OurABC reports “Insider blows whistle on Australia’s greenhouse gas reduction schemes” 24Mar22. Prof MacIntosh says quote [“I’m a big believer in these schemes and the ability to use offsets to help cut emissions and to help lower the cost of doing so,” he told the ABC.
“But what we’re seeing is a real inability to operate schemes like this with high integrity.
“An environmental market without integrity is not an environmental market,” he says. “It’s a rort.
“And I feel that Australia’s carbon market is just that – it’s degenerated to become a rort.”] Govt produces its experts that say the scheme is hunky-dory. The ABC map is telling. Various carbon farming articles I have run over a ~decade We should remember that CSIRO estimates that the huge Australian landmass absorbs our industrial emissions – a scientific point our Govts might have used.
Remember too that satellites data and research at Boston University by Prof Myneni and team have demonstrated with crystal clarity that planet earth has been greening due increasing % atmospheric trace gas CO2 – see NASA map 1982-2015.
Monthly Archives: March 2022
Best source news/analysis Ukraine war I know
I first noticed the London based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) being quoted by the BBC in articles about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Then I checked and RUSI has many more articles online. I just hope some Western Govts are getting real lethal aid thru into the hands of the the amazing Ukraine fighters and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. When news of the Putin invasion of Ukraine first hit I expected Russian armour supported by air cover would quickly slice through Ukraine pretty much wherever they wanted and that the war would be mostly over in a fortnight. How wrong I was.
Aussie Fed. Govt. picking “critical minerals” winners
Prime Minister and Resources Minister just announced “Investment To Unlock Potential Of Australia’s Critical Minerals Sector”. Quote “The measures, which are part of the 2022-23 Budget, include a $200 million Accelerator grants program, $50 million to support research and development and an updated industry strategy.”
For those not familiar with resources projects in the Wide Brown Land it is important to note that the STATES administer lands and licence mineral exploration and mining. The Fed. Govt. has power over exports and could block or put conditions on specific exports but that would be unusual. I can not quickly think of anything positive the Fed. Govt. has done for resources. The best and cheapest things the Feds could do of course would be to repeal some of the more stupid Green, Red and Indigenous tape they strangle projects with. Remember how Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill iron ore mine had to achieve more than 4,000 approvals, permits and licences, and more again for construction.
Update AEMO monthly electricity prices Govt seems unaware
I thought it was time I updated my near decade long time series chart of eastern states average monthly electricity prices from AEMO. I have not been paying much attention to power prices lately but had a general impression Govt. was gloating that prices were low. I have annotated my 9.2 year chart with data added to 15Mar22 For full size chart.
My impression from TV news was that the Fed Govt. was pleased prices were still low. This impression is confirmed by the latest media from Energy Minister Angus Taylor which relies on an ACCC report to say “The ACCC’s latest report shows electricity costs for households are now at their lowest levels in eight years.” Prices have firmed since the ACCC report “Household electricity bills increased in 2020 but are now expected to fall 24June 2021” I wonder if the economy is improving and increasing power demand after the worst of the Covid power demand depression. Time will tell.
ScoMo hapless in face of flood anger at Lismore
Nothing here goes close to meeting the pub test. No argument with the Feds disaster relief and National emergency declaration but people have to accept that they chose to live in one of the most flood prone areas in the wide brown land.
I note pollies(Littleproud was one) are throwing around “unprecedented” and caving to the GreenLeft by accepting that current floods are due to “climate change”.
I would not accept the “unprecedented” claim until we had a report by independent meteorologists & hydrologists assessing all rainfall and river data back 140 or more years.
[1] The report should contain maps and tables of rainfall stations for every decade so the increase in stations is obvious.
Station numbers would have increased in recent decades making it more likely to register high daily readings.
[2] The report should show by maps and analysis of historic landuse data the increase in areas cleared for agriculture over 140 years. Aerial photos mostly post WWII will allow more accurate assessment of land clearing in the last 70 years. Satellite imagery should assist in recent decades. It is well known that rainfall on forested land does not runoff as quickly as on cleared grassed farm land so flood peaks tend to be lower.
[3] The report should show by maps and analysis of historic urban data the increase in urban areas and population over a hundred years because rain on urban paved areas would runoff and contribute to flooding quicker than on farmed or bush areas.
[4] There should be a look-back analysis at post WWII State Govt and council planning changes relevant to building houses and shops/commercial buildings, in flood prone areas and an assessment of levees at Lismore.
The HISTORY OF LISMORE FLOOD EVENTS 1870-2017 is from Lismore City Council Large Chart
NSW North Coast rivers waste 12 Sydney Harbours to sea in a week
I just tallied the spreadsheet from NSW Water click on Daily River Reports on the left which brings up a spreadsheet in two sections. One with River Levels & Flows and a second with Dam Levels. I summed the flows for rivers between the Hunter and Tweed and it made 6 Million ML which is 6 Thousand GL or 12 Sydney Harbours. There is no discussion whatsoever about a dam or two in headwaters where water could be piped through to the western rivers. A sort of Mini version of Bradfield.
RBA compares States output and industries
Roaming through the latest RBA chart-pack pdf I found this on pdf page 18/35.
Interesting to see charted declines for NSW & Vic as WA booms and is now on par with Qld when populations are 2.68Million for WA and 5.22Million for Qld – !!! And look at agriculture – serial underperformer.
