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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen
@tasvo.bsky.social
1.8K followers 970 following 210 posts
Climate scientist specialising in ice cores, Antarctica and glaciology. Interested in science and how we use it to navigate our place in the universe. Adjunct Professor at U. Tasmania.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · Nov 23
For new followers, welcome - here is a taste of what I like to post. This little animation draws on the ice core record of temperature and CO2 over the last 800,000 years. It shows clearly the tight coupling between the two, and the alarming anthropogenic CO2 increase! 🧪
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Reposted by Tas van Ommen
windjunky.bsky.social
Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 1d
“The Government’s Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD) is failing vital discovery research” by focusing on business funded research.
(e.g., we would never have created WiFi, but made a cheaper type of cable)
Science and Technology Australia.
scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/serd-missing...
R&D review missing the mark | Science and Technology Australia
The Government’s Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD) is failing vital discovery research, doesn’t propose a coherent solution for Australia’s research infrastructure system, and is not addressing call...
scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au
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Reposted by Tas van Ommen
windjunky.bsky.social
Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 4d
The approval of new coal and gas follows the UNFCCC “SSP5 - Fossil Fueled Development” scenario. which means *at least* 2.7°C, but more likely ~4°C by 2100
The government’s NCRA has made it clear that even 2°C, let alone 3°C, is disastrous for our environment, society and massively expensive
thesaturdaypaper.com.au
The Saturday Paper @thesaturdaypaper.com.au · 4d
The Climate Council identifies another 38 new or expanded coal projects seeking federal government approval. Collectively, they would produce more than 5.7 billion tonnes of coal over their lifetimes, equivalent to more than 14 years of current production. satpa.pe/EC2PaCk
Labor’s slate for fossil fuel approvals
The Albanese government has already approved 31 fossil fuel projects, and more than that are waiting, even as renewables overtake coal as the top source of electricity.
satpa.pe
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 4d
Someone needs to clearly label “Profa” as the opponents of Antifa. And stick the label firmly on MAGA-GOP.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 5d
I thought the whole foundational point of universities/academe was the rigorous exploration of ideas, free of church or state orthodoxies. The mere suggestion of a government compact is antithetical and a litmus test for tyranny.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 12d
Very nice comment! One of those pieces that draws things together and makes you look a bit differently at the world.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 12d
Late to the rebuttal
A calico cat lying semi-asleep in dappled sunlight with right forearm extended.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 15d
It was laughably transparent how they were disregarding the common good in favour of their sponsors’ interests.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 15d
I hear good folk accept there’s a climate crisis but then seek to constrain renewables for environmental impact. Carbon has far greater impacts and time is not our friend. Noble ideals in a highly non-ideal world risk the transition battle. It’s an emergency. Time and tech can help optimise later.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 15d
‼️
peterbrannen.bsky.social
Peter Brannen @peterbrannen.bsky.social · 15d
Fascinating line in new Hülse & Ridgwell paper about how our gigantic pulse of CO2 into the atmosphere--after tens of thousands of years of warming--could kick off an overcorrection of organic carbon burial in the oceans and hasten the descent into an ice age www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
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Reposted by Tas van Ommen
windjunky.bsky.social
Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 22d
The joke is on anyone who believes we are tracking a SSP1-2.6 future, as the American think tanker suggests we are should have used. That said, clowns like jokes 🤡
(Like SSP5-8.5. it is considered implausible.)
rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/a-close-lo...
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Reposted by Tas van Ommen
royalsociety.org
The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · 22d
“To suggest it is a ‘con job’ is flying in the face both of what we can observe, and of the physics.”

Eric Wolff, Chair of the Royal Society’s Biodiversity, Environment and Climate Committee

3/3
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 23d
A sober commentary on the climate challenge ahead from @science.org.au

www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...
President’s statement – Rise to the challenge, don't lower the target
The release of the Australian Government’s comprehensive National Climate Risk Assessment has reinforced the urgency for Australia and the world to accelerate investment in our path to net-zero
www.science.org.au
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Reposted by Tas van Ommen
danielprime.bsky.social
Daniel Feshbach @danielprime.bsky.social · 28d
In the dialogue box asking you to agree, DO NOT click agree: instead click on the TOS link which will open another tab. In the top right of that tab you can go to your account settings and delete your account.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 26d
Done!
Reposted by Tas van Ommen
oceanhelen.bsky.social
Prof Helen Bostock @oceanhelen.bsky.social · 28d
Good opportunity for #aus #antarctic scientists to join @scar-antarctic.bsky.social science groups. @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social @antarctic.bsky.social @amosupdates.bsky.social
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 29d
This! It really gets going about 35 seconds in, watch to the end!

youtu.be/cCJh5D0FCZk
James Burke - perfectly-timed rocket launch 8/20/1977
YouTube video by WL
youtu.be
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 29d
Yes - your tallying suggests the closest it gets is 7/7 with president breaking the tie, if indeed that’s the way the voting works. We shall see.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 29d
Not a simple majority then, it would appear?!
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 29d
Can someone remind us where the upper house alignments are on existing statements and leanings? @kevinbonham.bsky.social may have this handy?
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · Sep 16
Opponents need to step up and say what their price is. Maybe what they’re really saying is
they’re not committing to net zero, full-stop, at any price, at all, ever, regardless.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · Sep 16
Some are saying we shouldn’t commit to net zero “at any price”. Fair enough then, what is the price? The NCRA sets out some fairly serious costs for adaptation and is clear that these are less than the costs of inaction. It also is frank in its view that it is likely UNDER-estimating the costs.
Economic impacts of climate change: including impacts on householders and cost of living. The emerging academic view is that current modelling methodologies are likely to significantly underestimate the economic impacts and do not take into account the potential cascading impacts from the physical damage from climate change to our economy. Transmission of finance risk internationally could also significantly increase the economic impacts of climate change.
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · Sep 16
These levers of global cooperation actually reduce the risks and costs Australia faces as outlined in the NCRA. This is why we must act - to ensure that global momentum isn’t stalled by dangerous sectoral interests. /3 End
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · Sep 16
The US may have staggered off the field for now but they’re only 13% of global emissions.
Both India and China have targets for net zero: 2070 and 2060, respectively, and Paris agreement commitments are valuable, if presently insufficient, policy levers. /2
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tasvo.bsky.social
Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · Sep 16
Predicable attempts today from the usual media to downplay the concerns raised by the National Climate Risk Assessment and mislead. This includes the false trope that China, India and the US aren’t aiming for net zero, so why Australia? Here’s why: /1
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Reposted by Tas van Ommen
antarctic.bsky.social
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership @antarctic.bsky.social · Sep 15
🌊 “The fact that 1.5 million Australians may be impacted by rising seas and coastal hazards by 2050 is shocking, even for this sea level scientist.” — Prof Matt King @deformedearth.bsky.social @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social @utas.edu.au

▶️ aappartnership.org.au/antarctic-sc...
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