Pearl and Irritations
Scientists and much of society now accept climate change as an overwhelming existential crisis. Governments also accept the basis of the crisis and act within the constraints of their comprehension and the need to be electorally successful. By contrast the rapid demise of biodiversity and its ecological services is much more complex than that of climate change and to be understood and acted upon it requires educational and fundamental changes in our thinking. Read more…

Renew Economy
Respiratory disease caused by pollution in houses cooking with natural gas has been recognised in the medical literature for over 25 years, yet governments have failed to act to protect human health. Australia has around 460,000 children with asthma and in 12% gas cooking stoves is likely to be the cause. The causative pollutants, nitrogen dioxide and particulates-PM2.5, are only partly removed by range hoods. Mandated gas connection must be stopped followed by transition of all gas households to electricity. Read more…

The Hill
The USA and Australia do not have population policies, yet have the highest per-capita emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, with Australia 15.2 tons of CO2 per capita and the U.S. 13.7 tons. Our ecological footprint indicates that the U.S. requires the natural resources of 5.1 Earths to maintain its standard of living and Australia 4.5 Earths. Population growth pays a part in both emissions and ecological footprint. Read more…

The Independent
Our existence and health on this planet depend on the life support systems of the natural environment, stable climate, water, clean air, biodiversity and the ecological services they provide to grow food; all are under increasing threat. They fall within the aegis of a currently poorly funded Public Health Service. Medical organisations have recognised the health consequences of climate change; this must now extend to health and the natural environment. Read more…

Pearls and Irritations
This urgent reform would be to establish a scientifically based national independent Environmental Protection Agency with statutory powers. This was promised by a Labor Government. In very broad terms, the new Agency would do for environmental policy what the Reserve Bank does for economic decisions. That is, it would have the power to make calls on crucial issues….. that the government cannot veto. Read more…

The Hill
After nearly 70 years of GDP in economic ideology and practice, the World Bank is having second thoughts about GDP as a measure of “growth” for it takes no account of natural and human capital. This article argues for a “true GDP,” which encompasses environmental loss. It is likely that Australia currently has a negative true GDP. Read more…

Pearls and Irritations
It seems inconceivable that many of the Morrison Government’s destructive environmental decisions over the past 3 years are based on ignorance alone; there is a pattern of behaviour that suggests they are not and may fall within the aegis of a national ICAC. For example, gas developments subsidised with $50B and possible links between the Liberal Party and some developers. Read more…

The Hill
In response to the recent IPCC report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said “High-emitting governments and corporations are not just turning a blind eye; they are adding fuel to the flames,” he said. “They are choking our planet, based on their vested interests and historic investments in fossil fuels, when cheaper, renewable solutions provide green jobs, energy security, and greater price stability.” There is also evidence that this latest IPCC report has been modified by governments and their fellow travellers. Read more…

The Hill
The four horsemen are accelerating; climate change; environmental degradation; population growth and the consumer economy. These four horsemen gallop in unison and must be considered together for they work together to destroy the planet. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports must be expanded to include all four issues and become the IPCBPE report. Read more…

This article has been republished in Australia. See here…

Canberra Times and 22 Rural Newspapers
Our rural, regional and remote areas are home to one-quarter of Australia's population. The people that live there are known for their self-sufficiency, incredible resilience and fortitude, yet governments offer them little as they face the rapidly advancing extremes of global heating. Governments have yet to understand and offer leadership to protect life support systems of stable climate and the environment and to recognise that the rural sector is the beating heart of the nation without which the future is bleak for all. Read more…

Pearls and Irritations
This article, published just before the IPCC report focuses on the most compelling climate issue. There is compelling evidence that CO2 emissions mainly from coal and gas, must stop now if further global heating is to be prevented. The article then provides political evidence from across the world indicating that this is very unlikely to happen. For Australia to provide its fair share of the international effort our corrupt and inadequate democracy must be replaced by a unity government of those with ability. Read more…

The Draft Management Plan for this iconic park paves the way for more visitors to the park and the development of tourist facilities. Over years of poor management there has been a marked deterioration of native vegetation, from failure of weed and feral animal control and from mountain biking damage. At a time of rapid deterioration of the SA environment the Draft Plan offers little hope for the future. The SA government has not yet published submissions. Read one here (PDF)…

Independent Australia
Many health and community workers are members of the Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA). In addition to their commitment to humanity through nursing and community service, many have concerns and commitments to the non-COVID threats to society, climate change and environmental damage. Yet HESTA is contributing to the health impacts and deaths from climate change with billions of dollars worth of investments in the fossil fuel industry and particularly in Australia’s two biggest oil and gas companies – Woodside and Santos. Read more…

Independent Australia
The promises and intent on the climate and environmental crisis given at COP26 are slowly melting away like the Arctic ice under rising temperatures.

Nowhere is this more apparent than with the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement which was signed before the text of 32 chapters and thousands of pages, and without an independent assessment of the true social, environmental, health and economic costs and benefits of the agreement. Read more…

Renew Economy
with Craig Wilkins
South Australia, a small state, loves to be first, and it could be the first to reach “net 100 per cent renewables” through wind and solar. But it’s also about to take a massive step backwards by giving the green light to a particularly dangerous extraction method for fossil fuel; underground coal gasification. Read more…

Economic Reform Australia
Australia urgently needs a population policy to plan for a population which can be maintained or reduced as the climate and environmental crisis progresses.

This article first published in Pearls and Irritations is republished in Economic Reform Australia Review Volume 14 No.1 January-February 2022. Read here…
and in Sustainable Population Australia Newsletter Feb 2022 pages 4 and 5. Read here…

Pearls and Irritations
with Melissa Haswell, Lisa Jackson Pulver
Australia’s Covid ‘let it rip’ mentality is deeply ingrained in the nation’s past and, through climate and environmental inaction, is driving a larger peril. Today the most critical challenge is to deeply reflect on how this approach has shaped Australia’s greatest failures and to unite behind a changed course for our collective future. This article was the most read article of the week in Pearls and Irritations. Read more…

The Hill
President Biden’s climate agenda was launched with hopes, prayers and the expectation of leadership to all world democracies, like a glorious ship set on a maiden voyage: the SS Biden. There is now deep concern that in stormy seas it has been driven onto rocks, still intact but in need of a high tide to free it. The problem is that the SS (Steam Ship) Biden by definition is fuelled by coal or oil....like The Titanic. Read more…

Pearls and Irritations
To retain our civilisation the linked climate and biodiversity emergencies must be addressed in tandem and both are closely related to the world’s expanding population. Australia urgently needs a population policy to plan for a population which can be maintained or reduced as the crisis progresses. Read more…

The Hill
The psychological basis of the mindsets within the fossil fuel industries and the governments they influence are explored. What responsibility do they accept for the eight million people who die from fossil fuel air pollution each year, amounting to 18 percent of total global deaths and continuing to increase? None. Read more…