Should I even care?
Post of the Day
Why I’m turning from law-maker to law-breaker to try to save the planet
Molly Scott Cato
Direct action and civil disobedience are now needed to force governments to see that our survival as a species is at risk.
Today’s Celebration
All Souls` Day (Day of the Dead) – Christianity, Voudon
Anniversary of the Crowning of Haile Selassie – Rastafarian
Climate Change
‘Precious little’: Democrats lack robust climate change plan despite global crisis
Party wary of wading into tough political fight on environment even though Democrats could retake House in midterms
What happened in the past when the climate changed?
When crops failed, investing in crop diversity, trade and a large public project may have helped the people of ancient Asia adapt
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181031141448.htm
The impacts of global warming are happening anyway
Eric Claus
Without stabilisation of population, more efficient utilisation of resources and reduction of pollution most of the same impacts are still going to happen.
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=20014
National
Sector Action Needed For the ‘Climate Election’
The environmental sector needs to step up efforts to ensure serious action on climate change is part of all political parties’ federal election platform, a sector leader says.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/10/sector-action-needed-climate-election/
Australia’s remaining wilderness needs immediate protection, scientists say
Research shows Australia is among five countries with the lion’s share of the world’s pristine environments, and scientists are calling for it to be urgently protected.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-11-01/wilderness-australia-needs-protection/10447816
Energy minister Angus Taylor to meet electricity CEOs and demand ‘fairer deal’
More than 30 CEOS invited to talks as Coalition intent on regulatory changes
Look elsewhere for power price cuts, retailers warn [$]
Electricity retailers are set to urge federal energy minister Angus Taylor to look elsewhere for price cuts at next Wednesday’s roundtable.
Billionaire blows up again over Coalition’s “fair dinkum” power slogan
Software billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has had enough. The man whose Twitter exchange with Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk led to the hugely successful Tesla big battery installation in South Australia is going head to head with prime minister Scott Morrison again, calling him out over his new energy slogan “fair dinkum” power. https://reneweconomy.com.au/billionaire-blows-up-again-over-coalitions-fair-dinkum-power-slogan-38220/
Snowy Hydro dumps coal for wind and solar to pump its water
Snowy Hydro will use wind and solar energy not coal to support its pumped hydro storage generators in a deal the company says will help cut households power bills from 2020.
Renewable energy investments not thwarted
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation put $2.3 billion towards projects over the past financial year, driven by state renewable targets and cheaper technology.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/renewable-energy-investments-not-thwarted
PNG leader’s clear climate action reminder
Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O’Neill has issued a public reminder about the importance of Australian leadership in addressing climate change.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/png-leader-s-clear-climate-action-reminder
Australia solar output overtakes wind power in September for first time
Combination of rooftop solar and utility-scale solar farms produced more than wind energy in the month of September for the first time.
Where have all the turtles gone?
As freshwater turtles head into nesting season, scientists warn nearly half of Australia’s species are in trouble. But the public can help, using a citizen science app to map the reptiles’ whereabouts.
How the next election determines our climate future – Australian politics live podcast
Katharine Murphy talks to Kelly O’Shanassy, chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation, about why the next federal election will be a poll on climate change. Is the current environment ripe for winning hearts and minds on climate change? How can we transition Australia’s coal communities into a renewable future? And can we get it done before it’s too late?
Limber up for a more flexible electricity grid and market
Donald Vaughan
Integrating renewables into grids and markets is a hot topic worldwide, with many challenges and approaches to explore. In late June 2018, a series of meetings run by the…
https://reneweconomy.com.au/limber-up-for-a-more-flexible-electricity-grid-and-market-88128/
Seagrass, protector of shipwrecks and buried treasure
Oscar Serrano et al
For more than 6,000 years, seagrass meadows in Australia’s coastal waters have been acting as security vaults for priceless cultural heritage.
