The future will not be dry
In a world of melting ice caps, storm surges, and tropical cyclones, the most resilient cities aren’t the ones that fight the water back—but the ones that absorb it.
http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2014/10/the-future-will-not-be-dry/
Today’s Celebration
Independence Day – East Timor
National Day – Cameroon
Party Day or Popular Movement Day – Zaire (Democratic Congo)
St. Ferdinand Day – Spain
Simbi Blanc – Voudon
Pentecost – Christian
Shavuod – Judaism
More about May 20 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_20
Climate Change
Climate change: The EU’s aiming to set a goal of zero-emissions by 2050
Reaching zero emissions is crucial if we are to avoid climate catastrophe. The EU could show other countries how to get there.
https://qz.com/1280513/climate-change-the-eus-aiming-to-set-a-zero-emissions-goal-by-2050/
This woman fundamentally changed climate science — and you’ve probably never heard of her
Eunice Foote is finally honored for her contributions 162 years later.
https://thinkprogress.org/female-climate-scientist-eunice-foote-finally-honored-for-her-contributions-162-years-later-21b3cf08c70b/
National
What our cities of the ageing will look like [$]
Our cities will have to undergo a design revolution to make them more aged-friendly as the number of older residents soars over coming decades.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/the-demands-of-an-ageing-population-will-mean-that-the-design-of-cities-will-have-to-change/news-story/69e7cdee1ff4009496d5fd2c27e587e9
Victoria
Desal plant leaks $649m a year [$]
The cost to maintain and operate Victoria’s desalination plant will rise to as much as $649 million next year and the annual cost to keep the plant running is forecast to increase by $30?million over this year.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/wonthaggi-desalination-plant-costs-649-million-a-year-to-operate/news-story/76716bd878186e3acd5f5bd45841f81d
Could chainsaws fix our animal habitat problem?
A team of Melbourne researchers are taking an environmental villain and turning it into a saviour.
https://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/could-chainsaws-fix-our-animal-habitat-problem-20180518-p4zg3y.html
New South Wales
Wild Snowy Mountains brumbies to be saved by heritage status
They were made famous in the Banjo Paterson poem “The Man from Snowy River”, now brumbies in the Snowy Mountains are to be given legal recognition as part of Australia’s heritage.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/thousands-of-wild-horses-to-be-saved-by-brumbies-bill/news-story/b92c943bbe5d353e5bd763b9715ab4b2
ACT
Canberra tops the nation for driver collisions with animals
Canberra has once again topped the nation for the most car collisions involving animals on the road, new figures show.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/canberra-tops-the-nation-for-driver-collisions-with-animals-20180509-p4zebk.html
Trashional parks: Rangers now spend half their time cleaning up rubbish
Cars, couches, fridges, mattresses and old beds are just some of the items being dumped in the ACT’s national parks, putting Canberra’s water supply at risk and frustrating rangers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-19/canberra-namadgi-park-used-as-junkyard/9777726
Queensland
Indigenous rangers to be the eyes and ears of Great Barrier Reef
Protection of the Great Barrier Reef will be boosted with the help of 40 new Indigenous rangers, who are being trained as part of a $30 million Federal Government program.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-19/indigenous-rangers-to-be-the-eyes-and-ears-of-great-barrier-reef/9777328
Who’ll be barracking for our Reef next [$]
The Obama family are just some of the high-profile names being approached by the Queensland Government to help protect the Great Barrier Reef.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government-wants-instagram-influencers-to-help-protect-great-barrier-reef/news-story/475c322b5eb011c62e28a9a72df0b02e
South Australia
A wombat love story [$]
After years of trying, Gorge Wildlife Park has succesfully bred a southern hairy-nosed wombat in captivity with the young joey now taking its first steps out of its burrow.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/a-wombat-love-story-two-years-in-the-making-as-a-southern-hairynosed-joey-takes-it-first-steps-out-its-burrow/news-story/276c64274959fd9c826b5a69d1529c89
Battery to power up Cape Jervis [$]
A mobile battery energy storage system is supporting the electricity network in Cape Jervis, as part of a $3.65 million trial developed by the University of Adelaide.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/adelaide-universitys-mobile-battery-energy-storage-system-up-and-running-in-cape-jervis/news-story/b638631f4869c6e1899b4e6999b9d57b
SA Water considering plan to reduce mains pressure to stop pipe bursts [$]
Reducing water pressure to cut the number of burst mains and improving the taste and smell of Adelaide’s supplies are being considered by SA Water as part of a long-term strategy.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-water-considering-plan-to-reduce-mains-pressure-to-stop-pipe-bursts/news-story/779ac38a96a5736efb11533afddcc9a4
Tasmania
Labor lashes Government’s outlet plans [$]
The Hodgman Government’s Southern Outlet solution does not go far enough, the Opposition says.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/governments-southern-outlet-fifth-lane-solution-porkbarrelling-says-labors-david-obyrne/news-story/85451b3a3938ad24bafd0bc672dd8e59
Tassie’s marine life saver [$]
North America is looking closely at a Hobart invention that could help whales find a clearer path.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-invention-offers-a-way-ahead-for-whales/news-story/215b86bec32452af867ce24110c82250
UNESCO ‘calls out’ Tasmanian Government over wilderness rezoning
A recent UNESCO World Heritage Committee document highlights serious risks to Tasmania’s wilderness brand, conservationists say.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-19/unesco-concerns-over-tasmanian-wilderness/9777682
Sustainability
China’s Xi urges end to waste
China’s President Xi Jinping says China has made great progress in fighting against pollution but the achievements need to be fully consolidated.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/chinas-xi-urges-end-to-waste/news-story/4bf3328ae52a2507364472ed3d0fcc68
The future will not be dry
In a world of melting ice caps, storm surges, and tropical cyclones, the most resilient cities aren’t the ones that fight the water back—but the ones that absorb it.
http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2014/10/the-future-will-not-be-dry/
The epic “Planet or Plastic?” Nat Geo cover is just the beginning
It kicks off a multi-year campaign to fight plastic pollution that includes a $10 million partnership with Sky and a collaboration with The North Face.
https://www.fastcompany.com/40574022/the-epic-planet-or-plastic-nat-geo-cover-is-just-the-beginning
Meet Vaclav Smil, the man who has quietly shaped how the world thinks about energy
As the world faces the challenge of curbing climate change, Smil’s work on energy transitions is getting more attention than ever. But his message is not necessarily one of hope.
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/03/meet-vaclav-smil-man-who-has-quietly-shaped-how-world-thinks-about-energy
Steven Pinker’s ideas about progress are fatally flawed.
In Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress, Steven Pinker argues that the human race has never had it so good. These eight graphs show why he’s so wrong.
http://www.ehn.org/steven-pinkers-ideas-about-progress-are-fatally-flawed-these-eight-graphs-show-why-resilience-2569986538.html
Jonathan Salk discusses global growth and challenges facing humanity
Abandoning the values of the past in favor of collaboration and sustainability will benefit the planet.
https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2018-05-18/jonathan-salk-discusses-global-growth-and-challenges-facing-humanity?int=98f508
Nature Conservation
How much of the world’s protected land is actually protected?
Intense human pressure on areas set aside for preservation could be threatening biodiversity.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-of-the-worlds-protected-land-is-actually-protected1/
Conservation conundrum: Is focusing on a single species a good strategy?
Researchers are questioning the fundamental conservation concept that creating and managing protected areas for a single “umbrella” species.
https://e360.yale.edu/features/conservation-conundrum-is-focusing-on-a-single-umbrella-species-a-good-strategy
Maelor Himbury