Date: 13 October 2018 at 09:18:12 AEDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Oct 13
Post of the Day
What’s another way to say ‘we’re f-cked’?
Jeff Goodell
One of the leading climate scientists of our time is warning of the horrifying possibility of 15-to-20 feet of sea-level rise.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/climate-change-sea-level-rise-737012/
Today’s Celebration
Cession Day – Fiji
Rwagasore Day – Burundi
International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
Climate Change
A last-ditch global warming fix? A man-made ‘volcanic’ eruption
Scientists and some environmentalists believe nations might have to mimic volcanic gases as a last-ditch effort to protect Earth from extreme warming.
That $3 trillion-a-year clean energy transformation? It’s already underway.
A landmark climate change report describes a shift in energy spending—away from fossil fuels and into clean energy—needed to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees.
What’s another way to say ‘we’re f-cked’?
Jeff Goodell
One of the leading climate scientists of our time is warning of the horrifying possibility of 15-to-20 feet of sea-level rise.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/climate-change-sea-level-rise-737012/
Climate unsuited to saving lives [$]
Bjorn Lomborg
A tiny fraction of the resources wasted on combating CO2 could eradicate TB, the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
National
These 12 Australian coal power stations would need to close to hit the IPCC target: report
The world got a stark warning on climate change this week, but if Australia is to act on it and hit the IPCC’s coal-generated electricity reduction target, 12 power plants will need to close, according to a report from the Parliamentary Library.
Carp herpes release plan on hold
‘Carpageddon’ won’t be seen for at least another 12 months in Australia, with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources approving an extension to the development of the carp herpes virus.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-12/carp-herpes-virus-plans-put-on-hold/10370836
Explainer: Everything you need to know about tornadoes in Australia
The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed a tornado smashed through Queensland yesterday. Since when are tornadoes in Australia a thing?
Here comes the sun, but don’t panic
Beware the latest rooftop solar scare campaign from the networks. There are more important things to do than to demonise solar households.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/here-comes-the-sun-but-dont-panic-72174/
Experts say Barracudas moving to cooler waters due to climate change
Barracudas known to enjoy the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean or the southern Mediterranean Sea, have been found in the relatively cold waters of the Northern Adriatic Sea.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/experts-say-barracudas-moving-to-cooler-waters-due-to-climate-change
How do Labor and the Coalition stack up on reducing carbon emissions?
Climate change – and what Australia will do to combat it – is set to be a key battleground next time Australia goes to the polls. So, where do the two big parties stand on it?
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/how-do-labor-and-the-coalition-stack-up-on-reducing-carbon-emissions
Rio warns of $700m profit hit [$]
Rio Tinto has warned of a $US500 million ($700m) hit to full-year operating profits from rising costs of raw materials and energy.
AEMC sees no market gaming, but says batteries will lower prices
Giles Parkinson
It’s one of the biggest jokes in the energy industry – the deliberate manipulation of capacity, availability and bidding strategies that ensures that the big fossil fuel generators maximise their profits, at the expense of consumers.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/aemc-sees-no-market-gaming-but-says-batteries-will-lower-prices-42472/
Lip service and lies: Coalition’s response to the IPCC report
Joshua S Hill
Australian Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison arrives for the Liberal Party room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra. (AAP Image/Sam Mooy)
Earlier this week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a new report which outlined the need for “rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/lip-service-and-lies-coalitions-response-to-the-ipcc-report-30378/
Morrison avoids dwelling on climate change, but will the voters?
Michelle Grattan
The Government is correct when it judges voters are focused on power prices, but it underestimates people’s concern about emission and commitment to renewables, and Alex Turnbull knows this.
Climate gestures are futile [$]
Chris Kenny
We need sound energy policy based on rational processes, not emotional posturing.
Our democracy has failed — time for an independent climate action body [$]
Bernard Keane
It’s time for a Reserve Bank-style independent body on climate change that reflects our longstanding belief that some issues are too important to be left to politicians.
Beef farmers bristle but methane’s hard to ignore [$]
Sue Neales
Livestock farming is an easy target but green practices are paying off for pioneers on the land.
