Australia’s environment is one of the most unique on the planet. Eighty four per cent of mammals and 85 per cent of plants in the country are endemic to Australia. Over the last century Australia’s awareness of its natural environment has grown, resulting in now iconic debates about the Franklin River Dam, the Ranger Uranium Mine and now increasingly climate change. Greenlines will provide a snapshot of the broad range and complexity of current issues surrounding climate change and the environment in Australia, including the biodiversity, agriculture, climate change, water, energy and resources.
Selling Ivory and Hunting Polar Bears
Tom Arup Selling ivory and hunting polar bears is just some of the lively issues up this month at a meeting on the trade of endangered species.
Green Loans: A Disaster Story
Tom Arup Green Loans has turned into an unmitigated disaster and the Government has serious questions to answer about its handling of the scheme.
Peter and the Environment Laws
Tom Arup On my desk in The Age’s Canberra bureau there is a giant stack of environmental reports commissioned by the Rudd and Howard Governments, with a smattering of State Government reports.
Lord Monckton is on the fringe: Barnaby Joyce
Tom Arup Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, the eccentric UK climate sceptic, is proving too hot for some of Australia’s most prominent climate sceptics — including Barnaby Joyce.
2009: The Year of the Camel
Tom Arup With the failure of the Copenhagen summit and water reform stalling, the biggest environmental advance in Australia this year may belong to the humble camel.
Market Forces at Copenhagen
Tom Arup A legally binding agreement on climate change will not be signed until late next year, and Australia’s 2020 emissions reduction target will be between 15-19 per cent on 1990 levels — if the markets ..
All at Sea
Tom Arup Troubling legal advice, a lack of money and the soaring energy demands of the planet - Environment Minister Peter Garrett must be sweating.
Peter Garrett on Biodiveristy
Tom Arup Why the Environment Minister believes we can no longer simply focus on saving individual species.
A long way from Copenhagen
Tom Arup Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for the chances of an international climate change agreement by the end of the year the US and EU are now reportedly fighting with each other.
Whales are Overrated
Tom Arup Australia is in fast danger of not seeing the forest for the whales – oh sorry the fish for the whales.
The Decision Makers...
Tom Arup There is a surprise or two among the members of the Government's environment and climate change caucus committee.
No Money, No Action
Tom Arup While the PM was trying to look important, the G20 was avoiding getting anything done on climate change.
Aid for Sawmills
Tom Arup The problems of intensive forestry in the Solomons are long standing and increasingly desperate.
Ministerial Speaking Notes
Tom Arup Who writes the speeches in the Forestry Department? There are some absolute gems.
Pure (Green) Market Economics
Tom Arup Is it that hard to find a free marketeer nowadays, or at least a policy purist? In the climate change debate they are rare.
Green Timber Woes
Tom Arup The independent Green Building Council of Australia is facing unprecedented pressure from State and Federal Governments to change its environmental standards for sustainable timber.
Now It's Time to Find a Scape Goat
Tom Arup Ten weeks on and the oil has finally stopped leaking and the fire is out. But the recriminations from the West Atlas disaster will continue for a long time - and the stakes are very high.
A Long Life for Coal
Tom Arup Internal Treasury Department numbers show that coal power generators are not going to generate less power for the first 20 years of an emissions trading scheme - but hey let’s give them a stack ...
The Solution to Climate Change
Tom Arup The call comes early in the morning this time. ‘‘I’ve got something that will solve the climate change problem,’’ an excited voice says.
Emissions Trading Smokies
Tom Arup Ladies and gentleman let’s pause this morning and remember the emissions trading scheme we might have had... or may still get.
