Welcome to the March 2008 edition of E-mission - keeping you up to date on climate change issues in South Australia and beyond.
Giveaway
Local News
National News
International News
Upcoming Events Links below will open in a new window
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Giveaway
This month, we have 10 bags from The Bag Lady to give away to 10 E-mission subscribers.
South Australian owner and operator of The Bag Lady, Mandy Melville says that her company evolved due to a demand for 'true' environmentally friendly bags. She claims that unlike other, popular supermarket chain bags, Bag Lady bags are made from natural plant fibres and manufactured mainly by hand or hand propelled machinery, therefore there are no emissions of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. Bag Lady bags are produced from sustainable plant fibres and in most cases, are hand made.
To be in the running, tell us: Do you ever consider sustainability or the 'carbon footprint' of a product when you purchase gifts?
E-mail your entry, and please include your name and postal address. Entries close Friday 28 March 2008 and winners will be notified via e-mail.
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Local News
$7.1million Solar Power Plant for Coober Pedy
Australia’s largest off-grid solar power station is set to be built at remote Coober Pedy in South Australia’s far north.
Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett and South Australian Premier Mike Rann announced the $7.1 million project at the 3rd International Solar Cities Congress in Adelaide last month.
There will be 26 dishes, each one 14 metres high and tracking the arc of the sun – an Australian design, delivering the nation’s most efficient solar power station. |
Image courtesy of Solar Systems Pty Ltd
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Click here for the news release... (PDF35KB)
Click here for an article from Adelaide Now... |
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The Premier's Climate Change Council
A high-level independent council has been formed to advise the Premier on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.
Established under Australia’s first legislation to set greenhouse reduction targets, the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007, the Premier’s Climate Change Council features representatives with significant backgrounds in business.
“The Council will advise on achieving energy efficiencies, increasing the use of renewable energy, finding ways to remove greenhouse gases and achieving relevant targets,” Mr Rann said.
Its 10 members have been drawn from SA’s public, private and not-for-profit sector business leaders.
Click here for more... (PDF 99KB)
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First Feed-In Laws Pass Parliament
The first solar feed-in laws in Australia which pay a premium to consumers passed through the Parliament of South Australia on 14 February 2008.
From 1 July 2008, South Australian householders and small energy consumers using solar panels will be paid twice the value of electricity they put back into the electricity grid.
Premier Mike Rann said the scheme is a major improvement on previous systems where surplus power was only matched dollar for dollar.
Click here for the news release... (PDF 73KB)
Click here for more on the scheme...
Click here for an article from ABC...
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Use Less Energy. Use Green Energy Campaign
The State Government is urging South Australians to use less energy and use green energy to help counter the impact of climate change.
Premier Mike Rann launched a program, including a media campaign highlighting the link between energy use in our homes and the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. |
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Click here for the news release...
Click here to find out about more and view the TV commercials...
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South Australia Puts Words Into Action at Solar Cities Congress
South Australia has strengthened its reputation as a worldwide environmental leader following the State’s successful hosting of the 3rd International Solar Cities Congress in February.
The event attracted over 800 delegates from across the globe, including some of the planet’s leading experts in renewable energy and climate change.
Among the 90 speakers to present their views and ideas were US environmental activist Robert F Kennedy Jr, billionaire founder of Suntech Power Dr Zhengrong Shi and internationally acclaimed cultural ecologist Herbert Girardet.
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"In 100 per cent of circumstances, good environmental policy is good economic policy" Robert F Kennedy Jr in Adelaide
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The common theme to presentations throughout the Congress was the need for urgent action, with policymakers challenged to implement environmentally sustainable initiatives rather than just talk about them.
Some presentations from the 3rd International Solar Cities Congress are available. Click here for more... |
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SA’s Tourism Industry Tackling Climate Change
A new program to reduce the tourism industry’s carbon footprint will be trialled first in South Australia, it was announced recently. Ecotourism Australia’s new Climate Change Certification program will allow the travelling public to identify South Australian accommodation and tour operators who are committed to reducing their carbon emissions.
The South Australian Tourism Commission, together with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Protection Authority, is helping to fund this new, Australian-first certification program, which will be trialled in South Australia and Queensland in early 2008.
Click here for more... (PDF 75KB) |
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SA Development Showcasing the Greenest Initiatives
New technology designed to reduce electricity consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste, and to encourage water savings, will be key sustainability features of the Lochiel Park development – South Australia’s emerging “Green Village” and a world leading model in sustainable design.
The details of these initiatives is now available on the new Lochiel Park website.
Click here for more... |
Source: lochielpark.com.au |
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National News
Australia Ratifies Kyoto
After receiving approval from the Governor-General Michael Jeffery on 3 December 2007, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the instrument of ratification for the Kyoto Protocol.
Australia would become a full Kyoto member before the end of March 2008, as the ratification becomes effective 90 days after being received by the United Nations.
