Peter Sainsbury

Peter Sainsbury is a retired public health worker with a long interest in social policy, particularly social justice, and now focusing on climate change and environmental sustainability. He is extremely pessimistic about the world avoiding catastrophic global warming.

Peter's recent articles

Environment: Oil and gas making massive profits now but stormy waters ahead

Environment: Oil and gas making massive profits now but stormy waters ahead

Shrinking demand signifies rocky times ahead for many individual oil and gas producers but the industry will survive for decades yet. Emissions from farming and forestry aside, Australias emissions have been stagnant for 20 years. Feral pigs are destroying our wetlands and rivers.

Environment: Cryptocurrency using as much electricity as Sub-Saharan Africa

Environment: Cryptocurrency using as much electricity as Sub-Saharan Africa

Renewables are about to supply the annual increase in electricity usage globally but cryptocurrencys power demands are surging. Most industrial fishing vessels are untracked, including those around Australia. Climate change has already caused 4 million deaths.

Environment: Putting a price on carbon: is it worth all the trouble?

Environment: Putting a price on carbon: is it worth all the trouble?

Economic theory supports a price on carbon but implemented schemes struggle to deliver emissions reductions. China firmly in the EV driving seat. Climate action is failing to meet its targets globally.

Environment: The wealthy cause climate change; the poor suffer its consequences

Environment: The wealthy cause climate change; the poor suffer its consequences

Richest 1% produce as many greenhouse gases as the poorest 66%. Climate denialists have a new lyric: sure, its happening - so what? but Australians are concerned about climate change and want action. No, its not OK to shoot a hippo.

Leading oil and gas producers plan to keep pumping

Leading oil and gas producers plan to keep pumping

USA plans to maintain high levels of oil and gas production until at least 2050 so it can export freedom. Healthy ecosystems require integrity, not just biodiversity. Endangered slug runs circles around arty rivals.

Environment: Humans dont make history we play host

Environment: Humans dont make history we play host

How germs made history. Greenhouse gas emissions keep rising but USA and Europe are still the major causes of global warming.

Environment: Government inaction is killing our parrots

Environment: Government inaction is killing our parrots

Australias parrots are increasingly threatened. Coal, gas, wind and solar supply the worlds surging demand for electricity. Methane emissions must be reduced rapidly.

Environment: Canadians and Sydney-siders destroying their trees

Environment: Canadians and Sydney-siders destroying their trees

Canadians are destroying their boreal forests. Kelp forests need help worldwide. Advice for Australian company directors on preparing for climate change. New uses for old wind turbine blades.

Environment: The best of Peter Sainsbury

Environment: The best of Peter Sainsbury

Reporting a climate of hope and despair for the environment in 2023, Peter Sainsbury has brought us a raft of issues impacting our environment in his weekly report. We share a selection here to round off 2023.

Environment: 2023 - increased GHG emissions, increased atmospheric GHG levels and record high temperatures

Environment: 2023 - increased GHG emissions, increased atmospheric GHG levels and record high temperatures

Despite what we have we seen and learnt during 2023, the COP meeting failed again to take strong action on fossil fuels. Is nature for nature or only for humans?

Environment: Not much environmental cheer in the season of goodwill

Environment: Not much environmental cheer in the season of goodwill

Exmouth Gulf threatened with industrial development. Africa being forgotten as global economies develop. Australias emissions reductions likely to stall long before we get to net zero. Read on for the weekly environment update.

Environment: Health, budgets and the environment, all damaged by food and plastic waste

Environment: Health, budgets and the environment, all damaged by food and plastic waste

Food loss and waste harm the environment, human health and wallets. Chemical recycling of plastic not living up to its promise. Concerns about dead solar modules are unfounded.

Environment: Rich investors make profits from killing leopards, tigers and rhinos

Environment: Rich investors make profits from killing leopards, tigers and rhinos

Western financial institutions are funding the extinction of threatened species. Many EV batteries make lights work.

Im an extremist!

Im an extremist!

A week ago today, I and several hundred other members of Rising Tideand were paddling around the entrance to Newcastle Harbour preventing the export of coal from the worlds largest coal port. The event was incredibly well organised and extremely safe for everyone involved. It lasted from Friday until Monday but the actual blockade was from 10am on Saturday until 4pm on Sunday.

Environment: 1.5 degrees of warming in 10 years

Environment: 1.5 degrees of warming in 10 years

Not long ago it looked like wed exceed 1.5oC in 20 years, now it looks like 10. Maybe sooner if politicians keep approving new fossil fuel mines and fields and the logging of native forests. Particulate air pollution kills 9 million a year.

