Leave now': evacuations urged as catastrophic conditions loom

People have been urged to immediately flee vast regions of Victoria and NSW, including some of the country’s most popular holiday spots, before horrific fire conditions at the weekend.

A bushfire near Nowa Nowa general store in East Gippsland.

Already, 17 people are missing and one is confirmed dead in Victoria, while seven people are confirmed dead in NSW. Another man is missing and presumed dead in NSW.

Speaking in Bairnsdale on Thursday afternoon, Premier Daniel Andrews said he held grave fears for those missing.

"These are very challenging circumstances and unique in many ways. To have this many people cut off from services is not something we would normally experience," he said.

Read the story from The Age - “‘Leave now': evacuations urged as catastrophic conditions loom.”

Victoria urged to reject Canberra's energy blueprint as deadline looms

States are being urged by the Energy Security Board to sign onto its National Energy Guarantee and end 15 years of costly instability on climate policy.

Waubra wind farm, central Victoria.

The Victorian government is being put under intense pressure to reject the Turnbull government’s energy blueprint by lobby and environmental groups as the August 10 deadline looms for states to sign on.

Read the story by Benjamin Preiss and Adam Carey from The Age - “Victoria urged to reject Canberra's energy blueprint as deadline looms.”

Australia criticised for lack of long-term climate policy

A global energy body has criticised Australia’s lack of a long-term climate policy and urged a swift embrace of electricity market reform.

The International Energy Agency’s four-yearly review of the country’s energy policies, released yesterday, focuses on the transition to a low-carbon economy and the role of gas — areas the Federal Government chose for special scrutiny.

Executive Director Fatih Birol. 

It says the resilience of Australia’s electricity system is being tested with the transition happening at a faster pace and scope than expected.

However, the IEA says despite pledging to cut emissions under the Paris climate agreement, the Federal Government ‘‘has not yet come forward with durable climate change policies after 2020’’ nor named a long-term goal.

It notes that while Australia has cut the emissions intensity of its electricity sector by 15 percent since 2005, it is still the highest of any IEA member country and double the average.

‘‘The country is not subject to any effective carbon constraint or rate under the Emissions Reduction Fund and its safeguard mechanism,’’ the report states.

‘‘Current energy efficiency measures and climate mitigation policies are not sufficient. To meet its 2030 target, domestic efforts need to increase.’’

While the agency sees the national electricity market, covering the east coast states, as a world-leader, the IEA warns greater collaboration on energy security is needed.

‘‘The energy policy governance in Australia is very complex and fragmented,’’ it states.

‘‘It suffers from frequent changes of policy direction and institutions at commonwealth level.’’

A stable and longer-term framework of climate and energy policies is critical for investors and consumers.

The Turnbull government has proposed a national energy guarantee to ensure a reliable and lower emissions electricity sector.

The IEA says this could be an effective market-based mechanism provided the government can ensure more competition, better connection between the states and stronger rules for the integration of renewables.

‘‘We don’t know the details (of the NEG) yet, but looking at the concept and the highlights, I would say that this is a golden opportunity for Australia to study and to bring the energy and climate targets together,’’ executive director Fatih Birol said.

However, the report warns the policy could not become a silver bullet solution.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says the IEA’s 52 recommendations align with what the government is already doing.

‘‘In particular, the national energy guarantee goes towards the review’s overarching recommendation for a stable, enduring policy response so that Australia can manage the energy transition already taking place,’’ he said.

Dr Birol briefed a group of about 100 stakeholders including Liberal, Labor and Greens MPs on the IEA report yesterday morning.

Greens energy spokesman Adam Bandt said the IEA made it clear the overwhelming majority of pollution cuts for Australia would come from renewables and energy efficiency and that was where the government should be spending its money.

From today’s Shepparton News - “Climate policy void warning.”

Paris braced for floods after heavy rain causes Seine River to burst banks

Parisians have been urged to use "extreme caution" after the River Seine burst its banks and water levels rose at least 3.3 metres above the normal level. 

A photo taken on 23 January shows flooded banks of the
river Seine, which has overflown after torrential rain has battered Paris 

Authorities closed several roads near the French's capital's City Hall and cancelled boat cruises as forecasters warned that the water is expected to keep rising in the coming days. 

Expected to reach its peak later this week, fears are mounting that it could surpass the water level recorded in 2016, when the worst flooding seen in Paris for decades led to the closure of several monuments and tourist attractions including the Louvre.

Read Ryan Butcher’s story on the Independent - “Paris braced for floods after heavy rain causes Seine River to burst banks.”

Stay out of extreme heat today if possible, Shepparton residents warned

Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary outdoor work with temperatures forecast to reach 41°C in Greater Shepparton today, triggering an extreme health alert and total fire ban from emergency authorities.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Stephen King said hot air above north-west Victoria was moving across the state’s northeast, causing the extreme heat.

‘‘We should see a cool change come later in the afternoon bringing the potential for severe thunderstorms. The day will be a little bit on the windy side, which is what led to a total fire ban warning,’’ Mr King said.

‘‘Maximum temperatures for the following days will be much cooler with 29°C forecast (tomorrow) and 30°C on Thursday. Looking a bit later, Christmas Day is expected to be mostly sunny with a top of 30°C.’’

CFA District 22 duty officer John Leben said brigades were preparing for all situations and from 10 am would have an incident management team ready at the Shepparton control centre.

Mr Leben said the CFA’s main concerns were many farmers were busy harvesting grain and there was the potential for sparks from machinery to cause fast-spreading fires.

‘‘We’ve given out a joint publication from CFA and Victorian Farmers Federation called the Voluntary Grain Harvest Guide that has the best information on how to proceed on total fire ban days,’’ he said.

‘‘We ask farmers to follow the guide and where possible don’t use farm machinery on a total fire ban day.’’

Mr Leben said the general message for people in Shepparton was to be aware of where you are, if you don’t need to do something today, don’t do it. Do it on days when temperatures are less and stay safe.

‘‘Put off going to Melbourne for the Christmas shopping and be aware; monitor any fires that start in your local area,’’ he said.

Mr Leben said tomorrow was too late to have your fire plan in place — it should be enacted today — and also too late to get a permit section 40 to do work on a total fire ban day.

‘‘Refer to the Can I Can’t I Guide by the CFA for more detailed information,’’ Mr Leben said.

Greater Shepparton City Council’s community director Kaye Thomson said it was important residents kept an eye on vulnerable people, including those aged over 65, particularly those living without air conditioning, children under five, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with existing medical conditions.

‘‘Many vulnerable people do not have friends or relatives living nearby, so if you have an elderly neighbour or live near someone you know is unwell, make sure to keep an eye on them during hot weather,’’ Ms Thomson said.

‘‘The temperature of the inside of a car can double within minutes, possibly leading to heat exhaustion and death. Please never leave kids, pets or adults in a parked car during hot weather.

‘‘We also encourage people or businesses where staff are required to work outdoors in the heat to look to alternative work activities to ensure good health of their staff. This could include starting and finishing work earlier, or working indoors if possible.’’

Story in today’s Shepparton News by Declan Martin - “Stay out of extreme heat today if possible.”