Daily Links Dec 8

The most accurate climate models predict greater warming, study shows
In the range of climate models, those that most successfully simulate the past predict some of the worst-case scenarios for the future, researchers found.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06122017/climate-change-warming-forecast-worst-case-best-models-ipcc-study

We can’t talk about the Los Angeles fires without talking about climate change
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense in the West.
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2017/12/we-cant-talk-about-the-los-angeles-fires-without-talking-about-climate-change/

Special issue to highlight impact of changes in Arctic climate
There’s controversy in climate change research–not whether climate change exists, but how the evidence is gathered and used to inform predictions. To help bring convergence to the field and potentially accelerate action, a special issue of the Advances in Atmospheric Sciences is highlighting recent scientific work.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/ioap-sit112917.php

Young people suing Trump administration over climate change to get day in court
A group of young people suing President Donald Trump and the federal government over climate change will present their case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
http://nwpr.org/post/young-people-suing-trump-administration-over-climate-change-get-day-court

The climate effect of the Trump administration
Over its first year, the Trump administration has taken extreme steps to unravel progress on climate action domestically and internationally.
http://www.ipsnews.net/2017/12/the-climate-effect-of-the-trump-administration/

Climate change action has to be democratic
Bjorn Lomborg
Forty-five years ago, Professor Jørgen Randers co-authored Limits to Growth and scared a generation into believing the myth that the planet was about to run out of resources.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/bjorn-lomborg-climate-change-action-has-to-be-democratic/news-story/a44c7660b279a5283388bdb0cc5079b3

100% renewables with pumped hydro would use 1/4 the water of coal and gas
ANU’s Andrew Blakers says switching Australia to 100% solar, wind, pumped hydro energy storage would cut water use by a factor of four.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/100-renewables-with-pumped-hydro-would-use-14-the-water-of-coal-and-gas-38268/

Leadership the ‘key’ to shale gas success
Chevron boss Nigel Hearne says co-operation between federal and state governments is vital to unlock gas resources.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/leadership-the-key-to-shale-gas-success-chevrons-nigel-hearne/news-story/696a4598fa08cfdbdd043ecef3fb1f3c

No right of reply for koalas: ABC repeats The Australian‘s junk science
Sue Arnold
The Australian presenting junk science is nothing new, but why is the ABC repeating its false claim that koalas are not at risk without allowing experts the  …
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/australias-mainstream-media-biased-against-koalas,11008

The brush turkey is an Aussie battler – and it needs your help
Alicia Burns
Brush turkeys are often the last holdouts against gentrification. But they still face peril in urban environments and researchers are enlisting citizen scientists to understand how they can better survive
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/08/the-brush-turkey-is-an-aussie-battler-and-it-needs-your-help

Our super power in the fight against fossil fuels
Michael Bones
Australians have a super power in the race against climate change. It’s super – literally.
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5106460/our-super-power-in-the-fight-against-fossil-fuels/?cs=97

Glenrowan West residents invoke Ned Kelly in solar energy stoush
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/glenrowan-west-residents-invoke-ned-kelly-in-solar-energy-stoush/news-story/f039226ec9594d520220946a25c419f2

AusNet, Deakin Uni to build 7.25MW solar, storage micro-grid
AusNet and Deakin Uni to build solar and storage micro-grid on Geelong campus, to act as R&D for similar projects.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/ausnet-deakin-uni-to-build-7-25mw-solar-storage-micro-grid-86453/

Melbourne an international pariah on West Gate Tunnel, experts warn
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-an-international-pariah-on-west-gate-tunnel-experts-warn-20171207-h00use.html

Australia’s first offshore wind farm wins international funding
http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/australia-s-first-offshore-wind-farm-international-funding-20171205-p4yxfb.html

East West Link may be state election 2018 key, Galaxy Research poll finds
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/east-west-link-may-be-state-election-key-galaxy-research-poll-finds/news-story/960076253a9c7ec5dc9b8294a0f2a968

Helmeted honeyeaters: More land at Yellingbo Reserve for endangered species in Yarra Ranges
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-land-at-yellingbo-reserve-saved-for-helmeted-honeyeaters/news-story/7d655148673212fad8eeb3030d8d6404

Deluge boosts Vic water storage levels
Victoria’s three-day soaking, when an entire summer’s worth of rain fell in the space of just 72 hours, has added 16.3 billion litres of water to Melbourne’s catchments.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/deluge-boosts-vic-water-storage-levels/news-story/f984a22ae7aba4ccf2bace9a1e53109b

Australia’s largest solar plant to be built in 2018
Australia’s largest solar and battery power plant is slated to be built in NSW early next year.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/australia-s-largest-solar-plant-to-build-in-2018-20171205-p4yxem.html

