Welcome to the June edition of our e-newsletter. Plenty has happened since our Budget edition including a milestone report on emissions trading released by the Prime Minister this week, maintaining the fight against whaling in Alaska and plenty of other news nationally and locally. Read on about: World Environment Day Emissions Trading Report International Whaling Commission in Alaska Solar Rebate Start-Up Red Shield Appeal in Wentworth Local Youth Restore Centennial Park WAYS Fundraiser 100th Anniversary for Holy Cross Primary School Decade of Local Greenhouse Action Heads of Mission Meet on Climate Change International Praise for Global Initiative on Forests Water Update Archaeological Survey for Japanese Midget Sub Federal Grant To Combat Sexual Assault in Wentworth Opinion Piece in The Age World Environment Day Today on World Environment Day we recognise climate change is a global challenge requiring a global response. This year’s theme, "Melting ice – a hot topic" emphasises the importance that the world places on the challenge of climate change. Today along with the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, and Clean Up founder Ian Kiernan, I launched the ‘Clean Up the World’ initiative to help communities around the world take action to improve their environment and limit the impacts of climate change. This initiative brings together 35 million people in more than 100 countries around the world committed to cleaning up and conserving their local environment through activities ranging from waste removal and tree planting to water and energy conservation projects. Prime Minister’s Emissions Trading Task Group
Last week the report of the Prime Minister’s Task Group on Emissions Trading was released. It is a responsible and measured road map to a low emissions future for Australia which takes into account the local and global implications of what is the greatest economic challenge facing the world today.
The Australian Government recognises that global warming is caused by our emissions of greenhouse gases and that in order to mitigate the impact of this climate change the world needs massively to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the course of this century.
Contrary to the rhetoric of our opponents, Australia is not a laggard in responding to climate change. Indeed if we are to measure our efforts by results (always a good approach in my view), then the fact that we are one of the few developed countries which will meet its Kyoto target ( 108% of 1990 level emissions by 2008-2012) by its own domestic actions is proof enough.
But going beyond that simple measure, the fact is that in a number of vital areas of climate change policy, Australia is playing a leading role.
Energy efficiency and forestry are two avenues for early action on climate change. Which country was the first to announce a phase out of inefficient, incandescent lighting? Australia.
Deforestation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after electricity generation. Which country is leading the charge to put forestry issues on the top of the climate change agenda with a $200 million Global Initiative on Forests and Climate? Australia again.
Longer term, we know that to achieve the big reductions in global emissions needed to slow global warming, we will have to generate most, if not all, of our electricity from zero or near zero emission sources. A key developing technology for that effort is clean coal; the capture of CO2 from coal fired power stations and its storing, or sequestration, safely under the ground. Where is the world’s leading research and development taking place? Australia, the USA and the Netherlands.
And of course any environmentally effective response to global warming has to involve a global response. If the developed world were to cut its emissions by 50% by mid century and there were no change in the growth in the developing world, we would find ourselves, nonetheless, well above 1990 level emissions by 2050.
So global action, global engagement is vital. That is where Kyoto has failed in not providing a pathway for the fast growing industrial giants in the developing world to reduce their emissions. New international arrangements are needed. Which country has been playing a leading role in bringing together collaboration between China, India and the US on climate change through, to give just one example, the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP6)? Australia.
But while we have done a lot, a great deal more needs to be done. A key element is putting a price on carbon, so as to encourage the development of low emission technologies and a more efficient use of energy.
The best approach is through emissions trading; letting the market set the price so that the least cost abatement can be achieved. The Report describes an emissions trading scheme for Australia which would be the most comprehensive in the world, covering about 75% of all of the sources of emissions.
The Report proposes that trading commence in 2011 (and no later than 2012) with the intervening years devoted to building the systems, including a national emissions register, necessary to ensure an efficient, reliable and accountable system. After all this will be a multi-billion dollar market, so the systems have to be right.
The Report proposes that a long term aspirational target be set next year after careful economic analysis of the local and global implications. That timing fits in well with the recent US proposal for fifteen of the world’s largest economies (including Australia) to work together in what is looking like an expanded version of the AP6 to develop a global emissions target in the course of 2008 with national commitments of action that will enable us to reach it.
Australia progresses anti-whaling campaign in Alaska
I returned last weekend from this year’s International Whaling Commission in Anchorage where the anti-whaling nations have been successful in maintaining the moratorium on commercial whaling.
