Daily Links Jun 7

Ambiguous pledges leave large uncertainty under Paris climate agreement
Under the pledges made by countries under the Paris Agreement on climate change, greenhouse gas emissions could range from 47 to 63 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e) per year in 2030, compared to about 52 GtCO2e in 2015, according to a new analysis.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/iifa-apl060617.php

European leaders urged to scale up efforts to tackle climate change
Campaigners in call to action as it emerges EU does not intend to make extra cuts to account for US withdrawal from Paris deal
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/06/european-leaders-scale-up-climate-change-efforts-trump-paris-deal

Trump and climate change: Galvanising the globe.
The Guardian editorial
Whatever he thought he’d achieve by pulling out of the Paris agreement, he has ensured that America will be left behind in the race to combat global warming.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/18530169838842931

Trump, the Paris Climate Agreement and Scrooge McDuck
Jim Pembroke
To understand Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Accord we only need to follow the money behind climate change denial.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/trump-the-paris-climate-agreement-and-scrooge-mcduck,10369

Public opinion is shifting the ground under Trump, Abbott and the coal club
Peter Lewis
Trump’s rebuff of global climate action is right out of the coal club playbook, and reminds Australians of the ‘axe the tax’ Abbott campaign
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/06/public-opinion-is-shifting-the-ground-under-trump-abbott-and-the-coal-club

Four shopping centres to go behind the meter in major commercial solar deal
One of Australia’s biggest shopping centre owners, SCA Property Group, signs 10-year deal to power four sites cross NSW and SA with a combined total of 2.9MW of rooftop PV.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/four-shopping-centres-to-go-behind-the-meter-in-major-commercial-solar-deal-31391/

Supply shock hits east coast industrial gas users
Fresh evidence has emerged of the supply shock hitting east coast gas users, where prices have reached unaffordable levels.
http://www.afr.com/business/energy/gas/east-coast-gas-demand-slumps-as-prices-double-20170605-gwl6jt

More coal than gas under a LET
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/more-coal-than-gas-under-a-low-emissions-target-20170605-gwl6iv

Solar homes could be stung for carriage
http://www.afr.com/news/solarbattery-homes-could-be-stung-for-network-carriage-20170606-gwlbtm

Gas industry demand falls
Commercial and retail gas demand in the nation’s east has slumped a remarkable 16 per cent in the past year.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/gas-industrial-closure-fears-mount-as-east-coast-demand-falls-16pc/news-story/614e7d6392db0ae09564cdf524ab199b

Greens’ wedge over carbon policy
The Greens have moved to split Labor and the Coalition over energy policy.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/greens-drive-wedge-over-energy-policy/news-story/bbee9ee5226f666f993921f8a3b435ae

Six things governments must do to reform the energy market
John Grimes
Australia’s electricity market is no longer working and needs substantial reform. Here’s a list of six things that should happen.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/six-things-governments-must-reform-energy-market-56920/

Why 2.6GWh of battery storage is achievable in next few years
Nigel Morris
It has been argued that the CSIRO’s report was “a stitch up” for renewables, and very obviously designed to downplay the benefits, even though almost
http://reneweconomy.com.au/why-2-6gwh-of-battery-storage-is-achievable-in-next-few-years-49823/

First Australian export LNG plant could close within 3 years
Bruce Robertson
The Australian CSG-to-LNG industry facing crisis, with reduced demand, and high capital and operating costs. Write downs and closures may be imminent.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/first-australian-export-lng-plant-close-within-3-years-89234/

Winter warmth is in the forecast (but don’t celebrate yet)
Andrew King, University of Melbourne
Australia is looking at another mild winter – but while it sounds pleasant, it can increase bushfire risk and worsen drought. Winter heatwaves are actually (enjoyable) extreme weather events.
http://theconversation.com/winter-warmth-is-in-the-forecast-but-dont-celebrate-yet-78756

Low emissions target: a win for both Turnbull and denialists, a loss for everyone
Bernard Keane
A low emissions target pays lip service to the climate denialist fixation with coal, while paving the way for a transition to renewable energy. Hence its appeal.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2017/06/06/low-emissions-target-a-win-for-both-turnbull-and-denialists-a-loss-for-everyone/

Asset recycling may look new and exciting. But it’s the last gasp of a failed model
John Quiggin
Donald Trump wants to privatise public assets and use the profit to fund other projects. A series of disasters have killed off the model in Australia
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/07/asset-recycling-may-look-new-and-exciting-but-its-the-last-gasp-of-a-failed-model

Energy Efficiency report – commercial lighting juggernaut roles on
The commercial lighting juggernaut rolled on in Victoria across May with installation activity continuing at a rapid pace and VEEC supply actually managing to grow.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/energy-efficiency-report-commercial-lighting-juggernaut-roles-28426/

Plastic bags, balloons on councils’ hit list
LOCAL councils are moving to ban plastic bags, balloons, coffee cups, straws and cutlery on environmental grounds. Is your council one of them?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/councils-move-to-ban-plastic-bags-cutlery-slammed/news-story/a8623ae471ba607998772ee6766c7572

