While his government insists that Australia's economy should be placed ahead of our efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions, Alexander Downer has started telling China they need to 'balance' efforts to reduce grinding poverty with emissions reductions.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/China-balancing-growth-with-climate/2007/06/05/1180809511662.html

China needs to balance a quest to ease poverty with combating climate change, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

"On the one hand they want to lift people out of poverty and understandably and appropriately so," he told a World Environment Day function in Canberra.

"On the other hand, they need to do so with a minimal amount of damage to the environment."

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Global warming latest woe for Bali

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Global-warming-latest-woe-for-Bali/2007/06/05/1180809509794.html

As it struggles to recover from the effects of two terrorist bombings, Bali's tourism industry is facing a new threat. Global warming.

Experts say climate change is hitting Bali's coral reefs hard, turning once vibrant diving locations into bleached shadows of their former glory.

It's not hypocrisy- It's a valid point considering Chinas population and current economic climate. It's a consideration that must be taken into account.

Who I am is of no concern to you.

I make sense, but you probably have a lot of trouble understanding it.

I..am your father, Luke

Who said I wanted to talk to you?

It's not hypocritical to expect another group to do something you are not prepared to do yourself? Maybe it's just selfish.

Does the idea of putting a generator into a ocean outfall downpipe sound stupid to anyone else?

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Sydney-Water-to-become-carbon-neutral/2007/07/19/1184559926917.html

Sydney Water has made a public pledge to become carbon neutral by 2020.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma on Thursday announced the utility was the first government agency to make the public commitment and would offset 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

That would be the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road.

Mr Iemma said Sydney Water was one of the largest energy users in NSW, using almost one per cent of the total energy consumed by the state.

One hydro-electric generator will capture energy from wastewater flowing down a dropshaft into the deepwater ocean outfall at North Head Sewage Treatment Plant.

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Qld EPA cutting back on gas-guzzlers

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/qld-epa-cutting-back-on-gasguzzlers/2007/07/18/1184559863290.html

Queensland's Environmental Protection Agency is "leading by example" in cutting back on gas guzzling cars, even though half its vehicle fleet are six cylinders or V8s, the state government says.

State Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr told a parliamentary estimates committee on Wednesday that 25 of the EPA's 530 cars were hybrid.

Between June 2003 and 2005, the department had reduced its fleet by 53 vehicles, and V8s would be replaced with smaller models as leases expired.

But opposition environment spokeswoman Rosemary Menkens said the government's decision to extend leases on executive cars by 12 months cast doubt on its environmental commitment.

"What's most important, executive comfort or reducing carbon dioxide emissions?" she said.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jun 5^th, 2007 at 10:43pm:

UH OH, TIED YOURSELF TO AN IDIOT THERE BY MISTAKE OOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS!