National Flag Day Russia
Be An Angel Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/be-an-angel-day/
Take Your Cat to the Vet Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/take-your-cat-to-the-vet-day/
More about Aug 22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_22
Climate Change
It’s time to start talking about “negative” carbon dioxide emissions.
The world’s nations have agreed, almost unanimously, to try to limit the rise of global average temperature to 2 degrees Celsius or less over preindustrial levels
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-3246038150322309752
The fundamentalists holding us back from a climate change solution.
The evangelical Christian movement has been at war with environmentalism for decades—but the stakes have never been higher.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-3246038150322309074
New climate change report likely to be ignored to death.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial
The scientific argument about climate change is over. It’s silly to deny it. It’s shameful to know it and ignore it.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-3246038150322314594
National
Can electric cars go the distance on vast Aussie roads?
The ABC test drives an electric car from Perth to Augusta to see if it can go the distance on Australia’s vast regional roads without running out of juice.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-21/can-electric-cars-go-the-distance-on-aussie-roads/8827926
“Unaccredited” rooftop solar installer nabbed by Clean Energy Regulator
Clean Energy Regulator continues rooftop solar crack-down, this time taking action against “unaccredited” individual installer.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/unaccredited-rooftop-solar-installer-nabbed-by-clean-energy-regulator-40630/
By train or by ship, transporting coal causes trouble
Derailment of 30 coal wagons is just latest in long list of coal transport accidents which highlight risks from shipping fossil fuels long distances to …
http://reneweconomy.com.au/train-ship-transporting-coal-causes-trouble-37252/
Getting on board the lithium train
http://www.afr.com/personal-finance/shares/getting-on-board-the-lithium-train-20170817-gxyqqo
‘No frills’ power a profit cut for electricity retailers
Forcing electricity retailers to sell plans where the price is set by the government would wipe more than $130 million from the profits of heavyweight utilities AGL and Origin Energy, an analysis shows.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/no-frills-electricity-a-profit-cut-for-retailers-such-as-agl-and-origin-energy/news-story/493130d4b152b4d69ed5ffedaaba3857
Flicking the switch on carp control
STEP aside, electric eel — carp could be about to steal your, er, spark.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/carp-scales-could-be-used-to-generate-energy/news-story/8f86ccf0d14c6d44a6a9f3fcac85bf84
BlueScope doubles profit but warns of rising energy costs, cartel investigation
Australian steel manufacturer BlueScope announces a surge in net profit, but also warns high and rising energy costs pose an ongoing challenge as does an ACCC investigation into alleged cartel conduct.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-21/bluescope-doubles-profit-but-warns-of-rising-energy-costs/8827752
Pay coal stations to fix ‘catastrophe’, says BlueScope boss
http://www.theage.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/bluescopes-power-price-shock-triggers-share-slide-20170821-gy0xqe.html
Minister should be red-faced
Judith Sloan
Little has changed — panic and chaos are the mark of the latest energy policies.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/judith-sloan/minister-should-be-redfaced-over-green-schemes/news-story/c4f01cca3621ea9270b937f63ba99d5e
Victoria
Salta to divest riverside site to fund multi-family project
Salta Properties is looking to divest a prize riverside development site, with approval for almost 500 apartments in inner-city Melbourne, as it steps up plans elsewhere to develop one of the country’s first build-to-rent projects
http://www.afr.com/real-estate/salta-to-divest-riverside-site-to-fund-multifamily-project-20170817-gxypqc
Concerns from second expert emerge over justification for $5.5b West Gate Tunnel
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/concerns-from-second-expert-emerge-over-justification-for-55b-west-gate-tunnel-20170821-gy12cj.html
Environment watchdog swoops on illegal waste dumpers
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/companies-fined-for-illegal-dumping-of-waste-after-epa-swoop-20170821-gy0z5k.html
New South Wales
Can Sydney’s last healthy koalas be saved?
