Date: 5 October 2018 at 08:52:40 AEST
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Oct 5
Post of the Day
Scientists say halting deforestation ‘just as urgent’ as reducing emissions
Protecting and restoring forests would reduce 18% of emissions by 2030 and help to avoid global temperature rise beyond 1.5C
Today’s Celebration
National Sports Day – Lesotho
Portugese Republic Day – Macau
Republic Day – Portugal
World Teacher’s Day – http://www.worldteachersday.org/
National Walk to Work Day – http://www.walk.com.au/wtw/homepage.asp
World Smile Day – https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/smile-day/
More about Oct 5 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_5
Climate Change
Coal binge puts Paris climate targets further out of reach, study finds
The capacity of the world’s coal-fired power stations would increase by a third if all 1380 plants planned or under development are built, making it tougher to meet Paris climate goals, a leading German non-profit group says.
More wet and dry weather extremes projected with global warming
Global warming is projected to spawn more extreme wet and dry weather around the world, according to a Rutgers-led study.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/ru-mwa100318.php
Climate change will bring more floods. Can we predict them?
Floods are increasingly likely because of the combination of climate change and our growing habit of paving over green spaces.
Climate scientists are struggling to find the right words for very bad news
A much-awaited report from the U.N.’s top climate science panel shows a dramatic gap between professed goals and where the planet currently stands.
Thirteen ocean solutions for climate change
Over a dozen international researchers from the Ocean Solutions Initiative — including scientists from the CNRS, IDDRI, and Sorbonne University — have evaluated the potential of 13 ocean-based measures to counter climate change.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/c-tos092718.php
National
Satellites snap images to track water flows in the Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority accesses free satellite images beamed from European and American satellites in a year-long trial to ensure water is used wisely and legally.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-04/satellites-track-water-flows-in-northern-basin/10334684
Regulator says announced wind and solar projects now topping 10GW
Regulator dramatically increases estimates of “firmly announced” large scale wind and solar projects, saying they now exceed 10GW – well above the needs for the RET.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/regulator-says-announced-wind-and-solar-projects-now-topping-10gw-95153/
Nissan plans to be ‘trigger’ for electric vehicle boom
Car company Nissan plans to make one-third of all its vehicles sold in Australia electric by the mid-2020s.
‘Spooked’ energy market sees summer power price spike
Power prices have jumped more than 5 per cent this week as government inaction and low Snowy hydro water levels “spook the market” ahead of summer, energy experts say.
Three biggest solar farms join the grid in Victoria, NSW, and South Australia
Three big solar new farms totalling more than 370MW join the grid and start to deliver output into the National Electricity Market.
Sims attacks ‘stupidly high’ power tariffs [$]
Electricity retailers should have acted years ago to bring an end to “outrageous” late payment fees and rip-off standing offers, says competition chief Rod Sims.
Australia installed solar capacity to double to 18GW by 2020
Australia’s installed capacity of solar is expected to double to 18GW in the next two years as a wave of new large scale projects are completed and as households and businesses continue to turn to solar to reduce their electricity bills.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-installed-solar-capacity-to-double-to-18gw-by-2020-2020/
Most Australians believe household recycling sent to landfill, survey finds
80% say they would pay up to $10 per week for better services
Political agreement on emissions policy unlikely, competition watchdog says
ACCC chairman Rod Sims says energy policy can still be made without political agreement on emissions
Roos in firing line as drought drags on
As the drought continues kangaroos are heading into regional towns searching for food and water leading to a spike in their involvement in car crashes.
Murray in deep trouble as storages dry up [$]
Drought in the Murray–Darling Basin is starting to bite as low rainfall and high temperatures conspire to reduce runoff and deplete water storages.
‘Don’t call it a disaster’: how to change the conversation about drought
Gabrielle Chan
It’s not about more money for farmers. It’s about long-term settings for a changing climate – and taking the politics out of it
Australians the frog in the saucepan as world warms up
Peter Hannam
In decades to come, historians wondering how Australians found themselves with dangerous climate change may well be puzzled.
Energy prices must come down. Here’s how [$]
Rod Sims
There need to be tough decisions made so consumers get the best deal from energy providers. We have some solutions that will make electricity affordable’
Victoria
Stuff that: Victoria looking to taxidermy in hope of cutting deer numbers
Measures are being proposed to reduce feral populations and red tape affecting deer hunters
Victoria sets Fishermans Bend population at 80,000, rejects calls for more [$]
Victoria has rejected a recommendation to raise the population target for Fishermans Bend and will now limit residents in the country’s biggest urban regeneration project to 80,000 in an effort to make the 480-hectare site liveable and sustainable.
