Federal Budget 2015 – environment experts react: Environmental and energy issues did not feature heavily in the Budget, although there was a A$400 million total package of assistance for drought-stricken farmers (particularly relevant in the week that the Bureau of Meteorology called an El Niño), as well as an extra A$100 million in funding for the Reef Trust, aimed at safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef. Below, our experts react to the budget’s environmental and energy measures. Read More here
Category Archives: PLEA Network
Budget brief: what’s in the budget on climate change and renewables? Not much was announced in last night’s budget on climate change and renewable energy. However, a total of A$400 million was announced for drought assistance and tax breaks for farmers to implement water infrastructure, which could become increasingly necessary given we are seeing possibly the biggest El Niño – a phenomenon often linked to drought in Australia – since 1997-98. Although not badged as such, this could be considered as climate-related finance to deal with increasingly extreme drought, and flood, climatic conditions in Australia. ….Unfortunately, the rest of the budget doesn’t show much change in the current rate of climate change investment. Read More here
BOM: We’re calling it, the 2015 El Niño is here: We’re calling it. The Bureau’s ENSO Tracker status has moved from ALERT to EL NINO, signalling the official declaration by the Bureau of Meteorology of El Niño 2015.
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El Niño is often associatedwith drought in Australia. It may be cold comfort for those toughing out the current dry in parts of eastern Australia, but while El Niño certainly raises the risk of drought, it doesn’t guarantee it. Of the 26 El Niño events since 1900, 17 have resulted in widespread Australian drought. Read More here
11 May 2015, SCIENCEINSIDER: Antarctic researchers ponder challenges posed by increasing sea ice. Scientists working in Antarctica are feeling the impact of climate change in ways the public might find surprising. Although global warming is causing Arctic ice to melt and glaciers around the world to shrink, the problem in Antarctica is that the sea ice surrounding the continent is increasing and now hampering ship navigation and resupply operations. This week, scientists and logistics experts from the 30 nations working on the continent are meeting in Hobart, Australia, to exchange ideas on coping with the sea ice challenge. Read More here