The koala population in Campbelltown is the largest and healthiest in the Sydney basin, but locals fear urban development and the risk of chlamydia infection are putting their native neighbours at risk.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-21/last-healthy-koala-colony-in-sydney-under-threat/8819786
Berrima pollution a warning for other mines: scientist
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/not-impressed-berrima-pollution-a-warning-for-other-mines-scientist-says-20170821-gy0qnj.html
ACT
Light rail stage two unlikely to go to Canberra Hospital due to technical constraints
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/light-rail-stage-two-unlikely-to-go-to-canberra-hospital-due-to-technical-constraints-20170821-gy0rl2.html
Fyshwick recycling plant faces public grilling
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/capital-recycling-solutions-faces-grilling-over-fyshwick-plant-20170820-gy0465.html
Queensland
Bushfire threat ‘not worth our lives’, Sunshine Coast residents say, vowing to move
After bushfires on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast over the weekend, residents in newly developed housing estates say they fear they could one day be trapped by flames.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-22/bushfire-threat-not-worth-our-life-sunshine-coast-residents-say/8828650
Waste industry biggest donor to Ipswich mayor-elect
Ipswich mayor-elect Andrew Antoniolli is challenged to stay true to his pre-election promise of transparency despite big donations from the waste industry during the mayoral campaign.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-21/ipswich-by-election-mayor-elect-andrew-antoniolli-waste-industry/8826494
Genetically-modified crops included in Queensland climate change plans
Queensland farmers could use genetically-modified plants to tackle the threat of climate change.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/geneticallymodified-crops-included-in-queensland-climate-change-plans-20170821-gy0wad.html
Experimental Environmental-Economic Accounts for the Great Barrier Reef, 2017
ABS
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4680.0?OpenDocument
South Australia
Why solar towers and storage plants will reshape energy markets
More details emerge of the contract for the Port Augusta solar tower and storage project, and why it means huge change for energy markets, and a shift of focus from “base-load” fossil fuel to clean, flexible capacity built around “base-cost” renewables.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/why-solar-towers-and-storage-plants-will-reshape-energy-markets-73278/
Blowout risk for ALP power deal
Power supplied to SA from a US company will be more expensive if $110m in federal funds is shared among projects.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/blowout-risk-for-sa-alp-power-deal/news-story/2de4506fb8f003f60241429a8c28f61e
Business chases sun in push to save on power
THERE’S been a massive jump in the number of SA businesses installing solar power over the past year, as owners struggle under rising energy costs.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/huge-increase-in-number-of-sa-businesses-installing-solar-power-to-save-on-electricity-bills/news-story/dfa1f76231adf1b203f6d38cf082c900
Environment Dept just spent $80k on pot plants
The Environment Department may own millions of trees but somehow it managed to run up a bill of $80,000 for indoor pot plants — despite its budget for the real environment being cut.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-environment-department-spent-80000-on-pot-plants/news-story/0ab5881a8d479cec59f5492dad568cfa
Aurora: What you should know about Port Augusta’s solar power-tower
Simon Holmes à Court
Much has been written about the $650m Aurora project, and I set out here to collect together what is known and fill in some of the gaps.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/aurora-what-you-should-know-about-port-augustas-solar-power-tower-86715/
Tasmania
TasWater’s fighting fund shelved
A PROPOSED $200,000-plus fighting fund to campaign against the intended takeover of TasWater has been shelved after less than half of local councils contributed.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/taswaters-antitakeover-fighting-fund-shelved-with-the-focus-to-return-to-the-takeovers-legality/news-story/f198e81258e71f3705e66da7582291cd
Northern Territory
It’s goodbye dry as parts of the NT experience record temperatures
The heart of the Northern Territory’s dry season is probably over, a weather forecaster says, with some towns experiencing record temperatures on the weekend.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-21/2017-dry-season-disappearing-fast-in-the-northern-territory/8828174
Why hasn’t Darwin embraced solar power to help locals reduce power bills?