Victoria pushes for strict gas export cap to protect local jobs
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victoria-pushes-for-strict-gas-export-cap-to-protect-local-jobs-20170606-gwlsho.html

Talks stall on Heyfield mill sale
NEGOTIATIONS for the Victorian Government to buy the bealeaguered Heyfield sawmill in Gippsland have stalled.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/heyfield-timber-mill-talks-stall-on-sale/news-story/9e86c2c8748716ee36d1c868a9ceffd6

Prospecting has no place in habitat sanctuaries
Phil Ingamells
THERE are many reasons why we have national parks in Victoria, but their over-riding purpose is to protect our much-abused and greatly reduced natural heritage
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/opinion/prospecting-has-no-place-in-habitat-sanctuaries/news-story/01b7af0aaa22cfb760e6e9d7b87e2947

Govt tight-lipped on Badgerys Creek rail
The Turnbull government won’t say if a rail link to Western Sydney’s planned airport will be ready when the first plane is due to take off in 2026.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/feds-tightlipped-on-badgerys-creek-rail/news-story/c60132afbee7558b21108f181f7ab65d

Queensland’s dance with the devil – its own coal and gas assets
Queensland government is finally cracking down on one of the most open secrets of the local energy market – the rampant profiteering of its own coal and gas generators. As a result, energy futures prices have already fallen 15 per cent.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/queenslands-dance-with-the-devil-its-own-coal-and-gas-assets-94753/

Genex benefits from Qld energy project
Genex Power welcomes the Queensland state government’s announcement in relation to the strategic transmission infrastructure in North Queensland.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/breaking-news/genex-benefits-from-qld-energy-project/news-story/dce37ec35609d10e2485a66bd56e5535

The future of Brisbane public transport
THE southeast will be connected like never before under new plans to link the Brisbane Metro with Cross River Rail, meaning commuters can “turn up and go” anywhere.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-metro-cross-river-rail-linked-in-new-pitch-for-federal-funding/news-story/7c5f52dc895b91609e5fdb9258f274d0

Water warning lifted for 3500 homes north of Brisbane
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/petrie-residents-given-allclear-after-water-contamination-fears-20170606-gwlu8q.html

Adani: It’s time to dig in
ADANI has vowed to start spending millions of dollars almost immediately after giving the green light to the $6.6 billion first stage of the Carmichael megamine in central Queensland.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/adani-gives-green-light-to-66b-first-stage-of-carmichael-megamine-in-central-queensland/news-story/96385722dc60e5255dbd30270b9ce929

Last-ditch bid to derail Adani
Activists will ramp up the anti-Adani campaign after the company gave the green light to its $16.5bn coal mine.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/activists-declare-war-as-adani-commits-to-165bn-coal-mine/news-story/538797d0e08ada6f358514427b0f69af

Adani’s green light hangs on rail cash
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/adani-approves-165b-carmichael-mine-20170606-gwl9h7

City weighs benefits as Adani plan begins
CAIRNS to benefits from Central Queensland “megamine” leading to jobs in FNQ but concerns rise over Reef health after the controversial coal mine gets the nod.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/adani-project-could-lead-to-fnq-jobs-but-concerns-rise-over-reef-health-after-coal-mine-gets-the-nod/news-story/5a62bc58c255b9d39b878abed144e0b2

Why final doesn’t mean final for Adani
Matthew Stevens
Adani’s project still needs plenty of taxpayer dollars to get close to success.
http://www.afr.com/business/mining/adanis-trick-of-the-green-light-20170606-gwlmm3

Time for Adani to put up or shut up
Mark Ludlow
Indian company Adani needs to come clean about how it is going to fully fund its controversial $16.5 billion Carmichael mine project in Central Queensland.
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/time-for-adani-to-put-its-money-where-its-mouth-is-20170606-gwlpf1

Adani creates jobs, critics create nothing
Courier Mail editorial
AFTER seven years, countless court fights and some 11th hour political tomfoolery, Indian miner Adani has given the green light to its controversial Galilee Basin coal mine.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/news-story/d8833548abf7346ff71821c85eeb9df2

Adani gives itself the green light, but that doesn’t change the economics of coal
Samantha Hepburn Deakin University
http://theconversation.com/adani-gives-itself-the-green-light-but-that-doesnt-change-the-economics-of-coal-78912

Questions raised by Adani’s green light on Carmichael coal mine
Stephen Long
Adani’s announcement that it’s giving the green light to the Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin begs more questions than it answers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-06/questions-raised-by-adanis-green-light-on-carmichael-coal-mine/8594060

Adani’s ‘green light’ on Carmichael mine another mirage
Peter Hannam
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/adanis-green-light-on-carmichael-coal-mine-more-a-mirage-than-reality-20170606-gwlc16.html

The Queensland town that refuses to die a mining death
Bill O’Chee
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/the-hermit/the-queensland-town-that-refuses-to-die-a-mining-death-20170606-gwlvhe.html

AGL plant extends Torrens life
A new 210 megawatt plant is to be built at the site near Adelaide.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/new-agl-plant-to-extend-life-of-torrens-a/news-story/f94ecefa38cffffa4078c7bb82b8d207