https://theconversation.com/seagrass-protector-of-shipwrecks-and-buried-treasure-103364
In Europe, even conservative governments leave Australia’s climate policy in the dust [$]
Stefan Boscia
Compared to Australia, European conservatives are practically revolutionaries when it comes to progressive climate action. And it’s a strategy that could win votes at home.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/11/01/europe-conservative-climate-change-australia/
Victoria
The Victorian election roundup: how logging policy could fell Labor
Poll puts government on notice in Labor-Green marginal seats; Liberal flyers warn of ‘stranger’ danger in suburbs
Tilt approves $560m wind farm in Victoria, signs up major customer
Tilt Renewables gives go-ahead for $560m Dunndonnell wind farm in Victoria after landing 15-year contract for half the output.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/tilt-approves-560m-wind-farm-in-victoria-signs-up-major-customer-31851/
Solar a “no-brainer” for Victorian dairy co-op – batteries next
Macalister Demonstration Farm says 61kW solar install will pay for itself in six years – and opens the door for new benefits and greater productivity.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-a-no-brainer-for-victorian-dairy-co-op-batteries-next-45560/
New South Wales
Coal power in terminal decline, NSW warned
An independent economic analysis has warned NSW that thermal coal exports are stagnating and will significantly decline in the next two decades.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/coal-power-in-terminal-decline-nsw-warned
NSW to turn hospitals and schools into mini power plants
The program aims to cut participating hospitals and schools’ electricity costs by up to $40,000 a year and feed excess power back into the grid.
Temperatures to soar in Sydney on Friday, prompting total fire ban
The large pool of heat that have been baking inland Australia will reach the east coast, pushing the mercury towards the 40-degree mark and prompting authorities to declare total fire bans for Sydney, the Illawarra and the Hunter.
Fake protesters hired by greenies to object tunnel [$]
Desperate greenies used Airtasker to pay fake protesters up to $100 a head to pack out a North Sydney Council meeting and oppose major infrastructure development, The Daily Telegraph has uncovered.
We need breathing space [$]
Dominic Perrottet
NSW’s immigration policy is about getting the balance right long term.
ACT
Bushfire continues to burn out of control near Stromlo
A watch and act warning is now in place for the 64-hectare bushfire burning at Paddys River.
Queensland
Adani prepared for next wave of activism [$]
Adani Mining chief executive Lucas Dow said the Indian energy company was prepared for the next wave of activists to target its revised $2 billion Carmichael mine.
Queensland solar is booming and pushing down daytime electricity prices
Queensland has more solar capacity installed than any other state, and it is pushing down day-time wholesale prices
Jo-Ann Miller slams government plans for Ipswich landfill energy plant [$]
Outspoken Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller has taken a swipe at her own government’s plan to build a waste-to-energy plant in her Bundamba electorate.
I tried out Queensland’s new recycling scheme so you know what to expect
Tony Moore
Despite teething problems, the cash for containers scheme is up and running.
South Australia
Is a controversial UCG project a lifeline for a dying town or an environmental hazard?
The small South Australian community of Leigh Creek is divided over a controversial new energy project that could either save the town or prove to be an environmental hazard, depending on who you talk to.
SA brings forward fire risk season
The Country Fire Service says parts of SA will have severe bushfire conditions on Thursday.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/sa-brings-forward-fire-risk-season
Tasmania
Fire danger ratings hit ‘very high’ in Tas
Fire danger ratings in Tasmania have hit “very high” level with authorities deciding to stop issuing burn permits and revoking those already given out.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/fire-danger-ratings-hit-very-high-tas-163220523–spt.html
Tasmanian Government bins ‘reduce waste, don’t pay’ levy, despite enthusiasm for scheme
Come March next year, most of Australia will have a waste levy to encourage recycling and cut down on landfill dumping — but not Tasmania, despite many in the industry calling out for one.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-02/waste-levy-call-for-tasmania-binned-by-liberals/10457800
Northern Territory
Crocwise campaign lacks bite with funding of just $64k
The Territory Government put aside $64,000 to fund its Be Crocwise campaign this year but experts are sceptical whether it’s enough to educate the public about safety in any meaningful way
NT to pump up Water Act fines ahead of fracking
Mining and petroleum companies have long been exempt from a number of water use regulations in the Northern Territory, but that is set to change. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-11-02/nt-water-act-changes-include-pumped-up-fines/10441518
Low fluoridation of Alice Springs water called to account for rise of tooth decay
Alice Springs children are at double the risk of developing tooth decay in comparison to their Darwin counterparts, according to a dental expert involved in a comprehensive national survey.
Western Australia
WA govt considers “major” new industry in renewable hydrogen – for export and transport
Bridie Schmidt1 November 2018 28 Comments
WA government says opportunity to tap the renewable hydrogen economy, including for use in transport, is huge, with the potential to add $1.7 billion to the Australian economy as…
Sustainability
Electric food – magic bullet or magical thinking?
