Thirty years ago, on this day, September 5th, 1995 , the Australian Aluminium Council announces it is joining the ‘Greenhouse Challenge.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 361ppm. As of 2025, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.
The broader context was that Australian business interests had, from 1990, fought ferociously against any meaningful climate policy (not that the ALP, then in charge, was ever particularly serious about it).
The specific context was that the “Greenhouse Challenge” was a bullshit voluntary scheme dreamed up to cover up the defeat of a carbon tax. It was so harmless and useful to corporate reputations that even the Aluminium Council liked it.
What I think we can learn from this is that this is all kayfabe. No climate action that would affect the power and prerogatives of the rich would ever be tolerated. If you thought otherwise, well “tell them they’re dreaming”.
What happened next – the Greenhouse Challenge staggered on, with a further reboot when it was too obviously ridiculous. It was put out of its misery in the mid 2000s, having achieved no emissions reductions worthy of the name, but keeping some consultants happy and providing useful PR ammo. So it goes.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
Also on this day:
September 5, 1986 – a “Safe Energy” rally, in London
September 5, 1990 – Australian Environment Minister promises deep carbon cuts – “easy”…
September 5, 2004 – John Howard gloats about cooking the planet – All Our Yesterdays