Daily Links Nov 1

Emissions set to bust Paris deal by 30%
Greenhouse gas emissions are on course to be about 30 per cent above the level needed to keep global warming to an internationally agreed target in 2030, the United Nations says.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/emissions-set-to-bust-paris-deal-by-30/news-story/d16ad0cda3d923b44c758d4147c1c3ab

Political Views Have Limited Impact on How We Perceive Climate Anomalies
Individual perceptions of climate anomalies are largely immune to political bias, especially when people observe large and persistent departures from average …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171031084851.htm

Climate change harms health worldwide as millions swelter
Climate change has caused severe harm to human health since the year 2000 by stoking more heat waves, the spread of some mosquito-borne diseases and under-nutrition as crops fail, scientists said on Tuesday.
http://news.trust.org/item/20171030233739-ikz70/?source=gep

Global Covenant of Mayors focuses on inclusive growth to ease impact of climate change
Global Covenant cities are making great strides in advancing the fortunes of our most vulnerable people, while building sustainable cities.
https://www.politico.eu/sponsored-content/global-covenant-of-mayors-focuses-on-inclusive-growth-to-ease-impact-of-climate-change/

A real Halloween horror story: The five scariest aspects of climate change
Halloween has arrived, and it’s time once again for goblins, gremlins, and ghost stories.But there’s another threat brewing that’s much more frightening – because it’s real.
http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2017/10/30/a-real-halloween-horror-story-the-five-scariest-aspects-of-climate-change/

World greenhouse gas levels made unprecedented leap in 2016
Paul Fraser, CSIRO; Paul Krummel, CSIRO, and Zoe Loh, CSIRO
Global greenhouse gas levels have hit their highest point in at least 3 million years, according to new figures from the World Meteorological Organisation.
http://theconversation.com/world-greenhouse-gas-levels-made-unprecedented-leap-in-2016-86545

Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production, 2015-16
ABS
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4610.0.55.008?OpenDocument

NEG must grow new renewable energy capacity, not shrink it
Kane Thornton
It remains unclear how the NEG will ensure the investor confidence required to deliver a strong pipeline of new clean energy projects
http://reneweconomy.com.au/neg-must-grow-new-renewable-energy-capacity-not-shrink-58415/

Citizen scientists count nearly 2 million birds and reveal a possible kookaburra decline
Kerryn Herman, Deakin University
The fourth Aussie Backyard Bird Count, which has just finished, has some potentially worrying news about one of our best-loved species.
http://theconversation.com/citizen-scientists-count-nearly-2-million-birds-and-reveal-a-possible-kookaburra-decline-86469

Log trucks on collision course with protesters over old-growth forest
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/logging-trucks-on-collision-course-with-protesters-over-oldgrowth-forest-20171031-gzblyu.html

Every eight days someone dies on Victoria’s rail network
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/every-eight-days-someone-dies-on-victorias-rail-network-20171031-gzbwd5.html

What’s the problem airport rail would solve?
Alan Davies
There needs to be a clear and focused justification for spending billions of dollars on building a rail line from the CBD to Melbourne Airport
https://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2017/10/31/whats-problem-airport-rail-solve/

Green councils’ blatant theft of private property
Miranda Devine
Insane environmental bureaucracy is strangling the bucolic Bega Valley in green tape as landholders have found their property values slashed and their land “sterilised” for human use.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/green-councils-blatant-theft-of-private-property/news-story/b1772f32ac3eb50213e4feba8ec6bd8a

Five reasons not to build new coal power plant in Queensland
Climate Council report on Queensland renewables offers timely reminder that building a new coal plant in the state’s north is a terrible idea.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/five-reasons-not-to-build-new-coal-power-plant-in-queensland-45488/

Cousins baffled by business case for mine
Millionaire businessman Geoff Cousins says he’s baffled by Qld Labor’s support for the dying, damaging coal industry while it’s investing in renewable energy.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/10/31/cousins-baffled-business-case-mine

Pacific Islanders call for Australia not to fund Adani coalmine
Caritas says thousands face threats to their wellbeing, livelihoods and ‘their very existence’ due to rising sea levels
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/01/pacific-islanders-call-for-australia-not-to-fund-adani-coalmine

Adani could cost my seat: Trad
Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has cast doubt on the viability of Adani’s $16.5 billion Carmichael mine, which she concedes her electorate is “very strongly” against.
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/jackie-trad-admits-her-electorate-feels-very-strongly-against-adani-20171030-gzbigv

Queensland election 2017: Coal-fired power station report to embarrass Government
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/state-election-2017/queensland-election-2017-coalfired-power-station-report-to-embarrass-government/news-story/7da7a0c139ef1222cce9bce7a280470c

Queensland election 2017: Labor accused of hiding transport data
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/state-election-2017/queensland-election-2017-labor-accused-of-hiding-transport-data/news-story/9bd6b1f14cfd3491574176acd7ffd8d4

Great Barrier Reef revival: Scientists to engineer heat-resistant coral
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/national/great-barrier-reef-revival-scientists-to-engineer-heatresistant-coral/news-story/37fa059534d42c68462e50a1a589f99d

Work starts on final six-lane section of $400 million Ipswich Motorway
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/400-million-ipswich-motorway-works-to-begin-final-six-lane-section-20171027-p4ywo8.html

Demolishers move in to start $5.4 billion Cross River Rail works
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/demolishers-move-in-and-the-5-4-billion-cross-river-rail-is-underway-20171023-p4ywlu.html

Renewables: powering Queensland’s future
Climate Council
This report highlights the significant potential for Queensland’s clean energy future, as fourteen clean energy projects, the highest number in Australia, get under construction this year alone.
http://apo.org.au/node/116861

