Representatives of national governments and industry representatives have flown out of the United Arab Emirates safe in the knowledge that they can do as they please while Earth continues to overheat towards the point of global extinctions

 

Suggested reading.....

United Nations COP28, First... by clarencegirl

 

This document apparently caused a round of self-congratulatory clapping at the conclusion of COP28. 

As the following excerpts indicate government representatives and industry lobbyists has gone home having given themselves permission to do as they please.

18. Acknowledges that significant collective progress towards the Paris Agreement temperature goal has been made, from an expected global temperature increase of 4 °C according to some projections prior to the adoption of the Agreement to an increase in the range of 2.1–2.8 °C with the full implementation of the latest nationally determined contributions;....

28. Further recognizes the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5 °C pathways and calls on Parties to contribute to the following global efforts, in a nationally determined manner, taking into account the Paris Agreement and their different national circumstances, pathways and approaches:

(a) Tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030;

(b) Accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power;

(c) Accelerating efforts globally towards net zero emission energy systems, utilizing zero- and low-carbon fuels well before or by around mid-century;

(d) Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science;

(e) Accelerating zero- and low-emission technologies, including, inter alia, renewables, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies such as carbon capture and utilization and storage, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors, and low-carbon hydrogen production;

(f) Accelerating and substantially reducing non-carbon-dioxide emissions globally, including in particular methane emissions by 2030;

(g) Accelerating the reduction of emissions from road transport on a range of pathways, including through development of infrastructure and rapid deployment of zero and low-emission vehicles;

(h) Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible;

29. Recognizes that transitional fuels can play a role in facilitating the energy transition while ensuring energy security;..... 

[my yellow highlighting]

NSW Knitting Nannas staying the course in the face of burdensome state anti-protest laws

 

The Knitting Nannas are to be admired for their sheer tenacity & commitment to non-violent protest

Nannas at early demo at NAB AGM Martin Place with Move Beyond Coal, XR, & Tiwi Is visitors to tell NAB to Stop Funding Fossil Fuels. Loud singing & inflated dolphin waving.@NAB pic.twitter.com/EXVXuuvkpR

— Knitting Nannas and Friends - Sydney (@knitnannasSYD) December 15, 2023

 

Environmental Defenders Office, News, 13 December 2023:

Supreme Court rules parts of NSW anti-protest laws are unconstitutional

Parts of harsh anti-protest laws passed in NSW last year have been found to be unconstitutional after a legal challenge by two Knitting Nannas protesters who argued they impermissibly burdened the implied freedom of political communication. [1]

Two Knitting Nannas, Helen Kvelde and Dominique Jacobs, took legal action to defend the right to protest in October 2022, after the NSW Government passed new laws following a series of climate-related demonstrations.

On behalf of Helen and Dom, the Environmental Defenders Office launched a constitutional challenge to s 214A of the Crimes Act 1900 that criminalised certain conduct such as remaining “near” any part of a “major facility” (such as Martin Place Station) if that conduct “causes persons attempting to use the major facility to be redirected”, on the basis it impermissibly burdens the implied freedom of political communication.

The Nannas also asked the court to find the amendments to the Roads Regulation 2018 that altered the definition of “major bridge, tunnel or road” under s 144G of the Roads Act 1993 beyond regulation-making power and therefore invalid.

Today, the Supreme Court upheld parts of the constitutional challenge, declaring parts of s 214A of the Crimes Act are invalid because they infringe on the implied freedom of political communication. However, the court found the amendments to the Roads Regulation 2018 valid.

In delivering his reasons Justice Walton said: “Section 214A imposes an unjustified burden on the implied freedom to communicate on governmental and political matters, which is an indispensable incident of the constitutionally prescribed system of government … [this] conclusion concerns the provision of subs 214A (1) (c) (vis-a-vis the partial closure of major facilities) and subs 214A(1)(d) which thereby renders those subsections invalid.”

Helen Kvelde said: “We are happy the court has given some acknowledgement to the democratic right to protest.

“But these laws to me feel like a distraction. As if both Labor and the Liberal Party are trying to get the population angry with protesters instead of angry against politicians for failing to protect us from climate emergency.

“I’m not sure what we can do next, but it doesn’t feel right to just let this go. We need to fight for our democratic right to protest peacefully. I wish people would understand that ultimately these laws could affect anyone – anyone the government of the day does not like.”

REFERENCES

[1] Kvelde v State of New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 1560

Grata Fund supports people and communities to hold powerful government and corporate leaders to account and achieve systemic change through the courts. Grata has provided financial backing to remove the barriers of adverse costs to this important piece of public interest litigation.

