Post of the Day
Large hydropower dams ‘not sustainable’ in the developing world
A new study says that big hydro electricity projects in Europe and the US have been disastrous for the environment.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46098118
Today’s Celebration
Accord & Reconciliation Day – Russia
Commemoration Day – Tunisia
Former Anniversary of the October Revolution – Ukraine
October Revolution Day – Belarus
Revolution Day (National) – Bangladesh
Thanksgiving Day – Liberia
Diwali – Hinduism
Climate Change
Could climate change trigger the return of eradicated mosquito-related disease?
The largest ever study of the mosquito evolutionary tree, going back 195 million years, suggests that present-day climate change could result in the spread and return of dangerous mosquito-borne diseases to new places or areas where they had previously been eradicated, scientists are warning.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uob-ccc110518.php
Climate change may increase heat waves, coastal damage, and wildfires in California
The California Natural Resources Agency recently released a new statewide climate change assessment.
Climate change is aggravating the suffering in Yemen
Millions are starving in the war-torn country. A Yemeni researcher argues that leading polluters bear some responsibility.
https://newrepublic.com/article/152011/climate-change-aggravating-suffering-yemen
CO2 emissions in Russia go up in line with economic growth up until a certain point
Environmental pollution in Russia increases along with economic growth, but only until it reaches a certain threshold, from where it starts to decrease, demonstrates a recent study published in the open-access Russian Journal of Economics by Prof. Natalya Ketenci, Yeditepe University. Using data from 1991-2016, she also looks into the impact and causality of key determinants for CO2 emissions. As a result, the author provides new recommendations to policy makers in Russia.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/pp-cei110618.php
National
Our pick of the jobs & life after coal
As Australia transitions out of coal and into clean energy it’s time to think of the future for the 8000 workers currently employed in Australia’s coal-fired power industry, plus the estimated 18,000 jobs dependent on the sector.
https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/jobs-news/our-pick-of-the-jobs-life-after-coal/
Farming For a Better Future
Anika Molesworth is not your ordinary farmer. Founder of Farmers for Climate Action, she’s on a mission to change the future of farming through sustainable practices, and fighting the endless battle making people take climate change seriously.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/11/farming-better-future/
Why battery storage in Australia is unable to back up wind and solar
Tesla and Genex push for rule changes that would allow battery and pumped hydro storage to be properly paired with wind and solar farms.
Look, no batteries! How “flexible” solar can help the grid, without storage
Solar is starting to make its presence felt on the Australian grid.
Are any of the shark management methods we use in Australia failsafe?
A cluster of shark attacks in North Queensland’s Cid Harbour has raised questions about the measures being taken to protect people in the water.
Platypus eating a normal insect diet could ingest at least 69 drugs, research reveals
Insects near waste water could give a platypus or trout half a human dose of antidepressants
Angus Taylor to try and cajole energy retailers into lowering power prices before election
Energy minister to meet with CEOs as Scott Morrison heads to marginal seat of Capricornia
Firms shun recycling [$]
At least 20 agricultural chemical companies have shunned the nation’s drumMUSTER chemical container recycling scheme, forcing farmers to stockpile contaminated drums on their properties.
How to control on-farm weeds [$]
Keep on top of weeds for the health of your animals, the environment and your neighbourly relations
Duck hopes dashed [$]
The likelihood of a decent duck shooting season is fast evaporating, with the nation’s key waterbird survey showing drought has drained eastern Australia wetlands of water and bird life.
Farmers must lift to weather perfect climate, population storm [$]
A Dookie professor’s words on sustainability are a wake-up call for farmers
The politics of power [$]
Jennifer Hewett
The political temperature will be distinctly chilly when the big energy companies get together in Sydney on Wednesday for a roundtable meeting with Angus Taylor.
We need to secure power supply [$]
Angus Taylor
The customer must be front and centre as we work towards stable electricity.
Chinese migrants follow and add to Australian city dwellers’ giant ecological footprints
Peter Newton et al
Conspicuous consumption is one of the main ways that China-born migrants come to mirror Australian society.
Victoria
Vic Liberals face heat over climate policy
The Victorian Liberal Party has been accused of ignoring climate change and is facing calls to address the issue ahead of the state election.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/vic-liberals-face-heat-over-climate-policy
Chopper cull bags 119 deer [$]
Victoria’s first helicopter deer cull has bagged 118 sambar and one fallow deer in 20 hours, a kill rate of one every 10 minutes.
New South Wales
NSW Vales Point coal plant to add 55MW solar farm
Delta Electricity wins state approval to build a 55MW solar farm adjoining its ageing Vales Point coal power station on Lake Macquarie in NSW.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/nsw-vales-point-coal-plant-to-add-55mw-solar-farm-28065/
Health risks ‘unlikely’ from suspended NSW waste re-use scheme
NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton slams the EPA for “very poor judgement” after it withheld a report on a waste re-use scheme for five months, while reassuring the public there is “no human health risk” from the suspended program.
