The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse on 23 March 2016 marks the World Meteorological Day, a global event organised by the World Meteorological Organization and the worldwide meteorological community with the goal “to contribute to a better understanding of climate variability and climate change, as well as to the development of much needed climate applications to address some of the major challenges of this century.”
We say bring it on: Let’s talk about climate change! Let’s talk about those worrying news about February becoming the hottest month on record on this planet. According to NASA, average temperatures in February were 1.35°C above the norm. You need to take a look at NASA’s graph to understand how dramatic that temperature-jump is.
Inspired by the concerned meteorologists, we launch a survey about Geelong councillors’ personal opinion about climate change, and we talk with councillor John Irvine about this in the program. We listen to an American climate scientist, Dr James Hansen, who published a report this week about climate change and the dire consequences of our current inaction. And we talk with author David Spratt who last week published a new paper about the climate emergency, titled ‘Climate Reality Check’.
Our guest in the studio is energy consultant Heidi Fog who is an expert in practical solutions which are not only climate friendly but also financially rewarding. We have breaking news about Geelong’s first bicycle ‘library’, Pushy Libary. And we talk with gas-mining protestor Dan Lanzini about the news laws that the New South Wales government has put in place to try and stop the protesting against fossil fuel projects, while at the same time they’ve make it cheaper for companies to pollute the environment.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 114:
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Guest in the studio:
Heidi Fog, Balanced Sustainability, Geelong
Live interviews over the phone:
Councillor John Irvine, Geelong Council
Dan Lanzini, activist and coordinator at Pilliga Push
Pre-recorded:
David Spratt, author, Climate Code Red, Melbourne
Rusty, bicycle librarian, Pushy Library, Geelong
LISTENER SERVICE
Interviews
Audio interviews in excerpt from this Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse
John Irvine
» Right-click to download the audio file (MP3)
» Read more about the Geelong Council Climate Change Poll – and see what the councillors replied.
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David Spratt: ‘Climate Reality Check’
As planet burns hot, a new report by David Spratt says that the Paris Climate Agreement of December 2015 is already a relic of historic failure.
» Listen to the interview with David Spratt (1:30 min)
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Heidi Fog’s newsletter
Stay up-to-date with Balanced Sustainability by subscribing to the quarterly newsletter ‘Environmental Sustainability | Solutions and Inspiration’
– which is done in the footer of the front page.
INFOGRAPHIC: How citizen-consumers will accelerate climate action via the home https://t.co/J69O7L4rCd #Home2025 pic.twitter.com/cxRyDudMqY
— The Climate Group (@ClimateGroup) March 29, 2016
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Dan Lanzini
» Right-click to download the audio file (MP3)
Read and hear more about the anti-gas mining protests in Pilliga Forest and the new anti-protesting laws in NSW:
» The Sustainable Hour no 112:
The case of civil disobedience: Meet the friendly ‘eco-fascists’ in the Pilliga
Photo of Dan Lanzini: from Facebook
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Pushy Library – a ‘bicycle library’ in Geelong
» See more on www.pushylibrary.org
Pushy Library also is a place where you can borrow books
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
Reducing household energy and water bills
The City of Greater Geelong in partnership with EnviroShop is hosting a number of free information sessions for residents who are interested in reducing household energy and water bills. At these sessions you will receive practical information on how to save through the program and you’ll have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with sustainability experts and ask questions specific to your situation.
Next session is on Tuesday 5 April 2016 at 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Geelong Library.
» Register here or call 1300 430 430 for more information.
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LISTENER SERVICE
More information
Links, quotes and excerpts in relation to this Sustainable Hour
CLIMATE SCIENCE:
James Hansen about ice melt, sea level rise and superstorms
The American scientist and climate activist Dr James Hansen and 18 leading climate experts published a peer-reviewed version of their 2015 discussion paper on the dangers posed by unrestricted carbon pollution on 22 March 2016. He talks about it in this video, which he posted on youtube.com on the same day.
In the video, James Hansen explains about the study, and how it adds to the growing body of evidence that the current global target or defense line embraced by the world — 2°C total global warming — “could be dangerous” to humanity.
A 2°C warming should be avoided at all costs. This is not news to people who pay attention to climate science, though it may be news to people who only follow the popular media.
The warning is, after all, very similar to the one found in an embarrassingly underreported report last year from 70 leading climate experts, who had been asked by the world’s leading nations to review the adequacy of the 2°C target.
» Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics – 22 March 2016:
Ice melt, sea level rise and superstorms: evidence from paleoclimate data, climate modeling, and modern observations that 2°C global warming could be dangerous
Research article by Dr James Hansen and 18 climate experts
» Washington Post – 22 March 2016:
We had all better hope these scientists are wrong about the planet’s future
» Grist – 22 March 2016:
The scientist who first warned of climate change says it’s much worse than we thought
“Sea levels could rise by more than 15 metres by 2500 if greenhouse-gas emissions continue to grow.”
» Nature – 30 March 2016:
Antarctic model raises prospect of unstoppable ice collapse
“Sea level rise threatens more people than estimated earlier: over a quarter of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometres of coast in areas less than 100 metres above current sea level.”
» IOP Science – 3 March 2016:
Over the hills and further away from coast: global geospatial patterns of human and environment over the 20th–21st centuries
» Catholic Climate Movement:
Sea level rise threatens more people than estimated earlier – over a quarter of world’s population lives within 100 km of coast in areas less than 100 m above current sea level
» The Age – 1 April 2016:
Shift to zero-carbon power must start by 2018 to avoid extra warming: study
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CLIMATE SCIENCE:
The economic cost of climate change
“According to a Deloitte Access Economics Report commissioned by the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities, natural disasters in Australia are expected to cost $33 billion per year by 2050.”
“At an expected cost of up to $33 billion per year by 2050, it is clear that neither Australian Governments nor businesses can afford to ignore the financial impacts of natural disasters and the economic cost of climate change.”
» The AIM Network – 28 March 2016:
Natural disasters in Australia to cost $33 billion per year by 2050
» The Sydney Morning Herald – 27 January 2015:
Warmer, drier climate locked in for Melbourne, says CSIRO–Bureau of Meteorology report
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CLIMATE POLICY:
Climate Charter
Environmental Justice Australia has launched an ‘Adopt the Climate Charter’-campaign, calling for Premier Daniel Andrews to include a Climate Charter in Victoria’s climate change laws.
You already know how urgent the task of emissions reduction is becoming. Australia has agreed to targets as part of the Paris Climate Agreement, but we must do more if we are to meet them. A Climate Charter provides a mechanism to make all government decisions take climate into account.
Also, tackling climate change at state level provides a new way to get around Federal government inaction on this most urgent of all environment issues.
Victoria’s Government will decide whether to include a Climate Charter in the Climate Change Act in the next few weeks, so we need to show support for this important step in addressing climate change during the month of April.
» Please add your voice:
Tell Daniel Andrews: Victoria needs a Climate Charter
Environmental Justice Australia is a citizen-funded, not-for-profit, public interest legal practice, using the law to protect and restore Australia’s environment.
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HEALTH POLICY:
$3.3 million to research wind turbine syndrome
The Australian government is handing out $3.3 million for research into so-called ‘wind turbine sickness’ – and zero for research into coal seam gas and coal mine sicknesses:
“The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has announced more than $3.3 million to research wind turbine syndrome, weeks after more than 100 climate change scientists lost their jobs. Last year, amidst political attacks on the renewable energy sector, the NHMRC said there was “no consistent evidence” in the body of science that wind turbines caused adverse health effects.”
Sources and read more:
» BuzzFeed – 22 March 2016:
The Government Just Quietly Gave Millions To Find Out If “Wind Turbine Syndrome” Exists
» Motherboard – 7 November 2014:
No, Wind Turbines Do Not Make Us Sick, Says Most Comprehensive Study Yet
» RenewEconomy – 23 January 2012:
Reports debunk wind turbine syndrome
The Daily Telegraph Pole
posted this message on Facebook:
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On 24 February 2016, energy minister Josh Frydenberg and his government launched The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Growth Centre with a $15.4 million budget over four years and chaired by the oil and gas industry executive Ken Fitzpatrick – with a declared goal to “improve productivity” in the fussil fuel sector, something which in normal words would translate to “continue to ignore the climate science” and “pollute the skies with even more carbon.”
With his Facebook advertisement, (above), his choice of photo in itself makes a clear statement about which part of the energy sector Frydenberg represents as a minister. In his capacity as Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia he is not shy of boasting openly about this. Like Tony Abbott, he often repeats various claims about coal being “good for humanity”. The photo is from a gas plant in Northern Australia.
