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Resolving Cultural Heritage Protection and Development Conflicts on Indigenous Lands

“ P rotecting cultural heritage and development are not mutually exclusive; we can have both, but projects have to be well-designed.” Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek (2024).   The recent decision by the Federal Environment Minister to shut down a tailings dam for a gold mine development, to protect Indigenous cultural heritage, has ignited controversy and conflict.   The controversy is not only over the decision’s impact on the viability of the Regis Resources’ Gold Mine Project at Orange, Central-Western NSW.  It has also highlighted the complexity of the problem when cultural heritage protection (with its focus on Traditional knowledge) and  development (with its focus on Western science) collide over future land use. There is now  community concern that history may repeat in Australia for development projects proposed on Indigenous owned and controlled lands. However, there would be little dispute that the above statement by the Federal Environment
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COMMENT: Australia’s Nuclear Future?

  The recent announcement by the leader of the Federal Liberal National Party for a climate action plan for Australia’s transition to net zero emissions based on seven nuclear plants with a mix of renewables of gas and renewables, has ignited concern and controversy. This is not surprising given the latest independent polling (18 June 2024) on this issue in Australia by the Essential Report  which indicated that: - “People think the best way to achieve our net zero by 2050 target is by developing renewables rather than developing nuclear (63% to 37%) ”. The poll highlighted the reason why public interest environmental controversies continue to ignite conflict when environment/anti-nuclear positions and development/pro-nuclear positions collide. T he unfortunate outcome for the information conflict situation, in this case, is a red corner ~v~ blue corner scenario! Instead, the focus should be on managing the information conflict created by divergent opinion ove
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Could UNFCCC COP 29 be the Watershed For Finding a Solution to Reduce Emissions Equitably? A Pathway to a Level Playing Field for Reaching Net Zero

    1.0            In 2023, the U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres identified the  “ Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities” [ CBDR-RC Principle]  as a key driver for achieving net zero deadlines - subject to a significant condition: “Every country must be part of  the solution. Demanding others move first only ensures humanity comes last”. 2.0            Existing issues that have limited the adoption of the CPDR-RC Principle over time are identified e.g., c onflicts over inequality and competitive advantage; the wide disparity in national contributions of global CO 2 emissions between all countries . 3.0            The article outlines the framework for a level playing field for reducing emissions, equitably, to reach net zero by 2050, based on the linkage between the CPDR-RC Principle and the fair treatment Equity guideline.  The CPDR-RC Principle and Equity are both legally binding obligations under the Paris Agreement. 4.0  
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What is the Status of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Process: The Decision End Point or a Decision-Making Aid? A Conflict Management Perspective

            Divergent public opinion and controversy has arisen in Australia over a referendum the Federal Government intends to hold later this year. Specifically, that an advisory body known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (“ the Voice ”) may make representations to Parliament and the Executive on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, the available information to facilitate voting  about the “ the Voice process ”  at the referendum has been an issue.     A conflict management framework  was applied to address this issue. The focus was on the  “interests”  (or  needs and concerns ) about the Voice process that the public have in relation to the referendum question –  rather than the voting   “position”  they may hold . The features of “ the Voice process ” were compared with public participation processes for resolving public interest conflicts: Processes which already exist and are equally available to all Australi
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Transitioning to Renewables and a Low-Carbon Energy Grid: A Pathway to Resolve the Firming Capacity Impasse

  T h e challenge for stable electricity   on an energy grid, powered primarily by renewables, is to   ensure continuous energy when the sun isn't shining, or the wind isn't blowing; or even if there is a sudden spike in demand i.e., Firming capacity. As renewables replace coal, significant issues over energy security   have ignited public concern and controversy whether renewables, such as wind and solar energy, ensure stable electricity power . Public concern resonates with the following opinion by the former Energy Security Board of Australia chairwoman, Dr Kerry Schott, as reported in the Australian Financial Review   (28 February 2023): ‘Former energy tsar,  Kerry Schott,  has criticised State governments, especially Victoria, for “demonising” gas, saying the fuel was crucial to shift the electricity grid from coal to renewable energy as part of the net zero transition… gas has to be part of the solution in the transition to renewable energy”.       The divergent o
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COMMENT: Action For Climate Change and InterGenerational Equity: Is Sustainability the Elephant in the Room?

      T he media coverage that followed a protest by a group of climate activists in Brisbane on 01 February focussed more on the “general overreach” of government in silencing protesters - rather than on understanding activist concerns: Whether “we are acting appropriately or urgently enough on climate change”. Whilst there may be divided public opinion on rights to protest, there should be no dispute that the activist’s concerns drew attention to serious issues related to action for climate change. Australia’s new Climate Change Act 2022 came into force on 15 September 2022. GHG emissions are to be reduced   by 43% on 2005 levels by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050. But the legislation does not as yet provide a national plan on how these targets are to be achieved. In the absence of any national plan for action for climate change, climate activist concerns about what the future holds for our children and grandchildren are real and warrant wider conversation. Concern for future
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National Plans for Energy Security Under the Paris Agreement Are Not Only About Emissions Reduction: Must the Kyoto Protocol History Repeat?

  KEY WORDS: Paris Agreement; emission reduction targets; energy security; affordable energy; renewables;  equity; sustainable development; SDG13; scientific-round-table; ETS 1.0    To achieve the Paris Agreement goals, effective integration between energy security and action for climate change to reduce GHG emissions is crucial - but remains problematic. 2.0      The UN’s 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goal 13 for “ Climate Action ” requires climate change measures to be integrated into national plans, policies, and strategies. 3.0      A national plan for energy security and sustainable development should not only represent a power system that is affordable, reliable, and secure - but also have the optimum balance between renewables and other feasible and viable climate action options to achieve emission  reduction targets, sustainably. 4.0   A pathway for a national plan that integrates energy security, emissions reduction, and sustainable development is described. RE
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