Under the treaty, Australia has a target of restricting greenhouse gas emissions to 108% of 1990 levels during the 2008-12 commitment period (the only developed country that was allowed to increase emissions).
Click here for the article from the Age...
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World Environment Day Awards 2008
Nominations for the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards 2008 are open.
The World Environment Day Awards is a national awards program which recognizes businesses, local governments, organisations, community groups, individuals, schools and the media whose work serves to protect, manage or restore the environment.
For complete guidelines, entry criteria and nomination forms click here. Nominations Close Friday 2 May. |
The theme of the 2008 UN World Environment Day is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. |
International News
UN Climate Change Conference in Bali
The UN Climate Change Conference in Bali (the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC was held from 3-14 December 2007, with Australia ratifying the Kyoto Protocol to applause and in some reports a standing ovation.
Delegates from over 180 nations, together with observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations attended the Conference, with around 10,000 participants. |
Source: UNFCCC
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The conference culminated in the adoption of the Bali roadmap, which charts the course for a new negotiating process to be concluded by 2009 that will ultimately lead to a post-2012 international agreement on climate change. Ground-breaking decisions were taken which form core elements of the roadmap. They include the launch of the Adaptation Fund as well as decisions on technology transfer and on reducing emissions from deforestation. These decisions represent various tracks that are essential to achieving a secure climate future.
Click here for more... |
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IPCC Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. were awarded of the Nobel Peace Prize in December "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".
The IPCC also released the 4th Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007.
Click here for all the details... |
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US Announces Clean Energy Fund
The US Government has announced that they will establish a fund (the “Clean Technology Fund”) to assist developing countries make the transition to clean energy. It is unclear how much the fund will be worth however it is estimated that the cost of acquiring expensive low carbon emission power technologies in place of cheaper and old technologies is around US$30 billion.
Click here for an article from Reuters...
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Norway Plans to be Carbon Neutral by 2030
The Prime Minister of Norway (Jens Stoltenberg) has announced a plan for Norway to be a carbon neutral country by 2030, 20 years earlier than their previous plan. According to the Prime Minister, this means that any emissions produced by the country in 2030 will be offset through savings elsewhere. In the same speech the Prime Minister also said that the best way to slow world climate change is through protecting forests and burying greenhouse gases.
Click here for an article from the Economist... |
 Image courtesy of Norway Tourism
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Wales Announces First Group of Young Ambassadors on Climate Change
The Government of Wales launched the Climate Change Champions competition in 2007 to identify young people who can use their influence to persuade their friends, families and communities to do their bit to tackle climate change. The first group announced consists of 6 teenagers from across Wales. The “Champions” will spend a year in office in Welsh Assembly Government roles spreading the word about how people can take simple steps to reduce their carbon footprints.
Click here for the article from News Wales... |
Image courtesy Welsh Government |
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Architects will Build World’s Greenest Office Building in Paris
The same architects that built New York's Freedom Tower (on the site of the World Trade Centre) have announced that they will build the world’s greenest office building on the outskirts of Paris. The office block, which will be called Energy Plus, will be more than 70,000 square metres and house up to 5,000 people. It is expected that the building will produce enough of its own electricity (through solar panels) to power all the heating, lighting, and air conditioning required by tenants. It will also generate carbon credits, which it hopes to trade for money in the future.
Click here for the article from the Telegraph...
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Upcoming Events
Click here for a full listing of upcoming events
Climate 2030 Seminar Series
The Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Adelaide will
host Climate 2030, a 12-part seminar series exploring the likely impacts of
global climate change and strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
Leading researchers, and guest speakers from government and industry, will
address a range of topics spanning changing weather patterns, the challenges of a carbon-constrained future, the latest in clean energy technologies and implications for sectors such as public health and agriculture.
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Seminars are held on Tuesdays and are free to attend.
Click here for all the details...
Presented by the University of Adelaide |
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Ecoville @ Womadelaide
7-9 March 2008
Botanic Park, Adelaide
Ecoville, staged as part of Womadelaide, will provide an empowering, interactive insight into our contemporary environmental challenges, and leave the audience with practical and innovative solutions. |
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Featuring:
- Interactive ecotalks on a range of up to the minute topics
- Its not waste till you waste it workshops - work with artists to use wastes collected on site to make tetra-pak wallets and purses, beautiful bags, jewelry, tin can furniture and more
- Displays of solar power, rainwater tanks, permaculture and native plants, grey water treatment systems, and electricity-generating bikes
- A chill out zone - interactive public artwork using Womad stall holder waste; fruit and vegetable exchanges and plant propagation workshops, organic herb teas and lemonade, Smooth Revolution pedal-powered smoothies, and more.
Click here for all the details... |
Photo source: Womadelaide |
Presented by ecoconscious
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Earth Hour Adelaide
29 March 2008
8.00pm
The City of Adelaide is proud to be part of Earth Hour! Adelaide residents and businesses are encouraged to support this important event by turning off their lights for one hour on Saturday 29 March 2008 at 8.00pm.
Click here for more...
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