Daily Links May 19

Climate stabilization: Planting trees cannot replace cutting CO2 emissions
Growing plants and then storing the CO2 they have taken up from the atmosphere is no viable option to counteract unmitigated emissions from fossil fuel burning, a new study shows.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/51292

Antarctica ‘greening’ due to climate change
Plant life on Antarctica is growing rapidly due to climate change, scientists have found.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/uoe-ad051617.php

Users paid to cut energy usage to save the NEM
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/users-paid-to-cut-energy-usage-to-help-the-nem-20170518-gw7y8b

Barnaby has new enemy in sights
DEPUTY Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has delivered a post-Budget speech in Brisbane, taking the chance to rail against the snails and frogs holding the country back.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/deputy-pmbarnaby-joyce-delivers-postbudget-speech-at-brisbanes-rural-press-club/news-story/ddb1d984eeb69bae13c7bdd803540051

Generational change forces Nats to consider emissions scheme
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/generational-evolution-forces-nationals-to-consider-adopting-emissions-intensity-scheme-20170518-gw7wdr.html

Time for the climate policy review we had to have
Peter Castellas
It’s time to get serious about climate policy, and set Australia up to make the most of the zero carbon transition that is undoubtedly underway.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/time-climate-policy-review-23038/

Maximising local benefits from uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency
Rob Passey and Ben Elliston
Work on regional plans for 100 per cent renewable energy highlight importance of storage to soak up daytime supply, and the need to reduce night-time loads and shift them to the day.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/maximising-local-benefits-uptake-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency-67872/

Managing frequency in a modern electricity system
Tom Butler
Those who advocate for the status quo because of the inertia provided by synchronous generators should be aware that these technologies are far from perfect.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/managing-frequency-modern-electricity-system-85447/

We don’t have a gas shortfall worth worrying about
Dylan McConnell, University of Melbourne
Earlier this year Australia’s energy market operator warned of a gas shortage, sparking fears of an energy crisis. But new research shows the projected shortfall is so small, it may already be closed.
http://theconversation.com/we-dont-have-a-gas-shortfall-worth-worrying-about-77857

Fish farming: a new project’s approval illustrates regulatory weaknesses
Alan Moran
Australia is a massive underperformer – we have just about the biggest coastline in the world yet we are a net importer of fish.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19042

City trams among ‘world’s slowest’
EVER feel like you are waiting forever for a tram? Melbourne’s trams spend more time stuck at red lights than trams in any other city in the world.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-trams-stopping-at-red-lights-putting-it-among-worlds-slowest/news-story/fe9bdd856ce0ffffd4af9762d8a3439a

Buyers line up for coal-fired power station Loy Yang B
It’s a busy week for investment bankers working on a prospective acquisition of the Loy Yang B power station, with bids due for the $1 billion-plus asset this week.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/dataroom/buyers-line-up-for-coalfired-power-station-loy-yang-b/news-story/39c144652fcf2980493b594a3870fd3d

Dams needed ASAP, say Nats
THE Federal Government should proceed with building major water storage dams “as soon as possible”, the NSW National Party conference will be told tomorrow.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/storage-dams-nsw-nationals-debate-need-for-urgent-dams/news-story/08fc325385667c6319677f48f5c7a6f2

Garbage levy binned
Herald Sun editorial
YARRA council’s controversial bin tax was always a stinker of an idea.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/garbage-levy-binned/news-story/49d02aaa2885bd7d8e223084041df490

Rooftop solar: Sydney and other CBDs have barely tapped ‘solar goldmines’
Sydney’s CBD has huge untapped rooftop solar potential that could save businesses and homes $70m a year on power costs, according to new study that has lessons for all Australia’s capital cities.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-sydney-cbds-barely-tapped-solar-goldmines-86204/

Keep nuclear energy on the table: Nats chief
NUCLEAR energy should be considered as a way forward to provide energy security in NSW, Deputy Premier John Barilaro will tell his first National party conference as leader today.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nuclear-energy-must-be-considered-for-nsw-nationals-leader/news-story/25d2cdfccdc33abe5570df5e74b55c9b

Nuclear energy ripe for debate
Telegraph editorial
POLITICAL correctness first became a noticeable force in discussions of race and gender. Gradually, it has spread to ­energy generation.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/political-correctness-is-restricting-our-ability-to-talk-about-solutions-to-our-energy-crisis/news-story/f679677b3190ef813028407ee7ac25f6

Meet the dogs helping keep Queensland’s koalas safe
Sniffing out koala poo has become a way of life for two very important dogs.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-18/the-dogs-who-help-save-koalas/8536862

Koalas facing ‘local extinction’ from part of Queensland’s Fraser Coast
A once-thriving population of koalas is disappearing from parts of Queensland’s Fraser Coast, and researchers say a larger survey is needed to figure out
why.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-18/koalas-facing-extinction-on-queenslands-fraser-coast/8533412

Most injured koalas not returned to the wild: RSPCA
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/less-than-25-per-cent-of-injured-koalas-returned-to-the-wild-rspca-20170518-gw87jd.html

