Daily Links Aug 4

Climate change: melting mountains
Sweden has endured its hottest July on record, severe drought and some of the worst forest fires the country has ever seen. Now its highest peak has lost 4 metres to glacier melt.
http://www.euronews.com/2018/08/03/climate-change-melting-mountains

The five things we can’t answer about the National Energy Guarantee
The National Energy Guarantee will face one of its last major tests in August, yet despite nearly a year of development there are still unanswered questions.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/the-economy/the-five-things-we-can-t-answer-about-the-national-energy-guarantee-20180803-p4zvbo.html

‘No rush’: Craig Kelly demands details of additions to energy plan
The rush to approve the government’s energy scheme is “a dangerous way to make policy”, and even Labor-led jurisdictions would be unwise to agree, prominent Liberal MP Craig Kelly said.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/no-rush-craig-kelly-demands-details-of-additions-to-energy-plan-20180803-p4zvb0.html

What drove Coles’ plastic bag backflip
The reason Coles decided to keep giving customers free bags had nothing to do with disgruntled shoppers. 
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/companies/plastic-toys-vs-plastic-bags-coles-little-shop-drove-bag-backflip-20180803-p4zvdw.html

ALP ‘endorsing higher power bills’ [$]
Josh Frydenberg has seized on a Labor environmental group’s comments which appeared to endorse higher power prices.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-endorsing-higher-power-bills/news-story/39aa5a3076d95654fade48010f05845a

Will the media ever stop bloviating over settled facts for the sake of ‘balance’? [$]
Helen Razer
To debate facts such as environmental pollution is to introduce the possibility of doubt. We’ve seen this on the plastic bag ban, and we’ll see it again.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/08/02/plastic-bag-ban-media-balance-facts/

Should think tanks be forced to disclose their funders?
Simon Cowan
The implication that funding disclosure is necessary to assess think tank ideas, or that disclosure would improve democracy, is flawed.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/should-think-tanks-be-forced-to-disclose-their-funders-20180802-p4zv4g.html

Decentralisation is a solution to population growth
Laurie Patton
As Christopher Pyne recently pointed out, Australia has roughly the same land mass as the United States yet a fraction of the population. Despite accommodating 300-plus million people only a handful of American cities are anywhere near the size of Sydney or Melbourne.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/companies/decentralisation-is-a-solution-to-population-growth-20180801-p4zux5.html

As a drought takes hold, what is the best plan for Australia’s farms?
Jessica Irvine & Peter Hannam
Life on the land has always captured the hearts of all Australians, but some harder hearts are beginning to question the near-term viability of many farms.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/sustainability/as-a-drought-takes-hold-what-is-the-best-plan-for-australia-s-farms-20180802-p4zv9s.html

Seeing reason on plastic bags, one checkout at a time
SMH editorial
Plastic bag politics are far from lightweight.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/seeing-reason-on-plastic-bags-one-checkout-at-a-time-20180803-p4zvbx.html

Recycling ‘crisis’ fuels smart waste solutions
Age editorial
Adversity ignites innovation. China’s unheralded decision several months ago to stop importing much of the world’s recyclable rubbish was seen as a disaster for Australia and a number of other shocked nations.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/recycling-crisis-fuels-smart-waste-solutions-20180803-p4zvfe.html

Designing a ‘solar tarp,’ a foldable, packable way to generate power from sun
Darren Lipomi
Building on others’ work, my research group is working to develop flexible solar panels, which would be as efficient as a silicon panel, but would be thin, lightweight and bendable.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/designing-solar-tarp-foldable-packable-way-generate-power-sun-43889/

On energy, there is no Plan B [$]
Paul Kelly
The price, reliability and make-up of power supply define our political battlefield. Energy policy the test of our time.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/energy-policy-the-biggest-political-test-of-our-times/news-story/a854578b28d92c49a82445e28594a3a6

‘We were the kings’ [$]
A year after it was shut down, Hazelwood’s dormant coal mine is more than a flesh wound in the earth; it’s a source of deep division among locals.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/after-the-shutdown-signs-of-new-energy-in-victorias-latrobe-valley/news-story/308fb605f3b72d1ffe5014804bdcf3f3

