Future energy 

January 29024

In reply to Michael Prus, smart investors are putting their money where the future necessities indicate. 

For instance, solar, wind, hydrogen and rare earth minerals are in the mix. 

Phasing out polluting natural gas and coal is a good idea and essential as the rest of the world must follow. 

It is more profitable to be a leader than a follower. 

If the vague ideologues referred to believe action against irreparable global warming is needed, it is a path away from ruin, not to it. 

Phil Cornelius, Seacliff Park

Earth wailing 

August 2023

A right mystery. Changes in ocean temperatures and the behaviour of the ocean denizens, by missing their annual migration and low breeding will result in reducing the numbers and as the situation worsens, will lead to their extinction.  

Whales are essential for the entire world’s ocean health system and need to be in abundance to fulfil their role.

Overfishing and climate change are depleting the creatures of the sea and are destroying the way the seas function and therefore the entire finely balanced planetary system. 

The root cause, greenhouse gas emissions creating climate change, must stop. 

The mystical net zero is not enough. 

Phil Cornelius

Message of hope

January 2022
What excellent news that Dame Jane Goodall is to be a special guest via video at the upcoming Planet Talks at WOMADelaide.The distinguished primatologist has not only transformed our understanding of chimpanzees, but she has also raised global awareness of the urgency of conservation of life, biodiversity and our relationship with the natural world.
Together with Sir David Attenborough, millions of people have been educated and inspired by their call for climate leadership and reversal of the extinction crisis we are in.
On our continent since colonization in 1788, continuous impacts of deforestation for urban development and agriculture (especially livestock) have taken a massive toll on our unique flora and fauna.
Feral predators introduced weeds that choke native plants and change landscape ecology, climate change and bushfires are major causes of a growing list of threatened species and damaged ecosystems.
Think decline in koala populations across their range and the orange-bellied parrot at imminent risk of extinction.
Jane Goodall brings a message of hope that humanity is capable of creating new sustainable interactions to give nature a chance to recover.
In conjunction with the many environmental and animal organizations working to make this happen, we need political will and commitment from powerful corporations to bring about a brave new world of healing for the planet.
Simone Hunter

Blame pollies

November 2021
Re The Old Oracle’s text message: “Surely we’re not going to blame the Coalition government for every storm that blows through now are we?”

Well, Old Oracle, you need to listen to the new scientific oracles and understand that the Coalition government is to blame unless it ceases its dangerous inaction, and unless it contributes more practically to arrest climate change by reducing CO2 and methane emissions that are blanketing the Earth.
Damaging extremes in weather will definitely get worse from now on if more is not done.
Phil Cornelius

Help innovators

November 2021
The Advertiser editorial points out Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s quote to solve climate change: “can-do capitalism, not don’t-do governments” (“Change the climate with innovation”).
It is no revelation entrepreneurs, businesses, scientists and clever individuals are the ones to look to for creating solutions and new innovations.
The role of governments is to support these efforts and help people make transitions in their lives.
How can the Coalition government possibly be congruent with this type of “can-do” thinking? It is extremely inconsistent with stopping emissions while supporting and allowing new and current gas extraction and coal mining.
Phil Cornelius

Extreme weather

November 2021
Paul Buxton’s letter “Dams filling up” was misleading.
We will experience hotter summers, bushfires, droughts, and flooding. Other Australian states are this week experiencing flooding.
Environmental scientists warn that climate change is supercharging extreme weather activity in new locations, which is felt all across the world.
A warmer climate can be a wetter climate as CO2 and methane blanket the Earth.
As temperatures warm, the atmosphere’s water-holding capacity increases. And even previously dry areas may flood.
Diane Cornelius

Need biodiversity

July 2021
In their book Vaxxers: The Inside Story of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca Vaccine and the Race Against the Virus, vaccine developers Sarah Gilbert and Catherine Green warn “disease Y is coming” .
“There will be a next time. It is inevitable,” they write.
“Epidemiologists and specialists in zoonotic diseases have already warned about how the trade in wildlife, and the pressures created by intensive farming on industrial scales, are creating the opportunities for disease Y to emerge.”
Many scientists warn humans have created a perfect storm for further pandemics into the future. Deforestation and encroachment on diverse wild-animal habitats have transformed ecosystems with depleted biodiversity that now pose risks of infections to humans .
Animal agriculture is at the forefront of ecological destruction. The facts are staring us in the face, we must transform to a global culture of living in sustainable ways with minimal harm to the natural world and its creatures, recognising our health, our environment, our world are all interconnected.
Simone Hunter