Cartoon of the Week

John Shakespeare

Tweet of the Week *WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT*

 

Scores of Palestinian journalists have been documenting the horrors suffered in Gaza, and many of them have lost their lives doing so. Now @CNN’s @clarissaward, @scottycnn and @BrentSwailsCNN managed to enter without Israeli military escort. Watch their extraordinary report. pic.twitter.com/JLioOfXf12

— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) December 14, 2023

 

ACOSS and UNSW Sydney survey shows popular support for the Federal Government to intervene to directly tackle poverty and the wealth gap that is threatening Australia’s social and economic fabric

 

This snapshot makes an interesting read. However, participants' responses to questions asked may have elicited attitudes that do not extend beyond the period in which the actual survey was conducted.

"2,000 people from around Australia aged 18 years and above completed the 2023 survey.....

Participants were recruited via a market research panel coordinated by Qualtrics which operates a panel of potential participants who have signed up to be contacted for research participation opportunities."

[Australian Council of Social Service and UNSW Sydney (2023), Treloar C. et al, Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality, 2023: Snapshot report, p.12]

Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), media release,13 December 2023:

Most people support lifting incomes for those with the least

Three-quarters of people in Australia support an income boost for people with the least while less than a quarter think it’s possible to live on the current JobSeeker rate, new research by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney shows.

The latest report from the Poverty and Inequality partnership, Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality 2023: Snapshot report, also shows 74% think the gap between wealthy people and those living in poverty is too large and should be reduced.

The survey of 2,000 adults in Australia shows most people (62%) think government policies have contributed to poverty, while 75% think it can be solved with the right systems and policies.

• More than two-thirds (69%) think poverty is a big problem in Australia

• Just 23% agreed they could live on the current JobSeeker rate

• Another 58% said they would not be able to live on that amount, while 19% were unsure

• Three-quarters (76%) agree the incomes of people earning the least are too low and should be increased

• Most people think no one deserves to live in poverty, and that unemployment payments should be enough so people do not have to skip meals (86%) and can afford to see a doctor (84%)

ACOSS Acting CEO Edwina MacDonald said: “This survey shows popular support for the Federal Government to intervene to directly tackle poverty and the wealth gap that is threatening Australia’s social and economic fabric.

“Most people know it is simply not possible to live on the punishingly low rate of JobSeeker that traps people further in poverty. Instead, the majority of people think the government has a responsibility to look after those people struggling the most.

“We know from the pandemic that the key to solving poverty is lifting income support payments. The government has no excuse not to bring them up to at least the Age Pension rate of $78 a day in the face of such strong public support.”

Scientia Professor Carla Treloar of the Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW Sydney & lead author of the report said: “Community attitudes can wield significant influence on social policy.

“This research underscores the public’s awareness of policy impacts. The fact that the majority of people in Australia believe that government policies both contribute to and can solve poverty and inequality demands immediate policy reform. It’s time to address unjust policies failing those in need.”

UNSW Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said: “The Poverty and Inequality Partnership between ACOSS and UNSW exemplifies our University’s vision for societal impact and the power of research to influence positive change.

“The insights and robust evidence that the Poverty and Inequality Partnership provides are vitally important for understanding how we can do better for some of the most disadvantaged groups of people in our society.

“Millions of Australians live with poverty and inequality. Highlighting community attitudes can help inform shifts in social policies that lead to better outcomes for us all.”

Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister said: “This report makes clear that Australians want poverty eliminated in Australia, and that most people believe current levels of income support aren’t enough to survive and make ends meet.

“For people who are receiving income support and access Mission Australia’s services, the current rate of JobSeeker is profoundly inadequate and simply does not help get people back into work. It often traps them and their families in survival mode and pushes them into rental stress and homelessness.

“We hope that the government will start to take community expectations seriously and implement real solutions like adequate income support to end poverty and poverty-induced homelessness in Australia.”

Read the report at: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023

Australia, New Zealand and Canada "support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire" and "oppose the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the re-occupation of Gaza, any reduction in territory, and any use of siege or blockade".

 

Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand

Joint statement

Wednesday 13 December 2023

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

Rt. Hon Justin Trudeau MP

Prime Minister of Canada

Rt. Hon Christopher Luxon MP

Prime Minister of New Zealand

__________________________________________________

Australia, Canada, and New Zealand mourn every Israeli and Palestinian innocent life which has been lost in this conflict and express our condolences to all families and communities affected by the violence.

We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel on October 7, the appalling loss of life, and the heinous acts of violence perpetrated in those attacks, including sexual violence. We condemn Hamas’ unacceptable treatment of hostages and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.

We recognise Israel’s right to exist and right to defend itself. In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza. The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians.

We remain deeply concerned by the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ongoing risks to all Palestinian civilians. Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be increased and sustained.

The recent pause in hostilities allowed for the release of more than 100 hostages and supported an increase in humanitarian access to affected civilians. We acknowledge the persistent diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker this pause, and we regret it could not be extended.

We want to see this pause resumed and support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.

There is no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.

We support Palestinians’ right to self-determination. We oppose the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the re-occupation of Gaza, any reduction in territory, and any use of siege or blockade. We emphasize that Gaza must no longer be used as a platform for terrorism. We reaffirm that settlements are illegal under international law. Settlements and settler violence are serious obstacles to a negotiated two-state solution.