Fighting for the small pleasures that make a city a society [$]
Guy Rundle
Why do we have to fight these battles over and over? Why must companies and governments continue to destroy our public treasures?
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/08/03/fighting-for-the-small-pleasures-that-make-a-city-a-society/

Clearing of native vegetation in NSW jumps 800% in three year
Figures released after eight-month battle between Guardian Australia and state tribunal
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/04/clearing-of-native-vegetation-in-nsw-jumps-800-in-three-years

Nuclear medicine back on track after Lucas Heights repairs [$]
A vital nuclear medicine facility is set to resume production next week, six weeks after a conveyor belt breakdown disrupted supplies to the health sector in Australia and overseas.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/health/nuclear-medicine-back-on-track-after-lucas-heights-repairs/news-story/cefbb7dcbb24f23c4e6faffe104218c8

Government urged to stop ‘fire-sale’ de-stocking of Cape York cattle stations
The Federal Government has been issued a ‘please explain’ about the sale of thousands of prime cattle from northern Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-03/federal-government-urged-to-stop-de-stocking-of-cattle-stations/10065378

‘Australia is better than this’: US lawyer taking Adani fight to UN
Australia is accused of putting a foreign company’s profits over the human rights of traditional owners by a lawyer representing opponents of the planned Adani mine in Queensland.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-03/anti-adani-campaign-by-indigenous-group-goes-to-the-un/10065240

Cautious Queensland prawn farmers restock after White Spot outbreak
Gold Coast prawn farmers who lost millions after a deadly disease infected their stocks fear biosecurity failings will mean they are wiped out a second time.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/cautious-queensland-prawn-farmers-restock-after-white-spot-outbreak-20180803-p4zvff.html

Plans lodged for floating Riverwalk in Brisbane
Plans have been lodged for a floating pedestrian and cyclist riverwalk in Brisbane.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/plans-lodged-for-floating-riverwalk-in-brisbane-20180803-p4zvf2.html

Queensland backs start-up with plans for low-cost EV fast-charging
Bridie Schmidt Queensland government backs Brisbane-based company whose vision is to supply low cost electricity supplies electric vehicle fast-charging.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/queensland-backs-start-plans-low-cost-ev-fast-charging-16308/

Traditional owners “locked out” of nuclear waste vote
The head of the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association says the majority of Adnyamathanha people have been denied a vote on a proposed radioactive waste management facility near the town of Hawker in the Flinders Rangers.
https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/08/03/traditional-owners-locked-out-of-nuclear-waste-vote/

Eco pitch for $50m cable car proposal [$]
The Mt Wellington Cableway Company has unveiled its final plans, including the cable car’s route, designs for the pinnacle centre – and a new road.
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/mt-wellington-cableway-company-finally-reveals-detailed-plans/news-story/74c5dc0d0f299f3e4b5c485c4d436c0f

Company to build access road [$]
A new 2.5km road will be built to better connect visitors to the cable car base at Wellington Park.
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/company-to-build-access-road-for-cable-car-base-station/news-story/b2386f8b5ae53790d75de58c6c0638b4

Big ideas for summit centre [$]
The proposed cable car’s $16 million pinnacle centre atop kunanyi/Mt Wellington will comprise a restaurant, bar and a community event space fit to host a wedding or a concert.
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/big-ideas-for-cable-cars-pinnacle-centre/news-story/7d858d95fd82defe1759924e35067d94

Residents alarmed at sick salmon move [$]
A plan to move salmon that may be sick from Storm Bay to Norfolk Bay has alarmed locals on the Tasman Peninsula
https://www.themercury.com.au/business/tasman-peninsula-residents-alarmed-at-sick-salmon-move/news-story/b4865a760a52e38fa25823fb2aa17a7e

Hi-tech option to revolutionise transport [$]
New technology could revolutionise Hobart’s public transport system – and it has the support of the group pushing for the return of light rail.
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/trackless-trams-would-revolutionise-hobart-public-transport/news-story/acbdf444b306d3eb5c94a28943afe0d0

