Categories
Australia Renewable energy

October 8, 2012 – The Office of Climate Change of Renewables Innovation is established

Fourteen years ago, on this day, October 8th, 2012,

The Office of Climate Change of Renewables Innovation is established: The Office brings together the Clean Energy Regulator, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, ARENA, the Climate Change Authority and the climate change and renewable energy functions of the Department of the Environment.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 395ppm. As of 2026, 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 in the aftermath of Copenhagen and before the road to Paris came along, there was still movement on renewables and innovation in various countries around the world, because technologies were maturing and the public appetite hadn’t completely died away, and you could see in the distance that renewables would eventually be price competitive with fossil fuels. 

The specific context was that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard had successfully shepherded the Clean Energy Package through parliament, and now there was the need for a ‘co-ordinating’ office.

What I think we can learn from this is that there are always these little bodies, offices formed. They give a minister a feeling of importance. They give a sand pit to play in, and then you see them produce a couple of reports, maybe host a conference, some legislation gets passed, they’re swallowed or abolished, and the carousel continues. At their best, you don’t even notice them. At their worst (or in their absence) you do.

What happened next

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On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 8, 1958 – “CO2 has begun to come home, hasn’t it?”

October 8, 1959 – Shell says “nothing to see here” on carbon dioxide build-up – All Our Yesterdays

October 8, 1964 – Party X and Party Y (techno and eco) – seminal article in New Scientist – All Our Yesterdays

October 8, 1971 – Lord Kennet pushes back against Nature’s “John Maddox” on the greenhouse effect. – All Our Yesterdays

October 8, 1978 – The Times runs an “ice caps melting” story – All Our Yesterdays

Categories
Italy United Nations

October 7, 1961 – “Changes of Climate symposium”

Sixty five years ago, on this day, October 7th, 1961, 

“Changes of Climate symposium” Symposium on Changes of Climate with Special Reference to Arid Zones, World Meteorological Organization, Rome, 2-7 October 1961

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 317ppm. As of 2026, 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 the modern theory of carbon dioxide build-up as a problem had been launched in May of 1953 by Gilbert Plas, building on the work of John Tyndall, Svante Argennius, and Guy Callender.

Meanwhile, the United Nations in the aftermath of World War Two had organised countless conferences and symposia about what the future would look like and what humans could do, and within those conferences, there would be symposia by involving various experts within a particular field, and here we see a symposium within the climate field. 

The specific context was that this is just after JFK’s address to the United Nations General Assembly, and the push for action on weather modification, which at this time was still considered doable and good. 

What I think we can learn from this is that at events like this, and also the IUGGs in Toronto and Helsinki in 1957 and 1960 respectively, and the New York Academy of Sciences symposium in January of 1961 a few people were beginning to look at carbon dioxide and say, “you know, this could get a little interesting.” 

What happened next Well, it got a little interesting.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 7, 1967 – RIP Ruby Doris Smith Robinson – All Our Yesterdays

October 7, 1989 – Alexander Downer says mining lobby”weak and gutless”, too soft on greenies – All Our Yesterdays

October 7, 2010 – Gillard scraps assembly, goes for “MPCCC”

October 7, 2010 – Julia Gillard scraps the “Climate Assembly” idea – All Our Yesterdays

Categories
Australia Scientists

October 6, 2004 – Pearman quits…

Twenty two years ago, on this day, October 6th, 2004,

Quitting your job may not be the definition of a splurge, but for Dr Graeme Pearman, until last year head of the division of atmospheric research at the CSIRO, that’s what it took for him to see more of his grandchildren.

Vincent, P. 2004. How does Dr Graeme Pearman spoil himself? Sydney Morning Herald, October 6, p. 4.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 378ppm. As of 2026, 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 Graham Pearman had been counting carbon since the early 1970s. He had attended two pivotal scientific meetings in 1977, in Miami Beach, and then Germany, and had returned to Australia to try to inform and galvanise scientists. Pearman had also been instrumental in the 1980 symposium. Pearman had organised the 1987 planning for greenhouse conference, and briefed Keating’s cabinet in 1994. Anyway, there’s only so much bullshit a man can take, and Pearman had had his fill by this point. 

The specific context was the Howard government’s endless climate criminality can wear a man down.

What I think we can learn from this is that our politicians are not fit for purpose (if the purpose is a habitable planet. If it’s short-term comfort and profit for a thin sliver of the population, then they’re great).

What happened next is that there are scientists Jim Hansen, Stephen Schneider, Kevin Anderson, plenty of others, I mean hundreds of others who have spent their lives trying to sound the warning. And their warnings have fallen on largely willfully deaf ears. That is less to do with the scientists and the facts and more to do with greed, stupidity, and organised enforced ignorance. And the weakness of civil society.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 6, 1988 – coal lobby says greenhouse effect “greatly exaggerated”

October 6, 1989 – Hawke Government given climate heads up by top scientist – All Our Yesterdays

October 6, 1997 – Australia says nope to uniform emissions 5% cut. Assholes. – All Our Yesterdays

October 6, 2005 – carbon capture is doable… – All Our Yesterdays

October 6, 2008 – “Quit Coal” Greenpeace boards ships – All Our Yesterdays

Categories
CO2 Newsletter

“Accelerating sea level rise is attributed to climate change” – Jan-Feb 1982 issue of CO2 Newsletter

The fourteenth edition of the CO2 Newsletter, (Vol. 3, no. 2, Nov-Dec 1982) published bi-monthly by American geologist William N. Barbat between 1979 and 1982 is live. You can download a pdf and see the full text here – CO2 Newsletter Vol 3, No 2

The eight page issue has a front page story pointing out that “accelerating sea level rise is attributed to climate change.” 

