Australia’s biodiversity strategy a global embarrassment, green groups say
Extinction prevention plan branded ‘deeply inadequate’ after environment department publishes paper without targets
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/21/australias-biodiversity-strategy-a-global-embarrassment-green-groups-say
Today’s Celebration
St. Vincent & the Grenadines Day St. Vincent & the Grenadines
St. Vincent’s Day (Valencia) Spain
Celebration Of Life Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/celebration-of-life-day/
More about Jan 22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_22
Climate Change
Swallowed by the sea
Nick Kristof
You doubt climate change? Come to this island — but hurry, before it disappears.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/opinion/sunday/climate-change-bangladesh.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=2467EDDC2443F7F1921898E3587E7BF0&gwt=pay&assetType=opinion
National
Australia’s biodiversity strategy a global embarrassment, green groups say
Extinction prevention plan branded ‘deeply inadequate’ after environment department publishes paper without targets
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/21/australias-biodiversity-strategy-a-global-embarrassment-green-groups-say
Oil and gas exploration drought to end
An offshore exploration revival is on the cards this year, but experts warn against expecting activity to return to pre-2014 levels.
http://www.afr.com/business/energy/oil/exploration-revival-in-sight-as-drillrig-rates-fall-20180117-h0jltz
Walking to school not popular with Australian families
New figures from the LiveLighter public health campaign reveal Australian adults’ strong reliance on cars as transport
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/walking-to-school-not-popular-with-australian-families/news-story/e8fea0cda43efd717d74e03b79c63e3c
Green wall vertical gardens can slash household temperatures, UniSA study finds
“Green” walls on house exteriors are becoming the coolest way to reduce electricity bills and heat inside the home.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/green-wall-vertical-gardens-can-slash-household-temperatures-unisa-phd-student-rosmina-bustamis-study-finds/news-story/1c79197628e89ae3fe047aff1089aae8
Electric car plans spark showdown
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is facing a partyroom showdown over his support for electric vehicles in Australia.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/electric-car-plans-spark-showdown/news-story/e7f060f5b2a4371a4e0b202a5c61ab06
One area where the banks are getting it right: curbing coal
Clancy Yeates
http://www.theage.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/one-area-where-the-banks-are-getting-it-right-curbing-coal-20180118-p4yymp.html
Roadside hard rubbish is a story of a greedy and ungrateful society
Rex Jory
It is a modern tragedy, a story of a greedy and ungrateful society which has lost its sense of value and worth
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/rex-jory-roadside-hard-rubbish-is-a-story-of-a-greedy-and-ungrateful-society-which-has-lost-its-sense-of-worth/news-story/da0b4282428d181abb72586c2f7d9775
Heatwave tests grid to limit
Australian editorial
An energy-rich nation should not be in danger of blackouts.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/editorials/heatwave-tests-grid-to-the-limit/news-story/ef0c78cd06bbc77fb5d6ca687863f0f8
New South Wales
Sydney traffic jam delivers blessing in disguise
Samantha Dickfos
For some, it’s the stuff of nightmares, stuck driving through unseasonal rain, with dodgy windscreen wipers that sound like alpacas hacking up phlegm and only your grandparents for company. It proved a blessing in disguise.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/sydney-traffic-jam-delivers-blessing-in-disguise-20171223-h09n1f.html
Sydney transport planners off rails with metro plans
Dick Day
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/sydney-transport-planners-off-the-rails-with-metro-plans-20180119-h0l2k1.html
ACT
ACT Auditor-General’s probe into LDA rural land purchases widens
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-auditorgenerals-probe-into-lda-rural-land-purchases-widens-20180118-h0kqik.html
Braidwood fire ‘contained’
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/fire-near-braidwood-contained-20180121-h0lrob.html
Queensland
Malcolm Turnbull pledges $60m to protect Great Barrier Reef
Scientists will turbocharge the evolution of super-coral to help prevent mass bleaching, with a multi-pronged Turnbull Government plan to help future-proof the Great Barrier Reef.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/malcolm-turnbull-pledges-60m-to-protect-great-barrier-reef/news-story/6d2e3cf59ee90c07af16f89b2c694cb4
