Daily Links Dec 12

Global warming will weaken wind power, study predicts
Wind farms are key to tackling climate change but warming will significantly cut wind power across US and UK, though Australia will see winds strengthen
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/global-warming-will-weaken-wind-power-study-predicts

How a wayward Arctic current could cool the climate in Europe
The Beaufort Gyre, a key Arctic Ocean current, is acting strangely. Scientists say it may be on the verge of discharging a huge amount of ice and cold freshwater that could kick off a period of lower temperatures in northern Europe.
http://e360.yale.edu/features/how-a-wayward-arctic-current-could-cool-the-climate-in-europe

Climate change could increase volcano eruptions
Shrinking glacier cover could lead to increased volcanic activity in Iceland, scientists have warned.
http://www.enn.com/climate/article/53401

The dirty secret of the world’s plan to avert climate disaster
The Paris agreement on climate change charts a narrow path to avoiding a global apocalypse. Just one problem: Its centerpiece is a technology that basically doesn’t yet exist.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-dirty-secret-of-the-worlds-plan-to-avert-climate-disaster/

Tiny Ice Losses at Antarctica’s Fringes Can Accelerate Ice Loss Far Away
It is known that the ice shelves surrounding the continent regulate the ice flow from the land into the ocean.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171211120434.htm

Presenting facts as ‘consensus’ bridges conservative-liberal divide over climate change
In the murk of post-truth public debate, facts can polarise. Scientific evidence triggers reaction and spin that ends up entrenching the attitudes of opposing political tribes.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uoc-pfa120717.php

No more green rhetoric. A sustainable future is vital and possible
Rebecca Long-Bailey
Climate change is at the heart of Labour’s industrial strategy, which means investing in green tech and renewable energy, and divesting from fossil fuels
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/no-more-green-rhetoric-sustainable-future-vital-possible-labour

Battling on with optimism in face of climate roadblock
Peter Boyer
Al Gore is the great optimist of the global movement for climate action.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-battling-on-with-optimism-in-face-of-climate-roadblock/news-story/7466cc184e09f0554d63a20e4eb2203f

Aboriginal groups seek job-target guarantees for inland rail project
Aboriginal groups are demanding concrete quotas for Indigenous employment on the Federal Government’s inland rail project, saying it’s “not good enough” that no targets have been set.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-12/aboriginal-groups-seek-job-target-guarantees-inland-rail-project/9227794

Indigenous body to help develop north Aust
The federal government has established a body of indigenous leaders to advise on its northern development agenda.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/indigenous-body-to-help-develop-north-aust/news-story/1e8715762fcad14ead112428e997e56a

Nuclear catastrophe just ‘one tantrum away’, Nobel Peace Prize winner warns
The leader of an Australian-founded group that won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize urges nuclear nations to adopt a United Nations treaty banning atomic weapons, saying one “moment of panic or carelessness” could lead to “the end of us”.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/ican-urges-world-to-ban-nuclear-weapons/9245078

Heatwave brings back generators in Vic, SA
A mini-heat wave this week has given the energy regular a chance to stress test its summer readiness.
http://www.afr.com/news/heatwave-brings-back-generators-in-victoria-and-south-australia-20171210-h02b00

‘Brace for climate conflict’
Man-made climate change could place a greater burden on our defence forces who must respond to an ­increased risk of conflict.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/defence-warns-of-climate-change-peril-for-food-energy-and-peace/news-story/3fbb9f63d18db48446a348a16c3b6429

Review of the Emissions Reduction Fund: final report
Climate Change Authority
This report outlines stakeholders’ views on how the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) is performing and whether improvements should be made to its operation, administration, design and governance.
http://apo.org.au/node/122591

Zibelman: Resisting energy transition like trying to resist internet
AEMO boss Audrey Zibelman says energy transition as unstoppable as the internet, because economics and technology have changed. Some baseload may be needed in the future, but it doesn’t need to be coal
http://reneweconomy.com.au/zibelman-resisting-energy-transition-like-trying-to-resist-internet-79095/

ERF review fails to douse doubts over Coalition key climate policy
CCA review of Coalition’s Emissions Reduction Fund fuels concerns the scheme is an expensive, inefficient and risky way to cut carbon.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/erf-review-fails-to-douse-doubts-over-coalition-key-climate-policy-95653/

