SBS investigates climate issues

5 Jan 2010, 12:00 am   -   Source: SBS
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The first decade of the 21st century dawned with a global strategy to fight climate change but ended in chaos, with the UN system in tatters while greenhouse gases continued to be emitted with few constraints. (Getty Images)

The first decade of the 21st century dawned with a global strategy to fight climate change but ended in chaos, with the UN system in tatters while greenhouse gases continued to be emitted with few constraints. (Getty Images)

After what many dubbed 'a failure' at the climate change talks in Copenhagen in December, SBS investigates how people around the world are dealing with global warming.

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After what many dubbed 'a failure' at the climate change talks in Copenhagen in December, SBS investigates how people around the world are dealing with global warming.

SBS' CLIMATE CRITICAL VIDEO CHANNEL

RENEWABLES AND AUSTRALIA

Australia has some of the world's best clean energy sources, but experts claim we are lagging behind on renewables compared to other developed countries. So, what's laying ahead? At a glance: Renewables & Australia

South Australian firm Petratherm is leading the race in what's been called a 'heat rush'. SBS' Senior Correspondent  Brian Thomson visited its facility in Paralona to see the theory being put into practice. Geothermal: a limitless source of energy?

Wind power currently supplies only 1.3 per cent of Australia's energy, but several experts believe wind power could provide a fifth of Australia's electricity within 10 to 15 years. SBS' Ursula Malone reports. Wind energy 'has a future in Australia'

When people think of solar power, the panels on rooftops, known as photovoltaics, come to mind. But experts say Australia's future lies in solar thermal. SBS' PJ Madam reports. Australia's future 'lies in solar power'

A Western Australian company has recently signed off Ireland's first commercial scale wave energy plant. SBS' Sergei Pianella investigates whether this technology will ever become commercially viable. Wave power gets global attention.

THE FUTURE OF COAL IN AUSTRALIA

Climate change is presenting a unique challenge to Australia's coal sector. SBS' Keith Breene looks at how this issue is dividing communities. Climate change diving coal communities

As concerns over climate change grow, SBS's Keith Breene askes whether there can really be a future for coal, the most polluting fuel. The future of coal in Australia

With growing concerns over climate change, many people are pinning their hopes on 'clean coal'. But is it realistic? SBS' Keith Breene reports. Can clean coal make a difference?

Clean coal technologies seek to reduce emissions from coal-fired power generation. How does carbon capture and storage work and by when will it be commercially viable? What is clean coal?

Andrew Roden, Director of the Global Carbon Capture and storage Institute, explains the fundamentals of carbon Capture and Storage Technology. Carbon capture explained

Scientists are quite divided on whether the clean coal technology is viable in Australia. Here are their opinions. Clean coal: miracle or furphy?

COASTAL EROSION

Byron Bay's council has a planned retreat policy that bans waterfront homeowners from building walls to stop erosion. Homeowners are now fighting to change it. SBS' Emma Hannighan reports. Coastal erosion battle escalates

The Australian governments could be given the power to force people in coastal areas to move from their land due to climate change, a report released in late October said. At a glance: Costal erosion & Australia

NUCLEAR

Is nuclear power more practical and sustainable that other alternatives? What are the costs of going nuclear, for your health, budget and safety in an increasingly unsafe world? Nuclear power: Cure or curse?

Associate Professor Martin Sevior, from the School of Physics here at the University of Melbourne, explains how nuclear waste gets stored. At a glance: How nuclear waste is stored

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE? 

Green Power island Project Manager Sten Sodring tells SBS about his plan to establish artificial energy islands around the world. A leap into the future: Green Power Island

Environmental Laywer Michael Mobbs has transformed a house only 2km from Sydney's CBD into an almost 100 per cent sustainable home. How did he do it? Living sustainably in the city

PNG'S 'CARBON COWBOYS'

Recent events in Papua New Guinea prove that the idea of plan against deforestation is fraught with danger, SBS's Brian Thomson reports.

Deforestation on summit agenda

Climate controversy in PNG

PNG climate woes continue

Papua carbon trade blind eye

BEARING THE BRUNT OF CLIMATE CHANGE: KIRIBATI

A few countries have more to lose at Copenhagen than the tiny pacific island nation of Kiribati, which is one of three nations that are expected to disappear within 50 years thanks to rising sea levels.

SBS' Senior Correspondent Brian Thomson has filed a series of exclusive reports.

Kiribati doomed to disappear

Kiribati's daily battle against the seas

Climate change refugees already a reality

Going under - who is responsible?

Interview with Kiribati President

CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

SBS presenter Anton Enus reports from South Africa, where coal dependence and under-developed communities are a major climate change issue. VIDEO: South Africa's unique position

Anton Enus examines the role of nuclear power in South Africa's future energy initiatives. VIDEO: Nuclear power in South Africa

DATELINE'S EXCLUSIVE STORIES

SBS' Dateline travelled to Samso Island, in Denmark, to find out how the so-called 'Isle of plenty' manages to be carbon neutral. Samso lsland: Green Nirvana? 