Busy cycling routes bumped off multimillion dollar cycling fund
Thousands of cyclists using St Kilda and Sydney roads each day will miss out on a $100 million taxpayer fund for better cycling routes.
New rules governing wind farm noise introduced in Victoria
Wind farm developments in Victoria will now have to have noise levels checked by an independent auditor, before and after construction.
Shorten backflip on Victorian gas [$]
Bill Shorten has backed down from his call for Victoria to open up onshore gas fields.
New South Wales
Bush powers the city as councils sign deal with rural solar farm
A coalition of 18 urban councils in New South Wales signs a renewable energy deal to buy electricity from a solar farm around 600 kilometres away.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-04/moree-solar-farm-to-power-sydney-councils/10336952
Rain relieves but won’t end NSW drought
Western NSW has received significant rainfall but not enough to break the drought, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/rain-relieves-wont-end-nsw-drought-173041235–spt.html
‘Major hazards’: Ash dam expansion over old coal mine gets agency tick
Origin Energy’s Eraring power station wants to “augment” its ash dump by 5 million cubic metres to accommodate much of the 1.3 million tonnes of ash produced at the Lake Macquarie plant each year.
Plan in motion to set a default power price [$]
Putting a cap on power prices could actually increase household bills, the state’s pricing regulator is warning as the Morrison government prepares to green light the idea.
ACT
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Queensland
‘Tax on construction’: Industry claims new homes will cost more under waste levy
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch has hit out at suggestions rates bills may rise, arguing councils should “do the right thing”.
Documents show Australian and South Korean officials discussed financing Adani mega-mine
Australian and South Korean officials have discussed drumming up investment in the controversial Adani mega-mine, according to official documents that appear to throw into doubt claims by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that it has not helped secure finance for the project.
Singing gnome video costs taxpayers $270k [$]
The Agriculture Department has spent $270,000 of taxpayer money on videos featuring a singing garden gnome and a character called “dirtgirl” to give advice such as telling people to throw fruit in a bin.
LNP donors win reef contracts [$]
Great Barrier Reef contracts were handed to an LNP donor and his wife while she served on the board of the agency controlling the funds.
Hidden waste cost to hit builders and customers [$]
Steven Wardill
They say in politics, it’s always the cover up that gets you. And that appears to be the case when it comes to the Queensland Government’s waste levy and the thousands of dollars that will be passed on to builders and their customers.
Public given a load of rubbish on waste levy [$]
Courier Mail editorial
If you want a master class in how politicians lose the public’s trust so easily, have a look at the way the Labor administration of Annastacia Palaszczuk has handled the multimillion-dollar waste levy it is imposing despite hand-on-heart promises never to do such a thing.
South Australia
‘The renewables capital of Australia’? You be the judge
The South Australian industrial town of Port Augusta used to be known for its two coal-fired power plants, but since they closed it has set its sights on becoming the renewables capital of Australia, or even the world.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-05/port-augusta-becomes-australian-renewable-energy-hub/10338812
Knoll open to collaborating with Uber on public transport
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll says he is open to considering a proposal to supplement public transport routes with on-demand services provided by Uber.
https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/10/04/knoll-open-to-collaborating-with-uber-on-public-transport/
Solar farm workers walk off site amid dispute
Most construction at Australia’s largest photovoltaic solar farm, near Port Augusta in South Australia, stops following a disagreement between unions and a subcontractor.
Tasmania
It’s a tie! Tasmania defies federal Coalition on bipartisan approach to energy
Tasmania energy minister Guy Barnett speaks at All-Energy wearing a tie decorated with wind turbines. The contrast with federal counterpart Angus Taylor could not be greater.
National Party infrastructure forum to identify priority projects for Tasmania
Roads will do more than physically connect Tasmanians, they will provide a pathway to a brighter future. That is the view of the National Party, which held an infrastructure forum in Launceston with a number of regional development bodies, advocacy groups and other stakeholders.
Row over update to parks policy [$]
The Parks Service is rewriting its policies to suit developers wanting to erect buildings in the wilderness, the Greens say.
Invest in Tasmania – Bah!
Trevor Burdon
Letter to Chair, Mr Rob de Fegely, The Board, Sustainable Timber Tasmania.
