Month: September 2022

Categories
United States of America

September 23, 1986 -Joe Biden suggests urgent #climate action…

On this day 23 September 1986, Senator Joe Biden (what happened to THAT guy?) launched the “Biden Initiative on Global Warming.”

Yes, 1986.

The excellent book by Howe, “Behind the Curve” contains this 

“Throughout the mid-1980s, Al Gore and his fellow congressional Democrats continued to push the Reagan administration to begin dealing with the problem of climate change. In 1986, Senator Joe Biden introduced an initiative mandating that the president commission an executive-level task force to devise a strategy for responding to global warming – a strategy the president was meant to deliver to Congress within one year. The initiative became the Global Climate Protection Act of 1987, which the president signed. The bill in the end required very little real commitment from the administration, but it demonstrated an expanding congressional interest in climate change that raised the domestic political profile of the State Department’s negotiations with UNEP and the WMO leading up to the IPCC. It also led to more congressional hearings on the issue, which helped keep global warming in the news and thus on the public agenda.”

(Howe, 2014:160)

The Biden Initiative on Global Warming, Sept 23 1986                 https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/senate-bill/2891

“Directs the President to establish a Task Force on the Global Climate to research, develop, and implement a coordinated national strategy on global climate. Requires such Task Force to transmit a United States Strategy on the Global Climate to the President within a year. Requires the President to then report to specified members of Congress on such report.

Directs the President to appoint an ambassador at large to coordinate Federal efforts in multilateral activities relating to global warming.

Directs the Secretary of State to promote the early designation of an International Year of Global Climate Protection.

Urges the President to give climate protection high priority on the agenda of U.S.-Soviet relations.”

On this day the PPM was 345.48 ppm.

Now it is 420ish – but see here for the latest.

Why this matters. 

The pre-1988 activity matters, so we know just how long we’ve been talking about maybe eventually doing something about “it.”

What happened next?

Oh, don’t the wheels grind slowly (or spin aimlessly).

Categories
Australia

September 22, 1991 – ESD RIP. Australia’s chance of a different future… squashed flat.

On this day in September 22, 1991, the hold-hands and sing Kumbaya phase of “ecologically sustainable development” came to an end. After 18 months, the “Ecologically Sustainable Development” policy process got (knee)capped.

“Damaging splits are emerging over the plan by the Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, to put resource-based industries on a sustainable footing.

Business groups yesterday strongly criticised lack of consultation, and said they might withdraw from the process. They could then claim not to be bound by the recommendations of the taskforce. They said the plan to write ecologically sustainable development policies was badly flawed and could damage the national interest.”

Peake, R. 1991. Sustainable Growth Plan At Risk. The Age, 23 September, p.3.

and

Industry groups attacked the Federal Government yesterday for the lack of consultation in its ecologically sustainable development working groups.

However, in a separate move [and quite possibly co-ordinated, MH], the Minister for Resources, Mr Griffiths, criticised environmental groups over their role in the development debate.

The Business Council argues that the main engine driving the ESD process is the concern about the “potential augmented greenhouse effect”. But the groups had failed to recognise the point made by the Industry Commission in its report on greenhouse, that “there are major uncertainties in each of the many facets of the greenhouse effect”. 

The carbon tax favoured by the ESD working groups would have negligible effect on global greenhouse emissions if it were imposed unilaterally, the council said.

1991 Garran, R. 1991. Industry berates government on Sustainable Development. The Australian Financial Review, 23 September, p.4.

On this day the PPM was 352.34 PPM.

Now it is 420ish – but see here for the latest.

Why this matters. 

Oh, we can have pretty much the same kind of economic growth we always have had. Bit of technofix here, bit of nip-and-tuck there, it will be fiiiine…

Even the relatively mild and reformist ideas of a carbon tax got kicked into the long grass… So it goes.

What happened next?

Hawke was on his way out. The next (Labor) Prime Minister, Paul Keating and his neoliberal hate-greenies officers kicked all things ecological, climate into the very long grass. John Howard took that and dialled it up to 11. And here we are…

Categories
United States of America

September 21, 2014 – big #climate march in New York. World saved.

