Daily Links Jun 30

Global warming in South Asia: 800 million at risk
Some of the poorest and hungriest people in the world will see their living standards decline sharply if emissions continue to grow at their current pace, a study by the World Bank found.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/28/climate/india-pakistan-warming-hotspots.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate

When environmental forces collide
Multiple factors often interact to amplify the effects of severe storms, droughts, and other extreme water-related events.
https://eos.org/features/when-environmental-forces-collide?utm_source=eos&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EosBuzz062918

Why we set a Net Zero goal: Unilever’s Jeff Seabright on climate risks, becoming carbon positive, and the moral case for action
Why the consumer goods giant was one of the first multinationals to set a net zero emission target.
https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/interview/3035017/why-we-set-a-net-zero-goal-unilevers-jeff-seabright-on-climate-risks-becoming-carbon-positive-and-the-moral-case-for-action

If you really want to curb migration, get serious about climate change
Lauren Markham
Gang violence and lack of jobs are reasons people head to the United States. But so is drought.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/29/opinion/sunday/immigration-climate-change-trump.html

Items you may soon be banned from using
Just like plastic bags there are a number of other everyday items that you will probably be hard pressed to find in five years’ time.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/conservation/everyday-items-you-may-be-banned-from-using-in-the-near-future/news-story/7e19ba391d643674ef55573c288068bf

How to reduce your plastic use for Plastic Free July
War on Waste consultant Erin Rhoads believes that a national response to the plastic scourge is needed to have the biggest impact, but she also advocates that small, everyday changes can make a difference.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5498336/how-to-reduce-your-plastic-use-for-plastic-free-july/?cs=95

John Anderson: Energy policy ‘has to work’ [$]
Miranda Live THE former deputy Prime Minister warns Australia not to turn its back on cheap and reliable energy, or industry and the economy will pay the price.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/blogs/miranda-devine/miranda-live-john-andersons-energy-warning/news-story/a8659c4ac62e97ff6c5e016114b12389

The real question on subsidies is, what do we want less of?
Richard Denniss
The fact that the Coalition wants to subsidise old industries that the world is turning away from is an indictment on their judgment.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/the-real-question-on-subsidies-is-what-do-we-want-less-of-20180629-p4zoma.html

Green is the new black: why retailers want you to know about their green credentials
Louise Grimmer and Gary Mortimer
Is it really that hard to switch to paper or cloth bags?
https://theconversation.com/green-is-the-new-black-why-retailers-want-you-to-know-about-their-green-credentials-99073

Renewable energy targets raise base-load costs, driving it out of the market
Geoff Carmody
Renewable energy targets (RETs) impose anthropogenic cost ‘event horizons’ on base-load power. These ‘horizons’ are power cost points of no return.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19821
 
Bases loaded for Frydenberg [$]
Paul Bongiorno
On Wednesday, the government parties in the Senate voted with a Hanson motion calling for the building of new coal-fired power stations and the retrofitting of existing base-load power stations. It failed 34–32, but proved a revealing insight on where the whole energy debate could be heading.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2018/06/30/bases-loaded-frydenberg/15302808006473

The utes that ate Australia [$]
Nikki Gemmell
What do the beasts of today tell us about ourselves compared to the cars of generations ago? That we’re becoming increasingly paranoid about rubbing up close to the earth and the air; that we no longer desire to be marinated in the world around us – we want to be cocooned from it. Preferably in one-tonner über-utes.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/the-utes-that-ate-australia/news-story/38d45820583c224fd93ab0669f260377

Guy backs southern route for revived East West Link
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy backs a longer and possibly pricier route for East West Link.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/guy-backs-southern-route-for-revived-east-west-link-20180629-p4zomp.html

Renewables replaced more than half Hazelwood capacity
AEMO data shows some surprising results on the replacement of Hazelwood, and what happened to wholesale electricity prices.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/renewables-replaced-more-than-half-hazelwood-capacity-79571/

How to tackle Melbourne’s tide of traffic
Timna Jacks and Soren Frederiksen
When you’re stuck in traffic, 10 minutes can feel like an eternity
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-s-traffic-jams-are-about-to-get-even-worse-can-we-fix-it-20180628-p4zof8.html

Population growth becomes the big issue [$]
Age editorial
Before the last state election, population growth barely rated as an issue. In less than four years, the state’s rapid residential expansion, particularly in Melbourne, has become one of the most dominant concerns of voters.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/population-growth-becomes-the-big-issue-20180629-p4zomy.html

