Daily Links Sep 29

New Approach to Measuring Changes in Forest Carbon Density has Shown That the Tropics Now Emit More Carbon Than They Capture
A revolutionary new approach to measuring changes in forest carbon density has helped WHRC scientists determine that the tropics now emit more carbon than they capture, countering their role as a net carbon “sink.”
http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/52689

Global carbon emissions stood still in 2016, offering climate hope.
The new data is a welcome sign of progress in the battle against global warming but many challenges remain, including methane from cattle.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-4057999804430503213

Climate science: Getting African researchers involved.
The IPCC’s vice-president, Youba Sokona, who comes from Mali, is calling on young African researchers and scientists to get involved in the Panel’s work on climate change.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/1251925125133568269

Diesel cars help drive energy emissions to new peak
Australia’s love affair with diesel cars has helped push the nation’s energy emissions to a record high, new analysis shows, …
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4955925/diesel-cars-help-drive-energy-emissions-to-new-peak/?cs=7

Basin short-changed
MURRAY Darling Basin irrigators, towns and industry have used 17,000 gigalitres less water than they were entitled to under the Murray Darling Basin cap on usage.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/murray-darling-basin-shortchanged/news-story/a95b5f324eb4b826170bbd2ad9dfde1a

Gas prices: Deal done but the days of cheap gas are long gone
Stephen Letts
The big gas producers have promised to fill any domestic supply shortfall, but that doesn’t mean prices are coming down
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-28/gas-prices-deal-done-but-the-days-of-cheap-gas-are-long-gone/8998570

More wind and solar – the answer to all Turnbull’s energy problems
Giles Parkinson
Barnaby Joyce may well want to paint racing stripes down the side of the Liddell coal generator, and hang dice from its smoke stacks, but the answer to Turnbull’s energy dilemma is exactly what he doesn’t want it to be: more wind and solar.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/more-wind-and-solar-the-answer-to-all-turnbulls-energy-problems-14789/

Why isn’t energy productivity part of national debate on electricity costs and security?
Gordon Weiss
In the ongoing furore over energy and climate policy, the energy productivity opportunity is being ignored as a solution despite its potential for energy cost …
http://reneweconomy.com.au/isnt-energy-productivity-%e2%80%a8part-national-debate-%e2%80%a8electricity-costs-security-31873/

Another day, another Turnbull gas press conference
Bernard Keane
https://www.crikey.com.au/2017/09/28/another-day-another-turnbull-gas-press-conference/

Rarest bird sighted for first time in a year
A BIRD on the brink of extinction has been found in Victoria, with signs there are more spottings to come after the rare creature went unsighted for more than a year.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/nearextinct-plains-wanderer-bird-seen-for-the-first-time-in-more-than-a-year/news-story/03223ba3bb95293fc9c4e18aef004cfc

Wind turbine worries
SOUTH West Victorian farmers and residents have voiced their opposition to more wind farms in their community.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/wind-farms-community-unease-in-south-west-victoria/news-story/3f547d031b45d1b349ed72ee47a458ad

Our gas policy won’t change, Berejiklian tells PM
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-gas-policy-wont-change-gladys-berejiklian-tells-malcolm-turnbull-20170928-gyqkfe.html

Power company slammed over $7m grab
THE energy regulator has slammed a power company for trying to overcharge South Australian households and businesses to the tune of $7 million for infrastructure upgrades.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/murraylink-owners-slammed-for-trying-to-overcharge-power-users/news-story/d01108599cfd96f5312438592fec1895

Call for cement factory to clean up its act
THE owner of a giant cement plant seeking a new licence from the EPA should help pay for cleaning dust from properties within 800m of its site, a local environment group says.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/west-beaches/call-for-stricter-dust-and-noise-controls-as-adelaide-brighton-cement-seeks-new-epa-licence/news-story/8a282ed850c1ab0d2a70acd790fa418f

Climate and energy are becoming focal points in US state political races
The latest example, Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Otto has a strong clean energy proposal
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/sep/28/climate-and-energy-are-becoming-focal-points-in-state-political-races

Olive mill wastewater transformed: From pollutant to bio-fertilizer, biofuel
Olive oil has long been a popular kitchen staple. Yet producing the oil creates a vast stream of wastewater that can foul waterways, reduce soil fertility and trigger extensive damage to nearby ecosystems.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/52683

Perovskite solar cells reach record long-term stability, efficiency over 20 percent
EPFL scientists have now greatly improved the operational stability of PSCs, retaining more than 95% of their initial efficiencies of over 20 % under full sunlight illumination at 60oC for more than 1000 hours.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-09/epfd-psc092717.php

Researchers explore why humans don’t purge lethal genetic disorders from the population
Mutation rates and other factors affect the prevalence of deadly genetic diseases
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-09/p-rew092617.php

Database of earthquakes triggered by human activity is growing — with some surprises
The Human-Induced Earthquake Database (HiQuake), the world’s most complete database of earthquake sequences proposed to have been triggered by human activity, now includes approximately 730 entries
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-09/ssoa-doe092617.php

Plan to slash farm antibiotic use may stop spread of resistance
The world is losing its antibiotics, as bacteria increasingly resist the drugs. Use of antibiotics in farming promotes the evolution of this resistance, but it has been unclear how countries should cut back on their use. Now epidemiologists have come up with an achievable plan that might cut antibiotic use on farms by 80 per cent.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2148962-plan-to-slash-farm-antibiotic-use-may-stop-spread-of-resistance/

Puerto Rico is our future
Richard Heinberg Post Carbon Institute
Puerto Ricans—all Americans, indeed all humans—should be thinking longer-term about what kind of society is sustainable and resilient in this time of increasing vulnerability to disasters of all kinds.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/1251925125133569246

Why we should make room for debate about high-tech meat.
Garrett Broad Civil Eats
The burgeoning alternative protein industry is drawing new lines and making interesting bedfellows—all the more reason to stay engaged in the conversation.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/1251925125133568765

Nuclear cannot keep up with wind, and solar is coming next
Craig Morris
Even countries with long-standing nuclear aims are adding wind power much faster, as Brazil, China, and India show. Those interested in the fastest way to mitigate climate change can forget nuclear.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/nuclear-cannot-keep-wind-solar-coming-next-38744/

Non-native species from Japanese tsunami aided by unlikely partner: Plastics
A new study appearing this week in Science reports the discovery of a startling new role of plastic marine debris — the transport of non-native species in the world’s oceans.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-09/osu-nsf092617.php

How diamonds and a bitter feud led to the destruction of an Amazon reserve.
Family rivalry and Brazil’s Catholic church helped miners devastate an indigenous territory that was once a leader in the fight against deforestation.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/1251925125133568279

Could techno-fixes and gene therapies really save the world’s coral?
A team of scientists and reef managers say it’s time to consider ‘riskier’ and unconventional ways to save the world’s coral habitats.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/1251925125133568278

This country is a haven for biodiversity.
Home to 10 percent of the world’s flora and fauna species, Colombia is blossoming into the world’s next ecotourism hotspot
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-4057999804430503189