Readers are divided over whether food made using electricity can ease the ecological burden the world population places on our planet
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/01/electric-food-magic-bullet-or-magical-thinking
‘More and more’ Tories turning against fracking, says MP
Lee Rowley says many colleagues have concerns as opposition builds to loosening of planning rules
Fossil fuel subsidies increased in 2017, says IEA
Worldwide fossil fuel consumption subsidies were almost halved between 2012 and 2016, but IEA report shows this trend switched in 2017, when they increased by 12%.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/fossil-fuel-subsidies-increased-in-2017-says-iea-78934/
Prince Charles: I was ignored when I warned of plastic risk
London: The Prince of Wales said he warned about the dangers of plastic 40 years ago but was dismissed as “out of touch” and “anti-science”.
EU countries back single-use plastics ban
EU countries on Wednesday backed the outlawing of certain single-use plastics, bringing the bloc a step closer to an outright ban.
https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/eu-countries-back-single-use-plastics-ban-doc-1ah16q1
One man’s trash: how using everyday items for play benefits kids
Brendon Hyndman
Recycled or scrap parts including tunnels, pipes, crates, foam, rubber and plastic parts make for better play equipment for kids than a fixed swing set.
http://theconversation.com/one-mans-trash-how-using-everyday-items-for-play-benefits-kids-105851
Reducing US coal emissions through biomass and carbon capture would boost employment
While the need for solutions for the impending consequences of rising global temperatures has become increasingly urgent, many have expressed concerns about the loss of jobs as current technologies like coal-fired power plants are phased out. A new study has run the numbers associated with the impacts of cutting coal plant jobs while at the same time employing techniques for bioenergy coupled with carbon capture and storage.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181101133934.htm
BHP warns of water scarcity risk [$]
BHP says industry has a role to play in safeguarding global water supplies as population growth puts pressure on resources.
Urgent Need to Simplify Ethical Investing
Andrew Cairns
Social impact investing is already a $23 trillion global industry, but more still needs to be done to make it easier for people to ethically invest in the future
Coal can’t compete with cheaper alternatives and the industry’s true costs are higher than they appear
Daniel Cohan
A study of the social cost of carbon emitted by the shrinking fleet of Texan coal plants suggests that closing more of them down would be good for the climate and public health.
Why I’m turning from law-maker to law-breaker to try to save the planet
Molly Scott Cato
Direct action and civil disobedience are now needed to force governments to see that our survival as a species is at risk.
Making developments green doesn’t help with inequality
Rupert Legg
Around the world, new developments are increasingly framed as sustainable to both policymakers and prospective buyers. They are seen as a “win-win” for the environment and the economy. However, recent concerns suggest social inequality often results.
https://theconversation.com/making-developments-green-doesnt-help-with-inequality-104941
Nature Conservation
New study found deep sea chemical dispersants ineffective in Deepwater Horizon oil spill
A new study of the Deepwater Horizon response showed that massive quantities of chemically engineered dispersants injected at the wellhead — roughly 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) beneath the surface — were unrelated to the formation of the massive deepwater oil plume.
https://www.eurekalert.org/bysubject/earthscience.php
Soil takes decades to catch up to climate changes
Soil bacteria often take 50 years or more to react to changes in climate.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/10/31/soil-bacteria-climate-change/#.W9pYZ2RKhdc
Chile mine and port project nears approval despite scientific opposition
In February 2017, investigative reporting revealed that the Dominga mining and port project in northern Chile was influenced by former president Sebastián Piñera’s personal business ties, and a complex web of conflicts of interest began to unravel.
Iran regime may execute 8 environmentalists
Iranian regime’s prosecutors have charged four conservationists with “sowing corruption on Earth”, a crime that carries the death sentence in the Islamic Republic. The environmentalists were carrying out scientific monitoring of endangered species.
http://earthivist.org/animals/concerns/iran-regime-may-execute-8-environmentalists
‘Cryptic’ interactions drive biodiversity decline near the edge of forest fragments
Fragmentation weakens impact of some fungal pathogens and insect herbivores
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181101133916.htm
Yangtze dams put endangered sturgeon’s future in doubt
Before the damming of the Yangtze River in 1981, Chinese sturgeon swam freely each summer one after another into the river’s mouth, continuing upriver while fasting all along the way. They bred in the upper spawning ground the following fall before returning quickly back to the sea. Now, researchers offer new insight into the threat the dams have since posed to the critically endangered fish.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181101133939.htm
Earth’s wilderness is vanishing, and just a handful of nations can save it
James Allan, James Watson, Jasmine Lee and Kendall Jones
More than two-thirds of Earth’s remaining wilderness is in the hands of just five countries, according to a new global map. A concerted conservation effort is needed to save our last wild places.
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