Foley blames culture war for coal pressure
NSW opposition leader has criticised the federal government for pressuring energy provider AGL to keep open or divest its ageing Liddell power station.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/foley-blames-culture-war-for-coal-pressure
Invasive ant eradicated from Lord Howe
The African big-headed ant, considered one of the 100 worst pests in the world, has been eradicated from Lord Howe Island.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/invasive-ant-eradicated-lord-howe-190022903–spt.html
Sydney Trains’ spending on rail replacement buses jumps 40%
The cost of providing buses to replace Sydney Trains services has ballooned to almost $40 million, amid claims the jump has been caused by an increasingly unreliable rail network.
Toxic waste report buried by bureaucratic dysfunction [$]
Anna Caldwell
Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton wasn’t briefed about toxic waste being spread across NSW farms as part of a green eco-scheme to divert household trash from landfill until six months after the EPA report because a senior boffin thought she was “too busy with estimates”.
Birkenstock Libs betray their party’s ethos [$]
Miranda Devine
The North Shore Libs may think they’re railing against climate change, but it’s really capitalism in their sights, and nothing could be less in tune with Liberal values
ACT
Canberra braces for first major downpour in almost two months
Canberra was given a much-needed soaking on Tuesday morning, as the capital braces for a major downpour on Wednesday.
Queensland
PM’s plan to drive trucks out of the city [$]
As PM Scott Morrison travels north he has announced his plan to end traffic congestion in a Central Queensland city, whose citizens he hopes to win over come election time.
Words that’ll come back to haunt Fisheries Minister [$]
‘Blood on their hands’: It could be the words that come back to haunt Fisheries Minister Mark Furner when he explained why drum lines had been removed from Cid Harbour after the first two attacks. Now a tourist is dead.
Government departments at odds over Adani water project
When the Federal Environment Department approved an Adani water project, it ignored the advice of the Government’s own water experts, FOI documents show.
South Australia
‘Cheeky’ newborn southern white rhino latest addition at Monarto Zoo
An adorable new addition is welcomed at Monarto Zoo this week following the safe arrival of a newborn southern white rhino calf, with the birth described as a boost in the battle to save the endangered species.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-06/newborn-southern-white-rhino-welcomed-at-monarto-zoo/10468356
Two-year legal fight reveals oil industry’s Great Australian Bight spill spin
Simon Black
A two-year Greenpeace legal battle with BP has revealed how dangerous drilling by any oil company would be in the Great Australian Bight.
Tasmania
Malbena project raises noise fears [$]
The Environment Protection Authority will not assess a helicopter-accessed tourism development in the Walls of Jersualem National Park because it falls outside its scope.
Why the Minister approved Lake Malbena [$]
Biefing documents provided to Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price acknowledged strong opposition to a proposed tourism development in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.
Anti-protest law delay due to there being no way around High Court: Bob Brown
Anti-protest laws promised by the Tasmanian Liberals are overdue because “lawyers are scratching their heads” and unable to find a way around a High Court ruling that saw them thrown out the first time, activist Bob Brown says.
Community Voice Ignored in Lake Malbena Decision
Cassy O’Connor
The proposal to privatise Lake Malbena inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area attracted overwhelming opposition and no public support in the single formal opportunity provided for comment.
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2018/11/community-voice-ignored-in-lake-malbena-decision/
Northern Territory
Nigel Scullion offered to fund dispute over Indigenous land claim, fishing group says
‘We were approached by the department,’ group’s chief says, adding $155,000 was partly used to fund legal fees
Inpex to frack the NT [$]
Japanese gas giant Inpex is keen to frack the Northern Territory
Western Australia
How Perth’s wetlands have been transformed from a parched, thirsty landscape
Decades of declining rainfall have taken their toll on Perth’s parks and nature reserves. Now the city’s wetlands are healthier after the wettest winter in 15 years — but experts warn their future is far from assured.
Birders flock to Kimberley to see elusive Asian duck
A rarely-seen Asian duck is spotted on a cattle station near Broome, with bird watchers from across Australian now making plans to see it.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-06/rarely-seen-garganey-arrives-in-west-kimberley/10466146
Labor moves to kill off freight link
Perth’s most divisive stretch of land that was earmarked for a four-lane highway will be removed from future road planning schemes by the State Government.
Anger as council paves way for greener streets
Hundreds of City of Joondalup residents have been told to remove landscaping and paving valued at thousands of dollars from council verges in a bid to create greener streets.