Australia’s biggest wind turbine blades trucked 530km
The largest wind turbine blades ever transported in Australia are delivered in far west New South Wales after a great deal of planning and the construction of a new road.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/australias-biggest-wind-turbine-blades-trucked-silverton-nsw/9236010

Abseiling botanists discover rare plants growing on cliff face
Botanists from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service go to great heights to identify and record some of the rarest plants in the country.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/abseiling-botanists-discover-rare-plants-nsw-national-park/9235832

AGL ‘gouging’ under green guise
Central Petroleum chief Richard Cottee has attacked AGL Energy’s plans to close the Liddell power station.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/agl-raping-gouging-under-green-guise-richard-cottee/news-story/0ace8938a94e1b550c902f3733604894

Huge fans latest attempt to protect reef against coral bleaching
Eight huge reef mixer fans are planned for the Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland, in a trial project that hopes to reduce the damage caused by coral bleaching events.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/reef-fans-to-be-deployed-to-protect-coral-from-bleaching/9234710

Defence department presents investigation into Oakey water contamination
THE Defence Department has told Oakey residents there are no health impacts from its leaked chemicals, but they should still not drink or use local water.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/defence-department-presents-investigation-into-oakey-water-contamination/news-story/e577e0d268fbdfe3f656e1107a9e5680

Manager refuses to sign over ‘rubbish’ contract
A  waste war is festering ­between Cairns Regional Council and a body corporate manager prepared to dump an entire apartment block’s ­rubbish in a public park unless he gets satisfaction.
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/manager-refuses-to-sign-over-rubbish-contract/news-story/db1dbf416f7ba7d3d4803fa68366176d

Bulk water charges on your bill could rise by up to $80 for some
The cost of a charge on your water bill is set to rise, according to draft recommendations for south-east Queensland.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/bulk-water-charges-on-your-bill-could-rise-by-up-to-80-for-some-20171207-p4yxht.html

Queensland Election 2017: Greens MP plans anti-Adani regional tour after Maiwar win
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/state-election-2017/queensland-election-2017-greens-mp-plans-antiadani-regional-tour-after-maiwar-win/news-story/8d4c2983cdc24e62cfc31c02518bb61b

NAIF still assessing Adani loan
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility will keep assessing a potential $1 billion loan to Adani until it is officially killed off by the Queensland government.
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/naif-will-continue-to-assess-adani-loan-until-killed-off-by-qld-government-20171207-h00gut

Bob Carr a one-man lobbying effort to stop investment in Adani’s Carmichael mine
Courier Mail editorial:
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-bob-carr-a-oneman-lobbying-effort-to-stop-investment-in-adanis-carmichael-mine/news-story/0cf2a660b087b6c75e762921907c1f59

Adelaide public transport most convenient in the nation, but our usage lags behind other capitals
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelaide-public-transport-most-convenient-in-the-nation-but-our-usage-lags-behind-other-capitals/news-story/462218b9c9bbd80ecbffef48517bb816

Plan to dredge Port River channel stirs up environmental fears
Flinders Ports wants to dredge the Port River, sparking “serious concerns” from local environmental groups.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/west-beaches/plan-to-dredge-port-river-channel-stirs-up-environmental-fears/news-story/ca6fdbdbe50cf7bbe6f01cc24d444d26

2018 tipped to be SA’s toughest energy year yet
http://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/2018-tipped-to-be-sa-s-toughest-energy-year-yet-20171207-p4yxhn.html

Drought on the Murray River harms ocean life too
Hannah Auricht, University of Adelaide and Kenneth Clarke, University of Adelaide
Low flows in the Murray River in recent years have harmed tiny marine plants called phytoplankton, with consequences for local marine species and management.
https://theconversation.com/drought-on-the-murray-river-harms-ocean-life-too-88637

Persecuted to revered: Remarkable Tasmanian Devil exhibition set to open
A new exhibition charting the life and times of the Tasmanian devil opens tomorrow — aiming to consolidate a change in public attitude towards the animal, which once was hunted as a pest.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/remarkable-tasmanian-devil-exhibition-opens-at-tmag-hobart/9237002

Reform needed to avoid water price surge but takeover not the solution, says report
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/reform-needed-to-avoid-water-price-surge-but-takeover-not-the-solution-says-report/news-story/123351c30084892c4546df369dbc163c

Row as Victorian farmers access cheaper power than Tasmanians
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/row-as-victorian-farmers-access-cheaper-power-than-tasmanians/news-story/e535ca2ac46f6125783b10f949402358

Waters off Maria Island warming more quickly than the rest of the world
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/waters-off-maria-island-warming-more-quickly-than-the-rest-of-the-world/news-story/ab42d9c1aa980c0fb14bdaf9ae780cdf

