Allergies, glaciers and pikas: climate change in action
Seas rising, wildfires spreading, allergies increasing: Climate change is measurable globally.
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2018-06-19/allergies-glaciers-and-pikas-climate-change-in-action?int=98f508
Today’s Celebration
Battle of Carabobo Day – Venezuela
Countryman’s Day – Peru
Discovery Day – Canada
Fisherman’s Day – Zaire (Democratic Congo)
Inti Raymi – Peru
Manila Day – Philippines
Midsummer’s Day – Estonia
St. John the Baptist Day – Catholicism
Fairy Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/fairy-day/
More about Jun 24 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_24
Climate Change
It’s been 30 years since the first alarm on global warming was sounded
Scientific predictions have largely been on target since there were made in 1988, except the expectation that politicians would listen, and act.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/it-s-been-30-years-since-the-first-alarm-on-global-warming-was-sounded-20180621-p4zmtd.html
Burning wood as renewable energy threatens Europe’s climate goals
Scientists say a new EU policy on biomass is ‘simplistic and misleading’ and will increase emissions. U.S. forests are being turned into wood pellets to feed demand.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21062018/forest-biomass-renewable-energy-paris-climate-change-emissions-logging-wood-pellets-electricity
Allergies, glaciers and pikas: climate change in action
Seas rising, wildfires spreading, allergies increasing: Climate change is measurable globally.
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2018-06-19/allergies-glaciers-and-pikas-climate-change-in-action?int=98f508
National
Billion-dollar potash potential to cash in on global fertiliser shortage
One of Australia’s largest salt lakes might hold the key to helping with a worldwide shortage of a high-grade fertiliser that can be extracted from the salty crust.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-24/lake-mackay-potash-plan/9898932
High power bills are just the beginning [$]
Peta Credlin
If you think the emissions reduction push in the power sector has lead to high prices, just wait until you see what they’ll do to the transport and agricultural industries.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/high-power-bills-are-just-the-beginning/news-story/4ac024dad16e0caa61fde82278dff3f8
The bag ban is built on a big lie [$]
Miranda Devine
Like so many virtue signalling campaigns, the plastic bag ban is more to do with looking like doing the right thing, than actually helping the environment.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/the-bag-ban-is-built-on-a-big-lie/news-story/6e4526b38b99d36458b3a949bc7d199b
New South Wales
Indigenous groups call for return of traditional fire control methods
Ancient Aboriginal fire control methods are being used in workshops to promote traditional fire management as a means of fire control.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-23/call-for-return-of-traditonal-aboriginal-fire-control-methods/9877842
Dogged by development concerns, the government turns to parks
If you want a friend in politics, the quote runs, you get a dog. And if you’d like a couple of million, well, perhaps you’d build a dog park.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/dogged-by-development-concerns-the-government-turns-to-parks-20180622-p4zn55.html
Recycled office wins a sustainability award
Recycling is a subject close to Steve Urwin’s heart, head and, actually, the whole world around him.
https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/entire-office-fitted-out-with-recycled-materials-and-furniture-wins-sustainability-award/
‘Floating terminal’ plan to make NSW gas cheaper
Home energy bills could fall with the state government fast-tracking an ambitious plan by mining billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest to import foreign gas into NSW.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/project-aimed-at-controlling-natural-resource-given-high-government-priority/news-story/8709693075fea2ee5d0d4216a637fa8e
ACT
‘Inherent flaw’: ACT threatens to block energy plan
Two new design issues have emerged that incline the ACT government to block the National Energy Guarantee, Shane Rattenbury, the territory’s energy minister says.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/inherent-flaw-act-threatens-to-block-energy-plan-20180622-p4zn6i.html
Queensland
Sparks fly over Labor energy plan [$]
One of the state’s most powerful, visible and vocal unions – the Electrical Trades Union – has found itself at odds with Labor once again, with privatisation at the heart of the dispute.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/electrical-trades-union-fires-up-over-palaszczuk-government-energy-plan/news-story/25f7a8a0f657770b6d85927140d72081
Woolworths: Don’t be bagging us [$]
“We want customers to bring in their own bags” says Woolworths after Queenslanders accuse the supermarket giant of trying to turn a profit by charging for bags following the statewide plastic bag ban.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/woolworths-we-want-you-to-bring-your-own-shopping-bags/news-story/f6e98bcef5874ab565c52ab8f3608932
Tasmania
Tasmania’s power on national energy stage
Guy Barnett
Tasmania has already established itself as the nation’s number one renewable state, but we have an opportunity to take our potential to the next level.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5483831/tasmanias-power-on-national-energy-stage/?cs=97
Sustainability
Green energy feels the heat as subsidies go to fossil fuels
Community projects can slash household bills but the sector has ground to a halt in Britain – in contrast with schemes in Europe
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/23/green-energy-subsidies-community-projects-fossil-fuels
You don’t use so much plastic, do you? How to ditch it for July – and beyond
Cutting single-use plastics can be surprisingly challenging but there are easy alternatives
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/23/you-dont-use-so-much-plastic-do-you-how-to-ditch-it-for-july-and-beyond
Switch to drip irrigation helps preserve aquifers
Millet is no longer a popular staple food in China, but the drought-tolerant crop is playing a role in controlling desertification in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
http://www.ecns.cn/news/society/2018-06-22/detail-ifyvmiee7352432.shtml
Adding offshore wind power can save lives, benefit public health
Theoretically, offshore wind farms could supply all the electricity the U.S. consumes, according to the Energy Department.
https://theconversation.com/the-public-health-benefits-of-adding-offshore-wind-to-the-grid-98228
Iced coffee is ruining the environment – and your body
From plastic straws to almond milk, the season of cold brews is officially ruining the planet.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jun/21/iced-coffee-environment-plastic-straws-almond-milk
Plastic ban raises hopes for Kenya’s sisal farmers
Kenyans producing, selling or even using plastic bags risk imprisonment of up to four years or fines of $40,000.
http://news.trust.org/item/20180622003015-1fo5y/
Nature Conservation
What it looks like when humans vanish
In the end “nature is stronger than man,” says photographer Jonk Jimenez — and these epic pictures of abandoned places prove it.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/natural-wonders/what-it-looks-like-when-humans-vanish-and-nature-moves-back-in/news-story/26f62712d070a5cc85673accfdecad29
Insects perish at the frontlines of humans’ war with nature
Surveys in Europe and North America show a dramatic decline in the number of bugs buzzing around.
http://www.dw.com/en/insects-perish-at-the-frontlines-of-humans-war-with-nature/a-44287469
As Colombia expands its palm oil sector, scientists worry about wildlife
Rampant industry growth over the past several decades has replaced rainforest with monoculture plantations, devastating wildlife in the process.
https://news.mongabay.com/2018/06/as-colombia-expands-its-palm-oil-sector-scientists-worry-about-wildlife/
Climate change brought a lobster boom. Now it could cause a bust
Warming waters in the Gulf of Maine have benefited lobsters and the lobstermen who trap them. But as temperatures rise further, will the industry reach a tipping point?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/21/climate/maine-lobsters.html
Maelor Himbury