Yes, 1982, before many of you doomed-youth were born.

Read it and boggle at Barbat’s prescience and hard-graft. That he failed to warn us all was not on him (though see meme below). Goddam what a bunch of hairless murder apes (feeling particularly doomy at mo, ignore me).

The rest of the issue is what you’ll have come to expect – quotes, carefully curated excerpts of recent reports. All horrible stuff to read in 2026, but you have to admire the man’s efforts.

and that promised meme

Categories
Scientists

October 5, 1989 – Donella Meadows “The Costs of the Greenhouse Effect will be Unpayable”

Thirty seven years ago, on this day, October 5th, 1989,

The Costs of the Greenhouse Effect will be Unpayable

By Donella Meadows

The Costs of the Greenhouse Effect will be Unpayable

–October 5, 1989–

Forward-thinking people are preparing for the greenhouse effect. Barge companies on the Mississippi are acquiring railroads in case the river becomes permanently unnavigable. Planners of Boston’s sewage treatment system are taking into account a sea-level rise from global warming. The Weyerhaeuser company is planting drought-resistant trees. The Dutch are raising their dikes.

Either this behavior is certifiably crazy, or it’s an apt assessment of the craziness of the human race as a whole — a reasoned bet that we will be stupid enough to let the greenhouse effect happen, instead of stopping it.

I’m not that much of a pessimist. I think we’re rational animals, at least when it comes to economics. The economics of the greenhouse effect are quite clear. We can’t afford it.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 353ppm. As of 2026, 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 the greenhouse issue had exploded onto the public agenda in late ‘88, and then ‘89 you couldn’t move but for it.

The specific context was that Donella Meadows knew what she was talking about. She’d been co-author on The Limits to Growth. 

What I think we can learn from this is that Meadows was right and Meadows was pointing out what the cost would be if we acted and what the cost would be if we didn’t act.

What happened next. We did not act. Meadows died far too young in 2001. And the emissions kept climbing, the concentrations kept climbing. 

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On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 5, 1988 – Vice Presidential Debate and ‘the Greenhouse Effect’ – All Our Yesterdays

October 5, 1989 – Enviro minister “Richo” warns Hawkie to save “Kakadu”

October 5, 1992 – Ignoreland hits the airwaves. #Neoliberalism – All Our Yesterdays

October 5, 2006 – Greenpeace sues Blair Government over shonky energy “consultation”
October 5, 2016 – “Energy ministers urged…” again
Categories
El Nino

El Niño Digest Times (END Times) Vol. 1, no. 3 out now!

The third issue of the “El Niño Digest Times” is out now. It’s 8 pages of excerpts, quotes and images about the events unfolding as you read this. Download as a pdf or a word doc.

Tl;dr – there are going to be astonishing impacts, we’re at the end of the first (“antici….pation”) phase moving into the real stuff. Comments/suggestions welcome.

Categories
Cultural responses

October 4, 1982 – Koyaanisqatsi 

Forty four years ago, on this day, October 4th, 1982,

Koyaanisqatsi (English pronunciation: /koʊjɑːnɪsˈkɑːtsiː/[3]), also known as Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, is a 1982 American experimental film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke.

Koyaanisqatsi – Philip Glass

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 341ppm. As of 2026, 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 through the 70s the hippies had begun to realise that they were in fact right, that you couldn’t have infinite growth on a finite planet, that it doesn’t profit a man much to gain the whole world if he loses his biosphere, and there were ongoing struggles, decolonization hadn’t been the panacea that the more optimistic among had hoped for. 

The specific context was, well, you can read about Koyaanisqatsi here.

What I think we can learn from this is that artists and filmmakers and creatives, generally to use an ugly term, have known which way was up and have known that the hippies were largely right. 

What happened next There was another film, Powaquaatsi, a few years later.

There keep being new films, which are going to change things, and then they don’t. These things don’t change things, and here we are.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 4, 1957 – see, see – SPUTNIK!! – All Our Yesterdays

October 4, 1969 – “If we melt the Antarctic, our problems are solved because all of the ports of the world would vanish and the ocean will rise 200 feet.”

October 4, 1990 – “Verdict on our efficiency: we must try harder” – All Our Yesterdays

October 4, 1993 – Coal chief wringing his hands about “greenhouse,” promises new tech – All Our Yesterdays

Categories
Australia

October 3, 2007 – Turnbull makes a pledge

Nineteen years ago, on this day, October 3rd, 2007,

A new $4 million commitment to educating local governments on responses to climate change will tackle the global problem at a community level, federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/turnbulls-4m-climate-pledge/2007/10/03/1191091180504.html

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 384ppm. As of 2026, 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 the Liberals had been shit on climate change after the 1990 federal election, which they narrowly lost, but in late 2006 had had to modify that because the public was going through one of its periodic “oh, actually, a habitable planet would be quite a nice thing” phases.