Climate warriors

March 2021

It was a relief to read three excellent letters from correspondents yesterday referring to the urgency of action against accelerating anthropogenic climate change.
Yet Bruce Burford refuses to accept that MP Nicolle Flint’s dismissive response to this imperative impelled Extinction Rebellion’s committed volunteers to protest on behalf of future generations who will suffer it’s destructive consequences (“ PM challenges”).
Unfortunately, her political stance is in line with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s tardiness in addressing carbon-emission issues.
Politicians must act, as they have a huge responsibility as caretakers of our fragile environment
Phil Cornelius

Political change

April 2021

B. Hinton challenged Phil Cornelius’s support of Extinction Rebellion’s actions on the grounds of MP Nicolle Flint’s political views (“ Political divide.)
In a democratic country, voters can freely choose their representatives. Politicians place themselves in positions to be challenged especially on such a vitally important issue as climate change, which is clearly affecting us all.
Ms Flint is a well-known climate-change denier. We have every right to challenge a sitting representative of the people.
How else is freedom of speech obtained and misrepresentation amplified?
Fay Mathews

Scientific facts

November 2020

Roman Rautenberg’s letter on “Climate ideology” is completely off the planet.
Climate activist groups and government members who are well informed are definitely not making up stories. They are repeating well-researched scientific facts.
The direction humanity is headed requires change, Roman, or face extinction.
Eric Phillips

Climate conference cancelled

April 2020
How disappointing to read the 10-day conference of “UN climate talks halted.” 
The crucial talks scheduled for November were anticipating 30,000 people, including 200 world leaders, to attend.
Surely the cancellation is premature as catastrophic climate change has been badly overshadowed by COVID-19 ’s impact. There must be continual consultation and collaboration between nations to bring about a concerted effort to stop impending global warming. In this day and age worldwide hook-ups for online conferencing between leaders and interested parties is possible.
Diane Cornelius

Meat the alternatives

February 2020

Thanks to the SBS for screening the revealing program 'Meat, a Threat to the Planet'.
Yes, meat is indeed a threat to the planet, to humans and to biodiversity, to soils, to water.

Although the glimpse at laboratory meat was encouraging, I thought the program could have looked at the plant-based products already on our shelves
There is a multitude of choice for a Vegan diet. No one needs to eat meat.
 Alice Shore

All part of change

November 2019
David Bishop’s letter “Paying for change” highlighted: “If we had six-plus figure salaries then maybe we could make sacrifices to reduce emissions."
I dispute his opinions, as everyone globally must make changes or we will definitely “make the ’30s depression look like a cakewalk."
This includes sea-level rises, temperature changes, rain patterns, toxicology- globally, loss of pollinators in our environment, acidification of oceans, excessive animal agriculture, groundwater loss and the dumbing down of society by politicians who will not address these scientifically accepted facts.
Mr Bishop, I suggest you take time to listen to the recent podcasts by Professor Paul Ehrlich, who wrote The Population Bomb, published in 1968.
Irrespective of our financial situations, we are all very much invested in climate action.
Diane Cornelius

Meat on the nose

September 2019
Someone should tell Tim Lloyd that methane from Australia’s 27 million cattle will outdo our carbon emissions during the next 20 years regardless of whether they are grass or grain fed (“ Well-bred Aussie meat can help planet”).
You can’t put a glossy spin on that.
He also neglects to mention the damage done to our fragile environment (land clearing anyone?) by what he sees as the “golden rule” of extensively grazing cattle.
As luminaries such as David Attenborough keep on pointing out, giving up the meat is one of the keys to addressing climate change.
James Thomson

Climate consensus 

January 2019
An email I received from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition asks me to question our politicians about what they are doing to combat climate change. 
The same day, I listened to David Attenborough, 92, creator of acclaimed TV series Life on Earth, telling the World Economic Forum that civilisation is now in the Anthropocene, a new geological age of human changes to Earth. Sir David calls for government and business to focus their problem-solving skills on coming up with practical solutions to save the planet. 
So we have youth, inheritors of Earth, united with age, articulating his lived experience of the momentous developments and environmental changes that have taken place in his lifetime. Both exhort us to engage with these obvious and profoundly relevant concerns with our political leaders. 
I would like to know Premier Steven Marshall’s policies on climate change and how they fit with his plans for a “relentless pursuit of economic growth” . Environmental sustainability is at stake in preventing catastrophic impacts of climate change. Political commitment is imperative or we will face the collapse of the living planetary ecosystems that support and make human life possible. 
Simone Hunter

Leaders of the future

January 2019

After seeing the hopeful faces of the students who rallied in Australia, and indeed worldwide, on November 30, I encourage them not to give up. I was blown away by how articulate and well-educated the students involved are.

They are inspiring leaders of today, not just leaders of tomorrow; they must be the change they want to be.

I congratulate them, for their messages were powerful. They are developing a network enabling students to share ideas and action for the environment and sustainability.

