Post of the Day
Threatened species inquiry told public servants think Australia is failing
Union tells Senate inquiry more than 90% of staff working with threatened species say Australia’s performance is poor
Today’s Celebration
Independence Day – Brazil
Lusaka Agreement Day – Mozambique
National Tree Planting Day – Namibia
First Parkash (Bikarami) – Sikhism
Threatened Species Day – http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened
World Duchenne Awareness Day – http://saveoursons.org.au/
Bring Your Manners To Work Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bring-your-manners-to-work-day/
Lazy Mom’s Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lazy-moms-day/
Superhuman Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/superhuman-day/
Buy a Book Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/buy-a-book-day/
Beer Lover’s Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/beer-lovers-day/
More about Sep 7 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_7
Climate Change
Unlocking the inclusive growth story of the 21st Century: accelerating climate action in urgent times
Global Commission on the Economy and Climate
The growth story of the 21st Century can unlock unprecedented opportunities of a strong, sustainable, inclusive economy. The benefits of climate action are greater than ever before, while the costs of inaction continue to mount. It is time for a decisive shift to a new climate economy.
National
The habitats of threatened species are shrinking, despite laws set up to protect them
An area bigger than Tasmania has been carved from the habitats of threatened species in just 17 years, prompting one environmental researcher to describe the situation as a “deep shame for Australia”.
Threatened species inquiry told public servants think Australia is failing
Union tells Senate inquiry more than 90% of staff working with threatened species say Australia’s performance is poor
Millions at risk: Fire chiefs warn of bleak bushfire outlook
Large parts of Australia are expecting an above-normal bushfire risk this season, with fire chiefs from around the country warning people to start getting ready now.
Australia’s authority in Pacific ‘being eroded by refusal to address climate change’
Top climate scientist says leaders disenchanted with Australia’s promotion of coal and slowing down action on meeting Paris targets
‘We still don’t have a national energy policy’: Gas industry calls for certainty
Gas companies and associated industries call on the federal and state governments to quickly get back to the table on negotiating a national energy and climate policy.
Government could find itself a target in electricity royal commission
The Scott Morrison government could be in for a rude surprise if it carried out a royal commission into the electricity sector, industry experts say.
Doctor ‘sticks to guns’ on climate [$]
The independent candidate favoured to win the Wagga Wagga by-election has written about the dangers of climate change.
Fair dinkum! Renewables and storage soon to be cheaper than existing coal plants
The point where new wind and solar, backed by energy storage, become cheaper than operating old coal plants is not far away.
16 renewable hydrogen projects backed by ARENA grants
ARENA offers $22.1m in funding to 16 different R&D projects working to fast-track establishment of national renewable hydrogen industry.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/16-renewable-hydrogen-projects-backed-by-arena-grants-31287/
Time for another look at nuclear [$]
Jessica Lovering,
Why all the fuss about renewables when the answer to energy issues is at our feet?
Power retailers spend big on advertising and consumers pick up the tab
Richard Denniss
Electricity companies pay millions for ‘customer retention’. The cost of this marketing nonsense is passed on to you and me
Modern business brains need to replace old digger brawn
Harold Mitchell
We haven’t really faced the fact that the resources boom is over, it’s time to show some courage.
Coal does not have an economic future in Australia
Frank Jotzo and Salim Mazouz
An international report has found there’s no future for Australia’s coal exports.
https://theconversation.com/coal-does-not-have-an-economic-future-in-australia-102718
How the ‘bin chicken’ became a totem for modern Australia
Paul Allatson and Andrea Connor.
“Bin chickens”, “tip turkeys”, “sandwich snatchers” and “picnic pirates”. Ibises have become an Australian cultural phenomenon and their tenacity as environmental refugees means they attract love and hate alike.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-07/ibis-bin-chicken-rise-totem-for-modern-australia/10209332
We must build out to build big [$]
Warren Mundine
It’s time to have a realistic debate about immigration — without the discussion being shut down. But if we do, we also need to look at ways to grow regions, not just cities
The reef, banks and power [$]
Graham Richardson
The new Prime Minister would be well advised to make these issues his mantra.
Gas plan to end power deadlock [$]
Ex-Dow boss Andrew Liveris questions both renewables and coal, but has a plan to cut power prices and reduce emissions.
The fall and rise of demand response, and the power of “negawatts”
Mark Byrne
In the crazy world of Australian climate and energy policy, if you wait long enough, an idea killed off by one government eventually comes back and saves the day.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-fall-and-rise-of-demand-response-and-the-power-of-negawatts-66896/
Victoria
Victorian town drives unique renewable energy strategy
The small town in north-east Victoria is implementing a solar energy strategy that will generate power off the grid, reduce local demand for electricity during peak summer periods, and decrease the price of energy.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-06/euroa-microgrid-plan-to-avoid-summer-blackouts/10209080
WorkSafe Victoria assumes Footscray West inferno business not registered for chemical use [$]
THE business at the centre of the West Footscray inferno may not have been registered to hold chemicals, potentially hampering authorities’ ability to prevent and tackle the blaze.
