Climate Action Show

Defending human rights as climate changesDr Scott Leckie - International human rights lawyer and founder of Displacement Solutions. He works in places like Bangladesh and Myanmar helping people across the globe to ease the suffering of climate displacement. Stella Miria Robinson - Is the roving ambassador for the Queensland Pacific Islanders Council. She spoke to Vivian in Canberra at the Human Face of Climate Change event in parliament house. Her plea is that we respect the right of everyone to their place on this Earth.Jagveer Singh - A VCE Student received an award for leadership in climate action. He is part of the growing school strike for climate action and has a very clear set of demands and an idea how we need to achieve political change.

We speak with Head of Research at BZE – Michael Lord.Michael is the lead author of the Electrifying Industry Report, which was launched at the Electrifying Industry Summit on Sept 13th, 2018.This work focusing on industrial processes including industrial heat is a world first.Industrial processes represents 8% of Australia’s emissions – so is a significant contributor to the national emissions profile.Michael gives us an update on how this research is being received – and the other achievements of BZE this year including receiving an international award, and the uptake of industry of the Rethinking Cement work.Download the reports (for free) here:http://bze.org.au/electrifying-industry-2018/

Monday 19th November 2018Presenter: Erin JonesKey Topic: Victorian State ElectionAnalysis of the Victorian State Election from a Climate perspective with guests :Leigh Ewbank – Act on Climate Co-ordinator,  and Pat Simons – Yes to Renewables Co-ordinatorSave Westernport update with spokesperson Louise Page savewesternport.orgOverview of the student lead Schools Strike 4 Climate initiative with Sydney high school student Jean Hinchliffe from Fort St High School. schoolsstrike4climate.com

Monday 12th November 2018 After the smoke clears what about politics?Today we return to Morwell to look into what happens when coal country goes to the polls.The seat of Morwell is marginal and, in the words of Independent Tracie Lund,“across the nation people are looking at this seat”.Will another clean coal power station get the green light, or will the people votefor a greener carbon free future?Kurt Johnson will be speaking to a range of candidates for the seat to find out what theystand for in relation to the transition to renewables, and on climate change as a whole.Tracie Lund is running as an independent, and advocates for a “people before politics” approach,whereby her priority is investing in the community and its businesses.She sees a role for coal in the short to medium future of Morwell but supports a transition awayfrom the industry in order to grow renewable energy options.Ray Burgess, who represents a more conservative approach to climate change,is an independent that is “not convinced” of the effects of CO2 on the climate.He sees the coal industry as an integral part of Morwell’s future and believes in utilisingthe regions “traditional strengths”.Daniel Caffery is running as the candidate for Greens and is in strong oppositionto the opening of new mines in the region.Despite acknowledging that the transition away from coal will be a difficult one,it is essential in avoiding environmental destruction.His long-term approach sees a creation of jobs in alternate industries and a largeassortment of associated benefits.For more information go to: www.afterthesmokeclears.com.au Climate projections for the region available here:https://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/climate-projections/future-climate/regional-climate-change-explorer/sub-clusters/?current=SSVEC&tooltip=true&popup=true Songs by musician: RoseTurtle Ertler

Mt Gellibrand Wind farm near Colac held an open day and Vivien Langford was there to find out the latest.Then Paul Mahoney discusses the future of meat with Vivien.