The meeting also condemned Japan’s so-called scientific whaling programme which, this year, is likely to include 50 humpback whales. I pointed out to the Japanese delegation that the addition of humpbacks would have a very adverse impact on Japan’s standing in Australian public opinion.
Japan and pro-whaling nations sought to lift the ban to enable commercial whaling by some coastal communities in Japan. This was rejected. The anti-whaling nations are determined to maintain the ban on commercial whaling; allowing “coastal whaling” would be a precedent that before long would see the ban unravel entirely.
The Japanese delegation were very unhappy with the rebuff from the majority of nations assembled in Anchorage and threatened to withdraw from the IWC altogether.
A better course of action for Japan would be to recognise that world opinion is overwhelmingly opposed to its whaling activities which are scientific in name only and to recognise, as the majority in Anchorage did, that whales are worth far more, whether in environmental or economic terms, in the water than they are as so much meat on the butcher’s hook.
The future for “whaling” is based on tourism and whale watching, a rapidly growing industry that is already of much greater value than the whale killing industry practised by Japan, Iceland and Norway.
For more on Australia’s campaign to protect the whales, click here. Solar rebate start-up
As was recently announced in the Federal Budget the rebate for solar panel installation has doubled. The rebate will increase from the current $4 per watt (up to a maximum of $4000) to $8 per watt (up to a maximum of $8000). School and community groups can apply for a competitive grant for up to 50% of the cost of the solar power system.
For more information please contact the solar rebate hotline on 1300 138 122. Red Shield Appeal in Wentworth
I took to the streets of Darlinghurst and Paddington recently to collect money for the Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal. See photos here .
The Red Shield Appeal is the Salvation Army's major annual fundraising drive to help finance their vast network of social and community services. You can still make a donation through their website Lucy and I have been long time supporters of the Salvos. Lucy is the Chair of the City of Sydney Red Shield Appeal for 2007.
Australians are a generous people and nowhere more so than within our own community of Wentworth. The response in Darlinghurst and Paddington was evidence of this.
I want to thank the Wentworth community for digging deep into their pockets to support the Salvos with their very worthy cause. Local Youth Restore Centennial Park
I congratulated a team of 10 volunteers aged 17-20 for helping to restore the ecological systems in Centennial Park through its completion of a valuable Federal Government Green Corps project. See the press release and photo here
The team’s work included bush vegetation and regeneration, weed removal and habitat creation, removal of the carp infesting the ponds and encouraging native fish instead.
They also completed accredited training in first aid, occupational Health and Safety, career counselling and Certificate 1 in Conservation and Land Management.
For young people in Wentworth passionate about the environment Green Corps provides the perfect opportunity for individual commitment and practical action. More information on Green Corps is available on the Green Corps website WAYS Youth Services fundraiser Last night I spoke at the WAYS Youth Services fundraiser at the Hughenden Hotel in Woollahra. The evening was called 'West Wing: A View Down Under'. Several prominent journalists donated their time to steer the discussion around US politics. WAYS was founded in 1979 as Waverley Action for Youth Services. Today, with great support from the Wentworth community, it has grown to become one of the largest community based youth organisations in NSW, employing 45 staff and helping up to 1,000 young people a week. Well done to the WAYS CEO, Russell King, for putting on such a well attended and fascinating function.
Holy Cross Primary School’s 100th anniversary
I was thrilled to attend and speak at the 100th anniversary celebrations for Holy Cross Primary School in Woollahra. Hundreds of parents, staff, students past and present and friends joined me at the ceremony which included a cake cutting and spirited rendition of happy birthday in the newly refurbished Mercy Hall.
Congratulations to the Principal, Sister Veronica Powell, and her team at Holy Cross for putting on such a memorable event.
Decade of local greenhouse action
A decade of action by local governments participating in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Australia programme, has helped reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 8.8 million tonnes.
CCP Australia is the world’s largest and most successful local government greenhouse action programme. It is part of the CCP international programme, delivered in Australia in partnership with the Australian Government. CCP encourages and supports local governments in initiating innovative actions within their local communities and operations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples of innovative action by CCP councils include Lismore Council in NSW using ‘armies’ of 100 million worms to reduce waste, and Northam Council in WA converting old railway houses into clean, green affordable homes for local residents.
Australian local councils should be proud of their actions in tackling climate change. It’s encouraging to see actions at the local level contributing to a better quality of life for individuals as well as the wider community and the world.
