How Australia Could Be Carbon Neutral in 10 Years
Image via Beyond Zero Emissions
As of late, Australia’s climate battles have mirrored those of the United States in some most unfortunate ways–despite having internationally respected, science-abiding, and climate action advocating leaders, neither nation can manage to pass energy reform that would limit carbon emissions. In the US, most of you know the story–a laggard Senate has been unable to even bring the clean energy bill to a vote. In Australia, the government recently failed to pass a bill that would reduce emissions a meager 5% by 2020. In response, <a href="http://www.beyondzeroemi…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Australia Sets Deadline For Japan to End Whaling or Face Legal Action
Physical conflict between anti-whaling activists and Japanese whalers has been growing. Here, members of Sea Shepherd throw stink bombs aboard a Japanese whaler. Photo: John via flickr.
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has set a deadline for Japan to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean or face international legal action. If by November 2…Read the full story on TreeHugger
UN Agreement Protects Seven Migratory Shark Species, But Australia Opts Out (Partially)
Whale sharks are among those protected. Photo: Christian Jensen via flickr.
The United Nations Environment Programme has announced a “landmark agreement” to protect seven of the world’s migratory shark species. Under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals the hunting, fishing, or deliberate killing of the great white, basking, whale, porbeagle, shortfin and longfin mako sharks, and the spiny dogfish is prohibited….Read the full story on TreeHugger
Australia to Conduct Continent-Wide Survey to Find New Species
Photo: NASA, public domain.
How About Doing the Same Everywhere?
Australia’s Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, have just launched a new initiative to find new species. This isn’t just some half-assed survey of a few areas, though. We’re talking about a multi-year continent-wide search for native species in areas were few, if any, humans have gone….Read the full story on TreeHugger
Australia’s Invading Camels Soon to Be Croc Food
Photo via The Telegraph
Locals in one region of the Australian Outback have been terrorized of late by a roaming band of feral camels. Drought conditions and a recent heat wave are being blamed for driving some 6,000 camels into residential areas near the Docker River, where they have been <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/dont_you_dare_…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Live Like Rent Free, Energy And Water Efficient, Jetsons
Photo: Energy Australia
Want to live rent free for a year, and pay no costs for energy and water needs? Not enough incentive for you? How about the possibility of having a plug-in electric car in your garage, as well?
This is the deal that Energy Australia is offering, in concert with Sydney Water. They’ll be interviewing successful applicants, who will ideally be a family with kids to spend 12 month live-testing an energy and water smart home in the west of Sydney. The project that has been described by the NSW state government, one of the backers, as a ‘bit like “The Jetsons” meet “Big Brother.’…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Extinction Threatens World’s Butt-Ugliest Fish
Photo: Sad and blobby blobfish (Greenpeace)
Without the redeeming good looks of other endangered species, the rather unfortunate-looking but aptly-named blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) may not figure in anyone’s glitzy conservation campaign. Nevertheless, the fact is that this jiggly, jelly-like creature is threatened with extinction, thanks to the overfishing antics of deep sea trawlers scraping the bottom of Australian and New Zealand waters.
…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Free For Free. Yoink Costs Next To Nothing to Find Free Stuff
Photo: Bonobo
Yoink is new software that gives a triple scoop of that tasty treat: Free. It is a free iPhone application, which provides a free service geographically linking people who want to give away free stuff with those who want it.
Think of it as Freecycle in your pocket. As the media release explains,“The Yoink iPhone application uses the inbuilt camera to photograph the item and the GPS to determine the location so people only have to write a short text description to list an item.”
Although a new service, to be officially launched next week, early members in Australia, USA, Canada, Italy and Macedoni…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Australia Loves Winning Environmental Impact Trophies
This is getting downright embarrassing. Australia just keeps on winning the big ones, even nudging out our arch rival, the USA, in environmental impact. The trophy cabinet already has Australia’s name inscribed on awards for:
• highest rate of mammals facing extinction in the developed world
• world’s highest rate of carbon emissions per capita
• <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/12/australia-has-…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Interview with Bahar Tafti About Reusable KeepCup at Tent London (Video)
At the London Design Festival last year this TreeHugger was invited to join the DeTnk TV team at Tent London to showcase the best in sustainable design at the festival. Last week we showed you my interview with bamboo furniture designer Jair Straschnow, this week it’s the turn of the <a href="http…Read the full story on TreeHugger
