Post of the Day
U.S. $23 trillion will be lost if temperatures rise four degrees by 2100
Imagine something similar to the Great Depression of 1929 hitting the world, but this time it never ends.
https://phys.org/news/2018-08-trillion-lost-temperatures-degrees.html
Today’s Celebration
Death of General Jose de San Martin – Argentina
Indonesian National Day – Indonesia
Montserrat Annual Pilgrimage – Montserrat
Marcus Garvey’s Birthday – Rastafarian
Black Cat Appreciation Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/black-cat-appreciation-day/
More about Aug 17 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17_August
Climate Change
Climate change sea level rises could increase risk for more devastating tsunamis worldwide
The threat of rising sea levels to coastal cities and communities throughout the world is well known, but new findings show the likely increase of flooding farther inland from tsunamis following earthquakes.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/vt-ccs081418.php
Meet the ‘climate kids’ suing the US government over global warming
They claim inaction on climate change has blighted their future – just one of many challenges now hitting the courts. And they might just succeed.
The country most vulnerable to climate change fights back
Landlocked Chad offers solutions from the front lines of its battle against global warming.
https://www.ozy.com/acumen/the-country-most-vulnerable-to-climate-change-fights-back/87434
U.S. $23 trillion will be lost if temperatures rise four degrees by 2100
Imagine something similar to the Great Depression of 1929 hitting the world, but this time it never ends.
https://phys.org/news/2018-08-trillion-lost-temperatures-degrees.html
Border water is the biggest climate change issue no one’s talking about
Border water will be at the center of climate change diplomacy.
National
Australian e-waste tracked to Thai junkyard likely violated international convention, expert says
Reports that a defunct computer screen dropped at Officeworks for recycling was shipped to a junkyard in Thailand have renewed calls for Australia to get serious about e-waste controls.
What exactly is the NEG supposed do? And is it actually going to achieve it? [$]
The Coalition claims that the NEG will reduce emissions, make power more reliable, and save households money. The numbers paint a different picture.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/08/16/neg-explained-goals-outcomes/
Origin profit surges as energy consumers feel the pinch
Origin Energy profit surges 110% in FY 2018, as orgy of money-making by Australia’s big three gen-tailers continues, fed by high power prices.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/origin-profit-surges-as-energy-consumers-feel-the-pinch-45674/
ESB proposes major changes to reliability framework of NEG
The Energy Security Board has admitted that it is still not yet settled on the design of the reliability obligation within the proposed National Energy Guarantee, and will canvass significant changes to its design in a new options paper to be released later this week.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/esb-proposes-major-changes-to-reliability-framework-of-neg-33801/
NEG: Labor warns it will not back taxpayer support for new coal-fired power
Shadow climate change minister Mark Butler says Labor open to dealing with NEG legislation before states sign off
Dutton being urged to challenge Turnbull
Peter Dutton is being urged to challenge the leadership of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull by conservative MPs angry at the government’s energy policy, according to a report.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/dutton-being-urged-challenge-turnbull-201041206–spt.html
Turnbull woos dissidents over energy guarantee as Dutton declares he’s a ‘team player’
Home affairs minister says he gives frank advice but is not going to ‘bag the prime minister out’
PM ready to wield ‘big stick’ to lower power bills as he tries to stave off NEG rebellion
The Government is signalling it is prepared to take tough action to force power prices down as it tries to head off an internal rebellion against the NEG. But one MP says it’s a sign Malcolm Turnbull is “pressing the panic button so hard it is like he is playing Space Invaders”.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-16/government-sends-strong-signals-on-power-prices/10128842
Shell calls for energy certainty [$]
Shell Australia chairman Zoe Yujnovich has called for certainty on national energy policy after years of upheaval.
First forecasts for spring point to ‘intensification’ of dry conditions
The drought savaging farms across much of eastern Australia is likely to intensify in coming months, with odds favouring a continuation of below-average rain.
Senator fights against animal cull poison
Independent senator Derryn Hinch is lobbying for a poison known as 1080 to be phased out of animal culling efforts.
