Daily Links Jun 20

Warming Pacific ‘primed’ for possible El Nino forming by this spring
Farmers beware: a build-up of warm water in the eastern Pacific has lifted the odds for an El Nino forming late this spring, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/warming-pacific-primed-for-possible-el-nino-forming-by-this-spring-20180619-p4zmfu.html

Machine learning may be a game-changer for climate prediction
New research from Columbia Engineering Professor Pierre Gentine demonstrates that machine-learning techniques can be used to accurately represent clouds and their atmospheric heating and moistening, and better represent clouds in coarse resolution climate models, with the potential to narrow the range of climate prediction. This could be a major advance in accurate predictions of global warming in response to increased greenhouse gas concentrations that are essential for policy-makers (e.g. the Paris climate agreement).
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/cuso-mlm061918.php

Study: Climate action can limit Asia’s growing water shortages
Even ‘modest’ action to limit climate change could help prevent the most extreme water-shortage scenarios facing Asia by the year 2050, according to a new study led by MIT researchers.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/miot-sca061918.php

New model for gauging ice sheet movement may improve sea-level-rise predictions
University of Kansas researchers discovered friction — or ‘basal drag’ — between ice sheets and the hard bed underneath has no influence on how fast glaciers flow.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/uok-nmf061918.php

Fracking: Labor pledges to tighten regulations to protect water resources
Shale gas not covered in by existing water regulations in ‘glaring omission’, Labor’s environment spokesman https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/20/fracking-labor-pledges-to-tighten-regulations-to-protect-water-resources

How clean energy can make Australia a power player again [$]
While arguments about the transition to clean energy continue to plague the Turnbull government, in the market, the debate is over, says Bloomberg New Energy Finance
https://www.afr.com/news/bnef-report-says-renewables-can-make-australia-a-cheap-energy-superpower-again-20180619-h11l6k

Huge majority supports renewables over coal even at greater cost
A new poll finds a huge majority of Australians want the government to focus on renewable energy infrastructure even if it costs them more.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/huge-majority-supports-renewables-over-coal-even-at-greater-cost-20180619-p4zmcn.html

Renewables to account for 90pc of Australian power by 2050: report
A new report forecasts renewable generation will account for more than 90 per cent of Australian power by 2050 as nearly all of the nation’s coal-fired power stations close in the next 30 years, and costs for new build renewables fall compared to coal.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/renewables-to-account-for-90-per-cent-of-all-australian-power-by-2050-says-new-report-20180619-p4zmcm.html

Tony Abbott tells party he was misled by advisers over Paris climate deal
When the former PM signed in 2015, he said Australia made a ‘definite commitment’
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/19/tony-abbott-tells-party-he-was-misled-by-advisers-over-paris-climate-deal

Coalition warned of renewables rush after energy stalling [$]
Coalition MPs have been warned that holding off on carbon emission reductions until the end of the next decade would result in a rush for up to half of Australia’s energy to come from renewable sources.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/coalition-warned-of-renewables-rush-after-energy-stalling/news-story/faf9bfbb2fb77bb9b9d28f97897bb0fd

Pro-coal Libs stuck on energy [$]
Pro-coal Coalition MPs say they would have no choice but to support an energy policy if it is endorsed by the states.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/like-it-or-lump-it-conservatives-stuck-if-states-back-plan/news-story/5e9bece452517b6405fe25a0adaaad92

The Wildnerness Society’s ‘Save Ugly’ campaign with Rosario Dawson [$]
The Wilderness Society has teamed with a host of local celebrities and Hollywood actor Rosario Dawson for a cheeky campaign to help raise awareness for creepy crawlies.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-wildnerness-societys-save-ugly-campaign-with-rosario-dawson/video/c80aa94ace6f21749292ebc94ba7ed15

Carbon tax: the two most loaded words in Australian politics make a return to Canberra
David Crowe
While the tensions are real and the skirmishes will not end, they’re not enough to stop Malcolm Turnbull and Josh Frydenberg’s plan.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/carbon-tax-the-two-most-loaded-words-in-australian-politics-make-a-return-to-canberra-20180619-p4zmgq.html

Supermarkets the real winners from plastic bag ban [$]
Rita Panahi
Supermarkets have really hit the jackpot with self-checkout and plastic bag bans. But don’t dare complain because this profitable line of corporate virtue signalling is a sign of progress and supposedly enjoys widespread support.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/rita-panahi/rita-panahi-supermarkets-the-big-winners-from-plastic-bag-ban/news-story/2630b7d9f93bcf9f2254ca485a8ffb11

