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.
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
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.
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.
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
Emissions reduction fund contracts worth $24m cancelled after failure to deliver cuts
Labor and Greens say cancellation of projects shows policy should be abandoned
New power projects could get govt support
Taxpayers could support new coal, pumped hydro, solar and gas projects after companies approached the federal government with proposals.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/new-power-projects-could-get-govt-support
West-east gas pipeline rejected [$]
Building a west-east gas pipeline would cost $5bn and be ‘baked into household bills forever’, Peter Coleman has warned.
Woodside CEO urges climate fix
Woodside boss Peter Coleman has some advice for politicians including a call for clarity on tax reform and global co-operation on carbon pricing.
Bush turns its back on support for logging native forests
Harvesting of native forests is overwhelmingly unpopular, including in rural and regional communities, according to a leaked study commissioned by the timber industry.
Morrison energy intervention to power up bills, claims AGL [$]
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where Victorian political parties stand on rural issues [$]
Every country vote counts in Victoria’s 2018 knife-edge state election. Find out what the parties are promising to deliver over the next four years.
Man killed in Yallourn power plant blast [$]
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.
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.
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.
Wilcannia to get a new weir on Darling River after three decades of lobbying
The Federal and New South Wales Governments commit $30 million to upgrade the Wilcannia Weir in the state’s far west.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-13/wilcannia-to-get-new-weir-after-decades-of-lobbying/10493014
NSW minister refuses to say if EPA chief resigned over handling of waste scheme report
Environment Protection Authority sat on report into scheme that used waste from bins on agricultural land
Koalas hurt by major deforestation: report
Wildlife advocates will release a report suggesting koala habitat makes up the vast majority of NSW’s deforestation hot spots and suggest solutions.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/koalas-hurt-major-deforestation-report-163137437–spt.html
Kids’ public transport deserves support
SMH editorial
Labor pledge of free travel should be carefully assessed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/kids-public-transport-deserves-support-20181113-p50fpg.html
ACT
Worksafe closes in on school asbestos source in ACT, tests more sites
Investigators have narrowed in on the source of asbestos found in garden beds at two Canberra schools earlier this year, and have begun testing other sites.
Queensland
Eco Energy gets financing for two “merchant” solar farms in Queensland
Two new solar farms in Queensland to be developed on merchant basis, rather than through contracts.
Queensland’s threatened species efforts ‘lack purpose, direction’
A report has found environmental officers’ plans are ad hoc and unlikely to conserve or recover many threatened species.
Four in five Queenslanders want miners to foot clean-up bills
A new poll comes as the Queensland Parliament is set to debate a bill which will make mining companies pay into a fund to rehabilitate land.
Peace declared over ALP mine bill [$]
Queensland’s mining lobby has agreed an uneasy truce with the Labor government.
South Australia
West Beach sand carting is just ‘money down the drain’ [$]
An aggressive new round of sand carting to arrest massive coastal erosion has been launched at West Beach but doubts remain that the stopgap rescue mission will amount to millions of government dollars being washed away by the next big tide.
SA research puts the bite on a devilish disease [$]
Adelaide stem-cell research promising to cure the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease is raising money using a crowd-funding campaign launched today.
Town on brink as coal tide turns [$]
Leigh Creek was the canary in the coalmine for Australia’s coal industry.
Northern Territory
Out of Africa: What happened to the rare, exotic animals that roamed an outback cattle station?
Once upon a time in the Top End, zebras, hippos, rhinos and cheetahs roamed an outback cattle station. Were they set free when the station folded? We take a look at a bizarre Territory tale of untrammelled wealth and collapsing grand dreams.
Western Australia
Aboriginal groups join gas fight [$]
Two key Aboriginal groups in the Kimberley have voted to oppose fracking on their traditional lands.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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