Places of work and home amongst most energy inefficient in the developed world

Australia is behind Mexico and Argentina in terms of its ability to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets, a report says.

The Climate Institute and European think-tank E3G released the report in the lead-up to next week's G20 meeting in the US.

Australia ranked 15th in an analysis of its capacity to generate business in a low-carbon economy, the lowest position of any industrialised country.

The report also found Australia was in the bottom of the pack when it came to its share of meeting the global greenhouse gas target of 450 parts per million by 2020.

Australia came 16th, with only Turkey, Russia and Saudi Arabia requiring a bigger turnaround to get back on track.

Climate Institute spokesman John Connor says the ranking is not surprising, considering Australia is a fossil fuel, carbon intensive economy.

"We need to improve that rate of productivity. The renewable energy target which has just been passed is very important, and that is 20 per cent of our energy by 2020. Of course we have got to get on with the rest of the 80 per cent," he said.

"We have got to get on across the industrial sector, our places of work and home are amongst the most energy inefficient in the developed world.

Source: ABC/AAP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/14/2684578.htm

Coverage of PAE exhibition in The Land Newspaper

The Land newspaper (NSW) today published an artist profile piece based on the Perspectives. Art. Ecology. exhibition (above).

Climatic extremes: a new norm

The Sydney Morning Herald ran a story last weekend (News Review, p5 by Debra Jopson and Ben Cubby) about the farmers continuing to do more with less, more concerning scientific predictions and politicians playing politics...all while our climate continues to undergo change, global food security decreases, and the climate change sceptics get the last word. I wonder what it will take to ruffle the tail feathers of these ostriches?

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/global-warming/farmers-face-hardship-as-climate-changes-20090814-el72.html

Urban pressure on food production

Following on from my last post regarding the waste generated by urban populations, I've found a discussion paper by Professor Julian Cribb (Julian Cribb & Associates and well known science communicator), titled The Coming Famine (published in January 2008). My reason for investigating Julian Cribb's position on water use and the impact our water-hungry ways will have on future generations was prompted by an ABC Radio rural report interview this morning (30/6/09).

Professor Cribb was speaking at the launch of the Water4Food initiative in Canberra. He maintains that the world is headed for major famine and wars if we don't urgently address our attitude towards water. A podcast of the interview with Professor Cribb is available from the ABC Western Plains Rural Report page.

In the discussion paper, Professor Cribb outlines the downward trend of key indicators affecting global food security. He also makes the comment that the thing that stands out is that the scale of impact of climate change is somewhat uncertain, but the other trends are "real, well-documented and predictable."

He says the challenge over the next two generations is to raise food production by 110% from a more degraded natural resource and reduce world populations from 9 billion to 2-3 billion by 2100. Food for thought...or action?

Observe or engage

It's easy to observe. It is much more challenging to engage.

Welcome to Perspectives. Art. Ecology.

Welcome to Perspectives. Art. Ecology., the exhibition, and the Coming of Age Project. I'd like to invite you to participate in this forum to discuss issues about the future of our environment - particularly those elements that are important to you.

What would you fight to preserve for future generations?

Take the time to read the posts and the comments others have left. Watch the blog videos on this site and feel free to respond to anything you see. Read the "how to comment" information in the right hand column.

Thank you for giving us your time today.

An artist's perspective - Kim

In this video blog, I have attempted to explain some of my concerns about the future of our enviroment - the motivation for the Coming of Age project.

Inseparable - Shona

For Shona Whitfield, the environment is a major, special part of her life - professionally and personally. It is so significant in her life she finds it difficult to separate herself from it.

Magic & resilience - Matthew & Fergus

A magic place - Matthew
Environmental education teacher, Matthew McKenzie has introduced the idea of a magic spot to the children who visit his facility. The magic spot is simply a quiet, outdoor place where one can be immersed in the natural environment. It is a place to stop and reflect, a practice that children and adults alike can benefit from.

Resilient landscapes - Fergus
As the manager of Little River Landcare Group, Fergus Job has seen the ability of Central West landscapes to heal. He believes it simply requires the will to look beyond the surface.

Legacy - Pip

A champion of rural communities and a mother with great hope for the environment she sees as her children's future, Pip Job believes people are the critical element of the landscape she loves.

Coming of Age interviews

As part of the Coming of Age Project, individuals are being interviewed about what the environment means to them. A sample of these interviews will be posted on this site. The first of these interviews is with Georgia, aged 7.

Invitation to participate

Individuals within the communities of Central West NSW are invited to contribute ideas to the art project, Coming of Age. Responses to the following questions are being sought.

• What is your relationship to the environment in which you live?
• What do you enjoy about the environment in which you live?
• Describe your environment and the features you value.
• Describe your favourite smells in the environment in which you live.
• How healthy is your environment?
• Have you witnessed change in your environment over your lifetime?
• How critical is water in your environment?
• Would your environment cope with less water in future?
• Do you feel you have the capacity to change your environment for the better?
• What do you wish for your environment in the year 2030 and beyond?

CSIRO's best estimate of climate change by 2030 would see an eight percent reduction in surface water availability and a 125 percent growth in groundwater extractions. Research also indicates an average temperature increase across the inland of up to two degrees C. What shape will our environment be in by 2030? We have 21 years before this Coming of Age.