Improve the world from your toilet

An obvious everyday action we can take is to recycle - and to buy products made from recycled material. A great example is the company Who Gives A Crap.

This company makes recycled toilet paper, gives free delivery (in metro Australia) and gives 50% of profits to build toilets in developing countries where people are literally dying from diarrhea etc as a result of poor sanitation.

If you haven't yet bought from Who Gives A Crap, here's a special $10-off offer (for a limited time).

It has no inks, dyes or scents and the packaging is zero-plastic; all cardboard and paper (easy to recycle). The rolls are also double-length rolls so you get a lot more use between roll changes.

Note that this is a special offer for new customers. Existing customers, you already know how good this is - you don't need extra enticement.

PS. In full disclosure, I also get $10 off my next purchase if you take up this offer. So it's a win for everyone - you, me, the environment and African kiddies. :)

Australia's hottest summer ever

We've had other hot summers but this one was at least 50% hotter than the previous record.

And it's obvious where the trend is going.

The Climate Council summarised this Angriest Summer with an infographic.

In my home state, Cloncurry had 43 consecutive days over 40°C (104F). That's a state record. In South Australia, Adelaide recorded 46.6°C (116F) - it's hottest ever temperature. Port Augusta took the title for the hottest temperature of the summer, with 49.5°C (121F).

I thought Autumn might bring some cool relief but even this week there's been two days of 36°C or more (97F). In Autumn.

Scientists are predicting a warm autumn too - and that's certainly been true so far.

Australians deserve the truth

The Australian government repeatedly tries to assure the public that we will meet our greenhouse target. But many are becoming very sceptical. Let's look at why.

What is our target

The target we set for ourselves, and committed to, is a 26% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 (compared to 2005 emissions). Yes it is a fairly weak target - taking a quarter of a century to do a quarter of the job - but that's a discussion for another day.

Today's question is whether we're doing anywhere near enough to get anywhere near it. Here are the government's own figures on emissions:

The start of the line is 2005 - the year we are comparing with. To reach our target, we have to get back to that level - and then another 26% below it. In just 10 years.

It's been 15 years so far and the only meaningful decrease was in the carbon price period. We'd need to do at least as well as that for the next decade to even get close.

So what are we doing?

The section marked "Emission Reduction Fund" seems to have no reductions at all and this is the policy the government wants to stick with (although with less annual funding).

It's no wonder that dozens of the country’s leading climate and energy experts have signed a joint statement stressing that without further action Australia will not meet its 2030 pollution reduction target.

Something needs to change. Big time. Otherwise we'll be far closer to 26% more emissions rather than 26% less.