Birthday of Queen Sonja Norway
Commemoration of Jewish Genocide Latvia
Day of Agwe Haiti
Family Day Lesotho
Fisherman’s Day Marshall Islands
For Independence Day Guam
For US Independence Day Puerto Rico
Independence Day Rwanda United States of America
King’s Day Tonga
US Independence Day US Virgin Islands
Independence From Meat Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/independence-from-meat-day/
More about Jun 4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_4
Climate Change
Stephen Hawking says Earth will become as hot as Venus because of Trump’s decision.
The renowned physicist warned Sunday that President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord last month could result in temperatures on Earth rising as high as those on the surface of Venus, the second-closest planet to the sun.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-2621786372544284519
Improved Representation of Solar Variability in Climate Models
For upcoming climate model studies, scientists can use a new, significantly improved data set for solar forcing. Scientists have now published the details of the new reconstruction of this reference …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703121011.htm
Trump to be odd man out amid climate talks at G20 summit.
Bob Ward The Hill
While President Trump’s bogus claims about climate change policy are likely to be mocked by other G20 leaders, his war against America’s climate scientists will remain no laughing matter.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-2621786372544285480
National
The Australia Institute to Continue Legacy as Climate Institute Shuts its Doors
Australia’s first non-government organisation to focus solely on climate change has shut its doors after more than a decade of climate advocacy work, passing the baton on to the Australia Institute.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2017/07/australia-institute-continue-legacy-climate-institute-shuts-doors/
The new standard that could kill the home battery storage market
Industry warns that if proposed new battery installation standards remain unchanged, the Australian behind-the-meter battery storage market will be stopped dead in its tracks – and the estimated by the CSIRO at up to 85GWh by 2040 – will simply fail to materialise.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/the-new-standard-that-could-kill-the-home-battery-storage-market-93609/
Garnaut: CET may be useless without higher emission targets
Garnaut says Australia could likely meet its reduction targets without a CET, rendering it useless and debate about it irrelevant. He proposes a dual pathway to resolve the political impasse.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/garnaut-cet-may-be-useless-without-higher-emission-targets-48303/
Coal won’t be ruled out: PM
Malcolm Turnbull has refused to rule out federal government support for new ‘clean’ coal-fired power stations.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/coal-will-not-be-rule-out-says-malcolm-turnbull/news-story/05fde1188e443ae01db623bac60ae8a0
Coalition accused of giving in to oil and gas industry after failure to overhaul tax
Tax Justice Network accuses Malcolm Turnbull’s government of hypocrisy on petroleum resource rent tax
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/03/coalition-accused-of-giving-in-to-oil-and-gas-industry-after-failure-to-overhaul-tax
Positive IOD a big negative
INTERNATIONAL climate modellers have warned a rain-depleting positive Indian Ocean Dipole is gripping Australia and will have its greatest impact on west and southeast Australia from now until October.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/weather/weather-conditions-positive-iod-a-big-negative/news-story/b6c72b125ab211e0501e4050909d6a57
Anna Krien on the climate wars
Podcast
Anna Krien’s latest Quarterly Essay explores the debates on climate change policy in Australia and the ecological effects of not acting.
http://theconversation.com/politics-podcast-anna-krien-on-the-climate-wars-80394
Minerals Council’s fantasy world of coal and renewable costs
Giles Parkinson
Minerals Council halves cost of coal, doubles cost of wind and solar and comes up with fantasy number of $27bn for a 650MW renewable plant.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/minerals-councils-fantasy-world-of-coal-and-renewable-costs-79547/
Is immigration ruining our cities?
Alan Davies
The Age ran a set of stories on the weekend geared around the idea that immigration-fuelled population growth is seriously damaging Melbourne’s ‘celebrated liveability’
https://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2017/07/03/immigration-good-cities/
Australian politicians have largely abandoned meaningful discussion about population growth
Paul Williams
EVER wondered how much political parties are like people?