Blood on the roads on our hands
Kathleen McLaren
THE Christmas and summer holidays are approaching and there will be even more vehicles on the road than usual. Travelling on our busy roads can be a disturbing experience due to the high number of native animal corpses scattered over the bitumen.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-blood-on-the-roads-on-our-hands/news-story/34ffa06a8dfeac58c271fbaff3d3286d

Activists urge ban on ‘hazardous’ farm chemicals
Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN) will today submit a petition to the Ministry of Industry, asking it to ban the herbicide paraquat and the pesticide chlorpyrifos, while restricting the use of glyphosate.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1373683/activists-urge-ban-on-hazardous-farm-chemicals

Earth from space: Taking on a sense of perspective
Forty five years after since one of the most iconic photographs of Earth was taken from space, what lessons can be learned about the future of the planet?
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/uk-world/558862/earth-space-taking-sense-perspective/

China to ban 10 more highly toxic pesticides
Agricultural authorities in China are speeding up the phaseout of highly toxic pesticides.
https://www.bna.com/china-ban-10-n73014472829/

Salmon open flood gates for human consumption of GM animals
The sale of modified fish has widened the debate on genetically re-engineered foods.
https://www.ft.com/content/ab9b81ae-c94e-11e7-8536-d321d0d897a3

Solar power advances possible with new ‘double-glazing’ device
A new ‘double-glazing’ solar power device — which is unlike any existing solar panel and opens up fresh opportunities to develop more advanced photovoltaics – has been invented by University of Warwick researchers
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uow-spa120717.php

Transportation Replaces Power in U.S. as Top Source of CO2 Emissions
Power plants have been the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States for more than 40 years. But according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, transportation has now claimed the top spot.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/53387

Scientists create stretchable battery made entirely out of fabric
New microbial fuel cell could be integrated into wearable electronics
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/bu-scs120717.php

Power from mini nuclear plants ‘would cost more than from large ones’
UK government study finds electricity would be nearly one-third pricier than it would from plants such as Hinkley Point C
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/07/power-mini-nuclear-plants-cost-more-hinkley-point-c

Five ways that cities can slash carbon pollution right now
A new report from the Rocky Mountain Institute lists 22 policies that could help get the job done.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/five-ways-cities-can-slash-carbon-pollution-right-now-97997/

Volkswagen executive gets seven years’ jail over emissions fraud
A US-based Volkswagen executive who oversaw emissions issues is sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $US400,000.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/volkswagen-executive-gets-seven-years-jail-over-emissions-fraud/9234716

Across the world, if you eat for your health, you’ll help the planet
Dozens of countries have government-recommended diets. That advice differs from country to country, but according to a new study, following it generally would help the environment.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/12/04/568290624/across-the-world-if-you-eat-for-your-health-youll-help-the-planet

Watchdog links pesticide to bee decline
EU countries could vote on extending a ban on a group of chemicals known as neonicotinoids as soon as next week.
https://www.politico.eu/article/food-safety-watchdog-links-pesticide-to-bee-decline/

What’s Causing the Sharp Decline in Insects, and Why It Matters
Insect populations are declining dramatically in many parts of the world, recent studies show. Researchers say various factors, from monoculture farming to habitat loss, are to blame for the plight of insects, which are essential to agriculture and ecosystems.
http://e360.yale.edu/features/insect_numbers_declining_why_it_matters

Forests are the key to fresh water
UBC research shows both forest vegetation and climate change have an impact on water supply
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uobc-fat120617.php

Here’s a great way to visualize the huge potential of forest conservation and restoration as ‘natural climate solutions’
Research found that 20 different “natural climate solutions” have the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 23.8 billion metric tons every year.
https://news.mongabay.com/2017/12/heres-a-great-way-to-visualize-the-huge-potential-of-forest-conservation-and-restoration-as-natural-climate-solutions/

In rural Indonesia, a village learns to embrace its forest through sustainability
In exchange for the ability to manage the surrounding forest, farmers are prohibited from creating plantations, must agree to protect the animals that live there, and must guard the land against fire.
https://news.mongabay.com/2017/12/in-rural-indonesia-a-village-learns-to-embrace-its-forest-through-sustainability/

Rare Australian dolphin species found in PNG river
Scientists discover Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins in a remote Papua New Guinea river system in a find that is so significant the waterway has been designated an Important Marine Mammal Area.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/rare-australian-snubfin-and-humpback-dolphins-found-in-png-river/9236868

Trump’s cuts to national monuments are an assault on our humanity – fight them
Holly Norton
Reducing Utah’s national monuments is not simply about economics, archeology, ecology or grazing. The degradation of our public lands is a degradation of our humanity
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/dec/06/trump-cuts-national-monuments-assault-humanity-fight-utah-bears-ears-grand-staircase-escalante