On this day, September 21, 2014, there was a big march in New York and the alleged birth of a “new climate movement”. Er, nope.

If you want more of my take on this, check out What is to be done? Climate, capitalism and collisions with the ‘Limits to Growth’

On this day the PPM was 395.64

Now it is 420ish – but see here for the latest.

Why this matters. 

When will we ever get over the fetishism of marches (with Big Speeches) as the way to start/revivify a “movement”?

What happened next?

You’re living it.

Categories
United States of America

September 20, 1893 – first American-made gasoline-powered car hits theroad.

On this day, September 20, 1893,  Charles Duryea and his brother Frank road-test the first American-made gasoline-powered automobile.

On this day the PPM was 295ppm

Now it is 420ish – but see here for the latest.

Why this matters. 

What a potentially useful invention. What a catastrophe it has turned out to be. Oh well

What happened next?

Vroom vroom! The car took over the world, reshaped cities, killed millions upon millions and, of course, polluted the atmosphere.

Categories
Uncategorized

September 19, 1997 – John Howard condemns the South Pacific to hell. Again.

On this day, 19th September, 1997,

“The 16 member South Pacific Forum meeting was held at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and attended by Prime Minister John Howard. Greenhouse and climate change issues received significant media attention during this meeting. Australia’s position on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions differed strongly from the other 15 nations attending the forum. The AOSIS (particularly Tuvalu) demands were for a binding 20 per cent reduction in 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 2005, while Australia aimed to avoid language calling for binding targets. At the conclusion of the meeting the Forum statement did not support the AOSIS proposal but urged parties to consider it.”

[source- https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1997-Communique%CC%81-Rarotonga-17-19-Sep.pdf

On this day the PPM was 364ish. Now it is 420ish – but see here for the latest.

Why this matters. 

Australia has been ignoring its neighbours on the existential threat of climate change for a very long time.

What happened next?

Australia carved out a sweet sweet deal at Kyoto. Then still would not ratify. Kept increasing its coal exports, kept hampering the development of renewables locally.

Categories
Greenpeace Russia

September 18, 2013 – Greenpeace try to occupy the “Arctic Sunrise.”

On this day, 18 September 2013 a Greenpeace protest ended badly, with the crew of its ship the Arctic Sunrise attempting to scale the Prirazlomnaya drilling platform, as part of a protest against Arctic oil production. (see here)

The following day they were captured,in international waters, by Russians

On this day the PPM was 393. Now it is 420ish- but see here for the latest.

Why this matters. 

We should remember that there have been efforts to at least slow the acceleration of our dash for death.

What happened next?

The crew were released three months later, the ship three months after that.

Categories
Carbon Capture and Storage United Kingdom

September 17, 2002 – UK Government announces feasibility study into Carbon Capture and Storage

Twenty years ago today the first of many many CCS advisory panels was launched.

The Energy White Paper recognised the longer term strategic importance of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS), as a potentially valuable contribution to the achievement of its target for a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This study was announced by Brian Wilson MP, the then Minister for Industry and Energy, on 17 September 2002 with the following objectives: 

■ establish the technical feasibility of CO2 capture and storage as a low carbon option 

■ define the potential technical, market, economic, public acceptability and legal barriers, and consider options for their solution 

■ establish the circumstances that could make the option competitive with other abatement measures 

■ consider the size of the potential contribution to UK abatement targets 

■ assess export opportunities for the technology 

■ define the role for Government in taking forward CO2 capture and storage

On this day the PPM was 370.69

Now it is 420ish- but see here for the latest.

Why this matters. 

How long does it take for a technology to take-off? How quickly do we forget?

What happened next?

Proposals, competitions, betrayal, more panels. And here we are…

Categories
United States of America

September 17, 1969 – trying to spin Vietnam, Moynihan starts warning about #climate change

On this day, September 17 1969, Patrick Moynihan, wrote a memo to the Nixon administration warning of the build up of carbon dioxide.

See here.