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-australian-politicians-have-largely-abandoned-meaningful-discussion-about-population-growth/news-story/0b162f601fff94e92d898b6f043109f9
Atmosphere reveals we are living a lie
Peter Boyer
Creative accounting conceals the facts about emissions.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-atmosphere-reveals-that-we-are-living-a-lie/news-story/dcb7087bb3c61a139869db4545ddcf1a
Victoria
Tilt Renewables pushes go button on 54MW Victoria wind farm
Victoria looks set to get another wind farm, after New Zealand-based outfit Tilt Renewables confirmed it would proceed with plans to develop a 54MW project in the state’s west, despite not yet having secured a power off-take deal.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/tilt-renewables-pushes-go-button-54mw-victoria-wind-farm-95043/
Power price hikes hit Vic
Smaller energy retailers are lifting standard contract prices between 5 per cent and almost 40 per cent.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/victoria-hit-by-retail-power-price-hikes/news-story/60773972c50f7b3828d026daf8f0abbd
Councils fear West Gate project chaos
TWO western Melbourne councils fear construction works on the West Gate tunnel project will cause an increase in trucks, air pollution and noise.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/west-gate-tunnel-project-concerns-councils-fear-more-trucks-noise-and-pollution/news-story/d5f1adafcb5f0874c1929fe5275807dc
Victoria to fast-track cladding investigation amid fears of ‘widespread non-compliance’
The Victorian Government appoints a taskforce to fast-track the investigation into flammable cladding on the state’s buildings in the wake of the deadly London tower fire.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-03/taskforce-to-investigate-flammable-cladding-on-vic-buildings/8672892
Solar hot-water panels, split, burst in cold, leave people with huge bills
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbournes-frosty-winter-blast-sees-solar-hot-water-panels-burst-around-the-city-20170703-gx3dfd.html
Who would want to buy the Heyfield timber mill?
Richard Willingham
The decision by the Victorian Government to buy the Heyfield timber mill is part of a broader pitch to the electorate 16 months out from the next poll that Labor will do what it takes to protect jobs
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-03/labor-will-do-what-it-takes-to-protect-jobs-analysis/8673796
Balancing Melbourne’s population growth
Age editorial
The rapidly expanding urban fringes too often lack public transport, schools, health and community services.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/balancing-melbournes-population-growth-a-crucial-challenge-20170703-gx3uqh.html
New South Wales
More WestConnex headaches for NSW Government with claims of $1b compensation bill
Contractors on Sydney’s WestConnex toll road have handed the Berejiklian Government a $1 billion compensation bill, according to documents leaked to Labor.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-03/westconnex-contractors-seeking-one-billion-compensation/8673016
ACT
Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello’s Ecology, Tradition, Art at Tuggeranong
Canberra glass artist Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello says one of the things her new solo exhibition, Ecology, Tradition, Art, does is illustrate the point that Indigenous people have had a longstanding sustainable relationship with the environment.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/jennifer-kemarre-martiniellos-ecology-tradition-art-at-tuggeranong-20170630-gx1w5a.html
Queensland
‘Perfect storm’ led to 2016 Great Barrier Reef bleaching
Researchers from James Cook University and the Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium say unprecedented oceanographic conditions in 2016 produced the perfect storm of factors that lead to a mass coral bleaching.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-07/jcu-sl063017.php
Two more solar farms approved for Queensland’s north
Another two utility-scale solar farms with a combined total of 141MW have been approved for development in north Queensland, as the Sunshine State starts to live up to its massive PV potential.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/two-solar-farms-approved-queenslands-north-57005/
Adani says mine funds on track
ADANI is hosing down claims its Carmichael megamine project is struggling with reports out of India saying it can’t find banks to fund it.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/adani-hosing-down-claims-megamine-project-struggling-for-funding/news-story/1ad3506b8fff6306f3bd0bf9b84eda1f
South Australia
Wind output constrained in South Australia as it blows above 1200MW
The output of wind farms in South Australia was constrained over two periods on Sunday on Monday after their combined output jumped above 1200MW and above new limits placed by the Australian Energy Market Operator.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/wind-output-constrained-in-south-australia-as-it-blows-above-1200mw-20078/
SA Water tenders for solar and battery storage to manage high power prices
South Australia’s largest water and sewerage services supplier has become the latest in Australia to turn to renewables to minimise its electricity costs, announcing plans to commission a commercial-scale solar and storage system at its Crystal Brook Workshop site.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/sa-water-tenders-for-solar-and-battery-storage-to-manage-high-power-prices-32381/
Lack of wind puts bite on cost
The slowest wind conditions on record in some places of South Australia have slashed east coast wind generation.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/lack-of-wind-blows-out-south-australia-power-costs/news-story/4ba33127cece152d31ffe202cbe09ab4
Tasmania
New Burnie timber mill still on the table
THE State Government says Australian Sustainable Hardwoods remains interested in establishing a Burnie operation, despite a Victorian Government deal to buy their Heyfield site.
http://www.themercury.com.au/business/australian-sustainable-hardwoods-to-pursue-burnie-mill-despite-victorian-government-deal-on-heyfield/news-story/be70fd4df55d319bce8ee63254b06e69
Junk the rhetoric, fix our fisheries
Laura Kelly
The salmon industry desperately needs to update its infrastructure and become sustainable.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-junk-the-rhetoric-fix-our-fisheries/news-story/ec3587764e502170a178fbcce8dd6025
A sad day when extremist protesters cost Tasmanian jobs
Guy Barnett
CAN anyone remember the election where the people decided that groups like The Wilderness Society and Markets for Change should have the power of veto over which forests can be harvested in Tasmania?
