Daily Links Nov 14

The paywalls that many in the msm are erecting (and we can understand why they do it, they need to pay for their journalism and we need to support our chosen outlets) pose problems for services such as Maelor’s. A very good article from Lister Peter Boyer, a journo from Tasmania who frequently appears in The Hobart Mercury, is trapped behind their paywall. He posts each article on his website southwind.com.au/ Have a look at his website for yesterday’s article ‘The words they dare not speak’, in which he discusses the disjunct between the community preparedness for climate response and the reticence of our leaders to lead. 
You might want to include the website in your Favourites as there’s terrific material there.

Post of the Day

Bush turns its back on support for logging native forests

Harvesting of native forests is overwhelmingly unpopular, including in rural and regional communities, according to a leaked study commissioned by the timber industry.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/sustainability/bush-turns-its-back-on-support-for-logging-native-forests-20181113-p50frc.html

 

Today’s Celebration

King Hussein’s Birthday – Jordan

National Day – Palestinian Authority

National Day of Mourning – Germany

Prince of Wales’ Birthday – British Virgin Islands

Readjustment Day – Guinea Bissau

World Diabetes Day

Dinesmart

International GIS Day

Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day

More about Nov 14

 

Climate Change

Climate change damaging male fertility

Climate change could pose a threat to male fertility — according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uoea-ccd110918.php

 

Global warming has never stopped in the past hundred years

The global warming has never stopped in the past hundred years, with maximum rate of change after Second World War II and almost constant rate during the latest three decades. The hiatus is merely a decadal balance between global warming and the cooling resulting from anomalous sea surface temperature in equatorial Pacific.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/ioap-gwh111218.php

 

Modelling reveals dynamics of climate change, urbanization and heat-mitigating technologies

Researchers led by Arizona State University have completed some of the most sophisticated modeling of the effects of climate change and urban centers in the US, and are finding that some of today’s proposed solutions will provide only a fraction of relief from the projected heat.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/asu-mrd110818.php

 

Carbon emissions will start to dictate stock prices

Companies that fail to curb their carbon output may eventually face the consequences of asset devaluation and stock price depreciation, according to a new study out of the University of Waterloo.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uow-cew111318.php

 

Alpine ice shows three-fold increase in atmospheric iodine

Analysis of iodine trapped in Alpine ice has shown that levels of atmospheric iodine have tripled over the past century, which partially offsets human-driven increases in the air pollutant, ozone.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181112191810.htm

 

Carbon goes with the flow

Many people see the carbon cycle as vertical — CO2 moving up and down between soil, plants and the atmosphere. However, new Michigan State University research published in the current issue of Geophysical Research Letters, adds a dimension to the vertical perspective by showing how water moves massive amounts of carbon laterally through ecosystems — especially during floods.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/msu-cgw111318.php

 

Why is the Gulf of Maine warming faster than 99% of the ocean?

The Gulf of Maine’s location at the meeting point of two major currents, as well as its shallow depth and shape, makes it especially susceptible to warming.

https://eos.org/features/why-is-the-gulf-of-maine-warming-faster-than-99-of-the-ocean

 

Solving microplastic pollution means reducing, recycling—and fundamental rethinking

New practices, and new chemistries, are needed to end the scourge.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/solving-microplastic-pollution-means-reducing-recycling-mdash-and-fundamental-rethinking1/

 

National

How this electric airplane could reshape regional air travel

An all-electric passenger airplane called Alice could reshape regional air travel in Australia.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/how-this-electric-airplane-could-reshape-regional-air-travel-26533/

 

Coalition should get “head out of sand” on electric vehicles, say states

Queensland and ACT push federal government to embrace a national policy for electric vehicles.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/coalition-should-get-head-out-of-sand-on-electric-vehicles-say-states-99608/

 

Climate Council issues grim warning on looming water security crisis

The Climate Council releases a report linking climate change with worsening droughts, and extreme weather events such as bushfires and floods.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-11-13/climate-change-report-and-drought-policy/10493812

 

Energy minister declares Snowy Hydro expansion ‘fundamental’ to Australia

Angus Taylor speech leads into crucial board decision on whether or not to proceed

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/14/energy-minister-declares-snowy-hydro-expansion-fundamental-to-australia