To quote yesterday’s blog, which was also about 1969, the context is that by the late 1960s smart people were paying attention to – and starting to get worried about – carbon dioxide build-up. Burnet was not alone in this.

But the broader context – which I have not seen in the popular accounts of Moynihan’s warning (it crops up on Twitter occasionaly). Tricky Dick Nixon was keen to get Europeans thinking about, well, anything other than Vietnam, and was seeking to retool NATO to include “challenges to modern society” – including ‘the environment’.

Connecting with President-elect Richard Nixon in 1968, he joined Nixon’s White House Staff as Counselor to the President for Urban Affairs. He was very influential at that time, as one of the few people in Nixon’s inner circle who had done academic research related to social policies.

In 1969, on the initiative of Nixon, NATO tried to establish a third civil column, establishing itself as a hub of research and initiatives in the civil region, dealing as well with environmental topics.[6] Moynihan[6] named Acid Rain and the Greenhouse effect as suitable international challenges to be dealt by NATO. NATO was chosen, since the mutual defense organization had suitable expertise in the field and experience with international research coordination. The German government was skeptical and saw the initiative as an attempt to regain international terrain after the lost Vietnam War. The topics, however, gained momentum in civil conferences and institutions.[6]

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Daniel_Patrick_Moynihan

Why this matters.

Let no-one tell you this was a sudden surprise in 1988 (and even if it were, we’ve had a generation to start taking action).

What happened next?

More and more people became aware of the problems. But awareness is not political and economic power, and those who were doing nicely from the sale of deliciously cheap and abundant fossil fuels saw no reason to stop. And every reason to stop those who wanted them to stop. So that’s what they did, very well, for a very long time. Eternity, effectively.

Categories
Uncategorized

September 16, 1969 – Nobel-prize winning Australian scientist warns about carbon dioxide build-up. Yes, 1969

On this day September 16 1969, Sir Macfarlane Burnet, an extremely eminent Australian scientist pointed to carbon dioxide as a serious potential problem. Yes, 1969.

Call to keep world at 2,000m

MELBOURNE, Monday. — The world population should be adjusted and maintained at perhaps 2,000 million, distinguished scientist Sir Macfarlane Burnet said today.

It was one of five minimum requirements that he set down for a “stable human eco-system” or an harmonious world.

Sir Macfarlane was delivering a paper at the Felton Bequests Symposium at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Melbourne.

Sir Macfarlane said the other requirements included a stabilisation of the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to avoid the possibility of disastrous climatic change.

The theme of the symposium was the influence of scientific advances on the future of mankind. It was arranged by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in honour of Sir Macfarlane’s 70th birthday.

Anon, 1969. Call to keep world at 2000m. Canberra Times, 16 September, p.3.

On this day the PPM was 323 ish. Now it is 420ish- but see here for the latest.

The context is that by the late 1960s smart people were paying attention to – and starting to get worried about – carbon dioxide build-up. Burnet was not alone in this.

Why this matters.

Let no-one tell you this was a sudden surprise in 1988 (and even if it were, we’ve had a generation to start taking action).

What happened next?

More and more people became aware of the problems.  But awareness is not political and economic power, and those who were doing nicely from the sale of deliciously cheap and abundant fossil fuels saw no reason to stop. And every reason to stop those who wanted them to stop. So that’s what they did, very well, for a very long time. Eternity, effectively.

Categories
United States of America

September 15, 1982/1990 – “Environmental Justice” is born. And so is Captain Planet…

.

On this day in 1982 gutsy people fight back

1982: Warren County, North Carolina. Birth of the “Environmental Justice” movement

September 15 – October 31: State uses nearly one million dollars of police force to bury 10,000 truckloads of PCB-contaminated soil from approximately 250 miles of roadside.  

Warren County citizens and their supporters march, protest and over 500 people are arrested. The environmental justice movement is launched.

http://www.ncpcbarchives.com/?page_id=8

And 8 years later, dreams of redemption and safety are sold back to us…

15 September 1990 Captain Planet and the Planeteers first episode

But really, you need to check out the Don Cheadle spoof…