Walking On Thin Ice

It’s a dangerous business speaking out on climate change. Outspoken scientists in Australia have been threatened and popular Oscar winning actress and director Cate Blanchett has been criticised – even vilified – for appearing in a TV commercial promoting climate action and a price on carbon. What a sad state of affairs, when the rest of the world is seemingly doing so much more. Germany’s is moving away from nuclear and doubling its renewable energy commitment, plus investing heavily in clean tech research and development. India and Indonesia marked Earth Day in slightly different ways, but forests – and deforestation – are coming into focus globally this year. It took a British artist Mark Coreth to show a Sydney audience an icy bear sculpture to create awareness and a British scientist Michael Grubb to ask if Australia has lost its way on climate change action. Ross Garnaut’s latest report is sensible and sensitive to public and political action and renewable energy investmets should rise with a carbon price. Singapore is attracting a lot of water attention – investments and events – plus starting an electric vehicle trial. There are “straws in the wind” in Thailand and a DNA code of life to deal with fish fraud and overfishing. ST Microelectronics and Corporate Express are reporting sustainability action, while IATA and airlines are up in arms over Europe’s emission controls. Virgin Australia has a scheme of its own. We give the last word to author Jo Chandler, who tells of the concerns over melting Antarctic and Arctic ice sheets. Not so cool! – Ken Hickson