Daily Links Oct 18

Are flatulent shellfish really contributing to climate change?
Scientists investigating marine life in the Baltic Sea have found mussels, oysters and clams are emitting greenhouse gases – but cows still trump them
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2017/oct/16/are-flatulent-shellfish-really-contributing-to-climate-change

Even China is tackling climate change, while US takes a back seat.
Scott Moore The Hill
Beijing sees an interconnected world where environmental sustainability is crucial to maintaining political support, global stability and economic growth.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-4566925153911787880

Climate change denier Monckton accidentally proves Earth is warming
Steve Bishop
Far from proving climate science wrong, it would appear Monckton has proved it to be extremely accurate.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/climate-change-denier-monckton-accidentally-proves-earth-is-warming,10828

Government’s new energy plan gets business backing
The electricity industry and big industrial users welcome the Federal Government’s new energy plan, but warn pro-coal Coalition backbenchers they may not be getting what they bargained for.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-17/business-backs-national-energy-guarantee/9059844

Unsure what to think about the new energy plan? Here’s what four market experts think
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4994788/unsure-what-to-think-about-the-new-energy-plan-heres-what-four-market-experts-think/?cs=7

Key players react to Turnbull energy plan
Politicians and industry, business and conservation figures have begun weighing in on the prime minister’s energy plan.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/10/17/key-players-react-turnbull-energy-plan

National Energy Guarantee ‘promising’ for farmers, food processors says Farmers Federation
Farmers’ peak body says early details of the Government’s new energy plan, the National Energy Guarantee, addresses its key concerned about soaring power bills.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-10-17/new-neg-energy-policy-promising-for-farmers-says-nff/9055534

A lifeline for coal
Ageing coal-fired power stations may get a lifeline from the federal government’s new national energy guarantee.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/neg-a-lifeline-for-coalfired-power-stations/news-story/f07f0e5cfe59302022e980dea5c21e34

Where’s the coal, Abbott asks
Tony Abbott questions the PM’s energy plan, claiming it has failed to sharpen the distinction between the Coalition and Labor.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wheres-the-coalfired-power-plant-abbott-asks/news-story/772c310f69defed704d48e6fcc5f70ec

How much will PM’s new energy policy save you?
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-turnbull-governments-new-energy-policy-will-shave-2-off-your-weekly-power-bill-20171017-gz2gkc.html

Explainer: What is the National Energy Guarantee and what does it mean for consumers?
Malcolm Turnbull has unveiled his shiny new energy policy, complete with its own three-letter acronym to replace the doomed Clean Energy Target. Here’s what it all means.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-17/explainer-energy-policy-what-is-the-coalitions-new-plan/9057158

Infographic: the National Energy Guarantee at a glance
https://theconversation.com/infographic-the-national-energy-guarantee-at-a-glance-85832

Native fish on the Murray-Darling improve for the first time since settlement
Actions by recreational fishers to abide by regulations help native fish species improve for the first time in 150 years.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-17/native-fish-improve-for-the-first-time-on-murray-darling/9039292

Renewable-hugging states to pay more
Labor states with ambitious renewable energy targets will face more costly reliability standards, which could increase their cost of electricity.
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/ambitious-labor-renewable-energy-targets-could-push-up-power-costs-20171017-gz2kmj

Abbott 1, Consumer 0. Turnbull’s energy fudge locks in high prices
Giles Parkinson
If one thing is clear from the Coalition’s new energy policy announcement today, it is that Tony Abbott has won, and consumers have lost. Even in the most optimistic scenario presented by the government, energy consumers will see little reduction in their energy bills over the next decade. And that’s outrageous.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/abbott-1-consumer-0-turnbulls-energy-fudge-locks-in-high-prices-11158/

Malcolm Turnbull finally wins his party room, voters a bigger challenge
Laura Tingle
Whatever the virtues of the new energy plan, the dilemma for a PM down on credibility is that voters just won’t get it.
http://www.afr.com/news/malcolm-turnbull-finally-wins-his-party-room-voters-a-bigger-challenge-20171017-gz2rtf

This energy policy is a technically clever model
Jennifer Hewett
http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/this-energy-policy-is-a-technically-clever-model-20171017-gz2pk8

Turnbull’s new energy policy explained
Ben Potter
http://www.afr.com/business/malcolm-turnbulls-reliability-and-emissions-guarantee-explained-20171017-gz2ojv

Malcolm Turnbull is playing a losing hand on energy policy
Peter Lewis
There are four main reasons why the government’s latest energy policy will not go down well with the public
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/17/malcolm-turnbull-is-playing-a-losing-hand-on-energy-policy