To follow a sustainable, compassionate vegan lifestyle is one of the easiest solutions to help reverse climate change. Irrespective of which government wins the next election, they must not waiver.

Diane Cornelius

Action on climate 

December 2018
The opinion piece by Andrew Bolt (“ Uncouth youth protest their flawed arguments”) included a reference to me “admitting” that we “could stop all Australia’s emissions – junk every car, shut every power station, put a cork in every cow – and the effect on the climate would still be ‘virtually nothing’ .” 
Those are Andrew Bolt’s words, not mine, and they are a complete misrepresentation of my position. They suggest we should do nothing to reduce our carbon emissions, a stance I reject, and I wish to correct the record. 
On June 1, 2017, I attended a Senate estimates hearing, where Senator Ian Macdonald asked if the world was to reduce its carbon emissions by 1.3 per cent, which is about Australia’s rate of emissions, what impact would that make on the changing climate of the world. 
My response was the impact would be virtually nothing but I immediately continued by explaining that doing nothing is not a position that we can responsibly take because emissions reductions is a little bit like voting, in that if everyone took the attitude that their vote does not count and no one voted, we would not have a democracy. 
Similarly, if all countries that have comparable carbon emissions took the position that they shouldn’t take action because their contribution to this global problem is insignificant , then nobody would act and the problem would continue to grow in scale. 
Let me be clear – we need to continue on the path of reducing Australia’s carbon emissions . Australia’s emissions for each person are some of the highest in the world. 
In response to the recent IPCC report, I urged all decision makers – in government, industry, and the community – to listen to the science and focus on the goal of reducing emissions, while maximising economic growth. Sitting on our hands while expecting the rest of the world to do their part is simply not acceptable. 
Dr. Alan Finkel AO,     Australia’s chief scientist 

School action 

November 2018
NSW schoolgirl Harriet O’Shea Carre, 14, wrote this message hoping to attract the attention of Scott Morrison and relevant politicians: “You must listen to us now! You cannot continue pretending we are not here, and that climate change is OK. Because we are here, so is the climate crisis, and it is destroying our planet.” 
Along with students from other countries, high school students will strike, rally and forgo their studies in order to bring home their important message to our politicians. 

Diane Cornelius

Veganism the way of the future for the planet

October 2018

The recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) stated that “Livestock is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all other food choices,” which contradicts the statement from Douglas Leibe at the Australian Lot Feeding Assoc Beef Ex conference.

His misleading study overlooked the fact that the land used to grow the crops to feed animals would be utilised to feed humans directly.

The IPCC report went on “Emissions are caused by feed production, enteric fermentation, animal waste, land-use change and livestock transportation and processing.”

Veganism is not a fad, it is the way of the future, latest technology used in hydroponic, vertical planting as shown on Catalyst, Aug 14) uses little water and solar power.

Mr Leibe, I suggest it is hard to find an obese vegan, if they are overweight their reliance on junk is responsible, as with any carnivore or vegan.

Diane Cornelius

Climate change

October 2018

The report from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change has just been published.

Australia cannot be taken as a “stand-alone” just because we have a relatively small population.

Global warming is a worldwide problem to which, when taking into account our contribution as the biggest worldwide exporter of coal, we are substantially responsible for burning fossil fuels and creating greenhouse gas emissions.

The report states: “Australia’s emission reduction target of 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 is woefully inadequate and is not aligned with what the science says is necessary to effectively tackle climate change.”

If all other countries followed our emission reduction target, we would be heading to global warming of well over two, up to three, degrees Celsius. Why is the government not acting?

 Diane Cornelius

MEATY SEGMENT 

September 2018
Thanks to Charlie Pickering for the segment on “lab meat” on The Weekly on September 5. He emphasised the bad impact of the cattle industry on our environment and its contribution to climate change. 
It was good to hear from an old man, Professor Peter Singer of Animal Liberation fame and a young man, involved in the production of lab meat speaking about the future practicalities of “lab meat” for our children’s futures. 

Alice Shore

Cut and dried

September 2018

The Bureau of Meteorology has just announced that, following a dry summer, a dry autumn and a dry winter, spring is going to be “drier than usual”.

With water levels down below 10 per cent in many areas, now is the time to consider ways to save water.

It’s undeniable that between irrigating the crops that farmed animals eat, providing millions of animals with drinking water each year, and washing away the filth of factory farms, transport trucks and slaughterhouses, animal agriculture places a tremendous strain on our precious water supply.

It takes on average 4000 litres of water to produce a steak. It takes over 500 litres of water to produce a litre of milk. A combined study carried out by the University of Melbourne’s School of Social and Environmental Enquiry and its Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering found that a vegetarian diet could save households up to 35 per cent of their total water usage – 13 times the volume of water that would be saved by not watering the garden.

