Australia among countries growing hotter faster: report

London: Summer days are growing hotter in the world's big cities at a significantly faster pace than the average rise in world temperatures.

A tennis fan does his best to keep cool on day four of
the Australian Open in Melbourne, this week.

It is a trend that could mean more deadly urban heatwaves in years ahead, scientists have claimed.

The trend is particularly pronounced in parts of Australia, Europe and, East Asia, a report released in the journal Earth's Future said.

In cities such as Paris, Houston, Moscow and Beijing, heat on the hottest summer days is growing two or three times as quickly as general temperature rises linked to climate change over the last 50 years, said researchers at the University of California-Irvine.

Read the story from today’s Melbourne Age - “Australia among countries growing hotter faster: report.”

Canberra biophysicist Graham Farquhar the 2018 Senior Australian of the Year

Dr Graham Farquhar has been named Senior Australian of the Year in recognition of his work in protecting food security in the world's changing climate.

Australian National University scientist Graham Farquhar
 has been named the Senior Australian of the Year.

Dr Farquhar's work at the Australian National University centres around photosynthesis - the process by which plants convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Read the Canberra Times story - “Canberra biophysicist Graham Farquhar the 2018 Senior Australian of the Year.”

Also, listen to the interview with Dr Fraquhar with Fran Kelly on Radio National.

(Dr Farquhar, has argued, that some species of our crops actually benefit from increases in carbon dioxide and although not qualified, in any sense, to challenge his findings about food security in a changing climate, reading suggests the accuracy of his claims are correct in the sort term, but will be unsupportable as the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere increases, fa act he would certainly be aware of - Robert McLean) 

The Big Australian under pressure to quit Minerals Council over coal lobbying

The world's biggest mining company has told lobby groups and politicians to "back off" and let the market resolve Australia's energy impasse, at its annual general meeting in Melbourne.

The Big Australian has told lobby groups and
politicians to "back-off" and let the market  resolve
Australia's energy and climate change troubles.

BHP Billiton chief Andrew Mackenzie made the comments as the company comes under pressure to cut its ties with the mining lobby, the Minerals Council of Australia.

The Minerals Council campaigned against Alan Finkel's Clean Energy Target and has lobbied for a new Government-funded coal-fired power station.

The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility says this undermines BHP's stated positions on climate change.

Listen to the Radio National interview why Fran Kelly - “The Big Australian under pressure to quit Minerals Council over coal lobbying.”

(Leave it to the market! It was a laissez-fair approach to the market that has brought the world untold troubles and most certainly worsened climate change and has long frustrated any attempts to mitigate what is happening and the damage it is doing Earth's atmosphere - Robert McLean)