 

Emissions reduction fund contracts worth $24m cancelled after failure to deliver cuts

Labor and Greens say cancellation of projects shows policy should be abandoned

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/13/emissions-reduction-fund-contracts-worth-24m-cancelled-after-failure-to-deliver-cuts

 

New power projects could get govt support

Taxpayers could support new coal, pumped hydro, solar and gas projects after companies approached the federal government with proposals.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/new-power-projects-could-get-govt-support

 

West-east gas pipeline rejected [$]

Building a west-east gas pipeline would cost $5bn and be ‘baked into household bills forever’, Peter Coleman has warned.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/woodside-boss-peter-coleman-rejects-westeast-gas-pipeline/news-story/aa9a6abd1a2b7efd0a387e2bfff78d2a

 

Woodside CEO urges climate fix

Woodside boss Peter Coleman has some advice for politicians including a call for clarity on tax reform and global co-operation on carbon pricing.

https://www.afr.com/business/energy/gas/woodside-boss-peter-coleman-says-dont-dither-on-prrt-reform-20181109-h17q31

 

Bush turns its back on support for logging native forests

Harvesting of native forests is overwhelmingly unpopular, including in rural and regional communities, according to a leaked study commissioned by the timber industry.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/sustainability/bush-turns-its-back-on-support-for-logging-native-forests-20181113-p50frc.html

 

Morrison energy intervention to power up bills, claims AGL [$]

Energy giant AGL has warned Scott Morrison that his plan to ­intervene in the electricity market will force up power bills, deter ­investment in large-scale generation and undermine the position of shareholders.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/morrison-energy-intervention-to-power-up-bills-claims-agl/news-story/a6c46192a7a92333655c8912fa78ae08

 

Is the Australian Energy Council in a parallel universe on network regulation?

Simon Orme

The Australian Energy Council, which represents electricity generators and retailers, seems to be in a state of blissful ignorance on how Australian networks are actually regulated.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/is-the-australian-energy-council-in-a-parallel-universe-on-network-regulation-87993/

 

Deluge and drought: Australia’s water security in a changing climate

Cimate Council of Australia

This report argues that significant impacts on and risks to Australia’s water security are already evident, and these risks will continue to escalate unless deep and rapid reductions in global greenhouse gas pollution can be achieved.

http://apo.org.au/node/202981

 

Snowy 2.0 – Is the reward worth the risk?

Paul Hyslop

Snowy Hydro’s returns from the proposed Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme would be a fraction of the heroic estimations of its market benefits.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/snowy-2-0-is-the-reward-worth-the-risk-28883/

 

Victoria

Victoria Labor promises to extend rooftop solar rebate to renters

Victoria Labor says it will extend its rooftop solar rebate to the state’s tens of thousands of renters, if re-elected in the state poll two weeks from now.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/victoria-labor-promises-to-extend-rooftop-solar-rebate-to-renters-43757/

 

Melbourne’s traffic growth outstrips population surge

Melbourne’s increase in traffic over five decades dramatically outpaced the city’s population growth until 2004, when a resurgence in public transport use began.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/melbourne-s-traffic-growth-outstrips-population-surge-20181113-p50ftj.html

 

Where Victorian political parties stand on rural issues [$]

Every country vote counts in Victoria’s 2018 knife-edge state election. Find out what the parties are promising to deliver over the next four years.

https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/politics/election/victorian-state-election-2018-where-victorian-political-parties-stand-on-rural-issues/news-story/6e79787ca3f5ffe369c212ad86dbb26e

 

Man killed in Yallourn power plant blast [$]

Workplace incident Authorities are investigating the death of a worker at a power station in Victoria, who was killed during an explosion at the site.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/worker-dies-after-explosion-at-yallourn-power-station-in-victoria/news-story/f9a6a5bd6612254994a6e0087ca02145

 

New South Wales

UTS to source half its elecricity needs from new Walgett solar farm

University of Technology Sydney inks deal with Epuron to buy the output of its 32MW Walgett Solar Farm in northern New South Wales.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/uts-to-source-half-its-elecricity-needs-from-new-walgett-solar-farm-67523/

 