Re: STTas ~ GPL Settlement – secretive and in bad faith
https://pixelkey.biz/tasmaniantimes/2018/10/invest-in-tasmania-bah/
RSPCA confirms commitment to Tasmania’s animals World Animal Day 2018
Andrew Byrne
With the country’s attention firmly placed on animals large and small this World Animal Day, RSPCA Tasmania is reassuring Tasmanians their mission to protect and advocate for the state’s animals is now stronger than ever.
Northern Territory
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Western Australia
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Sustainability
US plan to genetically alter crops via insects feared to be biological war plan
$27m program says it will use virus-carrying insects to engineer crops, but some worry it’s a way to develop biological agents
Solar panel tech: robots, floating power plants, and 2-sided panels are coming
Today’s hottest solar tech is all about supporting old-fashioned silicon panels.
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/8/29/17783114/solar-pv-panels-market-tech
Limited access to land and water affects productivity of women farmers in Africa
FAO study reveals the constraints that make women more vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation.
Large-scale wind power needs more land, causes more climatic impact than previously thought
In two papers, Harvard University researchers find that the transition to wind or solar power in the United States would require five to 20 times more land area than previously thought, and if such large-scale wind farms were built, would warm average surface temperatures over the continental United States by 0.24 degrees Celsius.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/hjap-lwp100318.php
Businesses push for greener buildings despite Trump rhetoric
Efforts are growing to cut the 36% of energy use taken up by construction and buildings.
https://www.ft.com/content/dd48ce8c-8122-11e8-af48-190d103e32a4
Bio-buses the cheapest way for Denmark to reach climate goals
Switching out diesel buses could reduce CO2 emissions by half a million tonnes.
http://cphpost.dk/news/report-bio-buses-the-cheapest-way-for-denmark-to-reach-climate-goals.html
Artificial enzymes convert solar energy into hydrogen gas
In a new scientific article, researchers at Uppsala University describe how, using a completely new method, they have synthesised an artificial enzyme that functions in the metabolism of living cells. These enzymes can utilize the cell’s own energy, and thereby enable hydrogen gas to be produced from solar energy.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/uu-aec100418.php
China’s funding for coal draws scrutiny as climate concern grows
Asian nations are biggest backers of new fossil fuel plants as scientists weigh call for much stricter limits.
HZB researchers are used to boost the efficiency of silicon solar cells
The efficiency of a solar cell is one of its most important parameters. It indicates what percentage of the solar energy radiated into the cell is converted into electrical energy. The theoretical limit for silicon solar cells is 29.3 percent due to physical material properties. In the journal Materials Horizons, researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and international colleagues describe how this limit can be abolished.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/hbfm-hra100418.php
Nature Conservation
Myanmar torches illegal wildlife stockpile worth $1.3 million to deter smugglers
Myanmar authorities destroyed hundreds of seized elephant tusks, pangolin scales and other animal parts, worth a total of $1.3 million on the black market, on Thursday as part of a crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking.
Scientists say halting deforestation ‘just as urgent’ as reducing emissions
Protecting and restoring forests would reduce 18% of emissions by 2030 and help to avoid global temperature rise beyond 1.5C
Primary tropical forests are best but regrowing forests are also vital to biodiversity
Even after 40 years of recovery, secondary forests remain species and carbon-poor compared to undisturbed primary forests, a new study reveals. However these secondary forests — forests regrowing in previously deforested areas — are still vitally important to biodiversity conservation and carbon storage, argue scientists.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/lu-ptf100318.php
Amazon Rainforest Conservation Victories Spill Losses to Neighbors
New research suggests that protecting the Amazon rainforest from deforestation may just be shifting the damage to a less renowned neighbor.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181004144009.htm
Species-rich forests store twice as much carbon as monocultures
Species-rich subtropical forests can take up on average twice as much carbon as monocultures. An international research team with the involvement of the University of Zurich has evaluated data from forests grown specifically for this purpose in China with a total of over 150,000 trees. The results speak in favor of using many different tree species during reforestation.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/uoz-sfs100418.php
‘Crowds, congestion, no parking’: should Canada limit visitors to its majestic parks?
Conservationists say the soaring popularity of Canada’s national parks is becoming an overwhelming burden
‘Terror being waged on wildlife’, UK leaders warn
National and conservation leaders say the annihilation of nature is a dangerous ‘blight on humanity’, ahead of major summit
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/04/terror-being-waged-on-wildlife-leaders-warn
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