The heat’s on solar farm for anti-renewables Liberal candidate Beverley McArthur [$]
A Liberal candidate who has attacked government subsidies for renewable energy stands to make a huge sum from a $150 million solar farm on her family’s property.
Rail lobby’s plan drives Metro 2 as a priority [$]
An influential rail lobby group has talked down the Andrews Government’s plan for an underground suburban rail line, calling for other projects to be prioritised above the mammoth proposal.
Progressives and public transport advocates should be calling the Andrews government out on its nakedly political suburban rail ‘loop’ ploy
Alan Davies
Isn’t there a much, much better way to do cross-city public transport?
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19931
New South Wales
‘Revved up’: Land being cleared at the rate of 14 football fields a day in northern NSW
The rate of land clearing in northern NSW more than tripled after the Berejiklian government eased native vegetation protection in 2017.
Ingenious move allows whole city to benefit
Tony Shepherd
It may come as a shock to those who can find nothing good to say about WestConnex, but one aspect of city-changing project is especially clever.
ACT
Experts warn Canberra is facing the same bushfire conditions as 2003
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded the lowest rainfall on record at two of its Canberra stations this winter.
South Australia
Aboriginal group’s 11th-hour bid to stop coal gas extraction
The Adnyamathanha people seek an urgent order from the Supreme Court to block plans to extract gas from Leigh Creek’s coalfields, just days after the project receives final approval from SA’s Mining Minister.
Council intervenes to fix West Beach sand crisis [$]
Charles Sturt Council has enlisted coastal ecology expert Dr Ian Dyson to help fix the ongoing sand crisis at West Beach, saying the State Government’s effort is “not good enough”.
SA threatened species need more funding, say conservationists [$]
Conservationists are calling for greater efforts to protect all animals – from the charismatic to the downright ugly – on World Threatened Species Day.
Honestly, why can’t you just pick up your own rubbish?
Rebecca Baker
Tissues, food scraps, drink bottles, all left lazily strewn across the ground after a couple of men’s footy finals matches has left Rebecca Baker angry and stunned. What’s wrong with people?
The inconvenient truths about South Australia’s renewable success
Giles Parkinson
Nearly two years on from the state-wide blackout triggered when freak tornadoes tore down major power lines, South Australia remains a punching bag for the federal government, and anti-renewable campaigners everywhere.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-inconvenient-truths-about-south-australias-renewable-success-86561/
Tasmania
PFAS management plan still not finalised for Launceston, Hobart airports
A management plan for sites at Launceston airport exposed to toxic firefighting foam is still yet to be finalised.
Devils bred at Tasmania Zoo help save future populations
Tasmanian-bred devils have key DNA that is valuable for the future of the species.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5630160/our-devils-hold-key-to-future-bloodline/?cs=132
Northern Territory
$3000 fine for fishing at a sacred site [$]
A commercial fishing company and its boss have each been handed $3000 fines in Darwin Local Court for deliberately setting gill nets on a sacred site
Western Australia
WA’s bushfire risk high despite wet winter, say experts
Years of below average rainfall have left the most populated parts of WA exposed to a higher risk of catastrophic bushfires, scientists and fire experts have warned.
Sustainability
Burberry to stop using real fur and burning unsold goods
British fashion label Burberry says it will no longer burn millions of dollars worth of unsold luxury goods or use real fur in its collections after a furore over its environmental record.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-06/burberry-stops-using-fur-burning-luxury-goods/10210892
Japan acknowledges first radiation death from nuclear plant hit by tsunami
Japan has acknowledged for the first time that a worker at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami more than seven years ago, has died from radiation exposure.
Global soft drink firms back plan to eliminate packaging waste
Industry makes biggest commitment yet to ending its use of throwaway plastic bottles
Bangladesh’s air pollution problem grows, brick by brick
Though only a small part of the nation’s GDP, brickmaking plays an outsized role in the spread of air pollution — and disease — in Dhaka and beyond.
https://undark.org/article/air-pollution-dhaka/
Asia to see 78 percent growth in meat eating by 2050: Report
Population growth and rising incomes across Asia will drive a 78 percent increase in meat and seafood consumption by 2050.
How Indigenous-led environmental assessments could ease resource, pipeline gridlock
A new concept is emerging in the world of environmental decision-making: it’s not enough for governments to loop Indigenous groups into environmental assessments. Indigenous peoples should be able to conduct their own.
In 1972, a computer model predicted the end of the world — and we’re on track
In the early 1970s, a computer program called World1 predicted that civilization would likely collapse by 2040.
Shell-backed startup creates fuel from carbon dioxide and fake sunlight
A startup company backed by energy giant Shell has developed a method to turn carbon dioxide into fuel by adding fake sunlight.
Electric cars set to drive the scramble for copper
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Copper, of all the resource commodities, is regarded as having the best long term supply-demand fundamentals.
A fresh opportunity to get regulation and engagement right – the case of synthetic biology
Rachel A. Ankeny, Joan Leach and Megan Munsie
Synthetic biology is highly promising – but if we don’t get the regulation and engagement right, we risk alienating members of the public, and may even close doors for potentially fruitful research.
Maelor Himbury
6 Florence St Niddrie 3042
0393741902
0432406862