Going vegan saves more than 4000 litres every day, and not eating a kilo of meat saves more water than not showering for 12 months.

You can save water, save money and save hundreds of animals from a life of suffering and a terrifying death just by going vegan.

Desmond Bellamy, PETA Australia

Climate Change

"Editor note" 3/05/2018. Another Prime Minister and nothing significant has changed. As usual the effects of  animal agriculture will be ignored.

28/1/15

 An international team of scientists, headed by the CSIRO have confirmed Australia is facing devastating impacts from climate change unless we reduce global carbon pollution.

Even an article in The Australian states: "Australia and its region will probably be hit by almost twice as many severe floods this century like the ones that devastated southeast Queensland four years ago."

Those events not only devastate communities, they cost the country billions of dollars as we respond and rebuild. It's essential we lower emissions and develop a sustainable plan for the future so we can better manage the impact of climate change.

Meanwhile, Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party are stuck in the past, ignoring the evidence and taking Australia backwards on climate change action.

We need to stand together and make it clear to Tony Abbott: Australians want action on climate change and we want it now. Can you share this article and make sure more Australians have the information they need?

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/climate-change-to-cause-twice-as-many-severe-floods-in-australia/story-e6frg6xf-1227197990872

Australians deserve a better government than what they’ve got right now. It’s unbelievable that Tony Abbott can ignore so much evidence; risking Australia’s economic and social well-being. Let's keep the pressure on. 

Mark Butler
Shadow Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water

Anthropocene

Introduction

The Earth at night, demonstrating the global extent of human influence. The Anthropocene defines Earth's most recent geologic time period (Anthropocene) as being human-influenced, or anthropogenic, based on overwhelming global evidence that atmospheric, geologic, hydrologic, biospheric and other earth system processes are now altered by humans. The word combines the root "anthropo", meaning "human" with the root "-cene", the standard suffix for "epoch" in geologic time. The Anthropocene is distinguished as a new period either after or within the Holocene, the current epoch, which began approximately 10,000 years ago (about 8000 BC) with the end of the last glacial period.

Origins of the term

Anthropocene is a new term, proposed in 2000 by Nobel Prize winning scientist Paul Crutzen. A similar term, Anthrocene, was coined by Andrew Revkin in his 1992 book Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast, but was not adopted by scientists. Crutzen noted that the term originated in 2000 at "a conference where someone said something about the Holocene. I suddenly thought this was wrong. The world has changed too much. So I said: 'No, we are in the Anthropocene.' I just made up the word on the spur of the moment. Everyone was shocked. But it seems to have stuck."[1]. Crutzen then proceeded to use the term in print in 2000[2]. In 2008, Zalasiewicz and colleagues published the first proposal for the formal adoption of the Anthropocene epoch by geologists, and this adoption is now pending

Evidence for the Anthropocene

Geologic epochs are distinguished from one another based on geological observations, such as the composition of sediment layers and other tools of paleoclimatology. To justify the identification of a new Anthropocene epoch, it must therefore be demonstrated that evidence of anthropogenic global change is present at such a level that it can be distinguished using geologic indicators despite natural variability in these across the Holocene.

The most commonly cited and readily measured global change associated with humans is the rise of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane, around the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, together with the associated rise in global temperatures and sea level caused by this global warming. Other key indicators include massive global increases in soil erosion caused by land clearing and soil tillage for agriculture; massive deforestation; and massive extinctions of species caused by hunting and the widespread destruction of natural habitats.

When did the Anthropocene begin?

The originator of the Anthropocene terminology, Paul Crutzen, favors the beginning of the Industrial Revolution as the starting point for the Anthropocene. In a 2002 paper in the journal Nature he stated: "The Anthropocene could be said to have started in the late eighteenth century, when analyses of air trapped in polar ice showed the beginning of growing global concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane."[4]. Zalasiewicz et al. are in general agreement with Crutzen that the Anthropocene is best identified at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, though they also propose the beginning of the nuclear era in the 1960s as a useful date, due to the global presence of radioactive isotopes in sediments at this time.

However, as yet, there is no official start date for the Anthropocene. Moreover, William Ruddiman proposes that globally significant human alteration of greenhouse gasconcentrations and associated climate change, extensive land clearing and soil erosion, and mass species extinctions actually began approximately 8,000 years ago with the rise of farming and the global spread of human populations in the latter stages of the first Agricultural Revolution. For this reason, the Anthropocene might be considered to begin 8,000 years ago. On the other hand, this "Early Anthropocene" definition is difficult to differentiate from the Holocene epoch which began only 2,000 to 4,000 years earlier.