Daily Links Jul 16

This year’s global hurricane boom could go into overdrive
The National Weather Service says there is a 70 percent chance that El Niño will juice this year’s storm season.
https://grist.org/article/this-years-global-hurricane-boom-could-go-into-overdrive/

Climate action is an equity issue
Sarah Sloss
To achieve global sustainable energy targets, a more supportive ecosystem of finance is needed.
https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/climate-action-is-an-equity-issue/

Hopes of ‘massive’ breakthrough for treating mange in wombats
Initial trials of an exciting new drug to treat mange in wombats show promising signs, offering hope that an end to their suffering could be in sight.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-15/wombat-mange-drug-trialled/9994296

Matt Canavan says Nationals are not ‘mandating’ new investment in coal
Minister says renewables a gamble and coal should not be left out of transition to national energy guarantee
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/15/matt-canavan-says-nationals-are-not-mandating-new-investment-in-coal

New coal a backup for renewables: Canavan
Resources Minister Matt Canavan says new coal generation could be a backup in case renewable energy doesn’t keep getting cheaper.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/coal-backup-renewables-canavan-002900035–spt.html

Praise for energy guarantee from world energy body [$]
The Turnbull government’s National Energy Guarantee is an “innovative and creative” way to encourage investment while lowering emissions, the world’s expert body on energy policy says.
https://www.afr.com/news/praise-for-energy-guarantee-from-international-energy-agency-chief-fatih-birol-20180715-h12p7n

Energy sector calls for flexibility in NEG [$]
Big business and industry groups have called on the Turnbull government to allow future governments to be able to adjust the emissions reduction target more often than every five years.
https://www.afr.com/news/politics/energy-sector-calls-for-flexibility-setting-emissions-reduction-targets-for-neg-20180715-h12p81

BHP goes virtual for energy answers [$]
BHP is contemplating a radical shake-up of how it powers its Australian operations, centred on a virtual desk that will buy and sell energy.
https://www.afr.com/business/bhp-goes-virtual-for-australian-energy-answers-20180715-h12pdy

Rethinking recycling: could a circular economy solve the problem?
With more funding and product stewardship, the recycling crisis could turn into an opportunity
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/15/rethinking-recycling-could-a-circular-economy-solve-the-problem

Climate change to worsen urban air quality, lifting death toll
Days of severe pollution will worsen in coming decades as a warming climate creates more intense temperature inversion events..
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/climate-change-to-worsen-urban-air-quality-lifting-death-toll-20180713-p4zrf1.html

How government inaction fuelled the renewables boom
Ian Verrender
Those despairing Australia will ever solve its energy crisis should take heart: business and consumers have left their political leaders behind, opting for renewables backed up by gas, hydro and, to a smaller but growing extent, batteries.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-16/how-government-inaction-fuelled-the-renewables-boom/9996458

Digging up a lot more coal won’t bring more jobs
Ross Gittins
Greenies and the miners union both worry that a transition away from coal would come at the expense of jobs, but the concept of “just transition” is flawed.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/the-economy/digging-up-a-lot-more-coal-won-t-bring-more-jobs-20180715-p4zrlp.html

Healthy changes can help address climate challenge
Kate Charlesworth and Peter Sainsbury
Most of us know climate change is bad for us. What is less discussed is the causes of climate change – burning fossil fuels and overconsumption of natural resources – and how different sectors contribute. 
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5526772/healthy-changes-can-help-address-climate-challenge/?cs=97

Policy overload: why the ACCC says household solar subsidies should be abolished
Lucy Percival
Australia’s consumer watchdog has concluded that rooftop solar incentives have distorted the market unfairly for those who cannot afford solar panels, and has recommended the scheme ends ten years early.
http://theconversation.com/policy-overload-why-the-accc-says-household-solar-subsidies-should-be-abolished-99937

Why supermarket plastic ban isn’t quite in the bag [$]
Andrew Bolt
Welcome to the new green world, where you’ve just been given one more shopping task by Coles.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/andrew-bolt-why-supermarket-plastic-ban-isnt-quite-in-the-bag/news-story/b732863c06b2b64307c527b5cd449840

Why plastic bag bans triggered such a huge reaction
Gary Mortimer and Rebekah Russell-Bennett
There was an implicit financial exchange between parties.
https://theconversation.com/why-plastic-bag-bans-triggered-such-a-huge-reaction-99935

Childishly ignorant warping the animal welfare debate [$]
Andrew Rule
As the urban majority in mega-cities like ours become marooned from real life — life as it has been for thousands of years — formerly intelligent and informed people are revealed as childishly ignorant, even delusional, about our relationship with animals.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-rule/andrew-rule-childishly-ignorant-people-are-warping-the-animal-welfare-debate/news-story/c9f24bfd79db12f2dc0cff2c91a41a18

A glimpse of Big Australia [$]
Tom Dusevic
Ryde is a test site for what urban planners call Australia’s “missing middle”. But as tensions simmer, how many people is too many?
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/ryde-a-glimpse-of-big-australia/news-story/1240ae9baf1894400b242fa9f46b0d95

New public transport network ‘discourages’ current users
Moira Smythe and her husband Neville have been enthusiastic bus users since they retired to Forrest, in Canberra’s south. But with their closest stops soon to be nearly a kilometre away, they say they’ll soon be reaching for the car keys.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/act/new-public-transport-network-discourages-current-users-20180711-p4zqrb.html

Humpback whale rescues prompt calls to rethink shark nets
Three humpback whales have become entangled in shark nets off the Queensland coast so far this migration season, and conservationists are urging the State Government to consider alternative shark control measures.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-15/humpback-whale-rescues-prompt-call-for-shark-net-rethink/9989874

Coral gardening and cloud seeding could be part of Reef action plan [$]
Replacement coral grown in aquaculture farms, and cloud-seeding to create shade over the Great Barrier Reef, could be included in a new action plan to protect the natural wonder from the effects of climate change.
https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/coral-gardening-and-cloud-seeding-could-be-part-of-great-barrier-reef-restoration-action-plan/news-story/f6cdf10cbfc86f0cbf58ab4be4f640a6

Reef relief on the horizon [$]
The Great Barrier Reef has suffered from severe whitening of its corals in recent years and needs serious remedial attention.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/doing-whatever-it-takes-to-rehabilitate-the-great-barrier-reef/news-story/be558da5f7e537d05acb329bf12c5aa8

First phase of virtual power plant complete; solar panels and Tesla batteries installed on 100 homes
Solar panels and Tesla batteries have been installed on 100 Housing SA homes to deliver the first phase of a State Government-backed virtual power plant.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/first-phase-of-virtual-power-plant-complete-solar-panels-and-tesla-batteries-installed-on-100-homes/news-story/b5749c856509e163d25278cf3cd01280

Your thoughts needed for transport reboot [$]
Almost 79 per cent of Adelaide commuters drive to work – the highest rate in the five mainland capitals. But Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll wants to change that, seeking solutions to deliver best public transport system for greater Adelaide.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/segways-and-uberstyle-buses-could-become-integral-parts-of-adelaides-public-transport-system/news-story/e5d0fddaa1de8310e3d1ca9b5f22a975

Is baby powder dangerous? Does industry even care?
A historic ruling against Johnson & Johnson over its talcum powder products rests on uncertain science — but reveals a very real trust problem for such companies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/13/opinion/editorials/johnson-johnson-baby-powder-talc.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion-editorials