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Information on the web

In this section:

 


Zero Emission Forums

The Zero Emissions Strategy Conference

A virtual conference on Zero Emission solutions.

 


Science

RealClimate

An excellent website which discusses different climate change topics by climate scientists. They also a good links for people who need a basic understanding of climate change.

Energy Science

A good web site put together by leading Australian scientists. It includes scientifically based discussion papers largely focused on the nuclear issue.

The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)

One of the worlds leading research centers on climate change, located at Columbia University in New York City, is a laboratory of the Earth Sciences Division of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and a unit of the Columbia University Earth Institute. Research at GISS emphasizes a broad study of global climate change.

Hadley MET Office

One of the worlds leading research centers on climate change based at the UK MET office and includes a Myth busting page.

Accountability

Climate Science Watch is a nonprofit public interest education and advocacy project dedicated to holding public officials accountable for the integrity and effectiveness with which they use climate science and related research in government policymaking, toward the goal of enabling society to respond effectively to the challenges posed by global warming and climate change.

 


IPCC

IPCC 3rd Assessment Report

Climate Change 2001:The Scientific Basis and other reports from the IPCC Third Assessment Report

IPCC 4th Assessment Report

IPCC and links to the Forth Assessment Report and Draft Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability Report before is was dumbed down by the Government representatives seeking to prolong the life of the carbon industries.

 


Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Australian Greenhouse Gas Inventory

2005
2004

Victoria's Weekly Emissions

The Climate Groups Weekly Report

 


Economics

Stern Report written by Sir Nicholas Stern

At the time of writing Sir Nicholas Stern was head of the UK Government Economics Service and Adviser to the Government on the economics of climate change and development, has produce a report on the economic impacts of climate change.

"Its main conclusions are that one percent of global GDP is required to be invested a year in order avoid the worst effects of climate change, and that failure to do so could risk global GDP being up to twenty percent lower than it otherwise might be." Quote from Wikipedia

 


Impacts

Google Earth Sea Level Rise Maps

On this website you can access a version of the Google Earth map system which allows you to view sea level rise of up to 14m. Does not need the Google Earth program and works on normal web browsers.

Nasa's Earth Observatory

Track the progress of the latest hurricane, dust storm or fire from space with daily updates.

 


Solutions

Near Zero Emissions Stationary Energy Solution for Victoria

Beyond Zero Emissions has developed a Near Zero Emissions Stationary Energy Solution for Victoria that at this stage is one of the only plans to move any sector to a near zero emission model quickly. Well worth reading

Four Courners - Earth, Wind & Fire

The Four Corners documentary (16/04/2007) Earth, Wind & Fire by Jonathan Holmes, explores the future of renewables by looking at California and where that state is heading with energy production and contrasts California to the backwards policies of Australia. A must see, with video and transcript available on the web.

A Clean Energy Future

An excellent piece of work written by Dr Hugh Saddler, Dr Mark Diesendorf and Richard Denniess and comissioned by the Gas, Wind, Bio Energy, Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy Preformance industry bodies and WWF, A Clean Energy Future looks at how Australia can halve its greenhouse gas emissions form the stationary energy sectory by 2050 compared to 2001. A very good study well worth reading. Also includes seperate state plans for VIC, NSW, WA and QLD

 


Carbon Trading

Carbon Trade Watch

Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming
Blog and website. Soil Carbon Trading


Offsets

Offsets should be the final step implemented when seeking to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. The steps undertaken should be:

  • Establish your goal to reduce your emissions to zero.
  • Get commitment from your group/business/family/self to project then.
    • Reduce your use.
    • Use energy efficiently.
    • Use environmentally sustainable zero emission energy sources.
    • Offset those emissions you still have
  • Review your efforts and repeat improving each time.

Some people are quite negative about offsets. Here is one negative view of offsets from Melbourne's Public Transport Users Association Website and here is the Cheat Neutral Website.

However if you are going ahead and offset your emissions you should get an audit first. Groups like Carbon balance Consulting provide audits and follow a similar formula to the one we have outlined above, offsetting only as a last option.

Providers

Climate Positive

Greening Australia

GreenFleet

Climate Friendly

Carbon Neutral

Elementree

Carbon Balance Consulting

COzero

Easy Being Green

Carbon Planet

Go Green Car Loans MECU

Generation Green Car Loans Bendigo Bank

Sportzmortage offers a carbon offset package with it's home loads.

 


Aircraft Issues

Though domestic air travel is only 1% of Australia's emissions in some part of the world such as Europe it is much more significant. Groups such as PlaneStupid a camping strongly on this issue.

 


Peak Oil

Peak oil describes the point at which the global maximum rate of production of oil is reached.

This links to climate change in two ways.

Firstly as oil production slows the price of oil will rise. This will make technologies and fuels sources previously unattractive due to costs viable. This is both a positive and a negative out come as both zero emission technologies and more carbon intense fuels such as brown coal to diesel support by the Bracks Labor Government become economical, the problem of course is if the second of the two options become the main focus of dealing with the increasing price.

Secondly if price rise is significant or drop of in volume large the social and economic dislocation that could result will potentially stop, stall or slow any move to a Zero Emission society and achieving a solution to climate change.

Visit The Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas website if you are interested in this issue or want to get involved.

List of other Australian groups from ASPO Australia

Other sites

Global Oil Watch "Global Oil Watch is a premiere web portal providing breaking oil and gas news to energy industry professionals and analysts worldwide."

MyPeakOil is a comprehensive well laid out site where readers can upload stories. When I looked at it there were some good oil peak stories but also some globalisation conspiracy type stories which were taking the site off its core topic but at the same time there were some interesting stories on climate change. There was also a pro tar sands story.

info

Good BBC Radio Discussion on the issue of bio fuels (13 May 2007).

 


Portal

EcoEarth.Info

"EcoEarth.Info is a one of a kind Environment Portal - with genuine Internet search, cutting biocentric commentary & constant news and link tracking - all dedicated to achieving global environmental sustainability."

admin – Sat, 2006 – 10 – 14 17:28