News links for 2009-01-11

• CLIMATE REPORT SHOWS VICTORIA STILL LEADING THE WAY – Premier of Victoria
  A report on greenhouse gas emissions from Australia’s three most populous states shows Victoria is still leading the way in tackling climate change … or so the state government spin suggests. Elsewhere, the report states, “Emissions fell by 0.5 million tonnes in NSW, but rose in Victoria by two million tonnes and in Queensland by 2.2 million tonnes.”
  (tags: emissions, climate, state government)

• Sprawling transport not up to par
  A REPORT comparing the public transport systems of 52 cities internationally, commissioned by the State Government, has found that only North American cities have worse access to services than Melbourne.
• COMMENT: At a time when the rest of the world is investing in public transport to reduce carbon emissions and to ease traffic congestion, Victoria continues to plan on building more tunnels and toll roads that can only make matters worse.

• Victoria, the dirty state, shamed by emissions scorecard
  VICTORIA is driving Australia’s carbon pollution problem, with the Garden State being revealed as Australia’s worst greenhouse performer across a number of emissions indicators in 2008. Climate Group director Rupert Posner said, “Victoria has to take responsibility for the emissions it created in this state. Even if it exports the electricity, Victoria is getting an economic benefit for that,
• “COMMENT: At last, someone is agreeing that if we benefit from mining coal, we must take responsibility for the emissions. As usual, Mr Brumby put a positive spin on the per capita consumption. (tags: carbon, emissions, coal)

• Homeless take refuge in Tokyo tent village
  This is certainlt a sign of the times! The Japanese Government estimates that in the next few months 85,000 contract workers face the sack because of the economic crisis. The Border Mail reports that families are living in cars around Albury / Wodonga because of the economic crisis in the border region   (tags: “economic crisis”)