Brenda Rosser
“VICTORIA’S bushfires have released a massive amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – almost equal to Australia’s industrial emission for an entire year. Mark Adams, from the University of Sydney, said the emissions from bushfires were far beyond what could be contained through carbon capture and needed to be addressed in the next international agreement. “Once you are starting to burn millions of hectares of eucalypt forest, then you are putting into the atmosphere very large amounts of carbon,” Professor Adams said. In work for the Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre, he estimated the 2003 and 2006-07 bushfires could have put 20-30million tonnes of carbon (70-105 million tonnes of carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. “That is far, far more than we’re ever going to be able to sequester from planting trees or promoting carbon capture,” he said…
…James Lovelock would have been a much better forestry delegate: “. “Carbon offsetting? I wouldn’t dream of it. It’s just a joke. To pay money to plant trees, to think you’re offsetting the carbon? You’re probably making matters worse. You’re far better off giving to the charity Cool Earth, which gives the money to the native peoples to not take down their forests.” 
Victorian bushfires release huge amount of CO2
“UNDER Kyoto, emissions are allocated to the country where they are produced. By these rules, the UK can claim to have reduced emissions by about 18% since 1990 – more than sufficient to meet its Kyoto target. But research published last year by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) suggests that, once imports, exports and international transport are accounted for, the real change for the UK has been a rise in emissions of more than 20%….” [1]
“VICTORIA’S bushfires have released a massive amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – almost equal to Australia’s industrial emission for an entire year. Mark Adams, from the University of Sydney, said the emissions from bushfires were far beyond what could be contained through carbon capture and needed to be addressed in the next international agreement. “Once you are starting to burn millions of hectares of eucalypt forest, then you are putting into the atmosphere very large amounts of carbon,” Professor Adams said. In work for the Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre, he estimated the 2003 and 2006-07 bushfires could have put 20-30million tonnes of carbon (70-105 million tonnes of carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. “That is far, far more than we’re ever going to be able to sequester from planting trees or promoting carbon capture,” he said….. [2]
Whatever were the chances of success of the Kyoto forum? The Australian (Labor) Government appointed the heads of the Australian National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) as members of the official Australian delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Bali in December 2007. [3] Prime Minister, Rudd, placed little value on selecting delegates with an appropriate background of study on climate change dynamics. NAFI CEO, Catherine Murphy was then free to spout her usual ill-informed logic at this critical international forum “Forestry is the only carbon positive industry and plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere….” [4]
James Lovelock would have been a much better forestry delegate: “. “Carbon offsetting? I wouldn’t dream of it. It’s just a joke. To pay money to plant trees, to think you’re offsetting the carbon? You’re probably making matters worse. You’re far better off giving to the charity Cool Earth, which gives the money to the native peoples to not take down their forests.” [5]
In these times of rapid and threatening climate change we can still enjoy life…for now…with the lights off.
Brenda Rosser
[1] West blamed for rapid increase in China’s CO2
[Consumer exports behind 15% of emissions – study]
Duncan Clark. The Guardian, Monday 23 February 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/23/china-co2-emissions-climate
[2] Bushfires release huge carbon load
Asa Wahlquist, Rural writer | February 13, 2009
Article from: The Australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25047322-11949,00.html
[3] NAFI represents Australian forest industry at Bali climate change meetings
http://www.nafi.com.au/news/view.php3?id=1788
[4] NAFI welcomes ratification of Kyoto Protocol by the Australian Government. December 2007. http://www.nafi.com.au/news/view.php3?id=1789
[5] ‘Enjoy life while you can’
* Decca Aitkenhead * The Guardian, * Saturday March 1 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2008/mar/01/scienceofclimatechange.climatechange?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