Turn your solar panels into cold hard cash
HOUSEHOLDS with solar panels will be able to sell power to the national grid in a way that responds to price signals, so they can make the most money, under a new proposal.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/plan-to-allow-households-to-sell-power-from-solar-panels-to-highest-bidder/news-story/7d676472baf3d99d23b842a7cb3e14fc

Call for cable car transparency
THE State Government says it has nothing to hide over its dealings with the Mt Wellington cable car proponent, amid accusations of secrecy.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/lack-of-information-on-cable-car-assessment-for-mt-wellington-criticised-in-budget-estimates/news-story/bed9418b8b19bc46307832db326e2ae0

The winds of change
A new wind farm development in the Central Highlands has been said to ‘strengthen’ the case for a …
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4712140/the-winds-of-change/?cs=5312

Salmon producers face off in court
Huon Aquaculture to take Tassal to court over Macquarie Harbour breach.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/huon-aquaculture-lodges-legal-proceedings-against-tassal-in-federal-court/news-story/4274ebe65bd95377df0f077a1e827a87

No clarity on Mac Point’s sewerage move
THE State Government is still figuring out what do about moving the wastewater treatment plant at Macquarie Point.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/state-government-admits-uncertainty-remains-on-macquarie-points-sewerage-plant-move/news-story/289e14f574229773e36055fb868a13d7

Taiwanese rice farmers would risk income to grow eco-friendly crops.
Taiwan has some of the most intensive fertilizer use in the world. Now researchers show that rice farmers are willing to reduce their fertilizer dependence if their crops are branded as eco-friendly.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/2460133000468972407

Researchers develop new EcoCity model for mitigating urban heat islands
Urban land-use/cover changes and their effects on the eco-environment have long been an active research topic in the urbanization field. Prof. KUANG Wenhui’s group at the Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed the EcoCity model for regulating urban land cover structures and thermal environments, and has established eco-regulation thresholds for urban surface thermal environments.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/caos-rdn060617.php

Can US clean energy still lead after Trump’s Paris gambit?
When President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement last week, his critics said he effectively abandoned U.S. efforts to be the world’s leading developer of clean energy technology.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/18530169838845366

Scientists develop divide and conquer approach for more stable power generation
A nonlinear observer approach of SOC estimation based on hysteresis model for lithium-ion battery
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/caoa-sdd060517.php

Keeping the hydrogen coming
A novel molybdenum-coated catalyst that can efficiently split water in acidic electrolytes is developed by researchers at KAUST and could help with efficient production of hydrogen.
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/51437

‘Spectacular’ drop in renewable energy costs leads to record global boost
Falling solar and wind prices have led to new power deals across the world despite investment in renewables falling
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/06/spectacular-drop-in-renewable-energy-costs-leads-to-record-global-boost

Scientists propose new method to correct common power problem in microgrids
Multilevel feature moving average ratio method for fault diagnosis of the microgrid inverter switch
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/caoa-spn060517.php

Energy security is possible without nuclear power or fracked gas
Keith Barnham
There is a mantra that nuclear and natural gas power stations are essential to keep the lights on in the UK. It’s a myth
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2133760-energy-security-is-possible-without-nuclear-power-or-fracked-gas/

Analysis: The future is what we make of it—but what will that be?
Jeremy Lent
A scenario where humanity remains resilient requires something deeper than economic and technological solutions to our current crises.
https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/future-what-we-make/

Building five big new Hazelwoods — in India
Terry McCrann
I DESCRIBED President Trump’s decision to walk from the Fake Paris Climate Accord as good or great and that either word would do
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/terry-mccrann/terry-mccrann-building-five-big-new-hazelwoods-in-india/news-story/24544be1c475920c86ad4e7319fccc55

Unpicking the labyrinth that is India’s Adani
Ranjit Goswami, RK University
Even though the setup of the Indian Adani Group draws scrutiny in developed countries like Australia, it’s common and makes sense in the context of emerging markets like India.
http://theconversation.com/unpicking-the-labyrinth-that-is-indias-adani-74552

New ocean reserve, largest in Africa, protects whales and turtles.
Gabon’s announcement also restricts overfishing and may help with climate resilience.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/2460133000468972422

A third of Niger Delta will be lost to climate change in the next 30-50 years.
Prof. Hilary Inyang, a world-renowned researcher, expeditionist and educator, speaks on a wide range of topics and in particular, environmental pollution in the Niger Delta region, as well as proffer solutions to them
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/18530169838846532

Protecting ocean waters will aid climate adaptation.
Setting aside vast swathes of ocean and protecting them from industrial uses such as overfishing and other development is critically important to helping both the earth and countries adapt to climate change, a global team of marine biologists says
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/2460133000468972421

Two rangers shot dead in Kenya’s Laikipia conservation area
The rangers, who are police reservists, were killed while trying to recover cattle stolen by nomadic herders
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/06/two-rangers-shot-dead-kenya-laikipia-conservation-area

Our oceans need a government too.
Klaus Esterluss Deutsche Welle
Oceans cover the majority of the earth’s surface and are crucial to our survival. Global warming, overfishing and pollution are all huge threats. But how can we safeguard such a vast and important resource?
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/18530169838846528