Farmers’ climate denial begins to wane as reality bites
Sarah Ann Wheeler and Céline Nauges
A decade ago, only a third of farmers accepted the science of climate change. But surveys show attitudes have shifted in recent years as the farming community begins to confront what the future holds.
https://theconversation.com/farmers-climate-denial-begins-to-wane-as-reality-bites-103906
How climate change policy helps farmers [$]
Tony Windsor
The government is scrambling to be seen to be doing something meaningful for farmers, particularly in Queensland where traditional National voters are looking to desert in favour of minor parties, such as One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party. At the same time, the climate change debate proceeds at a crawl
Population boom a boon, not a bane
Age editorial
The growing pains should be seen as a problem rooted in Australia’s economic, social and multicultural richness and diversity.
https://www.theage.com.au/topic/the-age-editorial-1re
What would low population growth mean for Australia?
Ross Elliott
Is there an obvious correlation between population growth and the economy and housing? The answer it seems is no.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19986
Victoria
Victoria shows failure of energy policy [$]
Victorian subsidies for household solar are part of a much bigger problem; Australia’s uncoordinated approach to the transition to a lower-carbon energy supply system.
https://www.afr.com/news/vic-solar-fed-interventions-show-failure-of-energy-policy-20181011-h16jw1
Village residents take their water fight to Asahi head office
On a sunny Friday morning grower David McIntyre packed his walnuts and set out from the tiny Victorian town of Stanley to plead with beer giant Asahi to stop buying the water from beneath him.
Monash Uni 100% renewable microgrid trial wins ARENA backing
ARENA tips $2.9m into trial with Monash University and technology partner Indra Australia to run Clatyon campus entirely on renewable energy.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/monash-uni-100-renewable-microgrid-trial-wins-arena-backing-84267/
New South Wales
Flow Power enters NSW market, with Sapphire wind farm PPA
Flow Power adds third wind project – in third state – to business retail energy portfolio, with contract with Sapphire wind farm in northern NSW.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/flow-power-enters-nsw-market-with-sapphire-wind-farm-ppa-74153/
Australia installs 50th public EV fast charger
Tritium installs Australia’s 50th publicly accessible DC fast charger at the Hunter Valley Gardens, in Pokolbin.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-installs-50th-public-ev-fast-charger-98138/
Graziers pull dozens of dead kangaroos from dams as drought bites
Graziers in New South Wales are calling for a bigger commercial kangaroo harvest to reduce the impact of drought and improve animal and farmer welfare, as high numbers of dead kangaroos are pulled out of dams.
‘Vote to protect creation’: Rabbi’s plea to Wentworth voters
A senior rabbi in Wentworth has written to his congregation with an extraordinary message urging them to consider the “moral issue of climate change” when they vote in next week’s byelection.
ACT
China’s waste ban starts to bite at ACT’s largest recycling centre
China’s crackdown on imports of foreign waste has started to bite at the ACT’s largest recycling centre.
Queensland
Reef foundation to seek millions from fossil fuel companies, refuses donations from tobacco, porn
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which was controversially awarded a $440 million grant by the Federal Government, is looking to raise almost double that to help the reef and will review its climate change policy after dire warnings from the United Nations.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-12/barrier-reef-foundation-qld-big-spending-plan/10365726
Malcolm Turnbull blames Morrison, Cormann for $443m Reef Foundation grant
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has blamed the rush to grant almost half a billion dollars to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in one hit on then Treasurer Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.
New levy for ratepayers is a load of rubbish [$]
A Far Northern council has rubbished the State Government’s proposed waste levy, claiming its ratepayers will be slugged with a bill of more than $800,000 per year.
Peabody flags coal mine fire hit [$]
Peabody Energy says it will take an unspecified financial hit after a fire broke out at its North Goonyella coal mine in Queensland.
Concern about SEQ growth is real [$]
Chris Mountford
It’s easy to dismiss people who are concerned about the inevitable growth of southeast Queensland as afraid of change, or NIMBYs. But the root of their concern should be addressed.
Told you so: The grim reality of Brisbane today [$]
Peter Spearritt
Fifteen years ago Brisbane was predicted to become a grim 200-kilometre-long sprawl of roads, houses and industry. This, sadly, is the “I told you so” moment for the man behind the prediction.
South Australia
‘Blind Freddy can see that they’re fake eggs’: Questions over night parrot evidence
The Australian Wildlife Conservancy has removed all information about the night parrot from its website, as evidence of the rare bird’s return to South Australia falls under a cloud — and an ecologist, who was key to the discovery, resigns.