Sustainability
Soot to solar: Unmasking the coal plant reliability myth
The myth that coal power equates to grid reliability is not unique to Australia. Here’s what happened when an old clunker was removed from the grid in northern Illinois.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/soot-to-solar-unmasking-the-coal-plant-reliability-myth-96017/
Turning marginal farmlands into a win for farmers and ecosystems
Many farms have areas where the ground either floods or does not retain enough water or fertilizer for crops to thrive. Such marginal lands could become useful and potentially profitable if they are planted with perennial bioenergy crops such as shrub willow and switchgrass, report researchers this week at the annual meeting of The Geological Society of America in Indianapolis.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/gsoa-tmf110518.php
Hydropower, innovations and avoiding international dam shame
For sweeping drama, it’s hard to beat hydropower from dams — a renewable source of electricity that helped build much of the developed world. Yet five scientists from Michigan State University say that behind roaring cascades is a legacy of underestimated costs and overestimated value.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/msu-hia110418.php
How Bill Gates aims to save $300b by reinventing toilets
Bill Gates thinks toilets are a serious business. “I never imagined that I’d know so much about poop,” the billionaire philanthropist says.
Experimental plasma generator offers path forward for better use of landfill gas as energy
Landfill gases contain numerous contaminants, but one group has demonstrated a promising new application of plasma technology capable of removing such compounds. Researchers have demonstrated an experimental plasma device capable of cleaning gas samples of D4, one of the most common siloxanes. Drawing on a technique for creating plasma called dielectric barrier discharge, the group was able to significantly reduce the amount of D4 samples after treating it with a helium-based plasma.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/aps-epg110218.php
New efficiency record set for perovskite LEDs
Researchers have set a new efficiency record for LEDs based on perovskite semiconductors, rivalling that of the best organic LEDs (OLEDs).
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uoc-ner110218.php
A faster, cheaper path to fusion energy
Scientists are working to dramatically speed up the development of fusion energy in an effort to deliver power to the electric grid soon enough to help mitigate impacts of climate change.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/aps-afc110318.php
How green are Germany′s Greens?
The Greens have made huge gains in two recent state elections in Germany. But to what extent is the success of this political party connected to the environment? https://www.dw.com/en/how-green-are-germanys-greens/a-46108863
PNG in new Ok Tedi legal action [$]
Papua New Guinea has opened a new front in a long-running stoush over the controversial Ok Tedi copper and gold mine.
Large hydropower dams ‘not sustainable’ in the developing world
A new study says that big hydro electricity projects in Europe and the US have been disastrous for the environment.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46098118
Plasma-based system provides radical new path for water purification
Many of today’s methods of purifying water rely on filters and chemicals that need regular replenishing or maintenance. Millions of people, however, live in areas with limited access to such materials, leading the research community to explore new options of purifying water in using plasmas. Many plasma-based approaches are expensive, but a new class of plasma devices may change that. Researchers at the have been studying a new type of plasma generator for water purification.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181106150429.htm
Americans of color are way more likely to be environmentalists
A new study refutes some common stereotypes.
2018 elections: the governor races that matter for climate change
Several states could radically change course on clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions after Tuesday’s elections.
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/5/18052136/elections-2018-governors-races-climate-change
33,000 people die every year due to infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria
An ECDC study estimates the burden of five types of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria of public health concern in the European Union and in the European Economic Area (EU/EEA). The burden of disease is measured in number of cases, attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). These estimates are based on data from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) data from 2015.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/ecfd-3pd110618.php
Nature Conservation
The Rhine, a lifeline of Germany, is crippled by drought
One of the worst dry spells on record has left parts of the river at record-low levels, forcing freighters to reduce their cargo or just stop plying the river.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/04/world/europe/rhine-drought-water-level.html
Tropical mountain species in the crosshairs of climate change
Lack of varied seasons and temperatures in tropical mountains have led to species that are highly adapted to their narrow niches, creating the right conditions for new species to arise in these areas, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/cu-tms110618.php
Warming oceans lead to more fur seal deaths from hookworm infection
Rising ocean temperatures are putting fur seal pups at greater risk of death from hookworm infections, according to new findings published in eLife.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/e-wol110618.php
Research calls for new approach to tropical marine conservation
A new article by a Swansea University researcher has called for a rethink on tropical marine conservation efforts, as people who previously relied on coral reefs for food and income are increasingly looking to alternative habitats which is putting pressure on the animals that inhabit seagrass meadows.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/su-rcf110618.php
Tropical mountain species in the crosshairs of climate change
Lack of varied seasons and temperatures in tropical mountains have led to species that are highly adapted to their narrow niches, creating the right conditions for new species to arise in these areas, according to a new study. Still, the same traits that make tropical mountains among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth also make the species that live there more vulnerable to rapid climate changes, the study finds.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181106111603.htm
A changing climate necessitates rethinking tropical marine conservation, researchers say
In a new article, researchers are calling for a rethink on tropical marine conservation efforts, as people who previously relied on coral reefs for food and income are increasingly looking to alternative habitats which is putting pressure on the animals that inhabit seagrass meadows.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181106104218.htm
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