How the National Energy Guarantee could work better than a clean energy target
David Blowers
https://theconversation.com/how-the-national-energy-guarantee-could-work-better-than-a-clean-energy-target-85821

Meet the NEG: Turnbull’s new climate and energy policy
Jacqueline Maley
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/welcome-to-politics-new-threeletterword-the-neg-20171017-gz2hfh.html

Turnbull package our best hope on energy
Courier Mail staff writers
THE energy package unveiled by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday is the best hope Australia has for ending the debilitating energy wars that have plagued this country for the past decade.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/malcolm-turnbulls-energy-package-australias-best-hope-for-ending-debilitating-energy-wars/news-story/07f936863f16b61cea0ecf732d0cf0b5

Questions over Malcolm Turnbull, Josh Frydenberg’s new energy plan
Dennis Atkins
IF Malcolm Turnbull and his energy minister Josh Frydenberg have come up with a new energy plan which will lower electricity prices, ensure there’s reliable power through summer storms and keeps us up to the mark for combating carbon emissions, they deserve consideration for the Nobel Prize.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/comment-questions-over-malcolm-turnbull-josh-frydenbergs-new-energy-plan/news-story/b63536bef186e890b397eea2d89b1d31

Science is under attack from politics
Tory Shepherd 
OUR politicians have shown spectacular mental decrepitude in their dismissal of science when coming up with a ‘solution’ to our energy crisis
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/rendezview/tory-shepherd-science-is-under-attack-from-politics/news-story/4635c90dc23d9885e417f3b3d4778b28

The PM’s plan will deliver more expensive, dirtier power
Ben Oquist
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/the-pms-plan-will-deliver-more-expensive-dirtier-power-20171017-gz2lh5.html

Out of the ashes of failed attempts, finally a chance to put the climate wars behind us
Peter Martin
Out of the ashes of repeated failed attempts to give us cleaner and more reliable electricity – the emissions trading scheme, the emissions intensity scheme, and the clean energy target – has come something surprisingly good.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/out-of-the-ashes-of-failed-attempts-finally-a-chance-to-put-the-climate-wars-behind-us-20171016-gz2ac8.html

Time will tell if energy policy step in right direction
Canberra Times editorial
The Turnbull Government risks seriously scaling back the rate at which solar, wind and other technologies are being adopted.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/ct-editorial/time-will-tell-if-the-coalitions-energy-policy-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction-20171017-gz2kkq.html

When a government hears only what it wants to hear
SMH editorial
Politics and reliability drown out Finkel and planet concerns
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/when-a-government-hears-only-what-it-wants-to-hear-20171017-gz2nw5.html

Turnbull’s fight continues
Paul Kelly
New energy policy defies all predictions and gives the government a real chance.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/paul-kelly/turnbull-has-surprised-us-but-the-fight-continues/news-story/2e1cab6c48a36f0a0b84b06db0d3f84d

The flaw in PM’s energy plan
Graham Lloyd
Malcolm Turnbull wants everyone to believe he has turned the proverbial grit sandwich into a magic pudding on energy.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/the-problem-with-malcolm-turnbulls-energy-plan/news-story/92d1f74e9786f056f0355b3e9a12e734

PM wins battle, faces long war
Dennis Shanahan
Malcolm Turnbull has declared his hybrid energy plan has the potential to ‘end the climate change wars’.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/dennis-shanahan/energy-reform-turnbull-might-win-battle-but-climate-wars-a-long-haul/news-story/ea9e9e84e562a9137054cce07a251b28

Costs down while lights stay on
Josh Frydenberg
Reliable supply plus emissions control sums up the National Energy Guarantee.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/national-energy-guarantee-constant-power-at-lower-cost/news-story/42cb7cff628416ca089e400fb952bd8e

Let’s get this straight, habitat loss is the number-one threat to Australia’s species
Brendan Wintle, University of Melbourne and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University
The outgoing Threatened Species Commissioner has downplayed the importance of land clearing as a threat to Australia’s plants and animals. But it’s the biggest threat, and magnifies the others too.
http://theconversation.com/lets-get-this-straight-habitat-loss-is-the-number-one-threat-to-australias-species-85674

Nuclear power could be the solution
Dean Jaensch 
AS a process which emits absolutely no carbon, why are we rejecting nuclear energy as a solution to our energy crisis
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/dean-jaensch/news-story/317cfdc00dd8c90e773fed39dbec1db2

