Honest Government Ad | Kyoto Carryover Credits
Dear Patrons
Thank you for your patience... this one's been a journey. But finally, herwith be our epic Honest Government Ad about Australia's supreme shitfuckery aka: its Kyoto Carryover Credits.
It's the length of two HGAs because there's just so much to cover. And that's why it took us longer than usual to create this one. And then of course, the Government announced it wouldn't use its Kyoto Credits last week, so we had to re-film the intro and conclusion.
But all good - after a brief freak-out, we rolled up our sleeves and pushed on - and I'm proud to finally be able to share it with you. A big shout-out to to Ellen, Zoë and Lucy for putting such a lot of hard work into this episode, even coming back to re-shoot half the video when we realised we had to update it. And to Brent, who stayed up late with me on more than one night to help out with visual effects. (Our amazing team!)
So yeah, this topic.
Like many of you, I had a vague idea about our Government's use of carryover credits to offset its emission targets - but I never really understood how shameful this story was.
I learned about it in January when Simon Holmes à Court came on the Juice Podcast (Episode 8). If you listened to that episode, you might recall that at the time I said right away: "WTF, we HAVE GOT to make an HGA about this so that people know about this story!" Which is what I planned to do...
Then of course Covid happened, and then the US election, so I had to put this script on hold. But I'm glad we've managed to round off the year with the video I had planned to make in March - which is just so 2020.
I am really excited about this one - partly because of the time-travel sequence - which means I get to be a historian again for old times sake :)
But more importantly - because my favourite HGAs are those that help people get their head around issues that are regarded as complex or dry.
Coz it's not like we're "breaking" this story. Many brilliant scholars and journos have written about it over the years, in detail. (I've posted some links to some in the video description of the YouTube video).
What's been missing however is a no-bullshit explainer that brutally (but accurately) synthesizes the complexity of this story down to a nugget of shitfuckery people can get their head around.
And that's what the Honest Government Ads are so good for :)
As you might have noticed, I've been experimenting with the HGA format, trying to see how we can use this series and the audience it has garnered to start exploring more complex issues and concepts - drawing historical and geograohic connections beyond Australia's borders - getting more into a global perspective, etc.
Making these types of HGAs does require a bit more time however, so I'd love to know from you whether you feel that's worth the wait - or whether you prefer the shorter, more topical episodes. (I'm guessing the answer is a bit of both!?)
I'll be back next week with the Podcast companion for this HGA - my guest is an expert on Australia's international climate politics, and we'll be unpacking this story to cover some of the details we couldn't fit into the video (yes, it gets even worse). And the PG Version will be out on Monday for those who need it (keep an eye on our Teachers page).
Until then, have a great weekend and as always - thank you SO MUCH for supporting and making our work possible.
Giordano and the whole team
VIDEO LINKS:
YouTube video
Facebook video
Twitter video
Comments (38)
Just to bring back to this. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/31/coalition-mps-want-more-school-chaplains-to-help-children-suffering-mentally-due-to-climate-activism "The Morrison government claims Australia is on track to meet its Paris target of a 26-28% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, but reserves the right to use carryover credits from the Kyoto agreement to meet the goal." So much for not using them.
When you get better education on something from a comedy video than the media. Keep it up, I had no idea. Glad I’m still a Kiwi.
Haha yep - thanks Mark!
So good to have a voice of sensibility out there G and Team, thanks for the fucking awesome work, hungry for the next piece of brilliance you produce!
You're welcome Holden, thank you for making it possible. Just about the post the podcast companion now - hope you enjoy that too!
Giordano and team, this is fucking brilliant! Thank you so much for telling this story. I hope the video makes us feel the well deserved cringe, and demand real climate action from our government. Thanks for your great work.
Outstanding effort! I'll be sharing far and wide.
Fantastic work! I'll share it around.
Truth in satire - cannot be any more important! Brilliant.
Hi HGA team - I was slightly perturbed at the static interference in the last century time sequences but then I realised it must have been intentional - just that added bit of extra realism! I just love how all the shitfuckery is made so much more transparent and understandable - HGAs are invaluable particularly with this KCOC retrospective - you've certainly taken up the mantle of keeping the bastards honest (not that they want to be at all) - thanks once again Giodarno, Ellen, Zoë, Lucy and Brent! Stellar!