Environment: NASA climate scientist criticises colleagues reluctance to agitate

Environment: NASA climate scientist criticises colleagues reluctance to agitate

James Hansen claims that climate scientists have been too slow to ring the alarm bells. Not so, says Michael Mann. International climate treaties are booming post-Paris. Putting trousers on a starfish.

Environment: Plants and fungi - abundant and ubiquitous but poorly described

Environment: Plants and fungi - abundant and ubiquitous but poorly described

Very few plants and fungi have been scientifically described many are destined for extinction before we knew they were extant. Australias top companies lack transparency and honesty about their climate politics. Australias emissions are decreasing but far too slowly.

Environment: Plant trees but not to halt climate change

Environment: Plant trees but not to halt climate change

Lots of good reasons to plant trees but stopping climate change isnt one. Krill abundant but not for long unless we change our ways. Fossil fuels cause conflict and always have.

Environment: Industrial activities produce a third of emissions

Environment: Industrial activities produce a third of emissions

Industrial emissions, many hard-to-abate, are increasing. Norway leads the roll-out of EVs but China dominates the number purchased and the production of steel and EV batteries. 40% of amphibians are threatened with extinction.

Environment: Oceans to the rescue: 7 watery ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Environment: Oceans to the rescue: 7 watery ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Oceans could reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by a third. Toxic materials from abandoned and currently operational metal mines are polluting half a million kilometres of rivers and their floodplains. What do you know about Tassie Devils?

Environment: On track for 2 degrees of warming within 20 years

Environment: On track for 2 degrees of warming within 20 years

Based on whats actually happening rather than unfulfilled promises, the world will exceed 2oC of warming in the early 2040s and it doesnt look like a comfortable place to be (not even for succulents).

Environment: Australia labelled a Planet Wrecker

Environment: Australia labelled a Planet Wrecker

Wind and solar roll-outs are increasing globally but Australia and other Climate Wreckers are ignoring the science and developing new oil and gas fields.

Environment: If green growth is the answer, humanity needs a new question

Environment: If green growth is the answer, humanity needs a new question

Green growth withers in the heat of evidence. Humanitys demands are creating a global land squeeze. Another year of murder for environmental defenders.

Environment: Rich countries must do more to advance Africas economic and climate transition

Environment: Rich countries must do more to advance Africas economic and climate transition

African leaders and communities call for action to tackle the social and economic damage done by climate change. Warmer oceans lead to warmer conditions over land. UNESCO still looking for more government action to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Environment: Governments and fossil fuel subsidies, the infatuation grows

Environment: Governments and fossil fuel subsidies, the infatuation grows

Doesnt matter how much harm fossil fuels cause, governments have an Everlasting Love for subsidising them, so no surprise that coal and oil consumption is increasing. The global love affair with electricity started in 1950.

Environment: Andrew Forrests climate message to Biden, Modi and Xi

Environment: Andrew Forrests climate message to Biden, Modi and Xi

Andrew Forrest makes impassioned plea for governments to hold business responsible for climate action. African countries struggle to extract their natural resources without destroying their environments and people.

Environment: Eat more plants to save the world

Environment: Eat more plants to save the world

Vegans and vegetarians do less damage to the environment than meat-eaters. TotalEnergies and World Rugby team up in Paris to play a dirty game. Tips to become a better recycler.

Environment: Sleepwalking into our fiery future

Environment: Sleepwalking into our fiery future

Not enough action to preserve our forests and not enough action to prevent bushfires. Less than twelve years before we hit 1.5o of global warming.

Environment: Fossil fuels still dominate energy systems and economies

Environment: Fossil fuels still dominate energy systems and economies

Burning of all fossil fuels continues to increase. Gas is not better for the climate than coal but the myth continues and companies increase production. The fertile crescent is no longer fertile.

Environment: Biodiversity is decreasing but damaged ecosystems can be restored

Environment: Biodiversity is decreasing but damaged ecosystems can be restored

Agricultural intensification is killing European birds. Europeans are killing Australias native rodents. Getting rid of invasive species and reintroducing native species can re-establish natural ecosystems.

Environment: Critical months ahead for Australias environmental legislation

Environment: Critical months ahead for Australias environmental legislation

Australias environmental protection legislation needs all hands-on deck right now. City centre households have lower emissions than the suburbs. Northern hemisphere summers getting hotter.

Environment: Palaszczuk - mining coal is good for your health

Environment: Palaszczuk - mining coal is good for your health

The Queensland government is vigorously promoting coals social licence. Heat waves are clearly linked to global warming. The war in Ukraine is destroying the environment as well as people.

Environment: Carbon bombs will explode all hopes of 1.5

Environment: Carbon bombs will explode all hopes of 1.5

There are over 400 fossil fuel projects each with the potential to release more than 1 Gt of CO2. Serious environmental and human rights problems associated with mining the energy transitions essential metals. Barry Commoner described the problem and its cause 60 years ago.

