Agricultural intensification not a ‘blueprint’ for sustainable development
New research suggests that the combined social and ecological results of increased agricultural intensification in low and middle-income countries are not as positive as expected.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/uoea-ain061218.php
Today’s Celebration
Day of National Salvation – Azerbaijan
National Flag Day – Denmark
Valdemars Day – Denmark
Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) – Islam
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – http://www.un.org/en/events/elderabuse/
National Buddy Day – http://www.buddyday.org.au/
Global Wind Day – http://www.globalwindday.org/
Nature Photography Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/nature-photography-day/
Smile Power Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/smile-power-day/
Magna Carta Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/magna-carta-day/
More about Jun 15 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_15
Climate Change
Antarctica has lost 3 trillion tonnes of ice in 25 years. Time is running out for the frozen continent
Steve Rintoul, CSIRO and Steven Chown, Monash University
What will Antarctica look like in 2070? Will the icy wilderness we know today survive, or will it succumb to climate change and human pressure? Our choices over the coming decade will seal its fate.
https://theconversation.com/antarctica-has-lost-3-trillion-tonnes-of-ice-in-25-years-time-is-running-out-for-the-frozen-continent-98176
How to foster famine
Viv Forbes
Today’s warm climate is very farm-friendly and tends to have most effect on the cold lands of the northern hemisphere, thus increasing the acreage and productivity.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19789
National
Consumers more annoyed with their energy company than their bank
Grumpy Australians are becoming more likely to shop around for a better deal on their household power bills, according to a new report.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-15/consumers-more-annoyed-with-their-energy-company-than-their-bank/9871500
Battery recycler amps up pressure on manufacturers to cut down on waste
Lithium-ion recycling pioneers are calling for urgent action to keep a growing number of flat batteries out of landfill.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/keep-batteries-from-landfill-recycling-plant-says/9868892
Electricity comparison websites may inflate prices, energy adviser says
New report finds sites help consumers switch energy plans, but compare few retailers and offers
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/15/electricity-comparison-websites-may-inflate-prices-energy-adviser-says
Report warns of emissions handball [$]
The Turnbull government’s low-ball carbon reduction target for the electricity sector will force huge emissions cuts on manufacturers, farmers, truckers and airlines to make up the shortfall.
https://www.afr.com/news/neg-condemns-manufacturers-farmers-truckers-to-huge-emissions-cuts-study-20180613-h11d1y
$500m reasons for Aurizon to draw out access dispute [$]
Big miners claim listed rail company Aurizon would reap more than $500 million in additional revenue if there was a protracted dispute over access charges to its coal network.
https://www.afr.com/news/politics/aurizon-could-earn-500m-from-drawn-out-access-dispute-say-miners-20180614-h11d2t
DHL to buy carbon credits from Qantas Future Planet [$]
DHL joins a growing number of companies striving to cut their emissions more deeply than the Turnbull government’s 26 per cent target demands.
https://www.afr.com/news/dhl-taps-qantas-future-planet-for-emissions-offsets-20180614-h11e9l
Renewables rush a ‘risk to industry’ [$]
Australia’s biggest aluminium producer has warned that renewables are unable to deliver reliable and affordable power.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/renewables-rush-a-risk-to-industry-warns-tomago/news-story/b11c80632711a416335dbc27895db780
Discounts for cutting emissions [$]
Australia’s ports are taking steps to encourage shipping to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/discounts-for-cutting-ship-emissions/news-story/ecd311c9f84ad6cd0c230e25e3d8415e
Energy retailer greed backfires, as consumers switch to solar, batteries
Consumers now trust energy retailers less than they do banks and insurers, thanks to soaring prices and confusing bills, so they are taking matters into their own hands, and looking to solar and storage.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/energy-retailer-greed-backfires-as-consumers-switch-to-solar-batteries-66482/
Who should control household rooftop solar and batteries?
AEMO and networks lobby release paper arguing for “orchestration” of rooftop solar and battery storage as Australia leads the world on distributed generation. But who gets to hold the baton?
