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The global temperature trends provided by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology are artificially exaggerated due to subjective and unidirectional adjustments of recorded values. The present paper aims to promote the use of the raw stations' data corrected only for urban heat island formation. The longer temperature records of Australia exhibit significant oscillations with a strong quasi-60 years' signature of downward phases 1880 to 1910, 1940 to 1970 and 2000 to present, and upwards phases 1910 to 1940 and 1970 to 2000. A longer oscillation with downward phase until 1910 and an upwards phase afterwards is also detected. The warming since 1910 occurred at a nearly constant rate. Over the full length of the long Australian records since the end of the 1800s, there is no sign of warming or increased occurrence of extreme events. The monthly highest and mean maximum temperatures do not exhibit any positive trend. The differences between monthly highest and lowest, or monthly mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures, are all reducing because of urban heat island formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Murray dairy region produces approximately 1.85 billion litres of milk each year, representing about 20 % of Australia's total annual milk production. An ongoing production challenge in this region is the management of the impacts of heat stress during spring and summer. An increase in the frequency and severity of extreme temperature events due to climate change may result in additional heat stress and production losses. This paper assesses the changing nature of heat stress now, and into the future, using historical data and climate change projections for the region using the temperature humidity index (THI). Projected temperature and relative humidity changes from two global climate models (GCMs), CSIRO MK3.5 and CCR-MIROC-H, have been used to calculate THI values for 2025 and 2050, and summarized as mean occurrence of, and mean length of consecutive high heat stress periods. The future climate scenarios explored show that by 2025 an additional 12-15 days (compared to 1971 to 2000 baseline data) of moderate to severe heat stress are likely across much of the study region. By 2050, larger increases in severity and occurrence of heat stress are likely (i.e. an additional 31-42 moderate to severe heat stress days compared with baseline data). This increasing trend will have a negative impact on milk production among dairy cattle in the region. The results from this study provide useful insights on the trends in THI in the region. Dairy farmers and the dairy industry could use these results to devise and prioritise adaptation options to deal with projected increases in heat stress frequency and severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The UK consumes almost 5% of world's wine production, drinking 12.9 million hectolitres annually or 21 l per capita per year. Australian wines are most popular with the UK consumer, accounting for around 17% of total take-home purchases. This paper focuses on Australian red wine and presents the life cycle environmental impacts of its consumption in the UK. The results indicate that a 0.75 l bottle of wine requires, for example, 21 MJ of primary energy, 363 l of water and generates 1.25 kg of CO2 eq. For the annual consumption of Australian red wine, this translates to around 3.5 PJ of energy, 600 million hectolitres of water and 210,000 t CO2 eq. Viticulture and wine distribution are the main hot spots contributing over 70% to the environmental impacts considered. Shipping in bulk rather than bottled wine would reduce the global warming potential (GWP) by 13%, equivalent to 27,000 t CO2 eq. annually. For every 10% increase in recycled glass content in bottles, the GWP would be reduced by 2% or 3600 t CO2 eq./yr; the savings in other environmental impacts are smaller (0.7–1.5%). A 10% decrease in bottle weight would reduce the impacts by 3–7%; for the GWP, the saving would be 4% or 7000 t CO2 eq./yr. If only 10% of the wine was packaged in cartons instead of glass bottles, the GWP savings would be 5% or 10,600 t CO2 eq./yr; the other impacts would also be reduced by 2–7%. These measures could together save at least 48,000 t CO2 eq./yr, almost a quarter of the current emissions from the UK consumption of Australian red wine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The south-west of Australia is being affected by a warming, drying trend in its climate. In response to these changing climatic conditions, as well as changes in farm commodity price relativities, farmers have adjusted their mix of enterprises to favour cereal production. As a result, an increasing potential source of cereal straw for bioenergy production has emerged. This paper examines how temporal and spatial costs of cereal straw accumulation may affect the establishment of a bioenergy plant in the region, with climate change impacts being highlighted. Logistics models based on mathematical programming are constructed for a range of plant sizes. Modelling results identify the cost structures of cereal straw accumulation for these plant sizes. Plant sizes are characterised by different cost structures and levels of volatility in their costs of grain accumulation. The profitability of bioenergy production based on cereal straw in this region of Australia is particularly exposed to climate variability, especially for larger plant sizes. The projected change in climate supports a relatively small reduction in the costs of cereal straw accumulation. These findings will affect decision-making over investment in a long-lived specific asset such as a bioenergy processing plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper assesses the environmental impacts of producing bio-energy, bio-fuels and bio-materials from Australian sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), and nominates the bio-production pathways offering the best environmental gains. A system-based, consequential approach was taken, which is different to past approaches that have commonly judged bio-production by comparing individual bio-products with their fossil-fuel counterparts. Possible diversified scenarios were developed, and the changes in environmental impacts from the system as a whole (per 100 t sugarcane processed) were assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA). Scenarios based on utilisation of co-products from existing sugarcane production (ethanol from molasses, and electricity and ethanol from surplus bagasse) were found to give modest reductions in non-renewable energy (NRE) use and global warming potential (GWP), and involve no or few trade-offs. Of these, ethanol and electricity from bagasse offer the best benefits. Scenarios necessitating expanded cane growing for dedicated production of ethanol and polylactide (PLA) plastics from cane juice were found to result in more substantial NRE and GWP savings, but involve the trade-offs associated with expanded agricultural production (land use, water use and potential water quality impacts). Of these, PLA production offers the better outcomes, amongst the scenarios. However, eco-efficient cane growing was found to be an equally important improvement strategy and should be implemented to enhance the benefits and mitigate some of the trade-off from bio-production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper compares climate change campaigns conducted by environmental nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. The NGOs represent a diversity of political access, financial resources, and international connections. Three campaign activities common to both countries undertaken between 2004 and 2006 are analyzed for their effectiveness via interviews and document review. This examination is embedded within an analysis of the political, economic, policy, and social contexts of each country. It is shown that in the UK climate change has been used as a pivotal leadership issue, that the fossil fuel industry’s influence is not predominant, and that NGOs enjoy political legitimacy. Whereas, in Australia climate change has only recently emerged as a political priority, the fossil fuel industry has had significant political and financial influence, and NGO advocacy has been marginalized. It is argued that NGOs are embedded in the political and policy contexts of their country, and the greatest campaign traction and NGO influence can only be achieved when these contexts provide favorable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]