Environment: Australias energy transition pathways a shambles

Environment: Australias energy transition pathways a shambles

Australias energy transition pathways are piecemeal and incoherent and inconsistent with achieving the 1.5oC goal. Eliminating fluorocarbons helps the climate and the ozone layer. No future for CCS in the steel industry.

Climate change gets worse daily

Climate change gets worse daily

Torres Strait Islanders and the people of Vanuatu pursue legal action to force inept governments to stop climate change. The Great Barrier Reef is at severe risk of disappearing as a result of climate change, which is also causing Earth to wobble on its axis.

Environment: Invasive animals and plants are the main killers of our native ones

Environment: Invasive animals and plants are the main killers of our native ones

Invasive species, including pet cats, have been and remain the major cause of extinctions in Australia. Net zero emissions sounds good but is it just a greenwashing delaying tactic?

Environment: Natural resources, renewable energy, opportunities and vision will create the African Century

Environment: Natural resources, renewable energy, opportunities and vision will create the African Century

A plan for Africans to take control of Africa and make it prosperous, fair and low carbon. Price of solar panels falling again. Protection for Macquarie Islands wildlife.

Environment: Two years left for a decent chance of keeping warming under 1.5C

Environment: Two years left for a decent chance of keeping warming under 1.5C

Scientists establish annual dashboard of indicators of climate change to guide policymakers. Bushfires fatal for humans and invertebrates. Commercial sponsors sought for Novembers COP meeting in Dubai.

Environment: Do CO2 emissions influence your life expectancy?

Environment: Do CO2 emissions influence your life expectancy?

Military activities generate uncounted but large amounts of greenhouse gas. Ocean temperatures hit all-time peak in April. Victoria to end logging of native forests. And, do your personal CO2 emissions influence your life expectancy?

Environment: Who are the green groups pocketing dirty dollars?

Environment: Who are the green groups pocketing dirty dollars?

Fossil fuel companies burnish their image with environmental sponsorships. Lakes and reservoirs drying up around the globe. China dominates the production of solar panels.

We love you gas, we do. Oh gas, we love you

We love you gas, we do. Oh gas, we love you

Sycophantic ministers cosy up to the gas industry. Electricity from renewables will soon match increasing demand for electricity. Will sodium replace lithium in batteries?

Environment: Developing a better relationship with Nature

Environment: Developing a better relationship with Nature

Jurisdictions are increasingly introducing Rights of Nature provisions into their legal systems. International shipping needs to steer a better course to zero emissions. Rewilding Britain one stream at a time.

Environment: Emissions, climate change and disasters got markedly worse in 2022

Environment: Emissions, climate change and disasters got markedly worse in 2022

Greenhouse gas emissions continued to increase in 2022, as did the effects on Earths climate and the consequences for humans. Pet trading within Australia needs to be more strictly monitored and regulated.

Environment: the real meaning of CCS: capitalism, corporations and subsidies

Environment: the real meaning of CCS: capitalism, corporations and subsidies

Carbon Capture and Storage, nothing but an inadequate fig leaf for obscene government endorsed corporate practices. Direct Air Capture may play a useful climate role in a few decades. Banks still lending trillions to fossil fuel companies.

Robodebt, a failure? Depends how you look at it

Robodebt, a failure? Depends how you look at it

The horror stories revealed by the Robodebt Royal Commission have prompted commentaries that have criticised Robodebt as an ethical or moral failure, a legal failure, a failure of common sense, a failure to apply the laws of mathematics, a failure of the hollowed-out public service and a failure of leadership. However, there is an aspect of Robodebt that was a staggering success: its vivid portrayal of the worldview of the people responsible.

Environment: How good are we at capturing carbon?

Environment: How good are we at capturing carbon?

Effective carbon capture is needed to stay under 2oC but need does not guarantee supply. A national park in Wales is regenerating culturally and ecologically. Helping you to know your cirrocumulus from your altostratus.

Environment: climate change colonialism

Environment: climate change colonialism

Wealthy developed countries worsen the climate and debt crises of poor countries and trample on the rights of their Indigenous peoples.

Environment: Rich people are melting Arctic sea ice

Environment: Rich people are melting Arctic sea ice

Rich countries and rich people have incredibly high greenhouse gas emissions. Arctic sea ice is shrinking. Tasmanian government plans to make fish farms more environmentally destructive.

Environment: Energy transitions progress is AC. Needs to be DC

Environment: Energy transitions progress is AC. Needs to be DC

China leads the world in building both coal and renewable infrastructure. Ten leading drivers of climate action are ineffective at keeping warming below 2oC. More and more species exposed to extinction as temperatures rise.

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