Bird group reject buffer zone around $1.39 billion Cleveland project
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bird-group-reject-buffer-zone-around-139-billion-cleveland-project-20170518-gw7pqe.html

Palaszczuk offers $320 million ‘royalties holiday’ to Adani
The Queensland Government is offering Indian mining company Adani a “royalties holiday”, potentially worth $320 million, for its massive Carmichael coal mine in the state’s north.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-18/queensland-government-gives-adani-royalties-holiday/8536560

Adani rejects royalty holiday claims
ADANI has rejected any claims that it has been given a $320 million royalty holiday by the State Government.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/royalty-holiday-on-the-cards-for-adani-to-make-carmichael-coal-mine-more-viable/news-story/91f1ff53e1a10cbe63974671730199ac

State told pay more tax to fund rail
QUEENSLAND’S most important infrastructure project is in limbo weeks out from the state Budget as the Commonwealth demands residents pay higher taxes to build Cross River Rail.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queenslanders-told-to-pay-more-taxes-to-fund-cross-river-rail/news-story/e01e0b2627d345cbb7375f6d0cbfe75e

Lead contamination: When they knew
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched to determine why Queenslanders weren’t told their hot water could be contaminated with lead, amid revelations of when the building watchdog knew about the issue.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/lead-contamination-in-tradie-work-qbcc-aware-six-months-ago/news-story/b684028600b04aeee104d27d4bd17352

Revised Kuranda plan ‘ridiculous’
CONSERVATIONISTS have labelled the revised master plan for an integrated resort at Kuranda as “more ridiculous” than when the multi-million dollar project was first proposed.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/revised-rainforest-resort-plan-is-ridiculous/news-story/8eaefb8fda1480310d46542cf7396d24

Coal plants failed in Queensland heatwave on day of record demand
Giles Parkinson
Are Australia’s coal and gas generators able to power Australia through next summer’s heatwaves? The evidence of last summer suggests they cannot be relied upon, with a new report showing how coal plants melted in the Queensland heat on a day of record demand.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/coal-plants-failed-in-queensland-heatwave-on-day-of-record-demand-85223/

Climate Council: climate, health and economics are against Carmichael mine
Will Steffen, Australian National University and Hilary Bambrick, Queensland University of Technology
A new Climate Council report points out that the Paris Agreement’s carbon budget leaves no room for the development of massive new coal reserves such as the proposed Carmichael mine.
http://theconversation.com/climate-council-climate-health-and-economics-are-against-carmichael-mine-77940

This is not rhetoric: the Adani mine will kill millions
Ian Dunlop
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/this-is-not-rhetoric-approving-the-adani-coal-mine-will-kill-people-20170518-gw7nv9.html

Cross River Rail must get back on track
Courier Mail editorial
THE Coalition may be deliberately frustrating Queensland’s ALP Government by trying to prevent it beginning work on Cross River Rail ahead of the next state election.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-cross-river-rail-must-be-put-back-on-track/news-story/b664b1ed40faac89daf5f103d166cfee

‘SA needs two million people in 10 years’
SA now has fewer 15-34-year-olds than in the mid-1980s, and the state desperately needs to double its rate of population growth or face dire consequences, a major report warns.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/jobs/south-australia-desperately-needs-to-double-rate-of-population-growth-deloitte-report-warns/news-story/7d99f412c21343337b1f814c2aea95db

Cut down the barriers to SA growth
Advertiser editorial
IT seems obvious that one of the measures of success for South Australia is that people want to live here. This involves both the pride that existing residents feel in their state and attracting people to move to SA.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-cut-down-the-barriers-to-sa-growth/news-story/af7230f3e5f3d2049cf1605e8e48717c

TasWater bid will not force any mergers
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4672516/taswater-bid-will-not-force-any-mergers/?cs=5312

Scaling the heights of uncertainty
Jamieson Allom
Planning schemes are intended to protect cities against outrageous development.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/hobart-is-scaling-the-heights-of-uncertainty/news-story/74613df3c7471e3867ad58e562ef23a7

Australian oil well leaked into ocean for months – but spill kept secret
Offshore oil and gas regulator says there was a 10,500-litre spill in April 2016 but refuses to reveal where it occurred or company responsible
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/18/australian-oil-well-leaked-into-ocean-for-months-but-incident-kept-secret

Writing the WA wheatbelt, a place of radical environmental change
Tony Hughes-D’Aeth, University of Western Australia
In two 30-year periods, an area in WA roughly the size of England was stripped of native vegetation for farming. It has produced some of our finest writers, from A.B. Facey to Dorothy Hewitt to Jack Davis.
http://theconversation.com/writing-the-wa-wheatbelt-a-place-of-radical-environmental-change-76567

World’s biggest wind turbines now generating power off UK coast
Thirty-two of the world’s largest wind turbines are up and generating power in new offshore wind project off the UK coast.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-biggest-wind-turbines-now-generating-power-off-uk-coast-60315/

Photocatalyst makes hydrogen production 10 times more efficient
Hydrogen is an alternative source of energy that can be produced from renewable sources of sunlight and water. A group of Japanese researchers has developed a photocatalyst that increases hydrogen production tenfold.
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/51293

