What a simple psychological test reveals about climate change
If everyone’s success depended on it, would you share – or be selfish?
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/embark-essay-tragedy-of-the-commons-greed-common-good/
Today’s Celebration
Carpet Day – Turkmenistan, Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra
Independence Day – Jordan
National Missing Children’s Day – United States of America
Sucre Local Festival – Bolivia
Youth Day – Bosnia-Herzegovina
Day of Revolution – Argentina
National Tap Dance Day – United States of America
World MS Day – http://www.worldmsday.org/
World Thyroid Day – http://www.thyroidfoundation.org.au/
65 Roses – http://www.65roses.org.au/
Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival – http://www.ningaloowhalesharkfestival.org.au/
Towel Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/towel-day/
Africa Day – http://www.sahrc.org.za/celebrate_africa_day.htm
Geek Pride Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/geek-pride-day/
More about May 25 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_25
Climate Change
‘We can’t see a future’: group takes EU to court over climate change
Litigants from eight countries claim EU institutions are not protecting fundamental rights
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/24/families-take-eu-court-climate-change-emissions
Climate change warriors’ latest weapon of choice is litigation
From California to the Philippines, activists, governments and citizens are suing polluters and national governments over the effects of climate change.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-climate-change-lawsuits/
Scotland draft climate change bill sets 90%-by-2050 emission reduction target
Holyrood says ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions are ultimate aim but climate campaigners say target is disappointing.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/24/scotland-draft-climate-change-bill
What a simple psychological test reveals about climate change
If everyone’s success depended on it, would you share – or be selfish?
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/embark-essay-tragedy-of-the-commons-greed-common-good/
Oil giants to tell judge everyone adds to warming
Lawsuits that blame oil companies for damaging cities in California by sharpening climate change should be tossed out to avoid a cascade of similar cases, according to legal arguments being made by an oil company today.
https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060082589
This tech offsets the carbon footprint of each item you buy
Would you be more likely to pay to help mitigate climate change if you could do it by adding a few cents to every purchase?
https://www.fastcompany.com/40576812/this-tech-offsets-the-carbon-footprint-of-each-item-you-buy
Nationa
Old fossils: What’s at stake if Australia ignores global EV transition
Giles Parkinson
Australia’s inaction on electric vehicles means it could be left behind in yet another round of global disruption, leaving it hostage again to international developments, rather than reaping benefits of helping to engineer the change.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/old-fossils-whats-at-stake-if-australia-ignores-global-ev-transition-83160/
Australia’s deal with Timor-Leste in peril again over oil and gas
Rebecca Strating, La Trobe University and Clive Schofield, University of Wollongong
Despite a breakthrough on boundaries in the Timor Sea, the crucial question of how the shared oil and gas are to be developed remains unresolved.
https://theconversation.com/australias-deal-with-timor-leste-in-peril-again-over-oil-and-gas-95303
Clean fuel in Australia still just a load of hot air
David Ross
Is the push to end Australia’s dependency on low-quality petrol just a pipe dream?
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/05/24/clean-fuel-in-australia-still-just-a-load-of-hot-air/
Small population adds to economic success [$]
Tor Hundloe
The populate-and-grow folk need a course in math and a trip around our mines, factories and outback pastoral properties if they are to understand productivity growth
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-focus-on-the-math-to-shape-the-nations-economic-future/news-story/5458215a90df05b85e53cd82cfc46937
Victoria
Is it safe to swim in the Yarra River?
After winning the 1992 Australian Open, Jim Courier famously took a running dive into the Yarra River to celebrate — and he was sick for a week. Curious Melbourne investigates if it’s still a terrible idea to jump in.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-25/yarra-river-is-it-safe-to-swim/9790820
New South Wales
The battle over brumbies: how NSW’s invasive species became heritage horses
NSW scrapped its brumby cull in Kosciusko national park in favour of legislation to ensure they are protected
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/25/the-battle-over-brumbies-how-nsws-invasive-species-became-heritage-horses
NSW town warned of toxic chemical leaks
A town in the NSW Hunter Valley has been warned to avoid creek water after a derelict industrial site was found to be heavily contaminated.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/nsw-town-warned-of-toxic-chemical-leaks/news-story/a65e1483399a50e1076e846abca4f77e
It’s slimy, green and yuk — but did you know algae could light up Sydney?
Algae — yep algae — is taking centre stage at Vivid Sydney as part of the first living exhibit in the festival’s 10-year history – and you’ll never believe what scientists are doing with it
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-25/vivid-algae-lights-up-sydney/9797628
ACT
First trams to start running soon, but you won’t be able to catch one
One day very soon, Canberra’s first tram is going to roll out its Mitchell warehouse and on to the line. But don’t expect to catch a ride.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/first-trams-to-start-running-soon-but-you-won-t-be-able-to-catch-one-20180523-p4zh2p.html
Queensland
Why is land clearing bad news for the Great Barrier Reef?
