Cooking the books on climate change policy
Eryk Bagshaw
Two reports released on the same day, from the same government department with two very different sets of findings.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/cooking-the-books-on-climate-change-policy-20171229-h0ba0h.html
Today’s Celebration
Christmas Holiday Moldova
Commonwealth Day Northern Marianas
Jackson Day United States of America
National Takai Day Niue
The King’s Birthday (ELVIS) United States of America
Clean Off Your Desk Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/clean-off-your-desk-day/
Show & Tell At Work Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/show-tell-at-work-day/
Joy Germ Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/joy-germ-day/
No Pants Subway/Metro Ride http://improveverywhere.com/missions/the-no-pants-subway-ride/
More about Jan 8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_8
Climate Change
Warmists’ snow job on climate change makes no sense
Tim Blair
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/tim-blair-warmists-snow-job-on-climate-change-makes-no-sense/news-story/8f4bd5d9428d31c54911edce47511156
National
South Australian homes lost in bushfire as New South Wales on high alert
Melbourne firefighters welcome a cool change after damaging blaze, but Benalla grassfire threatens homes
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/07/new-south-wales-on-high-alert-as-bushfire-threat-eases-in-victoria-and-south-australia
Power supply mess needs to be fixed
As the nation sweltered, the Australian Energy Market Operator CEO called for action on a ‘strategic reserve’ to protect from blackouts.
http://www.afr.com/news/aemo-wants-swift-new-year-action-on-strategic-reserve-20171221-h08yfw
2018 ‘the end’ of resources boom as commodity price drops bite
http://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/2018-the-end-of-the-resources-boom-as-falling-commodity-prices-bite-20180107-p4yyaa.html
The women from around the world changing Australia’s energy sector
http://www.theage.com.au/business/workplace-relations/changing-the-face-of-energy-20171221-p4yxyv.html
Cooking the books on climate change policy
Eryk Bagshaw
Two reports released on the same day, from the same government department with two very different sets of findings.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/cooking-the-books-on-climate-change-policy-20171229-h0ba0h.html
Energy market comes to its senses
Josh Frydenberg
The advantages of the National Energy Guarantee make it popular with the public and business but Labor has yet to commit.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/heat-is-on-labor-to-explain-its-energy-policy-as-temperatures-rise/news-story/f658f48cb70eb114c9727403f60d4afb
Business leaders aren’t backing up their promises on sustainable development goals
Renzo Mori Junior, University of Queensland
It seems there is a gap between what Australian companies publicly state they are doing with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and what they are actually doing. Our research found that companies are still not meaningfully disclosing the way these goals are measured and reporting their contributions.
https://theconversation.com/business-leaders-arent-backing-up-their-promises-on-sustainable-development-goals-88555
Victoria
Winton grass fire contained
An out of control grass fire in northern Victoria at Winton, near Benalla, is now contained, fire officials say.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-07/winton-bushfire-victoria/9309532
Best of both: penguins, glamping and tranquility on French and Phillip islands
The two Victorian islands offer unforgettable nature experiences, luxury accommodation and delicious food
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/jan/08/best-of-both-penguins-glamping-and-tranquility-on-french-and-phillip-islands
New South Wales
Sydney hits its highest temperature recorded since 1939
Penrith in Sydney’s west reaches a top of 47.3 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature recorded by a weather station in the Sydney metropolitan area in 79 years.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-07/sydney-hits-its-highest-temperature-recorded-in-79-years/9309552
ACT
Light rail work about to ramp up, cause major detours
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/light-rail-project-to-cause-detours-on-northbourne-federal-highway-in-january-20180107-h0etod.html
Queensland
Indigenous rangers: expansion call as support from One Nation voters revealed
More than 80% of Queenslanders support Indigenous land management, including more than 70% of One Nation voters
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/08/indigenous-rangers-expansion-call-as-support-from-one-nation-voters-revealed
Up to 26 jobs could be created in Cape York following mine lease green light
The Urquhart Bauxite Project is one step closer to tapping in to three billion tonnes of undeveloped bauxite and creating up to 26 Cape York jobs with the granting of its mining lease
http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/up-to-26-jobs-could-be-created-in-cape-york-following-mine-lease-green-light/news-story/83ea6ab34fbd4355084fedce9b2542d3
South Australia
State Liberals pledge $3.2 million to fix foul-smelling lake at Port Augusta
Taxpayers would stump up $3.2 million to fix foul Bird Lake at Port Augusta, and eliminate a stench engulfing areas around the town, if the Liberals win the state election.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sa-election/state-liberals-pledge-32-million-to-fix-foulsmelling-lake-at-port-augusta/news-story/af6b5d5499a203fa1982986d29c5a0ec
Sustainability
The eco guide to pensions
Vast amounts are paid into Britain’s pensions schemes and, sadly, much of it still goes into supporting fossil fuels
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/07/the-eco-guide-to-pensions
Expect environmental battles to be ‘even more significant’ in 2018
The Trump administration offered grand pronouncements about environmental deregulation in 2017. But this is the year to hammer out the details.
http://www.ehn.org/expect-environmental-battles-to-be-even-more-significant-in-2018-the-new-york-times-2523255816.html
Top Ten Clean Energy Developments of 2017
Laurie Guevara-Stone, Rocky Mountain Institute
From the “We Are Still In” movement to record-low solar prices, 2017 was a great year for clean energy. Here we highlight our top ten clean energy developments of the year, in no particular order.
https://rmi.org/news/top-ten-clean-energy-developments-2017/
I’m obsessed with keeping cool without turning on the aircon
Clare Boyd-Macrae
There are many ways to keep cool this summer, and plenty of them don’t involve electricity.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/im-obsessed-with-keeping-cool-without-turning-on-the-aircon-20180105-h0e055.html
Nature Conservation
WWF uses blockchain to track tuna
http://www.afr.com/technology/wwf-develops-blockchain-solution-to-improve-transparency-in-tuna-industry-20180106-h0ejtb
Maelor Himbury