CCP Australia is part of the Australian Government’s more than $2 billion national climate change strategy. It is part of the Local Greenhouse Action initiative which helps local government, communities and individual households reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. For more information click here
Heads of Mission meeting on climate change
I recently met with all the Heads of Mission from embassies in Canberra on the Australian Government's Global Initiative on Forests and Climate Change at Parliament House. The Australian Government has committed $200 million to kickstart this world-leading initiative that will reduce significantly global greenhouse gas emissions.
Globally, more than 4.4 million trees are removed every day – that’s 1.6 billion trees each year – almost 1 billion of which are not replaced. An area twice the size of Tasmania is currently cleared annually, the equivalent of removing around 71,000 football fields of trees every day.
If the world could halve the rate of global deforestation we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by three billion tonnes a year – more than five times Australia’s total annual emissions and about ten times the emissions reductions that will be achieved during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
Reducing deforestation, planting new forests, and investing in sustainable forest management practice are among the best ways to reduce global emissions now.
International Praise For Australia’s Global Initiative on Forests and Climate
Visiting Parliament House in Canberra on 31 May, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, praised the Australian Government's Global Initiative on Forests and Climate Change: "Let me say on the part of the Philippines, our emission is similar to the emissions of very clean countries like New Zealand, so our own contribution to our self and to the world is to reforest the Philippines. We just want to go by what he learnt from grade school biology, we breathe in oxygen, we breathe out carbon dioxide. We need the trees to breathe in the carbon dioxide and breathe out the oxygen for us and we’re very thankful for Australia’s initiative of $200 million support for various reforestation projects of developing countries."
Water update – NFF support $10 billion plan/water ministers meeting etc
As drought continues to grip many rural and urban areas around Australia, it is critical that we continue to improve the use and management of our water resources. In May I announced $10 million in funding through the Australian Government Water Fund for economic and scientific research to help meet our environmental and water challenges, and an interactive website where gardeners will be able to access advice about water efficiency. To date, more than $1.3 billion has been committed to projects from the Australian Government Water Fund. These projects range from fitting dual flush toilets and installing rainwater tanks in local facilities to significant infrastructure investment in pipelines, wetland recovery measures, storm water harvest and waste water recycling. These projects have directly led to the improved management of more than 1,700 billion litres of water each year. A friendly reminder that registration for applications to the Community Water Grants Programme close on Friday 22 June. Applications close on July 4. Further information on the third round of funding under this programme can be found here or by calling 1800 780 730. Community Water Grants are available to help local organisations save, recycle or improve the health of their local water resources and environment. Finally yesterdaythere was a very productive meeting between the Prime Minister and Victorian Premier Steve Bracks to discuss the progress of the National Plan for Water Security. Victorian Water Minister John Thwaites and I also attended the meeting. I feel that we ironed out a few difficulties and now have a much better understanding of each other's position. With goodwill and continued flexibility, the prospects for agreement on the Plan are now much improved. Archaeological Survey On Japanese Midget Submarine M24
Only last week Elite Navy divers inspected the World War II M24 Japanese Midget Submarine to assess the condition of the wreck and obtain crucial archaeological information. The submarine, which disappeared after an attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942, was found late last year by a group of amateur divers around 5km off Bungan Head, Sydney.
The dive will provide us with crucial archaeological information, and will help us piece together what happened to the M24 in its final hours. The submarine is of international historical significance, and is presumed to still contain the remains of its Commander and Navigator, Sub-Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban and Petty Officer Memoru Ashibe.
Footage of the wreck taken by a remote operated vehicle and sonar imaging show the submarine lies upright and largely intact, although the external fabric has been damaged by commercial fishing trawling operations over the last 65 years.
The Australian Government has protected the M24 Japanese Midget Submarine under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. Breaches of the Act carry a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years. It has also declared a protected zone around the site to ensure the integrity of the wreck, its relics and any human remains are undisturbed.
Federal Grant To Combat Sexual Assault in Wentworth YesterdayI visited JewishCare in Woollahra to announce a $93,600 Federal Government grant to help Jewish women and their children who have experienced family violence and/or sexual assault. The funding to JewishCare's "Opening Closed Doors" program is part of the Federal Government's Women’s Safety Agenda Program. JewishCare is the major provider of non-residential services to Sydney's Jewish community. Each year JewishCare provides a wide range of services that help 4,000 people, mostly in Wentworth. Opinion Piece in The Age In todays editon of The Age I have written about Australia leading the way on green initiatives. To read the full piece click here Yours Sincerely
Malcolm Turnbull