Dateline asks what India is doing to tackle the climate change problem, and if rich countries should be allowed to tell poorer countries what they should be doing. India's fight against climate change.

INTERACTIVE MAP

The British government has created an interactive map demonstrating the impact of global warming. Interactive map: The effects of climate change

YOUR SAY

As Australia is one of the world's largest suppliers of uranium for nuclear power, should it be obliged to store the radioactive waste from other countries? Should Australia accept nuclear waste from uranium-export countries?

Opinion polls show that many more Australians oppose the establishment of a nuclear power industry than support it, though the gap is closing slightly. What's your view? Do you support nuclear power in Australia? Should Australia go nuclear?

 

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Mr

R Green - from Prospect, 2 years ago

We hear a lot about the 'Computer Modelling' that has determined the future tracking for all the key variables of Rainfall, Temperatue, Sea alkalinity, Forest areas, etc. These are all inter connected. They are all necessary inputs into government's Computer-Model', and therefore all are available as output , month-by-month for the next 29 year. How about the Gov giving us the printout of 12 key variables, month-by-month for the future 20 years.

What's the point?

Schtaeve - from melbourne, 2 years ago

The hot air that surrounds the critical decisions we are failing to make merely adds to a warming environment. We are going to wipe ourselves out. Nothing is changing in terms of serious action. Ignorance and greed see to that. Planes fill the skies. Cars fill the roads. Power Stations and factories pollute. Oil is burned. Nuclear is worse. Oil companies are in armed disputes with indigenous folk fighting for the right to destroy their country. Nothing, nothing, nothing. That's what we're doing.

Weatherwonk

AME - from Brisbane, 2 years ago

The current Australian political leader is an embarrassment to us all. Who does he think he is? Imagine the guffaws from World leaders if he had taken an Australian ETS to the summit! Thank goodness Australians are not all stupid. He will pay for his act of stupidity as a temporary political leader. Australians will not allow this shallow little ponce to continue on a path of selling our land and people to suit a personal agenda. Go home Rudd. We will clean up our act without you or your mob.

Mr

Ronald Martens - from Morley Perth, 2 years ago

I agree with annoyed and disappointed. Perish seems an easy way. Many birds died this time last year around Esperance which they wanted to blame the lead in the shipments. At the time I thought it was likely the hot weather. Well now there have been large number of birds died from the heat. Not far from Esperance W.A.

Fiddling while the World Burns

Jack - from Mackay, 2 years ago

Phew, thank God thats over, we might have had to make a decision. We in Australia use cheap polluting coal to use more and more electricity but no, we can't use CO2 free nuc energy. Nuc power has a 50 year generally safe record, Coal energy has a 200+ year polluting and killing history and if the scientists are to believed it is this energy form that is assisting Global Warming. The Govt is not serious about domestic renewables because 1. no tax for them and 2. no job prospects for miners

Alternative Energy

NAFWAM - from Cairns, 2 years ago

While there is cheap energy no one wants to change. Peak oil started about 5 years ago and the price is only going one way. Economies will have to work without oil, electricty! Problem is coal is in abundance, cheap, employs and generates vast profit to companies and to governments. So whats can do all these things minus the pollution, Uranium. This is where your electricity should come from to power up your cars, trucks and run your households. Renewables for domestic use should also be in mix

Copenhagen Failure

Bob of Brissy - from Brisbane, 2 years ago

The abject failure at Copen to get any decision is an indicator where this is going. Wait until Shanghai and Manhatten start to look like Venice, then you will see action!. The Greens have noble ideas but a distraction. The only way to get CO2 down is to stop burning polluting coal, with a 50 year history, nuc power is viable, safe and clean for major industrial countries. Renewables are a good idea but govt cant get tax from citizens so we know how much they will favour that!

(Coal) Cloud Cover

Ye God - from Sydney, 2 years ago

We have been living in a (coal) cloud in OZ. Cheap electricity from highly polluting coal, using it at an increasing rate. We have had this hollier than thou attitude to nuc power and the govts have said electricity would be too expensive politically. Now of course they want to tax us at huge cost via the ETS. Of course Major industry need the power generation that only uranium can garantee with a CO2 free historically safe output. Compare that to damage of coal for last 200 years. Debate over

Convienent distraction

puresilk - from nsw, 2 years ago

Politicians don't get involved in anything unless it results in more money and control over the peasants. The debate is far from over, and won't be in our lifetimes. The whole subject simply reaks of lies and deceit. A perfect distraction for them to work further in the shadows. Take a step back and follow the flow of money. Let us learn from history rather than let the few use history to further manipulate us. Point fingers at the few for blame, not the many. Problem, reaction, solution.

To Jon from Sydney

JOAN - from EAST SYDNEY, 2 years ago

You are either an anti-humanist or ill-informed. Environmental extremists lobby and support the Copenhagen Treaty. They don't care about the impact of policies on human beings.Their base belief is that there are too many humans on earth and they want to change this. When they lobby to ban chloride -what is their aim? Death on a massive scale from Cholera epidemics. Immoral lobbyists have hijacked the environmental movement. The Copenhagen Treaty is an act against humanity.

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