The Rudd Government is swiftly squandering any credibility it had on climate change, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said today.

Senator Milne said, “How extraordinary that, on World Environment Day, with a global focus on climate change, our Environment Minister ducks, weaves and dances as if he were still on stage, while his colleague, the Minister for Coal, spruiks turning his favourite resource into a horrendously polluting transport fuel.

“At heart, the problem is that the Rudd Government is no more willing to challenge itself and ask the right questions than the Howard Government was. If this Government has not even got the courage to introduce strict mandatory labelling and minimum performance standards for all appliances, what hope is there for any rigour in the emissions trading scheme? (more…)

ACCIONA Energy (formerly known as EHN Oceania Pty Ltd) today announced that it will not proceed with its initial proposal for a wind farm along the Molonglo Range located 15kms south east of Queanbeyan and 25kms from Canberra. The decision follows ACCIONA Energy’s detailed evaluation of the proposed site over a period of years.

The wind farm, first proposed in 2004, was for up to 60 wind turbines with the capacity to generate green electricity to supply about 45,000 homes and avoid the production of over 245,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year. Extensive technical studies, environmental assessments and consultation with the community were carried out during 2004 and 2005. (more…)

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has criticised the NSW Government’s proposed Clean Coal Fund, being debated in parliament today, calling it a con job and delaying tactic designed to justify expansion of the coal mining industry.

“Clean Coal is a dangerous industry con designed to delay Australia’s transition to a new low carbon economy”, said Ms Rhiannon.

“Clean coal is unproven technology that cannot deliver drastic cuts in greenhouse emissions in time to avoid dangerous climate change. (more…)

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today welcomed Greenpeace International’s comprehensive report into carbon capture and storage, and said that the report confirms our view that we must act now to reduce emissions fast with the renewable energy and efficiency technologies which do exist.

Senator Milne said “We cannot further delay action on climate change, or continue to divert valuable budget dollars, because a hypothetical alternative future solution might allow us to keep using coal. (more…)

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today called on Prime Minister Rudd and Premier Brumby to link their plans for addressing the housing crisis to highly energy efficient housing and siting on effective,
networked public transport routes.

Senator Milne said “Cheap housing on the urban fringes will make will make it harder for struggling Australians to make ends meet unless it is required to be energy efficient and on public transport routes. With oil at US$100 a barrel already draining pockets, and an emissions trading scheme set to increase energy prices, we cannot address an issue like
this in a vacuum. (more…)

After questioning Climate Change Minister Penny Wong in Senate Estimates hearings today, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said that the Government’s claim to have science-based climate change policies is a complete nonsense.

Senator Milne said “The Rudd Labor Government has plucked its 60% 2050 target from the atmosphere and has foolishly locked itself into this target even though it must now understand it has no scientific validity.

“When asked what her understanding of dangerous climate change was, Minister Wong could not answer. (more…)

The Senate descended into climate chaos today in response to a motion moved by Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, calling on the Government to phase out perverse subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and reverse its decision to cut research funding into climate change science and renewable energy programs.

Senator Milne said “Anyone who thought a new era on climate had dawned, with the new Prime Minister saying that ‘climate change represents one of the greatest moral, economic and environmental challenges of our age’ had better think again. At the first test in the first sitting week, the new Government voted against a motion to prioritise climate programs
above fossil fuel subsidies. (more…)

As the world moves towards committing to science-based deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the Iemma government is heading in the other direction by selling long term leases on NSW’s state-owned generators, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “The Iemma government’s fire sale of electricity assets is being rushed through as the state winds down for the holidays. The Premier’s spin doctors are busy glossing over the difficult issues.

“Privatising the electricity industry is always a bad idea but this a particular silly time to be doing it. (more…)

(councillor column for November 22 edition of Bungendore Bulletin; shorter version sent to local papers in Eden-Monaro and the Canberra Times)

The election is only days away and like most campaigns before it, this one has been dominated by the major parties, as if there were only two voting options. It would be good if we could release ourselves from the ALP/Coalition stronghold and let them know that their policies are not good enough for a just and environmentally sustainable future. Every time there’s an election, The Greens are vilified by one group or another, including the major parties. (more…)

Responding to the calls for urgent action in the Nobel Prize-winning IPCC’s Synthesis Report overnight, the Australian Greens today launched a Six Step Climate Change Action Plan, which will ensure that Australia plays its part in the global effort to keep global warming under the dangerous threshold of 2°C.

“What we do, or do not do, about climate change in the next two terms of government will determine the course of human history. The world’s scientists have again made it clear last night that, to avoid dangerous climate change, global emissions must peak by 2015 if we are to stop climate change from spinning out of control,” Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

“The big old parties need to understand that there is such a thing as being too late.” (more…)