The NT is lagging behind other states in terms of solar power uptake, and one Curious Darwinian wants to know why.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-22/why-hasnt-darwin-embraced-solar-power-to-help-reduce-power-bills/8824690
Western Australia
Taking care of business: McGowan confident PM’s rail funding pledge
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/taking-care-of-business-mcgowan-confident-pms-rail-funding-pledge-20170821-gy14ak.html
State government announces new rail links
The program is designed to pull more people onto public transport
https://thewest.com.au/news/transport/state-government-announces-new-rail-links-bc-5546798897001
Families feel pain of power price surge
The State Government is set to oversee the second highest electricity charges in the country after warnings its sharp increase in power access fees were hurting struggling families.
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/families-feel-pain-of-power-price-surge-ng-b88570716z
Parking or public spaces: We need to agree on Perth’s changing face
Mark Ames
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/parking-or-public-spaces-we-need-to-agree-on-perths-changing-face-20170821-gy0l0v.html
Sustainability
Energy dilemma weighs on Vietnam.
State planners say more than 50 percent of national power will be coal-fired by 2030, a big boost in the fossil fuel’s use that will worsen pollution and undercut climate change goals.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-3246038150322309731
The world eyes yet another unconventional source of fossil fuels.
Vast quantities of methane hydrates — frozen deposits of natural gas on the sea floor — exist worldwide. But as experimental drilling moves forward, many experts question the wisdom of exploiting a costly, environmentally risky trove of fossil fuels that will accelerate global warming.
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-3246038150322308109
Biofuels from Bacteria
Scientists are working toward a better understand whether cyanobacteria can be grown for biofuels on a …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170821135052.htm
Solar eclipse tests power grid in renewable era
http://www.afr.com/news/world/north-america/solar-eclipse-tests-power-grid-in-renewable-era-20170820-gy03ht
Greening the concrete jungle: how to make environmentally friendly cement
Rackel San Nicolas
https://theconversation.com/greening-the-concrete-jungle-how-to-make-environmentally-friendly-cement-82686
Environmentalists are victors, not victims
Fran Lambrick
While it is getting more and more dangerous to defend the environment, those who have lost their lives continue to inspire generations. And meanwhile, important fights are being won
https://newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2017/08/15/environmentalists-deaths-fight
Nature Conservation
Is your sunscreen poisoning the ocean?
Even in minute doses, a common sunscreen ingredient rapidly bleaches coral and slows new growth: A single drop in 4.3 million gallons of water — about six and a half Olympic-size swimming pools — is enough to be deadly.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-3246038150322309754
Mangrove-planting drones on a mission to restore Myanmar delta.
Drones could plant trees 10 times faster and cut costs by half.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-3246038150322309076
Researchers look to nanomaterials to clean air, water and land.
First explored for applications in microscopy and computing, nanomaterials — materials made up of units that are each thousands of times smaller than the thickness of a human hair — are emerging as useful for tackling threats to our planet’s well-being
http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/-3246038150322308112
Post-whaling recovery of Southern Hemisphere
By 2100 some Southern Hemisphere whale species will not have reached half their pre-whaling numbers, while other species are expected to recover by 2050.The findings are part of new CSIRO and UQ research, which looks at the interaction of historical whaling, food availability and future climate changes to predict whale numbers to 2100.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/ca-pro082117.php
Warmer waters from climate change will leave fish shrinking, gasping for air
Fish are expected to shrink in size by 20 to 30 per cent if ocean temperatures continue to climb due to climate change.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/uobc-wwf081817.php
Now for something completely different …
Whenever anything goes wrong blame the hideous influence of the left
Peter Fitzsimons
From now on, I invite you to observe, at least briefly, how after just about any negative event in the public domain, you will see a good 75 per cent of the Australian coverage make, in the first paragraphs, first utterances, first response, some version of, “It is the left wot done it …”
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/whenever-anything-goes-wrong-blame-the-hideous-influence-of-the-left-20170820-gy0dni.html
Maelor Himbury