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Peak coal in Australia?
Wendy Frew, Sydney Morning Herald
Original: "Reserves to dry up as clean coal becomes viable"

NSW could run out of coal within 35 years, by which time any clean coal technology used to deal with greenhouse gases generated by the industry would only be in its infancy, say researchers.

Based on current industry growth and production rates of about 3.2 per cent a year, the state's 10,600 million tonnes of coal reserves would be exhausted by 2042, according to calculations done for the Hunter Community Environment Centre in Newcastle.

Those figures, calculated by analyst Greg Hall using official resources figures, do not take into account faster production that may result from the expansion of coal-loading facilities at Newcastle.

"This revelation is based on widely available industry data and we are stunned that the [State] Government has ignored it," said a spokeswoman for the environment centre, Georgina Woods.
(10 April 2007)

Climate change report findings prompt industries to consider future
Jennifer Macey, ABC Radio (transcript)
JENNIFER MACEY: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that within 20 years, Australia's agriculture and forestry production will fall due to increased drought and bushfires.

The CSIRO's Dr Kevin Hennessy is the coordinating lead author on the IPCC chapter on Australia and New Zealand. He says it's now certain that there will be less rainfall in much of the south-east of the country, which means big challenges for Australia's farmers.

KEVIN HENNESSY: Well, I think the challenges there, in terms of adaptation are, doing things like developing new drought resistance crops, and also heat resistant crops. Management options would include development and promotion of alternative crops, you know maybe shifting crops into different areas. And in some cases moving out of areas that become unviable.

JENNIFER MACEY: The President of the Victorian Farmers' Federation Simon Ramsay, says in light of this report it's time for the states and communities to reconsider their opposition to genetically modified crops. ..

JENNIFER MACEY: The report also projected a significant loss of biodiversity in some of Australia's main tourist attractions, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Kakadu wetlands and the Alpine areas.

The CEO of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council Daniel Gschwind says the Barrier Reef generates up to $2-billion for regional economies and employs around 50,000 people.

DANIEL GSCHWIND: There are every indication that those severe weather events do occur with more severity and we do need to manage our infrastructure accordingly and we also have to have plans in place to deal with visitors who may be caught out in situations like that. ..
(9 Apr 2007)
See also Champagne producers ponder climate change threat.

Australian media pick up on energy and warming - can bloggers retire now?
Big Gav, Peak Energy
Global Warring
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"The SMH [Sydney Morning Herald] is starting to look a little like Peak Energy lately, with the front page today leading with tales of resources wars and global warming, along with peak coal and then inside a new multi page Eco section featuring TreeHugger and a whole lot of sustainable living tips. If they ever start dropping in tinfoil decorations as well I might as well just retire..."
(10 April 2007)
Many news items from Australia picked up by our antipodean correspondent.

A subsequent post by Big Gav again highlights Austrialian coverage of energy/warming: The Stranded Armada.