Post of the Day
The climate is doomed without Brazil
The country’s new president wants to increase development in the Amazon rainforest, which absorbs a massive amount of carbon emissions.
https://newrepublic.com/article/151933/climate-doomed-without-brazil
Today’s Celebration
Bullfighting Season – Peru
Children’s Day – Panama
D. Hamilton Jackson Day – US Virgin Islands
Independence Day – Antigua & Barbuda
King’s Birthday – Cambodia
Liberty Day US Virgin Islands
Puno Jubilee Week – Peru
Remembrance Day – Slovenia
Revolution Day – Algeria
All Saints` Day – Christianity, Voudon
Beltane (Southern Hemisphere) – Celticism
Samhain (Northern Hemisphere) – Celticism
Climate Change
Ocean Shock: The climate crisis beneath the waves.
More than a year of Reuters reporting has come to a disturbing conclusion: The planet’s marine life is fleeing warming waters – and threatening livelihoods.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/ocean-shock/
How one scientist convinces skeptics that faith and climate action aren’t at odds
“The first step is to connect over shared concerns.”
The climate is doomed without Brazil
The country’s new president wants to increase development in the Amazon rainforest, which absorbs a massive amount of carbon emissions.
https://newrepublic.com/article/151933/climate-doomed-without-brazil
A message for young people who aren’t voting because of climate change
Defeatism is understandable. But it’s not based on reality.
https://newrepublic.com/article/151956/message-young-people-arent-voting-climate-change
New climate change report highlights grave dangers for Vietnam
Vietnam is among the most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts but abundant renewable energy potential could help alleviate some of these threats.
https://news.mongabay.com/2018/10/new-climate-change-report-highlights-grave-dangers-for-vietnam/
The unseen driver behind the migrant caravan: Climate change
While violence and poverty have been cited as the reasons for the exodus, experts say the big picture is that changing climate is forcing farmers off their land – and it’s likely to get worse.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/30/migrant-caravan-causes-climate-change-central-america
How risk and money shape our climate change decisions
Different versions of a “climate change game” shed light on how people make decisions about investing in mitigation strategies.
https://www.futurity.org/climate-change-decisions-money-1899662/
Why won’t we ask questions on climate change?
Andrew Bolt
There’s something scary, and depressing about journalists who refuse to question what they’re told about global warming
National
Early season temperature records set to burn as ‘heatpulse’ hits
Parts of NSW, Victoria and SA — including the capital cities — are set for scorching weather this week, with the BOM forecasting the mercury to soar high above average.
‘Poor look’: Indigenous advancement funding given to lobby groups
Indigenous groups fear public money is being used to try to undermine Aboriginal land claims, amid revelations almost $500,000 in Indigenous funding was given to lobby groups.
Labor to propose new environmental laws to enforce biodiversity and conservation
Bill Shorten’s government would, if elected, create a national environment protection authority and a new environment act
Indigenous advancement funding redirected to cattlemen and fishing groups
Nigel Scullion gave almost half a million dollars to groups to argue how they might be negatively impacted by land rights claims
Clean Energy Finance Corporation signals it may accelerate reinvestment
Steven Skala flags potential asset recycling to ensure there is ‘no significant constraint’ on investment capacity
Climate target a must for EU trade deal
A European trade figure says Australia must keep its Paris climate targets if it wants to sign a free trade deal with the European Union.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/climate-target-a-must-for-eu-trade-deal
‘Bare minimum’: Greens arc up over Labor’s climate policy rebuff
The federal Greens approached their Labor counterparts to secure a ‘joint leadership’ on climate and energy policy ahead of the next year’s elections, only to have their overture rebuffed.
Shorten promises tough emissions targets, but no cap-and-trade [$]
A Shorten government would legislate tough emissions reduction targets but drop the pledge for a cap-and-trade system taken to the last election, under reforms to be debated at Labor’s national conference next month.
Government remains recalcitrant on climate issues
John Haly
The recent NDA Conference suggested a global urgency to repair our planet, one that our Government seems eager to ignore.
Petrol prices are rising fast, but a knee-jerk reaction would be a terrible policy
Greg Jericho
Cutting the fuel excise would erode the budget bottom line and hurt efforts to fight climate change – so not just dumb, but dumb repeated
Greener shipping makes $1.3b economic hit [$]
Matthew Stevens
The Australian economy will be forced to absorb the biggest pass through of shipping costs in a generation from new environmental standards.
Trails on trial: which human uses are OK for protected areas?
Bill Laurance and David Salt
National parks and nature reserves are vital for conservation, but are also great places for recreation. Balancing the two is tricky, but it can be done if we realise parks are not just playgrounds.
https://theconversation.com/trails-on-trial-which-human-uses-are-ok-for-protected-areas-105742
State governments can transform Australia’s energy policy from major fail to reliable success
Tony Wood and Guy Dundas
There could be much clearer skies ahead for energy policy if states take the reins.