We recommit ourselves to working with partners toward a just and enduring peace in the form of a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders.

We remain concerned about the impact of the conflict spilling across the region and urge all governments in the region to work towards containing the conflict. We call on the Houthis to cease immediately their attacks on international shipping and crew operating in the Red Sea.

We condemn rising antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab sentiment in our countries and around the world and remain firmly committed to combatting prejudice, hatred, and violent extremism.

SEE: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/joint-statement-prime-ministers-australia-canada-and-new-zealand 

Rachel Withers observed in The Monthly, 13 December 2023, excerpt:

It was little surprise to see members of the opposition immediately seek to politicise this new action from the Albanese government. After all, they have politicised every inch of this conflict, every slight tweak in Labor’s position, every expression of sympathy for the Palestinian people. Today’s calls for a ceasefire are not particularly radical. The UN resolution calls for “all parties [to] comply with their obligations under international law”, and the vast majority of the world voted for it. Nevertheless, shadow home affairs minister James Paterson was quick out of the blocks, declaring the vote a “shameful abandonment of Israel & our US & UK allies” and “another display of weak leadership on national security”, arguing that the PM was “caving to domestic political pressure”. “The Albanese Government voted with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia, Syria and the Taliban on this motion,” added Liberal Senator Claire Chandler in reply, as if we didn’t also vote with New Zealand, Canada, France, India, Japan and a vast array of our allies.....

At 1:50:41 of this video of the resumption of the U.N. 10th Emergency Session of the General Assembly the representative for Australia speaks.

The final vote breakdown:

In Favour 153

Against 10

Abstentions 23

Click on image to enlarge

COP28 Global Climate Action State of Play: the 1 Per Cent are mocking the rest of the world

Shorter version of two of the documents set out below which were produced by the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28) which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023:

• There should be no restraints placed on the production of fossil fuels - especially oil, gas and coal.

• All that is needed is for nations to magically make the greenhouse gas emissions (created by the production and use of fossil fuels) disappear so all manifestations of the global fossil fuel industry can claim they are clean and green.

• Some of the ways to disappear emissions might be to create new definitions for old problems, use more creative carbon accounting, shove those national emissions into a dark cupboard somewhere and, make the end users of fossil fuels pay more for the product.

•  The nations of the world need to relax, there's plenty of time, so go back home and think about the fact that fossil fuels are good and climate scientists are just being alarmist.

Summary of Global Climate Action at COP 28, created 11/12/2023, 23:32:26, excerpt:

III. Fast-tracking a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition

6. A rapid decarbonization of the energy system is the key to keeping the goal of 1.5 oC within reach. This requires accelerating clean energy transition both from the demand and supply side, while such transformation should be orderly, just and equitable and also account for energy security.....

DRAFT TEXT, excerpt:

on CMA agenda item 4

First global stocktake under the Paris Agreement

Version 11/12/2023 16:30

Draft text by the President

First global stocktake under the Paris Agreement

38. Recognizes the need to accelerate sustainable, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions, taking into account different starting points, national circumstances and pathways as well as ensuring energy security, affordability and accessibility and the need for sustainable development, eradication of poverty and international cooperation;

39. Also recognizes the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in GHG emissions and calls upon Parties to take actions that could include, inter alia:

(a) Tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030;

(b) Rapidly phasing down unabated coal and limitations on permitting new and unabated coal power generation;

(c) Accelerating efforts globally towards net zero emissions energy systems, utilizing zero and low carbon fuels well before or by around mid-century;

(d) Accelerating zero and low emissions technologies, including, inter alia, renewables, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies, including such as carbon capture and utilization and storage, and low carbon hydrogen production, so as to enhance efforts towards substitution of unabated fossil fuels in energy systems.

(e) Reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science;

(f) Accelerating and substantially reducing non-CO2 emissions, including, in particular, methane emissions globally by 2030;

(g) Accelerating emissions reductions from road transport through a range of pathways, including development of infrastructure and rapid deployment of zero and low emission vehicles;

(h) Phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible;....

The Guardian, 12 December 2023

A statement delivered by the Australian climate change minister, Chris Bowen, on behalf of what’s known as the umbrella group of countries, came as tensions flared at the United Arab Emirates over the text of a draft deal proposed by the summit presidency.....

Bowen referred to Schuster’s statement in his intervention in a later meeting between government representatives and the UAE summit president, Sultan Al Jaber. He was speaking on behalf of the umbrella group of countries, which also includes New Zealand, Norway, Israel, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

“My friend Cedric Schuster, the Samoan minister, said tonight of this draft that we will not sign our death certificates,” Bowen said. “That’s what’s at stake for many countries who are represented here tonight and many people who do not have a voice. We will not be a co-signatory to those death certificates.”

Summary of Global Climate Action at COP 28 by clarencegirl on Scribd

UNFCCC COP28: Draft text by the President First global stocktake under the Paris Agreement by clarencegirl on Scribd