Quality public transport network will put Brisbane back on track towards New World City
Courier Mail editorial
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/quality-public-transport-network-will-put-brisbane-back-on-track-towards-new-world-city/news-story/849ed515d1f3470441b6b4514186f3e0

Know your NEM: Climbing a wall of worry over wind and solar
David Leitch
Wind and solar PV account for 54 per cent of demand in South Australia since the closure of Hazelwood, and the grid is still functioning.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/know-nem-climbing-wall-worry-wind-solar-28436/

Public policy questions a matter for us all
Morgan Begg
High Court case on Tasmanian protest laws throws doubt on other legislation
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-public-policy-questions-a-matter-for-us-all/news-story/01652833cd7b9d6d2486e724d1b9fc23

Did we sell NT’s gas potential short
IT is not so much what is in the ACIL Allen’s assessment of the economic impacts of a potential shale gas industry on the Northern Territory but what isn’t
http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/did-we-sell-nts-gas-potential-short/news-story/7d4260fbba3d51c63f934efb8cb76a9f

Perth’s transport network ranked one of the worst in the world
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/perths-transport-network-ranked-one-of-the-worst-in-the-world-report-20171030-gzbcfb.html

Fortescue joins lithium ‘arms race’ as electric cars boom
http://www.theage.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/iron-ore-miner-fortescue-exploring-for-lithium-in-western-australia-20171031-gzbxvb.html

Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill mine gears up for driverless trucks
Driverless trucks are expected to be phased in at Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill iron ore mine in Western Australia from the second half of 2018.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/gina-rineharts-roy-hill-gears-up-for-driverless-trucks-20171031-gzc1qj.html

NREL, University of Washington scientists elevate quantum dot solar cell world record
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) established a new world efficiency record for quantum dot solar cells, at 13.4 percent.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-10/drel-nuo103117.php

44 UK towns and cities have air ‘too dangerous to breathe’, report claims
The study was published yesterday and timed to coincide with the release of The Lancet‘s wide-ranging report on the global impact of climate change on human
health.
http://www.ehn.org/44-uk-towns-and-cities-have-air-too-dangerous-to-breathe-report-claims-london-evening-standard-2504299315.html

Garbage disposal into Nairobi River killing city residents, says study
The river that gave birth to the city is now threatening to be the cause of its death. Nairobi River streams down the city’s suburbs and informal estates in agony, choking under the weight of garbage.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001258912/garbage-disposal-into-nairobi-river-killing-city-residents-says-study

U.S. trade panel set to recommend solar trade tariffs
Federal trade officials on Tuesday will recommend measures to safeguard struggling domestic solar panel manufacturers against cheap imports in a closely watched case that could have a major impact on the price of U.S. solar power.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-solar/u-s-trade-panel-set-to-recommend-solar-trade-tariffs-idUSKBN1D014T

Bloomberg’s green office: fit for a billionaire
Michael Bloomberg likes to spend his spare cash on earthly problems such as climate change, not wacky treks to outer space
http://www.afr.com/leadership/bloombergs-green-office-a-display-of-virtue-fit-for-a-billionaire-20171030-gzbhlo

Moves to curb democratic fracking protests in the UK ‘extremely worrying’
Green MP Caroline Lucas criticises attempts by chemicals multinational Ineos to impose a sweeping injunction against anti-fracking campaigners
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/31/moves-to-curb-democratic-fracking-protests-in-the-uk-extremely-worrying

Hundreds killed at nuclear base
At least 200 people have died at Kim Jong-un’s nuclear test site after a tunnel collapsed, speaking fears of a radioactive leak.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/world/hundreds-killed-at-north-korean-nuclear-base/news-story/80ee3d8d17ef5c164f58a75a4faeee41

Can virtual nature and poo transplants solve city dwellers’ health problems?
Anne Cleary, Griffith University and Dave Kendal, University of Melbourne
Faecal transplants and virtual nature are technological solutions to ‘nature deficit disorder’ from urban living. Such ‘quick fixes’ offer some benefits, but are no substitute for the real thing.
http://theconversation.com/can-virtual-nature-and-poo-transplants-solve-city-dwellers-health-problems-85675

The largest ever tropical reforestation is planting 73 million trees
The project in the Brazilian Amazon is using a new technique for planting trees that results in more, stronger plants–and hopes to cover 70,000 acres in new forests.
https://www.fastcompany.com/40481305/the-largest-ever-tropical-reforestation-is-planting-73-million-trees

Deeper corals may be safest from climate change
Mass coral bleaching may not be a death sentence for all of the reef systems it touches.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11938839

Plastic bottles, toothbrushes, chip bags make up huge floating garbage site in Caribbean
In an area which is supposed to be one of the most pristine dive sites in the Caribbean, a massive floating pile of plastic garbage stretches for kilometres.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-31/plastic-garbage-covering-caribbean-waters/9099188

How aquaculture is threatening the native fish species of Africa
Africa has long looked to fish farming to help feed its burgeoning human population. But scientists are warning that a new aquaculture push is introducing invasive species that could devastate such natural jewels as Lake Malawi and the Okavango Delta.
http://e360.yale.edu/features/how-aquaculture-is-threatening-the-native-fish-species-of-africa

Galapagos species are threatened by the very tourists who flock to see them
Veronica Toral-Granda, Charles Darwin University and Stephen Garnett, Charles Darwin University
More than 1,500 introduced species have been recorded on the Galapagos Islands, and most have arrived since the archipelago’s tourism industry was expanded in the 1970s.
http://theconversation.com/galapagos-species-are-threatened-by-the-very-tourists-who-flock-to-see-them-86392