Simon Butler

The good and the bad of the Greens' CPRS amendments

The Greens released a set of 22 amendments to the Rudd Labor government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) on October 12.

Copenhagen: rich countries push dirty deal

Many have touted December’s United Nations’ sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen as a “make or break” chance to halt dangerous climate change. But the richest nations are on a warpath to make sure this “last chance” becomes a “no chance” event.

Activists plan hunger strikes for climate justice

Climate change is deadly serious. Predicted water shortages, rising sea levels, crop failures and dangerous weather events threaten the lives of billions within decades unless action is taken now.

Study: most support abortion rights

Abortion is still a criminal offence in Queensland, but most Australians, including Queenslanders, are pro-choice.

Sydney uni vote rejects CPRS

Students at the University of Sydney said the federal government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) is not a solution to climate change at a student general meeting on October 7.

Climate 'hell' predicted if action not taken

Average world temperatures will rise by a perilous 4° Celsius by mid-century, a team of 130 climate scientists said at a September 28-30 conference in Oxford sponsored by Britain’s Met Office (the national weather service).

Australia tops polluter list

Britain-based risk analysts Maplecroft confirmed that Australia is the world’s worst polluter per capita in a September 9 report.

United States: The great 'success' of a carbon trading failure

It happened in Europe earlier this year — for the second time. And now it has happened again.

The false hope of 'clean coal'

Carbon capture and storage (CCS), often touted as “clean coal”, has been promoted by the coal industry and governments such as Australia and the US as a way to cut emissions from coal-fired energy generation, in order to avoid dangerous climate change.

The renewable energy scheme that isn't

Federal parliament passed a renewable energy bill on August 20. The target is to source 20% of Australia’s energy from renewables by 2020. The reality is that it won’t do what Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says it will.

Is the methane time bomb about to go off?

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. In the atmosphere it has a warming effect more than 20 times that of carbon dioxide.

Global warming in the Himalayas — the threat to Asia's water

Pemba Dorje Sherpa is the world record holder for the fastest climb of Mount Everest. He toured Australia from August 11 to 17 to raise awareness about the drastic impacts of climate change on the Himalayas.