Novel fixes for Australian cities to navigate out of traffic congestion
Australia is lagging behind in its use of traffic-control technology and our cities are struggling. What’s slowing us down?
https://www.crikey.com.au/2017/12/11/we-have-the-traffic-technology-so-why-arent-we-using-it/

Magpies: 10 things you may not know about Australia’s ‘favourite bird’
It’s official, the magpie is the 2017 Australian bird of the year. Here are 10 things you may not know about them.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-12-11/magies-ten-things-you-didnt-know/9245780

Magpies: how I learnt to grudgingly admire – and then love – the bird of the year
Paul Daley
They’re feared for their fierce protection of sovereignty and dive-bombing trespassers, but all is forgiven listening to a pair of magpies warbling in a gumtree
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/magpies-how-i-learnt-to-grudgingly-admire-and-then-love-the-bird-of-the-year

The mighty ibis did not win Australian bird of the year but it’s still a winner
John Martin
It fell short of victory by a few hundred votes. For a bin chicken, that’s something to celebrate
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2017/dec/11/the-mighty-ibis-did-not-win-australian-bird-of-the-year-but-its-still-a-winner

Scenes from the Australian bird of the year ceremony
First Dog on the Moon
All the wash-up from the scandal, controversy and upset victory of the magpie in the 2017 poll
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/11/scenes-from-australian-bird-of-the-year-ceremony

Why we should be able to bring dogs on public transport
Jennifer Kent and Corinne Mulley, University of Sydney
Australian cities generally don’t allow pet dogs on public transport. Instead, owners need their own vehicle to travel with their dogs, and it’s a surprisingly important factor in our car dependency.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/why-we-should-be-able-to-bring-dogs-on-public-transport/9246020

Volunteers wanted – to house small modular nuclear reactors in Australia
Noel Wauchope
The nuclear industry is very fond of proclaiming that wastes from small thorium reactors would need safe disposal and guarding for ‘only 300 years’. Just the bare 300!
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19460

Melbourne traffic is worsening, and politicians are to blame
Susie O’Brien
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/susie-obrien/melbourne-traffic-is-worsening-and-politicians-are-to-blame/news-story/f1761b22313c474558019c16844935c1

Liddell shutdown must prompt national renewable energy strategy: ACF
AGL’s decision to close the Liddell power station in 2022 sends a clear signal to the federal government that it must institute a national renewable energy strategy.
https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/liddell-power-station-shutdown/

Summer’s first big heatwave to send mercury, fire risks soaring
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/summers-first-big-heatwave-to-send-mercury-fire-risks-soaring-20171210-h029yo.html

Tonnes of waste dumped in the middle of suburban Sydney street
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/tonnes-of-waste-dumped-in-the-middle-of-suburban-sydney-street-20171210-h0289n.html

Consumers short-changed by Liddell closure plans
Giles Parkinson
Consumers should be doing a lot better out of the closure of Liddell – and the inevitable closure of other coal generators. But they need governments to act to encourage the efficient use of energy.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/consumers-short-changed-by-liddell-closure-plans-37489/

Know your NEM: Liddell plans could be washed away by Snowy 2.0
David Leitch
AGL’s plans for Liddell are vague and lacking, most likely because the company is waiting to see what the Coalition aims to do with Snowy Hydro.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/know-your-nem-liddell-plans-could-be-washed-away-by-snowy-2-0-78292/

AGL’s promise to close the Liddell coal-fired power station is a war on Australians
Terry McCrann
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/terry-mccrann/agl-declares-war-on-all-australians-with-its-promise-to-close-liddell/news-story/3d30e47b73e6ca47c4fc23fad4d406b6

Spear fishos enlisted to tackle pest fish infestation
While the spread of a pest fish in far north Queensland poses a significant threat to native species, it gives residents a great excuse to go fishing, with 70 kilograms caught by local children over the weekend.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/spotted-tilapia-spread-north-queensland-waters-spearfishing/9245334

Construction begins at Kennedy wind, solar and battery storage hub
Construction has begun on the first 60MW of a proposed 1200MW Kennedy Energy Park, with the ceremonial turning of the sod on Monday at the site of the world-leading wind, solar, and battery storage project in north Queensland.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/construction-begins-at-kennedy-wind-solar-and-battery-storage-hub-30627/

The men hoping to use old laptop batteries to power remote villages
http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/the-men-hoping-to-use-old-laptop-batteries-to-power-remote-villages-20171210-p4yxkn.html