Single-use plastic bags to be banned in Victoria
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/lightweight-plastic-bags-to-be-banned-in-victoria-20171017-gz2s4i.html

Long distances, intimidation by cars and bad weather are some reasons Victorians don’t like cycling
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/long-distances-intimidation-by-cars-and-bad-weather-are-some-reasons-victorians-dont-like-cycling/news-story/b04bb3428c84521c6e99a38b21b335c4

Gas fields not answer
Colin Frawley
Victoria has little conventional onshore gas and should think carefully about how extracting it might harm the state’s clean green food image
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/opinion/conventional-onshore-gas-commissioning-a-study-of-likely-reserves-a-good-call/news-story/26b6fc4e4c615067172ba5fc8689f1cc

Sydney’s population can continue to grow and thrive
Anthony Albanese
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/projectsydney/anthony-albanese-sydneys-population-can-continue-to-grow-and-thrive/news-story/4d949e812b6e4f358c16a826b91c343b

Jobs bonanza? The Adani project is more like a railway to nowhere
John Quiggin
The Carmichael coal mine was once pitched as a choice between jobs and the environment. So where are the jobs?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/18/jobs-bonanza-the-adani-project-is-more-like-a-railway-to-nowhere

Origin teams with UK start-up in SA demand-response trial
Efforts to harness valuable demand-side energy management resources in Australia are ramping up, with the announcement of a new trial led by gen-tailer Origin Energy in collaboartion with UK based start-up Tempus Energy.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/origin-teams-uk-start-sa-demand-response-trial-95207/

SA ‘ideal’ test state for PM’s power play
SOUTH Australia’s long history of electricity woes makes it the ideal guinea pig for the Turnbull Government’s new plan to cut power bills and prevent blackouts, the scheme’s architects believe.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-ideal-place-to-test-federal-governments-energy-plan-to-cut-power-bills-experts-say/news-story/c8767f9b82544a4b09b5d12338dc76a7

Frydenberg seeks review of four-wheel-drive tracks in Tasmania’s Tarkine
Conservationists and Indigenous groups hail decision to examine plan to lay rubber matting over middens and heritage sites
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/17/frydenberg-seeks-review-of-four-wheel-drive-tracks-in-tasmanias-tarkine

Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation lobby for return of Tarkine
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4992106/tasmanian-aboriginal-corporation-lobby-for-return-of-tarkine/?cs=95

Libs push ahead on Tarkine tracks
THE State Government is determined to reopen tracks in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area to off-road vehicles.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/liberal-state-government-push-ahead-on-plan-to-reopen-tarkine-tracks/news-story/8c634b617cab36bd24d41cffa78066a6

Gas pipeline to be extended
THE constructors of the Northern Gas Pipeline have signed a deal which will see the 622km project extended through Central Queensland
http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/gas-pipeline-to-be-extended/news-story/f84ddfcb596ab3493d979d2c9a4ef97e

WA could go it alone on green power policy beyond 2020 after coalition ditch Renewable Energy Target
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/wa-could-go-it-alone-on-green-power-policy-beyond-2020-after-coalition-ditch-renewable-energy-target-ng-b88630937z

Perth to double recycled waste water for drinking
https://thewest.com.au/business/water/perth-to-double-recycled-waste-water-for-drinking-bc-5614041307001

Scientists create most powerful micro-scale bio-solar cell yet
New solar cell could power point-of-care medical devices in limited-resource regions
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-10/bu-scm101717.php

How to clean up the dirty water Puerto Ricans are drinking
Nearly a month after Hurricane Maria, many people on Puerto Rico are still without clean drinking water and have resorted to wells on a contaminated site
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2150525-how-to-clean-up-the-dirty-water-puerto-ricans-are-drinking/

How a healthy economy can shorten life spans.
Austin Frakt New York Times
In general, prosperity brings better health. But economic booms are also associated with air pollution, stress and car accidents.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/1195107355338417694

Land management could be key in climate change battle.
To combat climate change, every country on Earth could stop the burning of oil completely. Or they could simply pay attention to the way they manage their land.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-4566925153911787885

As drought makes harvests uncertain, Kenya’s farmers mull a seed change.
Using imported seed, “you are not sure if you will harvest enough to offset the costs” – so local seed is gaining ground, farmers say.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/1195107355338417692

Plant more trees to combat climate change: Scientists.
Planting forests and other activities that harness the power of nature could play a major role in limiting global warming under the 2015 Paris agreement, an international study showed on Monday.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-4566925153911787889