Daily Links Jan 26

How climate change is triggering a migrant crisis in Vietnam
The Vietnamese Mekong Delta is one of Earth’s most agriculturally productive regions and is of global importance for its exports of rice, shrimp and fruit. The 18 million inhabitants of this low-lying river delta are also some of the world’s most vulnerable to climate change.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-vietnam-migration-crisis-poverty-global-warming-mekong-delta-a8153626.html

‘We have to change capitalism’ to beat climate change, says world’s biggest asset manager
Top brass at the world’s largest asset manager says the rules governing investments are evolving to factor in environmental risks
http://reneweconomy.com.au/change-capitalism-beat-climate-change-says-worlds-biggest-asset-manager-98821/

Murky world of ‘science’ journals a new frontier for climate deniers
Graham Readfearn
Deniers have found a platform in emerging publications that publish without rigorous review
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2018/jan/24/murky-world-of-science-journals-a-new-frontier-for-climate-deniers

Heatwave is back with vengeance
Extreme temperatures are expected for large areas of southeastern Australia this long weekend.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/the-heatwave-is-back-and-this-time-it-means-business/news-story/fa9d20ceeaa46f72ff9909fde9d3c521

Australians still trashing their beaches and streets, report finds
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australians-still-trashing-their-beaches-and-streets-national-report-finds-20180123-h0n9ar.html

Charge shock to hit electric cars
Electric car drivers pay about $5000 to $10,000 more each year in all-up costs than drivers of equivalent petrol or diesel cars.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/high-charge-shock-to-ground-electric-cars/news-story/a1ae2d30e1b8ad55a848921a2a832e62

Australian homeowners set to pay more for insurance after London decision to ditch coal
Karl Mallon
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/insurance-companies-have-a-role-to-play-in-equipping-us-for-challenges-of-climate-change-20180125-h0o5c9.html

Teslas are going to get cheaper, but not because of the government
John McDuling
http://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/teslas-are-going-to-get-cheaper-but-not-because-of-the-government-20180123-p4yys6.html

Electric cars Australia: why they won’t work
Mike O’Connor
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/theres-a-reason-were-not-driving-electric-cars/news-story/279ca7e5de8b78c7c21ded628ba3202c

Why is Australia misleading consumers on electric vehicle emissions?
Giles Parkinson
Craig Kelly has proved a loose cannon on the subject of EV emissions, but the government is not helping by providing misleading information to consumers.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/why-is-australia-misleading-consumers-on-electric-vehicle-emissions-13631/

Australia added 1.3GW of solar in 2017, and could treble it in 2018
Ric Brazzale
While 2017 was a record year for solar PV in Australia, it will be completely put in the shade by what we’re likely to install in 2018.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-added-1-3gw-solar-2017-treble-2018/

Hopes fade to meet target of solar panel on one million roofs
http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/hopes-fade-to-meet-target-of-solar-panel-on-one-million-roofs/news-story/fe009da7d2cd99abac1b098647f70e04

Last coal-fired station tumbles
The destruction of South Australia’s last coal-fired power station is almost complete after an 80-metre high chimney stack came crashing down this morning
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/south-australian-coalfired-power-station-demolition-nears-completion/news-story/caaed27f56c357ced0419ff7462b9689

Doomsday clock edges closer to midnight
Scientists have moved the symbolic Doomsday Clock by half a minute, saying the world is at its closest to annihilation since the height of the Cold War due to world leaders’ poor response to threats of nuclear war.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/doomsday-clock-edges-closer-to-midnight/news-story/cfbee12779721674978f3d81c57b790b

Raising kids in Delhi’s worsening air
To live in the Indian capital these past years has been to witness a city coming to the slow, sickening realization of a terrible crisis.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/raising-kids-in-delhis-worsening-air

Phosphorus Pollution Reaching Dangerous Levels Worldwide, New Study Finds
Man-made phosphorus pollution is reaching dangerously high levels in freshwater basins around the world, according to new research.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/53756

Recycling and reusing worn cathodes to make new lithium ion batteries
Nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an energy-efficient recycling process that restores used cathodes from spent lithium ion batteries and makes them work just as good as new.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uoc–rar012418.php

A simple new approach to plastic solar cells
Osaka University researchers intelligently design new highly efficient organic solar cells based on amorphous electronic materials with potential for easy printing
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/ou-asn012418.php

Facing public pressure, companies are ditching plastic
After the EU unveiled a high-profile push to rid the continent of plastic waste, now companies like McDonald’s, Costa and Evian are announcing their own initiatives. Can this help solve the world’s plastic trash problem?
http://www.dw.com/en/facing-public-pressure-companies-are-ditching-plastic/a-42293381

Study links toxic pollutants with high cholesterol among Inuit
Once again the health of Inuit appears to be under threat from something that people in the North can’t see and didn’t cause, but which is a menace that’s likely to intensify as the Arctic warms.
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674new_study_links_toxic_pollutants_with_high_cholesterol_among_inuit/

Putting the ‘farm’ back in solar farms: Study to test ag potential at PV sites
Minnesota will be included in a study to help federal researchers test the potential of pollinator-friendly habitat and fruit and vegetable crops around solar arrays.
http://midwestenergynews.com/2018/01/22/putting-the-farm-back-in-solar-farms-study-to-test-crop-potential-at-pv-sites/

What Is the Environmental Impact of Your Lunch-Time Sandwich?
The carbon footprint of your sandwich could be having a major impact on greenhouse gas emissions according to new research.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125085116.htm

Big talk, big cost, big battery but small result
Russell Grenning
Tesla products would run even better if Tesla hype could be converted into electricity.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19532

Is this the end of civilisation? We could take a different path
George Monbiot
Environmental breakdown, coupled with the self-destructive behaviour of governments, has set us on a road to ruin. And we’re blocking off all means of escape.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/24/end-civilisation-take-different-path

Poaching still threatens S.Africa’s rhinos
South Africa’s efforts to stem the poaching of endangered rhinos for their horns failed to prevent another five per cent of the population being slaughtered last year.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/poaching-still-threatens-safricas-rhinos/news-story/e98e5898d4e25e2e27632402fd4fd1e7

Nearly Half of California’s Vegetation at Risk from Climate Stress
Current levels of greenhouse gas emissions are putting nearly half of California’s natural vegetation at risk from climate stress.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125101313.htm

Humans get in the way of mammal movement
New global study of 57 mammal species finds human modifications to natural landscapes prevent normal movement
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uom-hgi012518.php

Traditional Ecological Knowledge: A different perspective on environmental health
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) refers to knowledge of the relationships between people and the natural environment that has been passed down for thousands of years.
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/ehp2391/

Megadams not clean or green, says expert
Forty years of research show hydro dams create environmental damage, says David Schindler.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2018/01/24/Megadams-Not-Clean-Green/

Think Of Honeybees As ‘Livestock’ Not Wildlife, Argue Experts
The ‘die-off’ events occurring in honeybee colonies that are bred and farmed like livestock must not be confused with the conservation crisis of dramatic declines in thousands of wild pollinator species, say Cambridge researchers.
http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/53760

Environment groups lambast fishing industry over bird deaths and sea floor damage
Can the green seal of approval for some of our fish be trusted, ask environment groups.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/100896600/environment-groups-lambast-fishing-industry-over-bird-deaths-and-sea-floor-damage