early summer

We’re heading for a warm and sunny Melbourne spring, with summer set to arrive early this year.

Melbourne is set for a warm spring this year.

Winter is almost behind us, and soon we'll came out of hibernation to attend park parties, outdoor barbies and the Spring Racing Carnival.

This year’s festivities are less likely to be marred by rain, with the weather bureau forecasting a drier than usual spring.

Bureau of Meteorology long-range forecaster Dr Andrew Watkins said temperatures would be one to two degrees warmer on average, equalling more glorious spring days in the high 20s or early 30s.

Read the story from The Age by Chloe Booker - “Melbourne, get set for a warm spring and early summer.”

Southeast Asia closes island beaches to recover from climate change, tourism

BANGKOK - More popular Southeast Asian islands will be off limits to visitors this year as officials seek to protect eco-systems crumbling from warming seas and unchecked sprawl, despite the risk to tourism revenues and tens of thousands of jobs.

Southeast Asian beaches are being closed to allow
them to recover from the effects of climate change.

Thailand will shut Maya Bay, which famously featured in "The Beach", starring Leonardo DiCaprio, for four months a year, from June. In the Philippines, officials plan to close Boracay island for six months at the end of April.

"Islands have very fragile eco-systems that simply cannot handle so many people, pollution from boats and beachfront hotels," said Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine expert in Bangkok.

Read Rina Chandran’s story from ABS/CBN News - “Southeast Asia closes island beaches to recover from climate change, tourism.”

Victoria to turn to Tesla battery power in time for next summer

Two large lithium-ion batteries will be built and connected to the grid in regional Victoria this year, giving the state’s west a significant renewable energy boost in time for next summer.

Two large-scale batteries will be built in Kerang and Ballarat this year.

The batteries, which will store solar and wind-generated energy,  will be built near Ballarat and Kerang and will have a combined generation capacity of 55 MW and a combined energy storage of 80 megawatt-hours – giving them more than half the power of South Australia's gigantic 100MW Tesla battery.

Read Adam Carey’s story from The Age - “Victoria to turn to Tesla battery power in time for next summer.”

New Nissan Leaf EV confirmed for Australia delivery

As customers in the UK begin taking delivery of Nissan’s next generation all-electric LEAF, news has emerged that the latest version of the world’s highest selling EV is due to arrive on Australian soil sometime after July this year, and before the end of June 2019.

The new Leaf EV from Nissan.

In a statement published on the Nissan website on Tuesday, the Japan-based auto giant said the new LEAF would go on sale in seven markets in Asia and Oceania during the coming fiscal year, including Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

The company is also exploring introducing the zero-emission car in other markets in the region, including Indonesia and the Philippines, it said.

As noted above, Nissan has led the global electric vehicle market on sales since the first model went on sale in 2010, with more than 300,000 cars sold over the past seven years.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Sophie Vorrath - “New Nissan Leaf EV confirmed for Australia delivery.”

(We continue to struggle with the idea that personally owned private transport is simply unsustainable in an energy constrained world. 

Electric or otherwise, the personal owned private transport is of itself energy-rich and is only viable because of a road network infrastructure paid for by the public - it’s about ensuring private profit at public expense. 

Any rhetoric arguing about the convenience and practicality of private transport can be matched easily with a sophisticated public transport system that can answer the needs of both freight and people. The answers to the problems exist, we simply need to the will to make them happen.

However, it is unlikely that the profit intent behind the private transport industry will not submit easily to a push from public transport enthusiasts, but seemingly unbeknown to many, the drive for public transport has an implacable ally in climate change and if we are to have any chance at all of avoiding the inadequate promise made in Paris in December of 2015 then the private vehicle, electric or otherwise, must give way to an advanced public transport infrastructure)

The top five oil and gas trends for 2018

This year will be the year of the oil and gas revival, as prices lift performance and major projects come online.

Contracts will come under scrutiny as buyers push back.

While Australia is increasing its focus on securing domestic gas supply, it is taking a greater role globally and evolving the industry.

Wood Mackenzie Australasia oil and gas leader Saul Kavonic has outlined the five trends that will mark LNG growth in 2018.

Australia has been ramping up its LNG projects for a number of years, and 2018 will see it finally take the world’s number one spot from Qatar.

Read Cole Latimer’s story from today’s Melbourne Age - “The top five oil and gas trends for 2018.”

This year has been one of the most volatile in Australia’s energy history.

Solar panels are increasingly becoming a norm for residential and commercial buildings.

It has been punctuated by some of the highest electricity prices in the world, a future gas shortage, power station closures, fears of a repeat of South Australia’s total state blackout, and a half-built energy policy as a breakwater against an under strain power grid’s failure.

Read the story by Cole Latimer in today’s Melbourne Age - “People power will shape Australia's energy market in 2018.”

UN says 2017 set to be among top three hottest years, as Bonn climate talks seek action despite US stance

This year will be among the three hottest on record, the United Nations says, as almost 200 countries begin talks in Germany to bolster a global climate accord that the United States plans to quit.

A polar bear greets delegates at a UN
climate change conference in Bonn.

Temperatures this year will be slightly less than during a record-breaking 2016 and roughly level with 2015, the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said, part of a long-term warming trend driven by greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

"We have witnessed extraordinary weather," WMO head Petteri Talaas said, pointing to extreme events including a spate of hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean, monsoon floods in Asia and drought in East Africa.

The WMO attributed the small dip from last year to the fading effects of a natural El Nino event that released extra heat from the Pacific Ocean in 2016.

Read the ABC News story - “UN says 2017 set to be among top three hottest years, as Bonn climate talks seek action despite US stance.”

How to stop climate change and reverse global warming

Two books published this year on the same day (April 18) and on the same subject, climate change. 

Two books that could change our lives, our children’s lives and how we view the challenge of climate change.

Two books that make reversing global warming look like it’s within reach. At last.

So far, we’ve heard too much doom and gloom. And we still do, as attested by a recent Op-Ed from environmental activist Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org.  Published on the New York Times last month, it has a scary title: The Planet Can’t Stand This Presidency, with a subtitle that doubles down on the message: “Trump is in charge at a critical moment for keeping climate change in check. We may never recover.” And the opening sentence is a scary reminder that coal pollution kills.

But it’s time to try a different approach. Let’s be positive: Global warming can be arrested, and better still, we may be able to reverse it. It will require a lot of effort and goodwill, but it can be done. And it won’t be costly, on the contrary, it will jump start a new age of prosperity and well being.

Read the Impakter story by  Claude Forthhomme - “How to stop climate change and reverse global warming.”

Antarctic sea ice levels hit record low, but experts are not sure why

Sea ice levels in Antarctica dropped to a record low this year, but experts say there is not a clear link to climate change.

 Sea ice levels in the Antarctic have experienced huge variability in the last few years. 

More than 60 meteorologists and scientists from around the world are holding a week-long meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, to better understand sea ice changes on the frozen continent.

Dr Jan Lieser from the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre said sea ice levels had experienced a “massive increase” in variability over the past few years.

Read The Guardian story - “Antarctic sea ice levels hit record low, but experts are not sure why.”