The specific context was that the federal election was only a few weeks away, the campaign may have actually already begun, and Turnbull, as Environment Minister, was having to say this sort of crap. 

What I think we can learn from this is that what comes out of a politician’s mouth is usually crap, even more so at election times.

What happened next Turnbull became opposition leader, was then toppled by Tony Abbott, and then five years later toppled Abbott back (this time for the Prime Minister gig), and then, of course, was toppled in a coup, where it was probably Peter Dutton who started it, and Scott Morrison who was the final victor.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 3, 1970 & 2008: Nixon creates EPA, Brown creates DECC

October 3, 1975 – Three members of Congress introduce first bill for a national #climate program.

October 3, 2004 – John Howard revealed to have asked for fossil fuel CEOs to kill renewables. #auspol

October 3, 1970 & 2008: Nixon creates EPA, Brown creates DECC 

October 3, 2011 – “The End of Australia”

Categories
Australia Uncategorized

October 2, 1973 – News editorialises on Gas fields warning

Fifty three years ago, on this day, October 2nd, 1973, the Adelaide News (now defunct) editorialises on ‘natural gas’ (methane).

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 328ppm. As of 2026, 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, South Australia was looking hungrily at oil and gas fields in the northern part of the state, and here we see a senior physicist, and by this time I think Governor General, wanting to sound the alarm, what we learn is that there were people capable of taking a systems approach. Oliphant, I think, was not that bothered by the carbon implications at this point, but more by the “all eggs in one basket”, question and wouldn’t long-term solar be better.

What I think we can learn from this – we used to have grown ups in positions of authority? Maybe? Or maybe rose tinted glasses are at play, idk.

What happened next Oliphant was of course ignored, as scientists have been ignored, and we have committed ourselves to fossil fuels in a big, big way, and the consequences are coming due. 

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 2, 1927/64 – Svante Arrhenius and Guy Callendar die. – All Our Yesterdays

October 2, 1942 – Spaceflight!! – All Our Yesterdays

October 2, 1961- UNESCO conference on “climatic variations” begins  

October 2, 1994 – twenty years of boredom, for trying to change the system from within (Phillip Toyne becomes civil servant) – All Our Yesterdays   

October 2, 2014 – Low emission technologies on their way, says Minerals Council of Australia

Categories
Australia

October 1, 2009 – Malcolm Turnbull says some fateful words

Seventeen years ago, on this day, October 1st, 2009,

 Their concerns were heightened when he [Turnbull] went on ABC Radio on 1 October [2009] and said he would not lead a party that was not as committed to effective action on climate change as he was.

(Cassidy, 2010:22) – Turnbull, fresh off the plane from visiting David ‘Vote Blue Go Green’ Cameron…

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 386.95ppm. As of 2026, 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 the Liberal Party had gone to the 1990 federal election with a more ambitious emissions reduction target than the ALP. They had lost that election very narrowly and blamed the green lobby. Under Prime Minister John Howard, they had been resistant to pretty much everything on climate, especially mitigation. However, in the tail end of Howard’s prime ministership, he had been forced into a U-turn to allow an emissions trading scheme to happen if he were re-elected, though there was lots of fine print. The Labor government under Kevin Rudd, had eventually put forward some terrible legislation, the carbon pollution reduction scheme. This had already been defeated in the Senate once. 

The specific context was that the legislation was going to be reintroduced. Here we see Malcolm Turnbull, who had become Liberal leader by toppling Brendan Nelson saying – probably a little bit jet-lagged – that he would not lead a party that was not as committed as him on climate. And apparently various people listening to the radio thought that was unwise. Rudd had been enjoying watching Turnbull swing in the wind. Turnbull had tried to settle the CPRS legislation, cut a deal. Rudd wasn’t interested.

What I think we can learn from this is that a few fateful words can really be fateful.

What happened next Turnbull was toppled in a leadership spill, and to everyone’s surprise, and many people’s horror, the winner of that leadership spill was Tony Abbott. Abbott then was an extremely effective opposition leader in that he destroyed the credibility, or whatever, of Kevin Rudd, and then of Julia Gillard. 

A lot of what Abbott was good at was focus and vitriol, and this was amplified, of course, by the Murdoch media. Abbott became Prime Minister in 2013 and managed to get rid of Gillard’s emissions trading scheme, and was then himself toppled by Turnbull. It was a right proper soap opera, but not the good kind.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

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.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 2, 1927/64 – Svante Arrhenius and Guy Callendar die. 

October 2, 1942 – Spaceflight!! 

October 2, 1961- UNESCO conference on “climatic variations” begins

October 2, 1994 – twenty years of boredom, for trying to change the system from within (Phillip Toyne becomes civil servant) 

October 2, 2014 – Low emission technologies on their way, says Minerals Council of Australia