Death of coal power exaggerated [$]
Matt Canavan
The prosperity of developing nations depends on fuel we can supply.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/the-death-of-coal-power-is-greatly-exaggerated-in-certain-quarters/news-story/3405161c6cd39dce37e5e98ebe866f81

Packaging giant turns to “baseload green power” in Victoria
ASX-listed packaging giant Orora signs second renewable energy PPA in matter of months, this time with 228MW Lal Lal wind farm in Victoria.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/packaging-giant-turns-to-baseload-green-power-in-victoria-21372/

Finally, sun shines on Melbourne Airport rail link
Age editorial
Looming federal and Victorian elections have helped create a unity Tullamarine train ticket between the Prime Minister and the Victorian Premier.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/finally-sun-shines-on-melbourne-airport-rail-link-20180619-p4zmgp.html

Is Melbourne the new New York?
Alan Davies
The Age‘s comparison of the density of Melbourne’s CBD with the density of New York City might massage the prejudices of its readers, but it’s rubbish
https://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2018/06/19/melbourne-new-new-york/

Climate change action given low priority in NSW Budget
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet made no mention of climate change in his budget speech, even as the threats continue to mount.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/nsw-budget-climate-change-action-given-low-priority-20180618-p4zm7x.html

Proposed NSW logging laws value timber over environmental protection
Oisín Sweeney, University of Sydney
More logging will occur in NSW if conservation areas are rezoned by the state government.
https://theconversation.com/proposed-nsw-logging-laws-value-timber-over-environmental-protection-97863

Recycling plant would ‘destroy Fyshwick as we know it’: business
Capital Recycling Solutions wants to divert 900 tonnes of rubbish a day from the Mugga Lane tip to its sorting centre. The planned centre will generate an extra 230 truck movements a day through the industrial suburb. Local residents, and now business owners, have raised concerns about increased traffic and odour.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/act/recycling-plant-would-destroy-fyshwick-as-we-know-it-business-20180614-p4zlep.html

$1b resort-style island development gets Qld Minister’s nod despite council rejection
The state’s Planning Minister overturns a central Queensland council’s decision to reject an island development off Gladstone, even though the council says it’s too big and not needed.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-19/hummock-hill-island-plan-gets-nod-after-council-rejection-qld/9886276

Palaszczuk’s ‘hypocritical’ backflip [$]
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has indicated she may allow a taxpayer-funded loan to unlock the coal-rich Galilee Basin.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/palaszczuks-hypocritical-backflip-on-coal/news-story/b0173b7c7752c54f6d064a2762613310

Coal hypocrisy digging Labor deeper into hole [$]
Courier Mail editorial
There’s a simple truism that you cannot control demand of a commodity by simply trying to restrict supply. This is a truth that the environmentalists refuse to accept in their quest to shut down an industry that has underpinned our state for decades.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-coal-hypocrisy-digging-labor-into-a-hole/news-story/5c065580e1c764974142e5d330bc1b06

Crocodile safari hunting could be like polar bear hunting in Canada, NT politician says
Following the release of a viral video of crocodiles sunbathing on a Top End riverbank, a politician has revived questions about culling the protected species, saying permitting safari hunting could create a sustainable industry for Aboriginal people as it does for the Inuit hunting polar bears in Canada.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-19/crocodile-safari-hunting-like-polar-bear-hunting-canada-nt/9885630

Can China kick its animal antibiotic habit?
It could be a struggle, but the world’s largest consumer of antibiotics is trying to convince its farmers to change their ways
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/19/can-china-kick-its-animal-antibiotic-habit

Political leaning influences city water policies as strongly as climate
Researchers examined city water policies over the course of four years to create a database of water conservation policies. They also developed an associated index of the number of different categories of policies each city adopted and gathered data on the climate, water sources, population, economy and political leanings of each city and its surrounding metropolitan statistical area — as reflected in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/vu-pli061918.php

Sodium- and potassium-based batteries hold promise for cheap energy storage
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have found new evidence suggesting that batteries based on sodium and potassium hold promise as a potential alternative to lithium-based batteries.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/giot-sap061518.php

Why it pays to keep an eye on China’s solar market
Andy Saunders
Just as in almost every other industry these days, it pays to keep a close eye on what happens in the Middle Kingdom.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/pays-keep-eye-chinas-solar-market-75191/

Palm oil: The carbon cost of deforestation
Palm oil has become part of our daily lives, but a recent study by EPFL and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) serves as a reminder that intensive farming of this crop has a major impact on the environment.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/epfd-pot061818.php