Bid to limit commercial fishing in marine parks defeated by Coalition
Government and Senate crossbench combine to reject Greens and Labor motions to disallow controversial management plans
Cladding is political: Governments will have to pay to replace it, RICS says
Australian governments will have to underwrite or fund the rectification of combustible cladding on residential buildings as an increasing number of apartment owners become unable to do so, one of the UK’s top expert advisers on cladding warned on Thursday.
Any new coal generator will force the early closure of another
David Leitch
Anything deviating from transitioning to a reliable, firmed renewable grid will end up costing Australians and Australian business more in the long run.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/any-new-coal-generator-will-force-the-early-closure-of-another-61360/
How we can win the energy war [$]
Tony Abbott
Australians demand lower power prices. Here’s the former prime minister’s seven-step plan for the government to make that happen.
Energy is still a lightning rod for discontent with PM [$]
Phillip Coorey
Even if Tony Abbott loses the NEG war, he will have kept pressure on Malcolm Turnbull all the way to the end.
https://www.afr.com/news/energy-is-still-a-lightning-rod-for-discontent-with-pm-20180815-h140zi
More NEG lies during Question Time
John Passant
The NEG was a hot topic during QT, with the coal dinosaurs ignoring climate change for cheap, reliable energy
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/more-neg-lies-during-question-time,11789
Brace for a cold shower [$]
John Ferguson
Most voters want an end to state bans on onshore gas exploration.
Victoria
Huge skyscrapers putting Melbourne at risk of becoming ‘Asian mega city’
The developers of the $2 billion project are yet to lodge a planning application, but some experts are sceptical that it’ll even get that far.
Tiptoe through the treetops plan for our park [$]
A treetop walk with views to the Yarra and closing traffic lanes are among the latest proposals to improve Melbourne’s much-loved Domain Parklands.
Mt Buller resort icon to get $40m makeover [$]
Mt Buller’s Kooroora Hotel has been a legendary meeting place for skiers and revellers for decades. But the resort icon is about to undergo a major revamp.
New South Wales
NSW govt stands firm on plastic bag ban
The NSW Greens have introduced draft laws that aim to reduce plastic pollution but the premier believes plastic bags aren’t the biggest cause of litter.
‘Significant step’: NSW government unveils Sydney marine park plan
Twenty-five high-value biodiversity marine sites around the Sydney region will get enhanced protection as part of a long-awaited marine park proposed by the Berejiklian government.
‘They seizure, they froth, they die’: Warning to pet owners over fox baiting program
It comes just weeks after a rogue fox in urban Ryde sparked concern among residents.
Drought prompts urgent work on desal plant [$]
A worst-case drought scenario is being planned for by the NSW government that would restrict Sydney households’ water use next year.
ACT
Cost of emissions reduction target revealed
Cutting the ACT’s greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds by 2030 could cost nearly $6 million, but Climate Change Minister Shane Rattenbury warned the cost of not acting could be far greater.
Queensland
Special Queensland power price cuts on the cards [$]
Turnbull Government MPs have found a way to dramatically reduce Queensland power bills in a bid to get the at-risk National Energy Guarantee through, but could it cost the Commonwealth billions of dollars to make it happen.
Reef money man was at centre of uni scandal [$]
The former University of Queensland vice chancellor who resigned over a nepotism scandal is in charge of the committee that decides how to spend almost half a billion dollars from a controversial Reef grant.
Coral’s centuries-old problem [$]
Graham Lloyd
Coral bleaching has been a regular feature of the Great Barrier Reef for the past 400 years, with evidence of repeated mass events.
Turnbull, #Reefgate lies and UNESCO
David Donovan
The Turnbull Government has been lying about – and to – UNESCO about the Great Barrier Reef.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/turnbull-unesco-and-the-reef,11793
South Australia
Aboriginal group wins injunction to halt nuclear ballot
A community vote on the proposed nuclear waste dump on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is delayed after the Barngarla people win a court injunction, arguing the postal ballot contravened racial discrimination laws.