https://reneweconomy.com.au/control-household-rooftop-solar-batteries-82260/
State-based renewable schemes “critical” – especially under NEG
Renewables policy pioneer, Simon Corbell, details why state schemes like VRET are critical – including to counter “stifling impact” of NEG on solar and wind investment.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/state-based-renewable-schemes-critical-especially-neg-91669/
Inside the AEF, the climate denial group hosting Tony Abbott as guest speaker
Graham Readfearn
The Australian Environment Foundation has secured a former prime minister to speak. But what does it actually do?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2018/jun/15/inside-the-aef-the-climate-denial-group-hosting-tony-abbott-as-guest-speaker
Dark Emu and the blindness of Australian agriculture
Tony Hughes-D’Aeth, University of Western Australia
What if Australia were to stop farming? At approximately 3% of gross domestic product, the removal of agriculture from the economy would be a significant hit
https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-dark-emu-and-the-blindness-of-australian-agriculture-97444
Everyone pays the energy price
David Crowe
The energy business is making all the same mistakes as the banks – and building a political timebomb for whoever takes power in Canberra at the next election.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/everyone-pays-the-energy-price-20180614-h11efu.html
Victoria
Bakers appoints new environment special counsel
Global law firm Baker McKenzie has hired a new special counsel for its growing environment and climate change practice group in Melbourne. …
https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/23433-bakers-appoints-new-environment-special-counsel
New South Wales
Huge plume of contaminated water found near Sydney air base
Chemicals from the RAAF air base at Richmond on Sydney’s outskirts have leached into groundwater, potentially risking the health of nearby residents, an investigation has found.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/huge-plume-of-contaminated-water-found-near-sydney-air-base-20180614-p4zlhh.html
Queensland
James Cook University staff avoid using emails after climate change sceptic sacked
Professor Peter Ridd was sacked last month for allegedly disrespectful comments he made about his colleagues on Sky TV and in private emails he sent on his university account.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/james-cook-uni-search-emails-before-sacking-academic-peter-ridd/9869890
Peabody advised on sale of coking coal deposit
Peabody Australia has been advised in relation to its sale of the Wotonga South project to Stanmore Coal. …
https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/23443-peabody-advised-on-sale-of-coking-coal-deposit
Great Barrier Reef: four rivers are most responsible for pollution
Burdekin, Fitzroy, Tully and Daintree rivers in Queensland pose greatest risk, researchers find
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/15/great-barrier-reef-four-rivers-are-most-responsible-for-pollution
Go cards a gold mine with $6.7 million reclaimed by TransLink
The millions of dollars from 780,000 inactive go cards is ‘higher than anticipated revenue’ that will be re-invested back into public transport.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/go-cards-a-gold-mine-with-6-7-million-reclaimed-by-translink-20180614-p4zlij.html
Council to build sport fields on flood-prone land
Brisbane’s flood-prone land has been purchased by Brisbane City Council which will spend millions to turn it into sporting fields.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/brisbane-news/council-to-build-sport-fields-on-flood-prone-land-20180614-p4zlft.html
‘Lying greenies killing our mining industry’ [$]
Truth is losing the battle to emotion and Queensland’s mining industry faces an existential threat from activists, resource chiefs have warned.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/business/lying-greenies-accused-of-killing-queensland-mining-industry/news-story/c8bada0682d13acf636c07afc28b8bb9
Mining out of favour but we still rely on it [$]
Courier Mail editorial
One of the key facts to emerge from this year’s Budget is that Queensland’s finances are riding the back of King Coal.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-mining-out-of-favour-but-we-still-rely-on-it/news-story/5f012353a2253ad083419ef9083897d2
South Australia
SA to fight High Court injunction which aims to ‘gag’ Basin bureaucrats
The South Australian Government will fight a High Court injunction it says aims to stop public servants from giving evidence in its Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/murray-darling-basin-injunction-royal-commission/9869510
Tasmania
Unsafe PFAS levels found in waterways near Richmond RAAF base
An investigation into contamination from the PFAS firefighting chemicals at the Richmond RAAF base in north-west Sydney finds a 10-square-kilometre plume of the chemicals in groundwater.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/pfas-found-near-richmond-raaf-base-waterways/9870162
State funds irrigation scheme but federal contribution needed
The next wave of irrigation projects has received $70 million over four years in the state budget.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5468921/state-funds-irrigation-scheme-but-federal-contribution-needed/?cs=95
Northern Territory
x
Western Australia
Ningaloo’s World Heritage coral won’t keep pace with sea rise: study
While Ningaloo is “remarkably” healthy, it still doesn’t grow fast enough to keep pace with even moderate sea level rise predictions.
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/ningaloo-s-world-heritage-coral-won-t-keep-pace-with-sea-rise-study-20180613-p4zlap.html
Native plants could help battle cancer
WA’s native plants are a treasure trove of unique chemicals that could yield the breakthrough for the next blockbuster “pill in a bottle”, according to the State’s top scientist.
https://thewest.com.au/news/medicine/native-plants-only-found-in-wa-could-help-battle-cancer-ng-b88857483z
Sustainability
Recycled plastic could supply three-quarters of UK demand, report finds
Circular economy could recycle more plastic and meet industry demand for raw materials, finds Green Alliance research
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/14/recycled-plastic-could-supply-three-quarters-of-uk-demand-report-finds
Agricultural intensification not a ‘blueprint’ for sustainable development
New research suggests that the combined social and ecological results of increased agricultural intensification in low and middle-income countries are not as positive as expected.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/uoea-ain061218.php
Coal comeback spurs new carbon emissions growth, says BP
The increase in coal consumption highlights the difficulties developing economies like India and China face in meeting demand for electricity while fighting pollution
http://news.trust.org/item/20180613133027-w8qb1/
Why solvents can affect brain health even at low levels of exposure
Samuel Keer and Jeroen Douwes, Massey University
A new study shows that workers exposed to solvents in the vehicle collision repair industry are at greater risk of adverse health effects than other blue-collar workers.
https://theconversation.com/why-solvents-can-affect-brain-health-even-at-low-levels-of-exposure-98081
Nature Conservation
Send in the goats: Unlikely ally hired to protect Portugal from bushfires
The country is using dozens of herds of goats as part of a race against the clock to guard rugged parts of the Iberian nation against a repeat of last year’s catastrophic bushfires that claimed 106 lives.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/portugal-using-goats-to-contain-threat-of-bushfires/9867198
Human activity making mammals more nocturnal, study finds
Research involving 62 species found mammals spent relatively less time being active during the day when humans were nearby
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/14/human-activity-making-mammals-more-nocturnal-study-finds
Climate change means fish are moving faster than fishing rules, Rutgers-led study says
Climate change is forcing fish species to shift their habitats faster than the world’s system for allocating fish stocks, exacerbating international fisheries conflicts, according to a study led by a Rutgers University-New Brunswick researcher.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/ru-ccm061218.php
Now for something completely different …
The Need for Leadership to Address White Supremacy in the NGO Sector
Charities and not for profits need to show leadership to address the issue of white supremacy in the NGO sector, a prominent Aboriginal writer and activist believes.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/06/need-leadership-address-white-supremacy-ngo-sector/
Maelor Himbury