Thanks E :)
Wonderful! Thanks for explaining this so well. Great use of animations including swipe to reveal text and ageing footage to take us back to the 90s when we could have really stopped the increase in emissions the world over. Kyoto and Paris agreements were pathetic anyway. It's so not just Australia that has been selling our futures and now the shit is hitting our fans in the present. Least we get to call out the bullshit on top of bullshit. Well done to everyone at the juice media. We'll do our best to share widely!
Very well done! I didn't understand this nearly well enough before your video.
That's how I felt when I first heard the story - so I am very glad to read this!
I don't know how you keep doing it, but you out do yourself every time. Can't wait to listen to the podcast on this one. Shared.
Not quite sure either! But we do keep trying to up the ante :)
This was fantastic! I really love everything you have been posting, this was definitely worth the wait. Thank you for all you and the team do!!
So glad to hear that Annabel, thank you!
The time travel sequence was top notch.
Thanks we had a lot of fun doing it!
If only you could have insinuated your expose into the Climate Ambition zoom conference Giordano. Some light relief for the serious players and some serious shame where it’s due. Your brilliant and beautiful, thanks to delightful satirists, Zoe and Ellen, piece of work, most definitely needs a bigger platform. Bravo!
Thank you Sandra! I have a feeling that if this HGA had been played at the Climate Forum most people there would have given it a standing ovation - as I believe everyone there has well and truly had enough of the Australian Govt's bullshit at these summits
Superb! Absolutely the right message to call out the current marketing b*llsh!t by the smirking climate deniers in chief destroying the planet. How I cringed at the smirking blatant lies falling from their lips knowing the real story thanks to you guys. CRINGE! Well done!
Thank you George. Yeah, I am really hoping that after watching this people will know how to interpret the Govt's bullshit about being "over-achievers" and "meeting and beating our climate targets". Thank you so much for your generous support of our work
Amazing! Keep up the good work. I'm waiting for a feature film documentary from all of you on some story you know needs to be shared!
Haha maybe one day we'll make a film!
Bravo! Bravo! Burst into laughter with the time travel sequence...what fun! And what a sad story to be telling. Looking forward to the accompanying podcast. And Robert’s right: we need one of these HGAs for the U.S. government. Finally, these are well worth waiting for.
Thanks Diana :)
Brilliant! I'll never be able to use the word "cringe" again without thinking of this amazing dodge by OZ's government. The only worse government is here in the US, which each day looks more certain to end this coming January 20th, finally. I loved the use of style/hair/clothes to push the clock back and track the history - and history is something politicians just hate - particularly when there are photographic and paper traces on them! Well done!
Thanks Robert! Glad you liked it, thank you for your awesome support - and all the best for the month ahead, I bet you can't wait for Jan 20 (hang in there!)
Always good to see what's really behind the curtain! Truly CRINGE worthy. As Greta Thunberg posted this morning: "The ”net” in 'net-zero emissions' could be among the greatest —and most dangerous— loopholes ever created. The fact that our governments are using the same language as the world's most polluting fossil fuel companies really says it all..."
Yeah :-/ And our Govt can't even bring itself to commit to the loophole. Thanks Mark.
Thanks Giordano and team, this is an excellent complement to the corresponding podcast episodes! I so wish there was also a French JuiceMedia Ads channel, there is also so much to say about my country's policies. Would you happen to license the brand? ;) (I am almost not kidding.) Keep up the great work!
Thanks Laurent! I'd be so happy if there was a French version of the Honest Government Ads! In my dreams I envisage there being an HGA series for every Government!
Excellent! Probably the best one ever! It was certainly worth the wait. I think these longer, in-depth HGAs are very, very good - and by providing an historical perspective, they are even more valuable. Your team has done a great job - congratulations! I'm very pleased to support such a worthwhile enterprise, Best wishes for continued success!
Thanks for letting me know this, Stephen - I agree these historical HGAs can really help people to understand what's going on. Thank you for the support!
Great work guys! I really like the retro (80s) effects in the flashback section. And kudos to the Wayne's World reference (takes me back!) :D
Thanks Edward! (Yes, me too!)