Consumers to pay for ‘last minute’ NEG changes
Energy retailer ERM Power says last-minute changes to the NEG proposed by SA could force consumers to pay the price of excessive investments in power generation.
https://www.afr.com/news/consumers-to-pay-for-last-minute-neg-changes-says-erm-power-20180816-h1423y
Tasmania
‘The proposal just keeps getting worse’ [$]
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has written to all Hobart City Council aldermen urging them to reject the cable car proposal.
Tasmania’s $200 million ports infrastructure boost
Tasmania’s four main ports are set for big infrastructure projects under a $200 million-plus master plan announced on Thursday.
https://www.examiner.com.au/news/local-news/5588841/tasmanias-200-million-ports-boost/
IMAS student volunteers to create network, upgrade skills
Reusable plastic bags are not the only way to address the growing problem of plastic pollution. Student volunteer Bernadette Willey has been tackling the poignant issue through her volunteer work with a University of Tasmania PhD student. The work aims to collect and analyse data and literature about the subject and use computer software to identify the gaps.
Western Australia
Perth bureaucrats in ‘shocking’ corruption
Criminal charges may be laid after corruption investigators uncovered shocking bribery and ‘bid-rigging’ within Perth’s North Metropolitan Health Service.
Sustainability
Chart of the day: In these cities, breathing air is like smoking cigarettes
In some cities around the globe, just breathing the air pretty much makes you a chain smoker.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-16/chart-of-the-day-air-quality/10123238
Water use for fracking has risen by up to 770 percent since 2011
The amount of water used per well for fracking surged by up to 770 percent between 2011 and 2016 in all major US shale gas- and oil-producing regions, a Duke University study finds.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/du-wuf081018.php
DDT linked to an increase in autism risk in new study
Columbia University Medical Center researchers found that mothers with higher exposure to the banned pesticide had an increased risk of a child developing autism.
https://www.ehn.org/pesticide-ddt-linked-to-autism-2596392306.html
Scientists sequence wheat genome in breakthrough once thought ‘impossible’
Genome able to be used to produce hardier wheat varieties as greater food security needed
Green space in every schoolyard: The radical plan to cool Paris
Playground oases could benefit students and city alike, but will making them public prove too controversial in a city on high alert?
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/16/could-greening-every-paris-schoolyard-cool-the-city
The NSA’s role in a climate-changed world: Spying on nonprofits, fishing boats, and the north pole
New documents show how U.S. spies gathered intelligence related to environmental conflicts, disasters, and resources.
https://theintercept.com/2018/08/15/nsa-snowden-documents-climate-change/
Nature Conservation
Extending palm oil production in Africa threatens primate conservation
Future expansion of the palm oil industry could have a dramatic impact on African primate.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/ecjr-epo081418.php
On patrol with the wildlife rangers of Chinko – photo essay
Suspected poachers caught in Chinko arrive at the park’s main base. Photograph: Jack Losh
Rangers in this Central African Republic nature reserve face an array of dangers in their bid to protect a rich variety of species
US poised to allow more mining on land Trump removed from monuments
Officials plan to sell some of the land that once belonged to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, despite pledge not to
New pesticides may harm bees as much as existing ones – study
Ability of bumblebees to reproduce, and rate at which colonies grow, compromised by new sulfoximine-based insecticides
Brazil: murder of indigenous leader highlights threat to way of life
Jorginho Guajajara’s killing is believed by members of his tribe to be the result of conflict with loggers in their Amazon territory
Logging permit fraud threatens timber species in Brazilian Amazon
Timber harvested illegally under fraudulent permits is undercutting conservation efforts in the Brazilian Amazon, new research by an international collaboration shows .
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/osu-lpf081418.php
Extinction is natural, but it’s happening at 1,000 times the normal speed
Studies show that extinction affects some species more than others, resulting in biodiversity loss that can disrupt whole ecosystems. It’s time we figure out what to do about it.