Monthly Archives: November 2009

A surreal parliament grapples with real climate

Illusion looms large in the vast halls of power that make up Parliament House, Canberra, and it shows in the debate over emissions trading. Our politicians need a heavy dose of reality to make this scheme work, but we shouldn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Australian politics, carbon, carbon emissions and targets, climate politics, contrarians, economic activity, education, emissions trading, leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A surreal parliament grapples with real climate

Our pressing need to account for terrestrial carbon

We know how much carbon is released by fossil fuel burning, but we are relatively ignorant of what comes out of our farms and forests. The amount of carbon involved is enormous. This is an information battle that we have … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture and farming, biological resources, carbon, carbon emissions and targets, climate politics, forest science, forests and forestry, land use, science, Tasmanian politics, trees | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Our pressing need to account for terrestrial carbon

Humans and future climate: getting some clear air amid the noise of battle

We are confronted daily with a barrage of information and opinion about climate change and the human factor. Here are some thoughts on cutting through the noise, and a couple of simple questions for everyone to answer. [13 November 2009 … Continue reading

Posted in addresses-talks, Australian politics, bureaucracy, carbon, carbon emissions and targets, cars, changes to climate, climate politics, climate system, consumption, contrarians, economic activity, economic threat from climate, fossil fuels, future climate, growth, international politics, local government, modelling, natural climate influences, ocean acidification, oceanography, psychology, science, scientific method, social and personal issues, social mindsets, temperature, transport, waste | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Humans and future climate: getting some clear air amid the noise of battle