Tasmanian devil cancer: human intervention the likely cause … ?
Jody Warren and Brian Martin
The Tasmanian devil cancer, DFTD (devil facial tumour disease), is one of a growing number of new and emerging diseases.
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/tasmanian-devil-cancer-dftd-devil-facial-tumour-disease-/

Perth ‘one of healthiest cities in the world’, according to Spotahome study
Perth has been named in the world’s top 10 healthiest cities, ranking behind only one other Australian city.
https://thewest.com.au/news/tourism/perth-one-of-healthiest-cities-in-the-world-according-to-spotahome-study-ng-b88916641z

Tesla Energy admits slowdown of Powerwall battery production
Sophie Vorrath As EV production ramps up, Tesla has had to ramp down production of Powerwall batteries, due to being “cell starved.” But not for long.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-energy-admits-slowdown-of-powerwall-battery-production-92955/

Dam collapse highlights risks to communities as Laos seeks to become hydroelectricity hub
The tragic collapse of a hydroelectric dam in Laos last month highlights the growing danger to tens of thousands of people in rural and remote communities as the country pushes ahead with scores of similar hydropower projects.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-03/dam-collapse-highlights-risks-to-communities-in-laos/10071836

Pa. braces for impact as Three Mile Island nears closure
Three Mile Island, the plant made famous for a partial meltdown in 1979 that fomented anti-nuclear sentiment, is being felled by a new foe: natural gas.
https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060091883

A cross-border coal plant could put Sundarbans at risk
An India-Bangladesh promoted coal-fired power plant, in the periphery of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest in Bangladesh, is geared to start operations by March 2021.
https://india.mongabay.com/2018/08/03/a-cross-border-coal-plant-could-put-sundarbans-at-risk/

Peru’s vast lithium discovery: A risky economic boon?
A vast deposit of hard-rock lithium could bring riches to Peru, but it also poses environmental and societal questions.
https://www.dw.com/en/perus-vast-lithium-discovery-a-risky-economic-boon/a-44936017

5,500 UK churches switch to renewable energy
Churches estimated to have diverted £5m from fossil fuels to clean energy providers
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/03/5500-uk-churches-switch-to-renewable-energy

Technology will save us [$]
Graham Lloyd
Eco-modernists argue that population control is not the key to a healthier planet.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/ecomodernists-put-the-population-doomsayers-in-their-box/news-story/8d9771e22bb02782f724b02f6f67a4eb

‘Red tide’ blamed for whale shark, turtle, dolphin carcasses on Florida beaches
Dolphins, manatees and even a whale shark wash up dead in Florida because of what locals say is a “red tide” caused by an algal bloom in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-03/red-tide-blamed-for-dead-marine-life-on-florida-beaches/10071686

Insect-eating birds consume 400-500 million metric tons of prey annually
World’s insectivorous birds eat 400 to 500 million metric tons of beetles, flies, ants, moths, aphids, grasshoppers, crickets and other arthropods per year, according to a review of 103 previous studies.
http://www.sci-news.com/biology/insect-eating-birds-06181.html

How oil exploration cut a grid of scars into Alaska’s wilderness
A huge grid covers the landscape just outside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, from seismic testing for oil and gas. Parts of the refuge itself could soon look the same way.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/03/climate/alaska-anwr-seismic-testing-tracks.html

Wildflowers combat climate change with diversity
How does genetic variation persist in the face of natural selection?
https://phys.org/news/2018-08-wildflowers-combat-climate-diversity.html

Chimp sanctuary created by World Bank threatened by World Bank-backed dam
Bank helped create reserve for endangered primates, but has since funded studies used to approve dam that would flood newly created habitat
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/03/chimp-sanctuary-created-by-world-bank-threatened-by-world-bank-backed-dam

Polar bear’s death reveals nightmare toll of latest travel trend
Suzanne Rickard
The death of the polar bear in its own environment prompted global outcry and criticism of one of the latest travel trends – Arctic cruises.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/polar-bear-s-death-reveals-nightmare-toll-of-latest-travel-trend-20180803-p4zvd3.html