Posts Tagged Australia
The IMF says 1.4% Contraction for Australia in 2009: Can we afford it?
It seems to me that the recent discussion and alarm about the world economic recession has somehow got itself unhinged from the basic importance of the matter. For instance, take this plot:
From the BBC’s report, ‘Deeper’ recession ahead says IMF’. The text around the figure goes like this:
Whilst this is all interesting stuff, it actually gives us only half the story on global economic activity. From this report, there is no way that you can determine what is happening on the ground in these countries, or for that matter, on the lovely planet called Earth.
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The other climate debate - Background Briefing - ABC
Posted by sangus in Podcast, Sustainability on 24 March, 2009
A superb Background Briefing report investigating the forthcoming Renewable Energy Target (presently, 20% of energy production to be greenhouse gas free by 2020) for Australia. Other countries have a similar target, but will Australia be able to deliver? What are the incentives? Are there differences in policy across the states? What are the key forthcoming policy decisions to be made by the Commonwealth. It’s all here.
Read the transcript at:
Ross Garnaut on Climate Change - Hack - Triple J
Posted by sangus in Interview, Podcast, Sustainability on 24 March, 2009
From Triple J’s Hack Program:
The wait is over Ross Garnaut has finally revealed his target for carbon emission reductions. This is the figure that shows how serious Australia is about dealing with climate change. It’ll have a big impact on things australia’s energy mix and how much you pay for electricity and fuel. So what’s the figure?
Garnaut says 10% reduction by 2020. Business are satisfied while environmental groups were hoping for much more. Garnaut says Australia should be prepared to committ to bigger reductions if there’s international agreement. But he’s skeptical about whether that’ll happen initially.
All this means we’re heading towards an atmosphere of 550 parts per million of carbon dioxide, where bigger cuts would have us at 450 parts per million. But Ross Garnaut says his recommendation is the right mix of economics and science.
+ Listen to Ross Garnaut on 2020 emissions targets (mp3, 3.42mb)
date: 05/09/2008
reporter: Kate O’Toole
Reporting on Closing the Gap - Should we Already Expect Progress?
Posted by sangus in Development, Health, Podcast, Poverty on 24 March, 2009
For those Australians who think that Development issues are something to do with Sub-Suharan Africa, think again. There is all the terrible and tragic action happening right on our doorstep.
The recent first report card speech delivered by the PM to parliament went for 40min and by some accounts and responses, didn’t deliver a great deal.
In my opinion though, we should give the PM a break, for now at least.
When you consider the situation, to think that substantial progress would have been made in 12 months on the ‘gaps’ in health and education between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is fanciful. These are long-run statistics that capture generational change, not intra-generational progress.
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