CASES E-Bulletin May 2011

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Tony

E-Bulletin May 2011
In this e-bulletin:
1. CASES joins in 100% Renewables’ National Doorknock Day, Saturday 28 May
2. CASES at Bondi the Beautiful Sea Fair, Sunday 5 June
3. Next CASES Monthly Meeting, 25th May
4. Events

  • Thursday 5 May: Sydney Premiere – “The Economics of Happiness”
  • Tuesday 10 May: ATA Sydney Central Branch meeting, “transforming heritage buildings into sustainable relics”
  • Sunday 15 May: Book Launch – Climate Change Denial: Heads in the Sand
  • 19 & 20 May: Talks on climate change at the Sydney Writers’ Festival
  • 23 & 24 June: Bushfire in the Landscape – Different values, a shared vision
  • Randwick Council Website Listed Events and Workshops
  • Waverley Council Website Listed Events and Workshops
  • Woollahra Council Website Listed Events and Workshops
  • Reduce Your Footprint Website Listed Events, Workshops and Courses

www.cases.org.au
info@cases.org.au
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Read here CASES E-bulletin May 2011

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Details of The $12 Billion of Government Subsidies that Support Fossil Fuels

Posted on May 1, 2011 by GJO ESQ

One of the discussion points at our monthly meeting last Wednesday was a the $12 billion of government subsidies paid in support of fossil fuel industry. Three questions were asked. Who came up with that figure? How is it apportioned? Where are the original sources?.

Here are some links and media reports for you to examine that may shed some light on the subject:

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/twelve-billion-holes-in-plan-to-cut-carbon-20110309-1bny3.html

http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=3308

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/43868.html

Link to the report: http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res/climate_expenditure_and_subsidies.pdf

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Sustainability News Site

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Tony

A news site which will include CASES information and from many other sustainability groups has been created.

Please review it at newsgate.tumblr.com and provide any feed back.

Continue reading →

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Home insulation program in hindsight

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Tony

CSIRO Just completed an analysis of the short and long term consequences of the Home insulation program.

This program promised to offer substantial sustainability benefits, and one would hope that the installation of homes continues.

There has however been a brutal attack on this scheme in part provided to protect us from the GFC, it is clear the we escaped the full impact of the GFC but the media and opposition would have you believe it was a disaster. All those house fires remember ?. Anyway Crikey has taken the figures further and you can see the details for yourself.

In short the analysis shows that both the long and short term rate of house fires was less that prior to the scheme. That is the Scheme was more masterfully executed, in respect of the rates of fires, than had been the case before it was undertaken. Apart from the fact the installers were the only ones that could and should be held responsible for fire causing installations, the governments “Duty of Care” did actually reduce the rate of fires.

As usual the people who plastered their opinion all over the media without any supportive facts will remain quiet once the truth is out.

Conclusion:

  • Continue to Promote the installation of insulation by reputable installers
  • Tell everyone you know this result because the media and opposition is unlikely to wipe the egg of their faces in public.
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CASES Members, Greg & Leeanne, On National TV Tonight (or Tomorrow Night)!

Posted on April 25, 2011 by GJO ESQ

As a part of Sustainability Street Phillip Bay’s involvement with CSIRO’s Energymark Project, Leeanne, and I were interviewed last Tuesday by Helen Wellings, the consumer affairs reporter for Channel Seven’s Today Tonight program that is broadcast @ 6:30 PM weeknights. We discussed how we sustainably retrofitted our home with SHW, PVs and a whole of house rainwater tank. We also discussed simple ways to reduce household energy and water use.

Helen contacted me today to inform us that the segment will be on either tonight or tomorrow night’s edition. Please tune in if you can. Otherwise, you can catch it after the fact on Today Tonight’s website.

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Grattan Institute Report Analyses 300 Climate Action Programs

Posted on April 25, 2011 by GJO ESQ

australia's productivity challenge

Because Australian governments have introduced more than 300 programs to tackle climate change since Australia signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, we can assess the evidence of what works and what does not in reducing carbon emissions. The evidence shows that what reduces emissions most effectively and cheaply is the creation of a market.

In this report, Grattan Institute analyses these 300 programs and finds that three market-based schemes have produced 40 per cent of Australia’s emissions reductions since 1997 (excluding once-off land clearing). This is easily the largest reduction in emissions induced by any mechanism government has tried.

By contrast, $7 billion worth of grant-tendering schemes – upfront grants to companies for proposals to reduce emissions – have done very little to reduce greenhouse pollution. Governments have also spent $5 billion on rebate programs to encourage the purchase of low-emission products. Again, the impact on emissions has been minimal.

A fourth kind of program – energy efficiency standards – can reduce emissions cheaply and effectively, but these are limited in scope. Based on experience, only a market-based model can meet Australia’s 2020 target, endorsed by both main political parties, of reducing annual emissions to five per cent below 2000 levels.

Here’s a link to the webpage: http://www.grattan.edu.au/pub_page/077_report_energy_learning_the_hard_way.html and here’s the link to download a copy of the main report: http://www.grattan.edu.au/publications/077_report_energy_learning_the_hard_way.pdf

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Coal consumption and carbon emissions counter

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Tony
carbon and coal counter
Powered By Energy Matters
Solar Power – Australia
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CASES E-Bulletin April 2011

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Tony

In this e-bulletin:

  1. CASES door knocks Phillip Bay for 100% Renewables’ Renewable Energy Survey
  2. Dirty Banks campaign update – new spoof ANZ video
  3. Climate Action Summit outcomes
  4. A 25 year plan to mine coal and coal seam gas in NSW – please make a submission by 15 April
  5. CASES Members’ Climate Change Efforts Featured in the Sydney Morning Herald
  6. Next CASES Monthly Meeting, 27rd April
  7. Events

Open or download this PDF document link

CASES E-bulletin April 2011

Our e-bulletin can be subscribed to by sending an email to info@cases.org.au

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A Response From Australia’s Dirtiest Bank, ANZ.

Posted on April 13, 2011 by GJO ESQ

Here is a form response to a protest email I sent recently ANZ via
Greenpeace. How shall we proceed? Should we all contact him directly?

“Thank you for your email regarding this issue. If you would like to know more about ANZ’s approach to the energy sector, please go to the following webpage –

ANZ’s Response to Greenpeace’s DIRTY BANKS Campaign

Should you wish to discuss ANZ’s approach further, please do not
hesitate to contact me directly by email to shane.lucas@anz.com or phone +61 3 8654 6273.

Regards… Shane
SHANE LUCAS | Head of Sustainable Development | Group Corporate
Affairs
ANZ | Level 9, 833 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3008, AUSTRALIA |
P: +61 3 8654 6273 | F: +61 3 8654 9955 |

ANZ is committed to environmental sustainability. Please think twice
before printing this email.”

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More Evidence On the REAL Costs Of Global Coal

Posted on April 12, 2011 by GJO ESQ

Please have a look at this brief report: http://www.skepticalscience.com/print.php?n=639

In summary, “the externalities are sufficient to triple the cost of coal power, if they were reflected in its price. If we include the coal externalities, it increases the levalized costs to approximately 28 cents per kWh, which is more than hydroelectric, wind (onshore and offshore), geothermal, biomass, nuclear, natural gas, solar photovoltaic, and on par with solar thermal (whose costs are falling rapidly). Suddenly coal doesn’t look like such a good deal.” QED.

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