Extremes

Last night I shivered in my summer PJ's as the cool summer in Melbourne continued under dreary grey skies, wind and a bit of rain.

Melbourne Experienced Wild Winds on Sunday 5th January 14

Meanwhile Queensland continued its run of extreme weather with a lightning storm following days of extreme heat. West Australia is also experiencing the hot weather, but those boom town folks are used to this!
Its been 4 years since my 1 kW Photovoltaic solar power unit was installed. Since then the number of units on roofs nearby has mushroomed, showing how my neighbours, mostly average Australians, have realized the benefits.
Unlike the current batch of reactionary, myopic, big-business oriented politicians!

In case you were still wondering how scientists managed to decide the globe is warming when its so chilly outside read these articles from the Conversation.

• https://theconversation.com/150-years-and-counting-confidence-in-climate-science-17179
• https://theconversation.com/australias-hottest-year-was-no-freak-event-humans-caused-it-21734

Then go and read an actual book from your local library - one that discusses in more depth the pros and cons, theories, facts, knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns of science.
Somewhat more authoritative than the denialists and loud-mouthed opposition.

You never know what might happen if one looks past one's prejudices.
How do we get people to listen? More conversation about conservation!.

Angry Summer Report

Labelled the "Angry Summer", this report from the Climate Commission details the heat experienced during the recent Australian Summer.

This week, the notional start of Autumn, is predicted to be above 30 degrees Celsius the whole week. While my water tanks are now nearly full, from a moderate rainfall on the 27th February, we will still be watering for a large part of March. My family in NZ are doing the same as our weather wafts across the Tasman Sea to provide drought conditions in the North Island of New Zealand.

As our confident Coalition plans the axing of the Carbon Tax, China is experimenting with an Emissions Trading Scheme reported to cover 250 million people.
I hope their scheme is successful because that may actually have a small effect in ameliorating the increasing energy in the climate system from global warming.

The Executive Summary of "Carbon Markets and Climate Policy in China", Oct 2012 for the Climate Institute by Climate Bridge, indicates that "China has reduced its energy intensity, become a world leader in renewable energy, and is rapidly establishing carbon trading systems. These actions not only have positive impact on the climate, they also drive economic growth, reduce fuel dependency and create export 
opportunities. "

Something Australia needs also to do.
Does this weather make you angry?