Investors plug into SA’s big power play [$]
Twi years after South Australia was plunged into a statewide blackout, companies are preparing to spend billions of dollars on solar, wind and hydro-electric projects to keep the state and nation powered up
Turning the tide of plastic pollution [$]
Every year eight million tonnes of plastic waste pollutes the world’s oceans, but Adelaide’s Ivana Milosevic and Lisa Chakiris are helping to turn the tide.
Power project puts the wind up community [$]
A wind farm featuring 240m-high turbines near Crystal Brook will dominate the Flinders Ranges’ natural environment, create health problems and fragment animal habitats, locals say.
Farmers demand GM rethink as public backs frack ban [$]
SA farmers say its time to put GM crops back in the mix as public opinion on the ban splits down the middle but there’s no end in sight to public opposition to fracking.
Northern Territory
Body of Indigenous ranger found after crocodile attack in Northern Territory
Woman was attacked by a saltwater crocodile while fishing with family near Gan Gan in Arnehm Land on Friday
Western Australia
Risen buys W.A. largest solar project, to begin construction this year
Risen Energy buys the 100MW (AC) Merredin solar farm, promising to begin construction of what will be Western Australia’s largest solar farm by year end.
Sustainability
In bid for healthier cities, Ethiopia aims to boost urban
Tree planting aims to cut air pollution, cool cities – and reduce climate-changing emissions.
http://news.trust.org//item/20181011024643-whszq/
How mosquitoes are spreading microplastics from the water into the air
Tiny fragments of plastic consumed by mosquito larvae are carried into the air when the insect starts to fly – a previously unknown way for the material to contaminate the food chain
Norway electric car sales chart record month
Of 10,620 new passenger vehicles registered in Norway in September, nearly half were electric.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/norway-electric-car-sales-chart-record-month-99393/
Hawaii to add more than 1GWh of storage as it heads to 100% renewables
Hawaiian utility talking to developers of seven solar-plus-storage projects as it seeks to fast-track transition to 100 per cent renewable energy.
Innovative Food Packaging
Bowls made of mushrooms, cups fashioned from seaweed, and detergent-style pods for food: Designers are creating ephemeral alternatives to plastic. But are we ready to accept them?
https://www.ehn.org/innovative-food-packaging-2611931588.html
Why is everybody freaking out about declining sperm counts?
For certain people—certain men—ambiguity about the sperm decline has only amplified its terror and underscored its implications: The world is changing, and we don’t know how.
https://www.thecut.com/2018/10/why-is-everybody-freaking-out-about-declining-sperm-counts.html
How hard is living without plastic?
In 2016, DW reporter Tamsin Walker made it her New Year’s resolution to eradicate plastic packaging from her life. After an initial shock to the system, she got used to it. But did she stick to it?
https://www.dw.com/en/how-hard-is-living-without-plastic/a-45829332
Second environmental expert sued over testimony against palm oil firm
A prominent environmental expert in Indonesia faces a lawsuit by a palm oil company after testifying against its practices, in the second case of its kind this year.
The Worst Thing About Environmentalists in US
Matt Vasilogambros
They don’t vote. Why are the people most concerned about climate change some of the least likely to show up in November?
https://www.outsideonline.com/2349896/group-trying-get-environmentalists-vote
Nature Conservation
Superior in good shape, but not in clear
Conditions are largely good in Lake Superior, said Rob Hyde. But steps will have to be taken to keep it that way.
http://www.mininggazette.com/news/local-news/2018/10/superior-in-good-shape-but-not-in-clear/
3-D printing might save coral reefs
Repairing ocean levels, rising temperatures, and pollution is another story.
http://nymag.com/developing/2018/10/3d-printing-coral-reef-design-labs-ceramic-climate-change.html
It’s déjà vu for orangutans, devastated by climate change and hunting once before
Orangutans face a changing climate and are hemmed in by a growing human population using novel technologies to hunt them down. It’s a situation they have been in before — 20,000 years ago.
US Congress is quietly eroding the Endangered Species Act
Five bills approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources during a chaotic news cycle could weaken the historically popular environmental law.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2353896/endangered-species-act-quietly-danger
Now for something completely different …
Charities to pocket $15 million in savings from paperwork relief
NSW charities will collectively save as much as $15 million over the next decade through new measures that will substantially reduce the paperwork they need to complete to be legally compliant.
6 Florence St Niddrie 3042
93741902
0432406862