Bushfires in South Australia: Satellite imagery shows low moisture levels
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/cfs-satellite-imagery-shows-dropping-moisture-levels-in-south-australia/news-story/322f443e681bd79611d904f39f2a1c39

Alarm as fishers brag on social media about shark poaching
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/alarm-as-fishers-brag-on-social-media-about-shark-poaching/news-story/623eae01843d0e7c424531e2ce743546

Custodians ‘in dark’ over dump
The Northern Land Council failed to consult traditional land owners when it rejected a nuclear waste dump, court documents allege.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/traditional-owners-not-consulted-as-nlc-abandoned-nuke-dump/news-story/94ff701569f80c179d2df820abed5874

‘Tsunami of data’ could consume one fifth of global electricity by 2025
Billions of internet-connected devices could produce 3.5% of global emissions within 10 years and 14% by 2040, according to new research, reports Climate Home News
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/tsunami-of-data-could-consume-fifth-global-electricity-by-2025

Wales is second best household waste recycler in the world
Eco-friendly policies place country second to Germany but England lags far behind other countries according to new research
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/wales-household-waste-recycling-england

In the neighborhood of 18 million: Estimating how many people live near oil and gas wells
A new study in Environmental Health Perspectives provides an updated estimate of how many Americans live within a mile of oil or gas development, as well as guidelines for designing future proximity studies.
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/ehp2553/

US EPA lists 21 toxic Superfund sites that need ‘immediate and intense’ cleanup
The agency acknowledged that there is no additional funding to clean up the sites.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/12/08/epa-lists-21-toxic-superfund-sites-that-need-immediate-and-intense-cleanup/?utm_term=.386515067390

Glass with switchable opacity could improve solar cells and LEDs
Nanoscale ‘grass’ structures also enable smart glass that switches from hazy to clear in presence of water
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/tos-gws121117.php

A global north-to-south shift in wind power by end of century
The rapidly growing wind energy industry may be challenged by changes in locations of wind resources
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uoca-agn120617.php

Private sector support is key to reducing emissions in the Middle East and North Africa
Air quality experts from the University of Surrey are calling on private businesses to help the Middle East and North African (MENA) region reduce harmful emissions after conducting a comprehensive review on air pollution.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uos-ps121117.php

As building floor space increases, time running out to cut energy use and meet climate goals: UN
The equivalent of Paris is added in new building every 5 days; energy intensity per square meter of the building sector needs to improve 30 percent by 2030 to stay on track to meet Paris climate goals
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/tca-abf120817.php

Battery research could triple range of electric vehicles
New research at the University of Waterloo could lead to the development of batteries that triple the range of electric vehicles.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uow-brc121117.php

China’s anti-pollution efforts get a reality check
China’s efforts to tackle air pollution are getting a reality check, with some regions told to revert to burning coal after shortages of natural gas left people without heating amid freezing winter temperatures.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-10/freezing-cities-force-china-to-ease-anti-pollution-curbs-on-coal

Stopping plastic pollution with the cleaning power of bubbles
Could a shield of bubbles stop the flow of plastic waste into the sea?
https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/stopping-plastic-pollution-with-the-cleaning-power-of-bubbles/

Clean power will cost India in more ways than one
Government goal of boosting solar output means billions of dollars in investment and a reliance on China.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/asia/clean-power-will-cost-india-in-more-ways-than-one-1.683350

Exposure to Air Pollution Just Before or After Conception Raises Risk of Birth Defects
Women exposed to air pollution just prior to conception or during the first month of pregnancy face an increased risk of their children being born with birth defects, such as cleft lip or palate or abnormal hearts.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/53404

We know polluting cars are killing us. So why do we put up with it?
Abi Wilkinson
The evidence of the damage air pollution does is undisputed. We should come to see car journeys as a last resort
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/11/polluting-cars-killing-us-air-pollution

Don’t blame God or nature. We’re the culprits
David Suzuki
We must acknowledge the human imprint. If we’re the cause of the problems, then we must stop blaming “nature” or “God.” We have to take responsibility and tackle them with the urgency they require.
https://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/suzuki-dont-blame-god-or-nature-were-the-culprits/

Endangered Listing Urged for Cheetahs
Researchers present evidence that low cheetah population estimates in southern Africa support a call to list the cheetah as “Endangered” on the International Union for …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171211092729.htm