Past Programs
Climate Change - 2007
Carbon futures
08/12/2007
The new prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has already committed the government to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 60% by 2050.
A key mechanism to achieve this target will be a carbon trading system.
A carbon futures market could be worth billions of dollars and it is likely to be up and running by 2010.
Howard legacy
08/12/2007
The political eulogies have been written but now the comprehensive analyses of the John Howard era are beginning.
The first published is by Professor Judith Brett, a long-time Liberal Party observer.
Climate Change Conference Read Transcript
17/11/2007
The United Nations Climate Change Conference begins in early December.
The Bali conference will last 11 days as governments from around the globe try to negotiate a way forward on this critical problem.
So what can we expect of the Bali meeting?
SA water crisis Read Transcript
20/10/2007
A large proportion of Australia is drought affected, none more so than South Australia.
The state which receives 90 per cent of its water from the River Murray will lurch from crisis to disaster if the coming summer is long and hot.
So what is the state government doing?
Environment Panel Read Transcript
29/09/2007
Recently the price of carbon in NSW collapsed.
The dramatic fall in the carbon price has various flow-on effects.
For one sustainability company, Easy Being Green, it has meant laying off over a hundred employees and temporarily ending its business of installing energy saving devices in homes.
So what hurdles need to be overcome to make these schemes work?
African rivers Read Transcript
15/09/2007
Each and every year more than a million wildebeest migrate across the plains of east Africa.
But there are fears that this cycle of migration and reproduction could be decimated if Africa's drought continues.
The Mara River, one of the region's central waterways, is particularly affected.
Could the Mara River eventually dry up if the problems of drought and poorly managed water use are not addressed?
Environment Panel
25/08/2007
What are the simple measures we can adopt to lighten our carbon load and to what extent will these steps make a difference?
Fear of flying Read Transcript
16/06/2007
Winter is a time when many of us plan a holiday.
We might go skiing or we could travel to a tropical island.
But it's becoming increasingly apparent that flying can be hazardous -- at least for the environment.
Carbon emissions targets in California: the way forward?
02/06/2007
On the issue of carbon trading emissions schemes, California is having a debate not dissimiliar to the one that's happening in Australia right now.
But how well are businesses in California coping with targets to cut emissions and what pointers might we take from their experience?
Climate Change Capital
26/05/2007
James Cameron is vice-chairman of Climate Change Capital, a UK investment bank that manages one of the world's biggest carbon funds. He is a leading expert on developing market-based policy responses to climate change.
Solar rebates - value for money? Read Transcript
12/05/2007
On Tuesday the Treasurer, Peter Costello, announced an increase in the solar electricity rebates.
But is this rebate money well spent, or would other measures do more to help householders reduce their carbon footprint?
Clive Hamilton Read Transcript
21/04/2007
It is nearly 10 years since the Kyoto Protocol aimed at curbing carbon emissions became a tool in the fight against global warming. But Australia is not a signatory to the Protocol. Since 1997, the federal government has insisted that complying with Kyoto would be economically damaging for Australia. Clive Hamilton believes the Australian government has displayed a blind obstinacy on climate change.