» www.minister.industry.gov.au
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“I noticed a report that the northern hemisphere tipped over the marker of 2 degrees Celsius above “normal”. This was to be one of the key markers of global political failure on climate change. But did our prime minister – who I purposely sat next to in 2009 as a show of support when he crossed the floor on carbon pricing – say anything? Not that I heard. Six years ago he would have led the commentary and the conversation within the community, and rightly so. Now the space is vacated. Since taking the top office, the only noise I’ve heard from him on this topic is crickets. It’s an exciting time for crickets, I guess.”
Rob Oakeshott, a member of state and federal parliament for 17 years – in The Saturday Paper
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MELBOURNE EVENT:
Rally in support of CSIRO jobs
On 4 February the CEO of CSIRO announced the mass axing of 350 scientists. Malcolm Turnbull and his ministers are raiding CSIRO of the funding it needs to continue critical research, with their latest attack on climate science and environmental research compounding the untold damage already done to public science.
Join the rally at the State Library of Victoria against these savage cuts both to the CSIRO and to the future of our climate.
Saturday 2 April 2016 at 12 noon at the State Library in Melbourne
» RSVP: Let the organisers know if you’re attending at www.proudtobepublic.org.au/melbourne_csirorally
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GEELONG EVENT:
Eat Local Month
If you live in Geelong region, take part in the ‘Eat Local Month’ in April 2016
Eat Local Month began in 2015. Held over the month of April, it comprised of eight local food events that aimed to showcase the amazing variety of produce grown right here on the Surf Coast. Ranging from secret suppers held at some of our best local restuarants to mini farmer’s days for the children and culminating in the local growers’ feast, the event was a huge success.
Now in it’s second year, Eat Local Month has expanded to include 20 events that reflects the growing local food and wine industry in the Surf Coast and Otway hinterland and is run by a group of passionate volunteers, with event titles such as:
Mini Farmer’s day
Forage & Feast
Meet the Producers Dinner
Garden to Table Community Feast
Cheese and Wine tasting
Local Growers Feast
Organic Discovery Tour
» See the program on www.eatlocalmonth.com.au
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RENEWABLES POLICY:
The Greens: Transform Australia’s energy system
In November 2015, the Australian Greens launched a policy which potentially could transform Australia’s energy system from one of the dirtiest energy systems in the world to one of the cleanest, by transitioning to at least 90% renewables by 2030. The main problem is that they don’t have any of the two major parties with them on this idea. See their launch event here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbkRoC_2lJ0
» More info about the Greens’ ‘Renew Australia’ policy on www.renewaustralia.org.au
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World Water Day: Don’t support bottled water
Tim Silverwood wrote on Facebook on 23 March 2016:
It’s World Water Day. When I think of drinking water I think of the critical importance of securing safe, potable water for everyone, everywhere. Access to drinking water is a a human necessity & therefore must be a basic human right. Yet we allow giant companies to take our water, privatising this human right before packaging it in plastic & selling it back to us for obscene profit all in the name of ‘convenience’. What’s more convenient: Turning on a tap anywhere & having beautiful water flow forth. Make a stand, don’t support bottled water, support access to clean water for everyone, everywhere.
#worldwaterday #bottledwater #rant #zerowaste #take3forthesea #trashfreefuture #
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Save the Earth from Climate Change | Be Earthian – Short Film
Published on youtube.com on 14 March 2016
» The Guardian – 24 March 2016:
ANZ’s bad loans to miners are just ‘tip of the iceberg’, analysts say
Bank says writedowns have risen $100m to $900m in a month thanks to commodity prices but analysts point to a crisis for coal industry
New survey finds a growing climate consensus among meteorologists – The Guardian #climate https://t.co/aLfdaWRSvP
— Climate Change agent (@climatechange_a) March 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/ClimateGuardia/status/716006425760284673
Children have no trouble visualising the world our politicians are creating for them #KeepYourPromise #Auspol #COP21 pic.twitter.com/gmkqX0JUWZ
— Climate Guardians (@ClimateGuardia) March 31, 2016
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Podcasts and posts about climate change
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“Participation – that’s what’s gonna save the human race.”
Pete Seeger, American singer
We rely so much on our listeners’ suggestions for themes, ideas for shows, people to interview, stories on solutions they have come across, etc, etc. We thank everyone who has supported our show over the 2 years we have been running & we look forward to this support continuing.
If you have an idea for The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse, send it to tsh@climatesafety.info