How did Gladys make such heavy work of light rail?
Jacob Saulwick
After news broke in April that the Spanish contractor engaged to build light rail tracks on Australia’s oldest street – on which French trams would run – was launching legal action against the government, the reaction in parts of the city might have best been described in German.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/how-did-gladys-make-such-heavy-work-of-light-rail-20180629-p4zohz.html

After years in the doldrums, a saviour looms for Great Keppel Island
Fortunes could be turning for the beleaguered Great Keppel Island with five parties interested in buying the resort.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-29/great-keppel-island-sale-boost/9919960

‘Bringing reusable bags has been a challenge’: Woolworths backflip on plastic bags
Woolworths has backflipped on its plastic bag ban after irate customers refused to pay for plastic bags at the checkout.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/bringing-reusable-bags-has-been-a-challenge-woolworths-backflip-on-plastic-bags-20180629-p4zogb.html

Savings in SA interconnector [$]
An interconnector with NSW would allow SA to ­import additional baseload power while exporting surplus renewable generation, a report has found.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/power-savings-in-nswsa-interconnector-electranet-report/news-story/64c53645a1d855a1a7a22e02468f7f4d

Major 200MW + battery solar farm approved in outback South Australia
Work set to begin on Solar River Project after “Australia’s biggest” PV farm approved for 220MW solar, 120MWh lithium-ion battery.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/major-200mw-battery-solar-farm-approved-outback-south-australia-31502/

State’s deer population within controllable limits: Matthew Allen
An increased wild fallow deer population in Tasmania is not as severe as predicted, a deer consultation body believes.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5498000/deer-population-likely-to-stay-within-controllable-limits/?cs=95

Last-ditch bid to save rare parrots
The battle to save the orange-bellied parrot from extinction is getting desparate — in fact is may already be too late.
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/lastditch-bid-to-save-orangebellied-parrots/news-story/cf5bcbbbbc86ec3f8cb54f7d8315ba70

Respect The Earth … Tarkine Heritage under Siege!
Ted Mead
Disturbing revelations of degenerative ethics Why do people destroy nature and culture?  Why do some defile the earth around them? The rednecks of the Tarkine believe they reserve the right to go where they choose, and do what they want, whilst most of us are at loss to why anyone would choose to live by this disrespectful ethic …
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/respect-the-earth-…-tarkine-heritage-under-siege/

Who are the world’s biggest makers of EV batteries?
Tesla and Panasonic take top spot in latest BNEF ranking of tier 1 li-ion battery cell makers. But China’s CATL getting most attention.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-biggest-makers-ev-batteries-46208/

Deluge of electronic waste turning Thailand into ‘world’s rubbish dump’
Thailand has been swamped by waste from the west after Chinese ban on imports
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/28/deluge-of-electronic-waste-turning-thailand-into-worlds-rubbish-dump

How a protein’s secret function could boost solar tech
A new protein discovery by a team of Dutch and South African researchers could help develop new smart solar technologies.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/proteins-secret-function-boost-solar-tech-14083/

Most of the indoor air we breathe is polluted with microplastic particles
Research reveals that the majority of microplastics in our bodies comes from the air we inhale each day.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/most-of-the-indoor-air-we-breathe-is-polluted-with-microplastic-particles/70005341

Earth’s rivers cover 44 percent more land than we thought
A global survey of rivers and streams based on satellite data suggests that these waterways traverse about 773,000 square kilometers.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/earth-rivers-cover-44-percent-more-land-we-thought

In North Carolina, several endangered species are on the ropes
The survival of several threatened and endangered species in North Carolina became even more precarious this week, as government officials published preliminary decisions on the red wolf, dwarf wedgemussel and yellow lance mussel.
https://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2018/06/28/lisas-blog-post-on-endangered-species-for-130/

Reforestation is transforming northwestern Pakistan
The Billion Tree Tsunami program in northwestern Pakistan aims to revitalize the region’s economy and environment by planting hundreds of millions of trees.
https://inhabitat.com/the-billion-tree-tsunami-is-transforming-northwestern-pakistan/

Climate change could kill off bees, Northwestern study finds
Slight increases in temperature could lead to the extinction of bees in southwestern states in the near future, according to a new study from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/06/28/climate-change-could-kill-bees-northwestern-study-finds