Daily Links May 18

Dams Are Major Driver of Global Environmental Change
Water reservoirs created by damming rivers could have significant impacts on the world’s carbon cycle and climate system that aren’t being accounted for, a new …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170517090509.htm

Australia risking its international standing over climate change inaction: Marshall Islands
The President of the Marshall Islands compares Australia to a “big brother or big sister” openly mocking science on climate change, saying inaction “weakens your ability to be a force for good on the world stage”.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-17/marshall-islands-urge-australia-to-support-climate-change/8533434

Coalition promises $30m for Indigenous rangers and says it will create new jobs
Nigel Scullion’s announcement follows calls for certainty and for the program to be expanded to 2030
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/17/coalition-promises-30m-to-train-indigenous-rangers-and-promises-new-jobs

Australia’s rural youth, in split from elders, seek to limit emissions.
The youth wing of a conservative party that represents voters outside the main cities has its own ideas about how to protect a rural lifestyle from the threat posed by climate change.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/world/australia/climate-change-carbon-emissions-nsw.html?_r=0

Wind and solar may kill off ARENA
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/arena-may-not-be-needed-within-five-years-20170516-gw6iz5

Woodside logical ‘BHP oil buyer’
Woodside is a logical owner of BHP Billiton’s $US10 billion Australian oil and gas business, Credit Suisse says.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/woodside-a-logical-bhp-oil-asset-buyer-credit-suisse/news-story/6dee6f0bb066a942bba7c38eb11033d9

Gas surge sends electricity prices skyward
http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/gas-surge-after-hazelwood-closure-sends-electricity-prices-skyward-20170516-gw5r9r.html

Higher energy prices have little to do with ‘gas shortages’, researchers say
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/higher-energy-prices-have-little-to-do-with-gas-shortages-researchers-say-20170517-gw6tg2.html

How much has Australia spent on CCS, and what has been achieved?
Michael Barnard
Australia continues to put lipstick on the pig of CCS, a tiny pittance of research dollars intended to provide air cover for the emissions of …
http://reneweconomy.com.au/much-australia-spent-ccs-achieved-14995/

Funding Climate Destruction And Human Rights Abuses: Efic Australia Abroad
Lucy Manne
Banks are walking away from mining projects that harm our planet, and our people. But one Australian Government organisation still isn’t getting the message
https://newmatilda.com/2017/05/17/propping-up-climate-destruction-human-rights-abuses-efic-abroad/

Time for gas industry to listen and respond
Angela Macdonald Smith
http://www.afr.com/business/energy/gas/time-for-gas-industry-to-listen-and-respond-20170517-gw6q7b

Premier told to grow up in funding fight
A NEW infrastructure funding war has broken out over Premier Daniel Andrews’ refusal to accept $15 million of federal money to plan for the North East Link.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/north-east-link-funding-war-breaks-out-after-premiers-federal-refusal/news-story/0539c56a153bb7e99fa643f1fbf74896

Daniel Andrews’ tough choice: Do you save the possums or the jobs?
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/moves-to-save-leadbeaters-possum-will-put-timber-jobs-at-risk-victorian-government-told-20170517-gw746y.html

Koala population study brings a surprise
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-city-councils-koala-detection-dogs-sniff-out-koala-populations-20170517-gw6ut3.html

Sun Metals says new solar farm will underpin zinc refinery expansion
Korean Zinc refiner says 116MW solar plant it’s building near Townsville will underpin the expansion of its north Queensland operations.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/sun-metals-says-new-solar-farm-will-underpin-zinc-refinery-expansion-28753/

SA companies’ bid to bulk buy power given tick by competition watchdog
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issues final approval for 27 of South Australia’s largest businesses to bulk buy electricity, in a move aimed at securing a better deal as the wholesale cost of power soars.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-17/sa-companies-power-bulk-buy-ticked-off-by-competition-watchdog/8533090

Pollution from Indian drugmakers drives drug resistance.
Areas around manufacturing sites are still heavily contaminated with antimicrobials and breeding multidrug-resistant pathogens.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361609388

Model island
New work in the Bahamas proves that economic prosperity and ecological health can go hand in hand
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361610190

Miners increase green energy use to power their pits.
Major mining companies, including some of the world’s biggest suppliers of fossil fuel, are seeking to use more renewable energy themselves as they strive to drive down costs and curb emissions.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361610221

No matter what Trump does, big cities pressing for cleaner cars.
The auto industry can’t count on a rollback of environmental standards by U.S. President Donald Trump to escape increasing worldwide pressure to make vehicles cleaner.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361609701

Microbial fuel cell converts methane to electricity
Transporting methane from gas wellheads to market provides multiple opportunities for this greenhouse gas to leak into the atmosphere. Now, an international team of researchers has taken the first step in converting methane directly to electricity using bacteria, in a way that could be done near the drilling sites.
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/51278

Ozone and haze pollution weakens land carbon uptake in China
Toxic air pollution is a serious side effect of the rapid economic development in China.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/ioap-oah051717.php

Gisele Bündchen teams up with Paul Hawken to advocate for the environment.
She’s been hailed as one of the great beauties of the world, but retired supermodel Gisele Bündchen is now hoping to turn the world’s gaze from the dazzle of the catwalk to the condition of the planet
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361609207

Renewables unshackled by push into battery storage
Ben Warren
It is difficult to overstate just how profound the impacts of wide-scale, low-cost energy storage will be on the utility sector.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/renewables-unshackled-by-push-into-battery-storage-17229/

Biophilic urbanism: how rooftop gardening soothes souls
Sara Wilkinson, University of Technology Sydney and Fiona Orr, University of Technology Sydney
In a world of increasing urbanisation, density, pressure and, some say, isolation, there’s a natural salve for stress, pressure and mental illness. And it’s right above our heads.
http://theconversation.com/biophilic-urbanism-how-rooftop-gardening-soothes-souls-76789

Shutdown of coal plants.
Korea Times editorial
Considering the public’s fear about air pollution, it is imperative that the government join forces with politicians, experts and citizens to map out a comprehensive package of measures to improve air quality
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361609219

Guilt-free online shopping: can parcel deliveries ever be truly carbon-neutral?
David M. Herold, Griffith University
Online shopping giants and logistics firms are trying to improve efficiency and cut carbon – knowing that doing so will reduce their operating costs while appealing to green-minded consumers.
http://theconversation.com/guilt-free-online-shopping-can-parcel-deliveries-ever-be-truly-carbon-neutral-77629

Scientists just discovered yet another coral reef that has been devastated by global warming.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361610201

Regular Coral Larvae Supply from Neighboring Reefs Helps Degraded Reefs Recover
For reefs facing huge challenges, more coral larvae doesn’t necessarily translate to increased rates of coral recovery on …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170517090626.htm

Climate Change Refuge for Corals Discovered (and How We Can Protect It Right Now)
Scientists have discovered a refuge for corals where the environment protects otherwise sensitive species to the increasing severity of climate …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170517120556.htm

Action urged to avoid yellow-eyed penguin’s extinction.
Iconic yellow-eyed penguins could disappear from New Zealand’s Otago Peninsula by 2060 due to climate change, latest research warns, calling for coordinated conservation action
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361609203

Will Trump help save the Everglades?
An environmental fix gains steam in conservative country
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361609706