10 CLIMATE CHANGE
Ailan Life
Each month our proud sponsor CEQ will pick their favourite Ailan Life entry and the winner will receive a $150 GIFT CARD to use at any of your local CEQ stores!
THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2023 TORRES NEWS
Net zero emissions one step closer The Federal Government has secured Parliamentary support for the so-called ‘Safeguard Mechanism’ reforms expected to reduce 205 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions to 2030 – equivalent to taking two-thirds of the nation’s cars off the road over the same period. Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said the finalisation of the Safeguard Mechanism Bill was a key milestone in achieving Australia’s 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030. “Today, we are a step closer to achieving net zero by 2050,” Minister Bowen said. “These reforms are the culmination of months of extensive feedback from Safeguard businesses, industry associations, climate and community groups, academics and private individuals.
“Business and climate groups have been clear that the Parliament should pass the strengthened legislation in front of it and deliver overdue policy certainty. “These reforms are crucial to our climate and our economy – supporting Australian industry and ensuring they will continue to be competitive in a decarbonising world.” The Safeguard Mechanism was put in place by the previous Coalition Government. It required facilities that produce over 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually (around 215 facilities) to keep their net emissions below a baseline (or ceiling). The Government expected to finalise detailed Safeguard Rules next month, with the updated Safeguard Mechanism scheme expected to be in operation as of 1 July 2023.
Global / Pacific legal experts get to work on frontiers of climate change ‘emergency’
Each week we will publish a pic showing the Ailan way of life in the Torres Strait and the NPA – the kids swimming, a BBQ at the beach, fishing, scenic shot, etc – from local photographers and readers across our region. Just email us your pic of Ailan Life along with your name, phone number and a 25-word description to ads@torres.news This week’s pics were submitted by Nadja Mack: her first pic (top) is at Harmony Week concert, ANZAC Park on Thursday Island, and (right) “Being from Melbourne,one thing that excites me about being in the TS: my resident sun bird who is building her next right in front of my kitchen window,” Nadja said.
Nadja is now in the draw to win this month’s $150 gift card! Good luck! Multiple entries may be submitted, but every entry (or entrant) may not be published. All pics submitted will be considered in the draw for the monthly gift voucher. Winners of the CEQ Ailan Life competition are determined by CEQ. Entries to the Ailan Life photo competition may be used by the CEQ marketing/promotions team as background images for store promotions such as posters, digital noticeboard specials, counter-facing displays (POS) screens, and/or on their website and social media. Entries may also be used in-store to promote the ‘Ailan Life’ competition.
TN0312 23-03-16 TN Ailan View ad with Sponsor 15x4
We want see your pic showing your.. .
Each week we will publish a pic showing the Ailan way of life in the Torres Strait and the NPA – the kids swimming, a BBQ at the beach, fishing, scenic shot, etc – from local photographers and readers across our region.
Ailan Life R E T EN ! N I W & Send us your favourite pic NOW!
Just email us your pic of Ailan Life along with your name, phone number and a 25-word description to ads@torres.news
Torres News
Each month our proud sponsor CEQ will pick their favourite Ailan Life entry and the winner will receive a $150 GIFT CARD* to use at any CEQ store! Multiple entries may be submitted, but every entry (or entrant) may not be published. All pics submitted will be considered in the draw for the monthly gift voucher. Winners of the CEQ Ailan Life competition are determined by CEQ. Entries to the Ailan Life photo competition may be used by the CEQ marketing/promotions team as background images for store promotions such as posters, digital noticeboard specials, counter-facing displays (POS) screens, and/or on their website and social media. Entries may also be used in-store to promote the ‘Ailan Life’ competition.
CONFERENCE DELEGATES: meeting in Nadi, Fiji. Pic supplied. A Pacific Islands Forum gathering the top global minds on international law in Fiji this week is putting the spotlight on sea level rise as it implicates statehood and persons. The four-day conference in Nadi, Fiji, was chaired by the High Commissioner of the Cook Islands to Fiji, HE Jim Armistead, supported by the Forum SG Henry Puna and Deputy, Dr Filimon Manoni, and attended by Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members including national, regional, and global officials, experts and diplomats working on the legal contexts of climate change impacts on ocean states. Forum Chair, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown highlighted their anxiety around island nations losing shorelines and water security to the rising tides. “You are at the forefront of groundbreaking work that will influence a legacy for our children and future generations into
perpetuity,” Mr Brown said in a recorded presentation to the event. He said sovereignty, lands and homes, fundamental and universal rights and freedoms, and the status of states are questions that “are difficult but real – they require solutions”. “We are at a new frontier and the world once again looks to us to steer the way despite the problem and injustices being caused by others,” he said. “This is our lived reality. This is our ‘climate emergency’.” He said the 2021 PIF Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change Related Sea Level Rise (2021 PIF Declaration) was a ground-breaking benchmark and “an excellent starting point for this Conference”. Amongst other issues, the conference looked into next steps for the Declaration, and the mandate from Leaders to recognise the impact of climate change of Pacific peoples and statehood.
Forum SG Henry Puna urged continued focus on keeping global emissions below 1.5 degrees in accordance with the Paris Agreement. “We must not lose sight of the bigger picture – climate change is an existential threat to our Pacific family and ensuring that we keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees, must always remain a top priority for us,” he said. Keynote speaker for the event, Tuvalu Minister of Justice, Communications and Foreign Affairs Hon Simon Kofe said they had the power to make significant impact if they acted urgently and decisively. “We must take an active stance, anticipate worst-case scenarios, and protect our Blue Pacific’s future,” he said. Conference outcomes were expected to go back to Forum Officials for further discussion and final reporting back to Pacific leaders, later in 2023.