Not all cool pavements are created equal
Berkeley Lab finds that the choice of pavement material can significantly impact carbon emissions, creates decision tool for cities to use
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/dbnl-nac051717.php

Graphene-nanotube hybrid boosts lithium metal batteries
Rice University prototypes store 3 times the energy of lithium-ion batteries
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/ru-ghb051817.php

Water Efficiency in Rural Areas in US is Getting Worse, Even as it Improves in Urban Centers
A nationwide analysis of water use over the past 30 years finds that there is a disconnect between rural and urban areas, with most urban areas becoming more water efficient and most rural areas becoming less and less efficient over time.
http://www.enn.com/agriculture/article/51290

Smoking out Sources of in-Home Air Pollution
An ambitious study has investigated various factors that contribute to air pollution inside the house. Not surprisingly, cigarette smoke emerged as a major source of airborne …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170518143852.htm

How to kick the growth addiction.
Endless economic growth, long the rallying cry of the conventional paradigm, endangers our future. Ecological economist Tim Jackson explores the need to envision a post-growth economy.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361609191

EU to propose 10-year license renewal for weed killer glyphosate.
The European Commission will propose extending by 10 years its approval for weed-killer glyphosate, used in Monsanto’s Roundup, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361607909

The wooden skyscrapers that could help to cool the planet.
Large timber buildings are getting safer, stronger and taller. They may also offer a way to slow down global warming.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361605942

Product designers ‘must reduce Pringles factor’ to boost recycling
Recycling Association chief cites crisp brand as one of worst examples of multiple materials being used in single product
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/18/product-designers-must-reduce-pringles-factor-to-boost-recycling

Has this Silicon Valley startup finally nailed the indoor farming model?
Indoor farming is a trendy startup space, but many of those ventures have recently failed. Plenty thinks its technology, model, and timing mean it’s the place that will finally turn greens into green.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361606129

Less than 1% of surplus food from farms and manufacturers used to feed hungry
A tiny proportion of excess food is being sent to charities and is instead ending up in landfill or left to rot, figures show
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/18/less-than-1-of-surplus-food-from-farms-and-manufacturers-used-to-feed-hungry

Why it’s hard to get plastic bag bans to stick.
Plastic bags are all around us. They’re a persistent litter problem on land and along the Great Lakes. Some cities have tried to ban bags or charge a fee for them. But it’s hard to make these bans stick.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361605925

When it’s hot, plants become a surprisingly large source of air pollution.
Planting trees is often touted as a strategy to make cities greener, cleaner and healthier. But during heat waves, city trees actually boost air pollution levels.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361607904

The economics of 7.5 billion people on one planet.
Jon Talton Seattle Times
Population overshoot is behind many of our most pressing economic problems. But the best intelligent response faces terrible obstacles
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361607898

Toward a global treaty on plastic waste.
Nils Simon, Lili Fuhr Project Syndicate
Plastic pollution is a defining problem of the Anthropocene. It is, after all, a global scourge that is entirely of our making – and entirely within our power to solve as well
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361606921

Leading the charge: Battery storage to jump-start clean energy transition
Matt Rennie and Ian Wood
Battery storage is set to jump-start the clean energy transition while at the same time disrupting the traditional utility business model.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/leading-charge-battery-storage-jump-start-clean-energy-transition-49090/

Why US nuclear sites are a ticking time bomb.
Nature editorial
The Department of Energy needs to prioritize the clean-up of nuclear waste
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361605941

US shale is immune to an oil price crash in 2017
Tsvetana Paraskova
Oil production in the Lower 48 excluding the Gulf of Mexico is expected to rise until the end of the year even if the price of oil plunges to US$40.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19041

US congressman vows to help Australia tackle Japanese whale hunting
A United States Congressman is pushing for an end to Japan’s annual whale hunt, describing it a “slaughter on the seas”.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-18/japanese-whale-hunting-targeted-by-us-congressman/8534868

Mass landfills are saving endangered vultures from extinction
Endangered Egyptian vultures thrive near open garbage sites, which have helped some bounce back – but EU regulations threaten to shut the sites down
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2131615-mass-landfills-are-saving-endangered-vultures-from-extinction/

Climate change causing Eastern U.S. trees to shift north and west, study finds.
A warmer, wetter climate is helping push dozens of Eastern U.S. trees to the north and, surprisingly, west, a new study finds
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361607901

Peru lost more than 1 million hectares of Amazon forest over a period of 15 years.
Small and medium-scale agriculture is responsible for 80 percent of the deforestation between 2001 and 2015.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361607892

Extinction looming for most of California’s salmon and trout.
Climate change is the single biggest threat to native salmonids in California, according to a new study from California Trout and the University of California, Davis.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-995200128361606443

Africa should fast track green cover restoration.
Investing in forest and landscape restoration as well as ensuring their sustainability will improve livelihoods of African people.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361607883

New types of coffee, parsnips and roses among 1,700 plants discovered last year
From a new variety of Turkish parsnip to Madagascar coffee beans, the discoveries offer the prospect of better crops, medicinal uses and new garden displays
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/18/plant-hunters-discovered-1700-new-species-last-year