Daily Links Aug 6

Capitalism killed our climate momentum, not “Human Nature”
Naomi Klein
Nathaniel Rich, in his massive New York Times Magazine article, argues “human nature” kept “us” from fixing climate change in the 1980s. He’s dead wrong.
https://theintercept.com/2018/08/03/climate-change-new-york-times-magazine/

Most Australians want more renewables to help lower power prices – poll
Survey comes as Victoria and Queensland urged to block national energy guarantee and business groups call for deal to be approved
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/06/most-australians-want-more-renewables-to-help-lower-power-prices-poll

The ‘golden age of citizen science’ and how it is reshaping the world
Environmental scientists are increasingly calling on private citizens to help them with their research and collect data
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/06/the-golden-age-of-citizen-science-and-how-it-is-reshaping-the-world

Turnbull announces $12,000 payments for drought-stricken farmers
Lump-sum payments and boost in mental health services part of $190m relief package
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/05/turnbull-announces-immediate-cash-payments-for-drought-stricken-farmers

A snapshot of the drought across Australia
Drought is affecting more than half of Queensland and nearly all of NSW, with the conditions said to be among the worst since 1965.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/a-snapshot-of-the-drought-across-australia/news-story/30cbb8dc4a91b6a268267ee530b4a4a9

Business pushing states to agree on energy
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott has urged state and territory governments to back a federal plan on power prices.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/business-pushing-states-to-agree-on-energy/news-story/094a7fb77ebcd319b16253b6ffe70abe

Population policy needed as Australia hits 25 million [$]
Victorian independent MP Cathy McGowan says a formal population policy is needed in Australia, as Labor warns infrastructure spending is inadequate.
https://www.afr.com/news/calls-for-federal-population-policy-as-australia-hits-25-million-people-20180803-h13jh2

A virus of odious ignorance has infected conservative thinking – and politics
Greg Jericho
Climate change has so affected conservative minds, they can’t even digest the idea of reusable shopping bags
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2018/aug/05/a-virus-of-odious-ignorance-has-infected-conservative-thinking-and-politics

A drought we knew was coming
Canberra Times editorial
The tragedy isn’t the drought. It’s that generations of politicians didn’t care about our farmers’ futures.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/a-drought-we-knew-was-coming-20180805-p4zvmz.html

Strong cities the key to our future [$]
Simon Kuestenmacher
In February 2016, Australia added resident number 24 million. Tomorrow we will welcome resident number 25 million.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/strong-liveable-cities-the-key-to-a-prosperous-future/news-story/19435fffa78225341aac9046ea92ddd2

Another fine energy shambles [$]
Alan Kohler
The NEG is a stupendously complicated idea that isn’t really designed to achieve anything — except political agreement.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/alan-kohler/another-fine-energy-shambles/news-story/ed570a3a14284271fdcf3b85b1693cf3

Victoria gives Turnbull no guarantee on national energy blueprint
Andrews has signalled Victoria could deny Turnbull a deal on the emissions blueprint it hopes will end more than a decade of energy wars in Australia.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-gives-turnbull-no-guarantee-on-national-energy-blueprint-20180805-p4zvn7.html

Andrews’ push for cheaper power could backfire, energy industry warns
A proposal to slash Victorian power bills by forcing energy companies to offer a no-frills “basic service offer” is meeting fierce resistance from renewable energy retailers, who have leapt on a recent warning by Australia’s competition watchdog that it will drive smaller operators out of business.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/andrews-push-for-cheaper-power-could-backfire-energy-industry-warns-20180805-p4zvn3.html

Greenies push Labor to keep power prices high [$]
Victoria’s Labor government is poised to scupper Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s signature energy policy because it fears the wrath of green activists.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/greenie-activists-push-labor-to-promote-solar-and-keep-electricity-power-prices-high/news-story/cf8bd84346f843b2bdca97c05e490703

Cyclists want to ride on footpaths
There’s a push for cyclists to be allowed to ride on footpaths but not everyone is happy.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/motoring-news/push-for-cyclists-to-ride-on-footpaths/news-story/e4d1e091f34c91df871f6847275a6363

Beach Rd battle heats up as residents take fight to VCAT [$]
Frustrated residents have gone to court to fight against a contentious plan to narrow parts of Beach Rd, with VCAT to rule on the future of the project within the next month.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/beach-rd-battle-heats-up-as-residents-take-fight-to-vcat/news-story/81b63a769da37c67df47f49a3d737e39

Real reason for NEG-ativity [$]
Judith Sloan
The Andrews government’s threat to block the NEG has little to do with policy and everything to do with local politics.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/judith-sloan/selfpreservation-the-real-reason-for-labors-negativity/news-story/93847059da126076795cb66cf9310e28

‘Bad policy’: Tony Burke condemns $444m Great Barrier Reef grant
Shadow environment minister says researchers would be forced to apply to private foundation for taxpayer funds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/05/bad-policy-tony-burke-slams-444m-great-barrier-reef-grant

Pied currawong sighting in Brisbane poses threat to native wildlife
A nest-predatory bird species has been spotted in a north Brisbane underground car park by a local terrestrial ecologist.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/pied-currawong-sighting-in-brisbane-poses-threat-to-native-wildlife-20180804-p4zviz.html

CityCycle initiative has turned around, with a 35 per cent increase in patronage
More than 2000 trips are taken on Brisbane’s yellow CityCycle bikes each day, with the number of trips increasing by 35 per cent in the past year.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/citycycle-initiative-has-turned-around-with-a-35-per-cent-increase-in-patronage-20180805-p4zvnc.html

Time to consider the needs of people above the needs of cars
Jim Sallis
I recently led a “walkshop” – a walking workshop – that taught cardiac rehabilitation experts how to assess the pedestrian-friendliness of streetscapes, including design of footpaths (if any), street crossings and roadways.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/time-to-consider-the-needs-of-people-above-the-needs-of-cars-20180805-p4zvla.html

Wildlife woes wound wind farm work [$]
Part of a $300 million wind farm proposed for a Mid North site – which houses an endangered lizard population – was previously flagged for conservation by the state Environment Department.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/proposed-wind-farm-hits-snag-as-site-was-flagged-for-conservation-and-houses-lizards-and-wombats/news-story/830eca7e47acd82166024a20bf488e61

Summit to canvass world heritage for Burrup’s beauty [$]
On the Burrup peninsula, the mysterious beauty of the world’s largest rock art expanse lies waiting for international acclaim and the protection it deserves.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/summit-to-canvass-world-heritage-for-burrups-beauty/news-story/af4003172652a34f8f206ceaf140e418

Welsh river study reveals ‘troubling’ decline of wildlife
Forty-year study shows loss of invertebrates, with repercussions for larger animals
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/05/welsh-river-study-reveals-troubling-decline-of-wildlife