Queensland Green flexes muscle
Queensland’s first Greens MP has signalled his environmental intentions.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/greens-mp-michael-berkman-signals-his-environmental-policies/news-story/48b774444e91ab7b42ee797de84fd7a1
Don’t believe all you read about the Adani mine and its potential effect on Queensland. But do accept that man-made climate change is real
Opinion
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/dont-believe-all-you-read-about-the-adani-mine-and-its-potential-effect-on-queensland-but-do-accept-that-manmade-climate-change-is-real/news-story/4e446cc1c324d2f560b67c7dad62cd36
South Australia
Record low bird count as algae chokes Coorong wetlands
Thick algae is affecting shorebirds’ migration to southern Australia, a researcher warns, as he questions whether Australia is meeting its international wetlands protection obligations.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-21/coorong-wetlands-bird-numbers-low-algae-spreading/9345814
South Australian heatwave sparks push for national energy plan
South Australia’s demand for east coast power surged during last week’s sweltering temperatures, reigniting the debate over national energy policy.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/south-australian-heatwave-sparks-push-for-national-energy-plan/news-story/d61493bf04a6811c6c033ac46073d627
SA Election 2018: Opposition Leader Steven Marshall announces $5 million for new reef and beach protection
Three new artificial reefs would be built along the state’s coastline to help fishos hunting whiting, snapper and southern calamari under a Liberal Party campaign pledge.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-election-2018-opposition-leader-steven-marshall-announces-5-million-for-new-reef/news-story/804abd2af6a9cc90fe82ce08fec282cf
South Australian marine parks: Five-year status report shows large fish numbers, no economic impact
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/south-australian-marine-parks-fiveyear-status-report-shows-large-fish-numbers-no-economic-impact/news-story/00c4d8ad1dadd97afd5f6717472cc728
Reliance on wind power exposed
South Australia will have more blackouts if it continues to rely on wind power.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/power-shortage-exposes-danger-of-wind-reliance-frydenberg/news-story/c997a7627218de49785f0d7d4c2b613b
Western Australia
Indigenous women help tag endangered turtles in WA for first time
Aboriginal women from WA’s Gascoyne are involved in tagging endangered loggerhead turtles on Dirk Hartog Island for the first time.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-21/shark-bay-women-tag-loggerhead-turtles-dirk-hartgog-island/9344040
Sustainability
The war on plastics
Ireland has moved from laggard to European leader in recycling waste packaging over the past 20 years
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/irish-times-view-on-environment-the-war-on-plastics-1.3360475
Nature Conservation
Federal official suggests Florida is not exempt from Trump offshore oil drilling plan after all
Florida is still under consideration for offshore oil drilling, a top Interior Department official said Friday, contradicting an announcement last week from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke that energy exploration off the coast of Florida was “off the table.”
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-florida-oil-drilling-20180119-story.html
Class war in the American west: the rich landowners blocking access to public lands
Private landowners present a rising threat to the millions of acres set aside for public use by blocking access to public lands
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/21/public-land-battle-private-landowners-montana
Trump administration could be sued over pesticide threat to orca and salmon
Fishing industry and environmentalists mull lawsuits
EPA tried to delay report detailing chemicals’ harm to wildlife
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/21/trump-administration-lawsuit-pesticide-orca-salmon
Britain risks losing green protections after Brexit
Friends of the Earth, National Trust and others voice ‘serious concerns’ that UK will not cooperate with EU
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/21/green-coalition-alarm-environment-protection-brexit
How blockchain is strengthening tuna traceability to combat illegal fishing
Candice Visser and Quentin Hanich, University of Wollongong
https://theconversation.com/how-blockchain-is-strengthening-tuna-traceability-to-combat-illegal-fishing-89965
Maelor Himbury