Monday 29th October 2018As Australia cancels payments into the Green Climate Fund, leaders call for climate action on the scale of the Marshall Plan.Speakers at the ASEAN 2018 forum at Sydney University struggled with the challenges of developing countries within a carbon budget. Weak implementation of laws and “Catch me if you can” corporations are in their way.Dr Rini AstutiVivien Langford met Dr Rini Astuti a peat land specialist. Did you know Indonesia has 24 million hectares of peat land? Through the peatland restoration program a transition is taking place. Incentives are being given to maintain carbon stocks. The alternative is slash and burn carbon emissions which are double the whole of Indonesia’s emissions.Link to article  Dr PICHAMON YEOPHANTONGDr Pichamon Yeophantong has done extensive field work in China and SE Asia with a special focus on human rights. We discuss the environmental impact of the Belt and Road initiative which is meant to be low carbon and climate friendly, but how?  Hydro electricity is certainly renewable but communities are standing up against some dams, Pichamon tells us why.Link to articleOur Pacific neighbours need help in adapting to the climate change we are exporting with every subsidized tonne of coal or gas.  DR Anote TongOur Pacific neighbours need help in adapting to the climate change we are exporting with every subsidized tonne of coal or gas. Dr Anote Tong, the former president of Kiribati has been here not for “cash handouts” as alleged , but to interest us in the preservation of his nation and culture.  He tells Radio NZ Kathryn Rayne what he could do with $650million. Will we partner with him or leave it to another state?   Anja KanngieserNauru is mainly known to us for its detention centre but Anja Kanngeiser went there with a climate listening project. We learn about the high cost of food and water, the dying reef fish and the king tides that knock out the road which circles the island. The intolerable heat and dust makes it clear that Nauru for citizens and refugees alike is on the frontline of climate change.Link to article here The Canadian parliament suspended business for an emergency debate in response to the October IPCC report. Senator Elizabeth May makes a rousing appeal for Canada to step up. To double its target at the next COP in Poland and then demand of all other nations like us to step up.  You can listen to the whole talk on the YouTube below.Producer:Kurt Johnson,Podcast: Roger VizeInterviews: Vivian Langford

Monday 22nd October 2018“Thinking Big” takes us to the Pilbara where CWP is planning to export gigawatts of wind and solar energy by undersea cable to Jakarta. Vivien Langford talks toAndrew Dickson Andrew Dickson about getting the social licence for this break through project to export renewable energy to Asia. What is the environmental impact and who will underwrite the finances for such a mega project?  Giles ParkinsonWe talk to Giles Parkinson editor of REneweconomy who has been following this project, with enthusiasm.  He also outlines how pumped hydro energy storage can solve the headaches of “FIRMING”.  As some leaders create anxiety around the transition from coal and gas,  listeners do not panic when the sun doesn’t shine etc, there are many minds converging round these problems and we want to keep you up to date.How could Tasmania become the Battery of the Nation?At the AFR Energy summit Vivien heard a lot about gas as the way to achieve firming intermittent wind and solar power. But it is still a fossil fuel.Steve DaveyBenjamin WhiteThen she met Steve Davey from TasHydro and Ben White (Head of stakeholder relations,  Community,  Environment and Planning for The Marinus Project at TasNetworks) from the Marinus Project. They are thinking big.  They tell us all about how as Victoria’s coal fired power retires gracefully, the energy stored by pumped hydro in Tasmania can be brought by the undersea Marinus cable to the eastern states.Is this project in competition with Snowy 2.0 or do we need both sources to firm up the energy supply?  Is pumped hydro better than gas for firming?Producer :Kurt Johnson,  Podcasts:  Roger Vize and Interviews:  Vivien Langford

Monday 15th October 2018Can the Law and Corporations adapt to IPCC advice in time?What struck me about the IPCC report was that we have 12 years to put in place massive drawdown projects.The funny thing is we know what to do.  What is in the way?In this show we find out how the legal system and the myths under which business operates are preventing them really reading the IPCC report and behaving in a responsible way.We talk to:David Ritter CEO of Greenpeace Australia about the legal impediments.  Professor Christopher Wright Co Author with Daniel Nyberg of “Climate Change, Capitalism and Corporations”- Professor of Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School.  Dr Andrew King– Melbourne University ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science on the IPCC Report 2018     Reading:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/13/australias-climate-idiocracy-must-endhttps://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/pr_181008_P48_spm.shtml

Councils confronting climate impactsGuests:Lyn SavillePeterLaneGreg ClancyDanielle WheelerAmanda CotlashThe Mayor of BellingenJohn LevinMichelle EnglishNina KeathHallie EakinMusic by Shane Howard and Garrumal Marika

Monday 1st October 2018Guests:Paul HawkenJoelle GergisDavid Ritter