The Government has approved the clearing of 2,000 hectares of land on Cape York, which experts say could hurt the Great Barrier Reef. So how does land clearing damage coral hundreds of kilometres away?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-05-25/why-is-land-clearing-bad-news-for-the-great-barrier-reef/9783420
Brisbane is an ‘ugly and hot city to walk in’
The South Bank Corporation chair made the “brutal” assessment at a debate over the pedestrian experience held by industry insiders.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-is-an-ugly-and-hot-city-to-walk-in-20180523-p4zh1v.html
Frydenberg backs reef rebel [$]
The Energy Minister says the sacking of Professor Peter Ridd by James Cook University is a threat to academic freedom.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/reef-rebel-peter-ridd-gets-backing-of-energy-minister-josh-frydenberg/news-story/5ba14ee10ca5589613a616129c3edfb6
Spark lashes out at gouging claim [$]
Spark Infrastructure has lashed out at Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg’s ‘unwarranted’ allegations of gouging.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/spark-lashes-out-at-frydenbergs-allegation-of-price-gouging/news-story/62583334f60a07659f2bcfae7830a17c
Dugong and sea turtle poo sheds new light on the Great Barrier Reef’s seagrass meadows
Samantha J Tol et al
Just like birds and mammals carrying seeds through a rainforest, green sea turtles and dugong spread the seeds of seagrass plants as they feed. Our team at James Cook University’s TropWATER Centre has uncovered a unique relationship in the seagrass meadows of the Great Barrier Reef.
https://theconversation.com/dugong-and-sea-turtle-poo-sheds-new-light-on-the-great-barrier-reefs-seagrass-meadows-95143
South Australia
Tesla battery plan gets green light as Gupta reveals major power play
SA’s Liberal Government will push ahead with a Labor plan to install battery systems built by Elon Musk’s Tesla in 50,000 homes, with Whyalla steelworks boss Sanjeev Gupta also announcing ambitious new energy plans, including an electric car plant.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-24/tesla-battery-plan-gets-green-light-from-sa-liberals/9794486
Tasmania
Cable repairs in Bass Strait delayed again
A second delay to repair work for the Bass Strait cable connecting Tasmania to Victoria will see it remain offline until early June.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/cable-repairs-bass-strait-delayed-again-173345513–spt.html
Fish-loss fiction, says salmon farm [$]
Huon Aquaculture says it will not report a fish loss to the Australian Securities Exchange because the numbers have been grossly exaggerated by the Greens.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/huon-aquaculture-says-fish-loss-exaggerated-by-the-greens/news-story/3c50936a6705c871a60832303864c897
Cost of Tasmania’s fruit fly war revealed as Minister says victory is near
Primary Industries Minister Sarah Courtney reveals the Government has spent $5.5 million tackling fruit fly incursions in the state’s north, but is confident of victory this coming winter.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-24/fruit-fly-infestation-tasmania-cost-revealed/9791898
A quick fix to your 15 Minutes of Fame?
Ted Mead
Whilst it is great to share photos to our friends, it seems the whole outdoors scene in Tasmania may soon providing you with these opportunities, and unfortunately the tourism industry here thinks this is appropriate infrastructure in our National Parks now.
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/a-quick-fix-to-your-15-minutes-of-fame/
Western Australia
Four bushfires raging in WA’s south threatening lives and homes
Four fires are burning out of control in south-west WA, prompting a bushfire alert at the highest level with people urged to act immediately to survive.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-25/wa-bushfires-threatening-lives-and-homes-amid-major-storm/9797968
Sustainability
North Korea claims to have blown up its nuclear test site
The explosions at the nuclear test site deep in the mountains of North Korea’s sparsely populated north-east were conducted over several hours and in the presence of foreign journalists — but not international weapons inspectors.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-24/north-korea-says-its-has-demolished-its-nuclear-test-site/9797594
Pollutionwatch: Air contamination drops by 30% in China
WHO database lowers Beijing’s particulate ranking from 40th worst in world to 187th, as coal plants flagged as key culprit
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/24/pollutionwatch-air-contamination-drops-by-30-in-china
The South African waste warrior
Nomuntu Ndhlovu, 27, wants to turn rural South Africa’s waste into electricity and biodiesel.
https://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/the-south-african-waste-warrior/86121
Paris is building the eco-community of the future right now.
The Clichy-Batignolles eco-district aims to set a new standard in sustainable urban design.
https://ensia.com/articles/paris-is-building-the-eco-community-of-the-future-right-now-heres-how/
Is ditching fossil fuels entirely a reasonable goal?
California and New York are leading the nation in a transition to cleaner energy. But even these states are finding it’s a lot easier to get to a 50 percent reduction in emissions than get to complete “decarbonization.”
https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2018/0524/Is-ditching-fossil-fuels-entirely-a-reasonable-goal
Electric vehicles threaten oil but are a boon for health
Graeme McLeay
Environmentally friendly transport is on the rise despite economic repercussions to the oil and gas industry
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/electric-vehicles-threaten-oil-but-are-a-boon-for-health,11528
Nature Conservation
Canada’s top oyster growing region widely contaminated by microplastics
Researchers call for further study to understand how plastic pollution affects farmed shellfish in B.C.’s Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel.
https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2018/05/23/canadas-top-oyster-growing-region-widely-contaminated-by-microplastics.html
Honeybees may be dying in larger numbers due to climate change
Beekeepers in the U.S. reported an increase in honeybee deaths over the last year, possibly the result of erratic weather patterns brought on by a changing climate.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-23/bee-death-increase-may-be-tied-to-climate-change-survey-says
Maelor Himbury