The Greens NSW

By Colin Hesse, The Greens NSW Local Government Adviser

Like the temperature of the world, the heat generated by the discussion around pricing carbon emissions has increased the political temperature, while doing little to shed any light on how a carbon price will impact our community.

Each level of government will be affected by carbon pricing, and in the case of local government those effects will be in three main areas; the cost of electricity (in particular the cost of electricity for street lighting), CO2 emissions from waste, and other pass-on costs, primarily through building materials.

According to research carried out by the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) in Perth, the cost of the carbon price for local government will be “around one third of the economic impact of the introduction of the Goods and Services tax”.

Joachim Muller, Central Coast Greens

An Australian community-owned wind farm is Australia’s new international champion after winning the prestigious World Wind Energy Reward 2012.

Hepburn Wind is the community co-operative responsible for the first community-initiated and owned wind farm in Australia. As well as generating electrical energy, the 4.1 MW wind farm in Leonards Hill, near Daylesford (about 100 km north-west of Melbourne) it has also helped to educate the community about wind power.

Australia is in a race for gas, urged on by our state and federal governments. But from Broome to Sydney, a grassroots movement that includes indigenous people, environmentalists, city folk, farmers, social justice advocates, climate activists and climate sceptics are petitioning to stop the mining industry’s use and abuse of our land for short term profits. Citizens across Australia are telling the government to take notice: there is no social license for the damage from gas mining to our environment, heritage, water – and communities.

The Australian Greens today expanded the terms of reference for a Senate inquiry into higher education and skills in agriculture to include research into climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture, and ways to incorporate animal welfare principles into agricultural education.

"The Greens welcome the Senate Inquiry moved by Liberal Senator Chris Back and we are pleased that climate change adaptation and animal welfare will also be considered as part of this inquiry", said Greens Senator and higher education spokesperson Lee Rhiannon.

"There is a disturbing mismatch between the surging demand for skills and training in the agricultural sector and the funds flowing to education facilities.

"In 2008, universities were found to be producing fewer the 800 graduates per year in agriculturally related courses in a job market that is crying out for upwards of 4000 qualified professionals.