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-a-sad-day-when-extremist-protesters-cost-tasmanian-jobs/news-story/c852ca45777fc8b3edbff0b9562475f1
Western Australia
Paladin hits the nuclear option
Perth-based uranium miner and one-time market darling Paladin Energy has had to call in administrators after its French offtake partner demanded repayment of a $US277 million ($361 million) loan by next Monday.
https://thewest.com.au/business/uranium/paladin-hits-the-nuclear-option-ng-b88526267z
Sustainability
China taps ‘combustible ice’ for energy.
China is drilling deep into the ocean floor in the hope of tapping vast deposits of a frozen fossil fuel known as ‘combustible ice’, but it would be years before it is part of the global energy mix.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-2621786372544285479
US states betting on giant batteries to cut carbon.
Some states and electric power companies are rolling out a new weapon against fossil fuels — giant batteries. A growing number of states are requiring large batteries to be used to store electricity to help expand wind and solar power. The trend is catching on quickly as at least three states have created energy storage targets or incentives so far this year.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/2460133000468990716
Buzz Lightyear: first solar-powered family car hits the market
The Lightyear One, developed by Dutch startup Lightyear, now available sale at retail price of €119,000.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/buzz-lightyear-first-solar-powered-family-car-hits-the-market-70140/
SolarCoin – the cryptocurrency earned by generating solar electricity
Solar electricity production + blockchain = a currency based on sunshine
http://reneweconomy.com.au/solarcoin-cryptocurrency-earned-generating-solar-electricity-80956/
Major ‘clean coal’ project in Mississippi shuts down.
Billions over budget and three years behind, the Kemper County coal gasification project will now produce electricity using natural gas.
hthttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703083252.htmp://www.dailyclimate.org/t/2460133000468992447
Germany produced record 35 percent of power from renewables in first half.
Germany raised the proportion of its power produced by renewable energy to 35 percent in the first half of 2017 from 33 percent the previous year, according to the BEE renewable energy association.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-2621786372544285493
Greening the City: A Measurement for a Mindful Environment
Scientists have developed the world’s first Tranquillity Rating Prediction Tool (TRAPT), a scientific process for measuring how relaxing urban environments and public spaces …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703121025.htm
Increased Air Pollution Cuts Victims’ Lifespan by a Decade, Costing Billions
One of the benefits to cutting fossil fuel consumption is lowering air pollution. A new study shows that, on average, an …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703083252.htm
‘Clean coal’ will always be a fantasy.
Bloomberg View
‘Clean coal,’ always dubious as a concept and never proved as a reality, has now failed as business proposition.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/2460133000468992448
Nature Conservation
Chasing Coral documents destruction of coral reefs.
In the new documentary Chasing Coral, a team of photographers, divers and scientists analyze more than 650 hours of underwater footage to illustrate the real-time effects warming seas.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-2621786372544285483
DiCaprio hails Mexican ban on type of fishing net killing porpoises.
Mexico on Friday banned fishing with gillnets in the northern Gulf of California as part of its pledge to save a critically-endangered species of porpoise whose cause has been championed by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio and others.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-2621786372544285490
Campaigners accuse Conservatives of failing to protect England’s green belt.
The Conservatives have been accused of failing to protect the countryside after research revealed that the number of new homes being planned on green belt in England had increased by over 50% since last year and the majority were not classed as affordable
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-2621786372544285502
Earth’s wildernesses are disappearing, and not enough of them are World Heritage-listed
James Allan, James Watson, University of Queensland
Earth’s last intact wilderness areas are being rapidly destroyed. More than 5 million square km of wilderness (around 10% of the total area) have been lost in the past two decades. If this continues, the consequences for both people and nature will be catastrophic.
http://theconversation.com/earths-wildernesses-are-disappearing-and-not-enough-of-them-are-world-heritage-listed-80325
Maelor Himbury