Power from the people: homes paid to supply electricity to the grid

Pool pumps, airconditioners, batteries and other smart devices could become money spinners for households under a $50 million NSW government plan to create a “virtual battery” to shore up the power grid.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/electricity-grid-batteries-houses-state-nsw-20181113-p50fsy.html

 

Wilcannia to get a new weir on Darling River after three decades of lobbying

The Federal and New South Wales Governments commit $30 million to upgrade the Wilcannia Weir in the state’s far west.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-13/wilcannia-to-get-new-weir-after-decades-of-lobbying/10493014

 

NSW minister refuses to say if EPA chief resigned over handling of waste scheme report

Environment Protection Authority sat on report into scheme that used waste from bins on agricultural land

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/13/nsw-minister-refuses-to-say-if-epa-chief-resigned-over-handling-of-waste-scheme-report

 

Koalas hurt by major deforestation: report

Wildlife advocates will release a report suggesting koala habitat makes up the vast majority of NSW’s deforestation hot spots and suggest solutions.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/koalas-hurt-major-deforestation-report-163137437–spt.html

 

Kids’ public transport deserves support

SMH editorial

Labor pledge of free travel should be carefully assessed.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/kids-public-transport-deserves-support-20181113-p50fpg.html

 

ACT

Worksafe closes in on school asbestos source in ACT, tests more sites

Investigators have narrowed in on the source of asbestos found in garden beds at two Canberra schools earlier this year, and have begun testing other sites.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/act/worksafe-close-in-on-school-asbestos-source-in-act-test-more-sites-20181113-p50foc.html

 

Queensland

Eco Energy gets financing for two “merchant” solar farms in Queensland

Two new solar farms in Queensland to be developed on merchant basis, rather than through contracts.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/eco-energy-gets-financing-for-two-merchant-solar-farms-in-queensland-90223/

 

Queensland’s threatened species efforts ‘lack purpose, direction’

A report has found environmental officers’ plans are ad hoc and unlikely to conserve or recover many threatened species.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/queensland-s-threatened-species-efforts-lack-purpose-direction-20181113-p50fot.html

 

Four in five Queenslanders want miners to foot clean-up bills

A new poll comes as the Queensland Parliament is set to debate a bill which will make mining companies pay into a fund to rehabilitate land.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/four-in-five-queenslanders-want-miners-to-foot-clean-up-bills-20181113-p50fs2.html

 

Peace declared over ALP mine bill [$]

Queensland’s mining lobby has agreed an uneasy truce with the Labor government.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/peace-declared-over-alp-mine-rehab-bill/news-story/987c10ac18e9f99792c7e480f37303de

 

South Australia

West Beach sand carting is just ‘money down the drain’ [$]

An aggressive new round of sand carting to arrest massive coastal erosion has been launched at West Beach but doubts remain that the stopgap rescue mission will amount to millions of government dollars being washed away by the next big tide.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/west-beaches/west-beach-sand-carting-to-fix-coastal-erosion-money-down-the-drain/news-story/acc25ab54f869ed94802252ed12af4c1

 

SA research puts the bite on a devilish disease [$]

Adelaide stem-cell research promising to cure the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease is raising money using a crowd-funding campaign launched today.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/crowdfunding-campaign-launched-for-stemcell-research-into-curing-tasmanian-devil-facial-tumours/news-story/124fa5361d96e20190703c22563fb1d0

 

Town on brink as coal tide turns [$]

Leigh Creek was the canary in the coalmine for Australia’s coal industry.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/leigh-creek-left-high-and-dry-as-tide-turns-on-coal/news-story/0fb55f452906ed6d833df332e508b91b

 

Northern Territory

Out of Africa: What happened to the rare, exotic animals that roamed an outback cattle station?