Victoria
Daniel Andrews lures recreational fishers by pledging to end netting on Gippsland Lakes
Fishing on Gippsland Lakes in Victoria’s east becomes a hot election topic, with the Premier announcing a compulsory buyout of commercial licences on a TV fishing show.
Millions in Vic energy payouts unclaimed
More than 237,000 Victorian households have claimed the $50 bonus for using the government’s energy deal comparison website but many have not yet registered.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/millions-in-vic-energy-payouts-unclaimed
New South Wales
‘Take stock and get ahead’: NSW Premier announces panel to assess immigration intake
Gladys Berejiklian takes another step in her bid to drive down immigration rates into the state, appointing an “expert panel” to assess the current rate of population growth.
Hydrogen gas trial in western Sydney could unlock $1.7bn in renewable exports
Chief scientist estimates Australia could reap benefits from hydrogen technology
Queensland
‘Success guaranteed’: Reef centre misses funding despite strong review
A world-renowned coral reef research centre missed out on funding to groups proposing the study of the “digital child”, “creative aging” and the Enlightenment despite an external review finding its plan to be “revolutionary”.
Off-grid solar classroom launched in Qld
Australia’s first off-grid, solar and battery powered classroom is set to be launched in Brisbane by federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/off-grid-solar-classroom-launched-qld-193024112–spt.html
Adani close to go on Carmichael mine [$]
Indian energy giant Adani is close to pulling the trigger on its controversial Carmichael mine in Central Queensland after scaling back its size and scope to convince banks to finance the project.
Does this look like a collection centre? [$]
Despite claims 300 sites will be ready to receive container deposits when Queensland’s scheme starts today, some are far from finished.
Adani move shrugs off zombie apocalypse [$]
While the zombies were out in force protesting its controversial mega coalmine, Indian miner Adani was readying a Halloween surprise of its own.
An innovation dividend in rescuing the Great Barrier Reef [$]
Bill Ferris
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living organism and a contributor of $6.4 billion each year to the Australian economy.
South Australia
Engineering director quits Google for conservation sea change
He walked away from job overseeing 650 staff with one of the most powerful companies in the world to help bring a species extinct in South Australia back from the dead, and Alan Noble says he couldn’t be happier.
Trials to pay households for smarter energy use [$]
South Australian homeowners could be rewarded for moving their electricity use away from sweltering summer days, under a series of energy trials aimed to boost grid reliability and lower costs.
Animals are key in bushfire planning, CFS says [$]
Growing up on the west coast and then spending a decade in the Adelaide Hills, sheep farmer Luke Fitzgerald knows the importance of planning for the safety of pets and livestock during the bushfire danger season.
Tasmania
Anti-cable car sentiment behind record Hobart council election turnout: expert
The record number of votes in the Hobart City Council election was driven by the desire to oppose to the kunanyi/Mount Wellington cable car, a polling analyst says.
Northern Territory
NT Government narrows scope for appeals against environmental approvals
Industry concerns over potential legal challenges by green groups prompt the NT Government to back away from parts of its promised reforms to environmental protection laws.
NT’s fracking emissions could cost more than $4b a year to offset by 2030, report finds
Offsetting emissions generated by fracking could cost up to $4.3 billion per year when the shale gas industry is at full production in the Northern Territory in 2030, according to new research by the Australia Institute.
Five-year review unable to determine how well NT’s recycling scheme works
Experts have been unable to determine whether the NT’s Cash for Containers scheme is improving recycling rates, with inconsistent data collation and reporting blamed.
Sustainability
Forum to explore economy of coal in age of climate change
A long lineup of business leaders, legislators and academics from the U.S. and overseas will flock to Jackson next week to discuss the future of coal producers worldwide as climate.
https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/town_county/article_e35035ef-1f6d-57bd-a707-34846f3899b2.html
How newsworthy is the end of the world? [$]
Emily Watkins
Not very, according to Fairfax, News Corp and the ABC.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/10/31/world-wildlife-fund-report/
Nature Conservation
Five countries hold 70% of world’s last wildernesses, map reveals
First map of Earth’s intact ecosystems shows just five nations are responsible for most of them – but it will require global action to protect them
Palm oil executives arrested in bribery scandal in Indonesia
Three executives from one of Indonesia’s biggest palm oil firms were arrested over the weekend by the nation’s anti-graft agency after an employee was caught bribing politicians to kill an inquiry into water pollution and plantation licenses in Borneo.
https://news.mongabay.com/2018/10/palm-oil-executives-arrested-in-bribery-scandal-in-indonesia/
The pangolin hunter
There wouldn’t be an illegal trade in wildlife if it wasn’t for poachers, but what drives them? Writer Rachel Nuwer meets a poacher in the coastal wetlands of Vietnam to find out.
https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/the-pangolin-hunter/
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