Once upon a time in the Top End, zebras, hippos, rhinos and cheetahs roamed an outback cattle station. Were they set free when the station folded? We take a look at a bizarre Territory tale of untrammelled wealth and collapsing grand dreams.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-13/curious-darwin-tipperary-station-wildlife-sanctuary-animals/10482880

 

Western Australia

Aboriginal groups join gas fight [$]

Two key Aboriginal groups in the Kimberley have voted to oppose fracking on their traditional lands.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/aboriginal-groups-join-antifracking-bid/news-story/19d9af0f0d9d930ae4d0bd717ac21f06

 

Sustainability

Coal dumped as IEA turns to wind and solar to solve climate challenge

One of the world’s most conservative energy institutions, the International Energy Agency, has effectively abandoned the thermal coal industry, saying coal generation would have to be drastically scaled down if the world has any hope of getting anywhere near the targets needed to address climate change.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/coal-dumped-as-iea-turns-to-wind-and-solar-to-solve-climate-challenge-66916/

 

Investment fails to keep pace with coal rebound: IEA [$]

Global demand for coal has made a comeback but investment in new mining capacity is not keeping up, the International Energy Agency has warned.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/investment-fails-to-keep-pace-with-coal-rebound-iea/news-story/1273028e540cb36bd6d923db3110f179

 

Renewable energy cooperatives, an opportunity for energy transition

Three researchers from the UPV/EHU’s Faculty of Engineering — Bilbao and the University of Valladolid have explored how renewable energy cooperatives have evolved. They have found that these cooperatives have developed a significant capacity to survive and adapt in response to the hostile context brought about by the economic and political regime.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uotb-rec111218.php

 

New records in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells through improved light management

Using microstructured layers, an HZB team has been able to increase the efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, achieving 25.5 %, which is the highest published value to date.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/hbfm-nri111218.php

 

Spain plans switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2050

Ambitious scheme also aims to fully decarbonise country’s economy shortly after.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/13/spain-plans-switch-100-renewable-electricity-2050

 

The unintended consequences of dams and reservoirs

An international team of drought scientists show that while many dams and reservoirs are built, or expanded, to alleviate droughts and water shortages, they can paradoxically contribute to make them worse.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uu-tuc111318.php

 

Stretchy solar cells a step closer

Rice University scientists develop flexible organic photovoltaics with a chemical additive that mitigates the material’s brittle qualities. At the right concentration, thiol-ene molecules infiltrate the polymer material and form a mesh that makes the entire material stretchable without losing efficiency.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/ru-ssc111318.php

 

Planetary boundaries for antibiotic and pesticide resistance identified

First assessment of planetary boundaries for antibiotic and pesticide resistance shows several are already crossed

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181112191905.htm

 

Bayer reassures investors on Monsanto, vows to back Roundup

Bayer AG vowed to defend its embattled weedkiller Roundup, moving to reassure investors that its $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto Co. will boost the company’s bottom line.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-13/bayer-earnings-beat-estimates-amid-growing-pains-of-monsanto-era

 

The plastic backlash: what’s behind our sudden rage – and will it make a difference?

Stephen Buranyi

Decades after it became part of the fabric of our lives, a worldwide revolt against plastic is under way.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/13/the-plastic-backlash-whats-behind-our-sudden-rage-and-will-it-make-a-difference

 

Nature Conservation

Conservation areas help bird­life adapt to climate change

A warming climate is pushing organisms towards the circumpolar areas and mountain peaks. A recently conducted Finnish study on changes in bird populations reveals that protected areas slow down the north-bound retreat of species.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uoh-cah111218.php

 

Heatwaves can ‘wipe out’ male insect fertility

Study of beetles could explain global decline – and also be a warning to humankind

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/13/heatwaves-wipe-out-male-insect-fertility-beetles-study

 

Kiwis to be reintroduced to New Zealand capital for first time in a century

Ancient, flightless, nocturnal birds have been absent from Wellington for more than a century.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/13/kiwis-to-be-reintroduced-to-new-zealand-capital-for-first-time-in-a-century

 

Rising sea levels may build, rather than destroy, coral reef islands

Rising global sea levels may actually be beneficial to the long-term future of coral reef islands, such as the Maldives, according to new research

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181113110314.htm

 

Business as usual for Antarctic krill despite ocean acidification

A new study has found that Antarctic krill are resilient to the increasing acidification of the ocean as it absorbs more C02 from the atmosphere due to anthropogenic carbon emissions. Krill are one of the most abundant organisms on Earth and a critical part of the Southern Ocean marine ecosystem.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181113080930.htm

 

Climate change, not overfishing, is devastating shellfish environments

The U.S. could become dependent on foreign sources of shellfish, since the harvest of four commercially important species is declining.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/climate-change-not-overfishing-devastating-shellfish-environments-n934976

 

 

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