Post of the Day
Right to end life on Earth: Can corporations that spread climate change denialism be held liable?
If a corporation’s propaganda destroys the world, doesn’t that conflict with our right to live?
Today’s Celebration
Proclamation of the Republic – Burkina Faso
Climate Change
Protesters disrupt US panel’s fossil fuels pitch at climate talks
Official event praising coal, oil and gas met with laughter and chants of ‘shame on you’
A wave of change is coming to our planet’s water resources
How will climate change affect you most? Check your kitchen sink.
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/wave-change-coming-our-planets-water-resources
Why greens are turning away from a carbon tax
Putting an economic price on greenhouse gases is proving a hard sell with the public, even as time to head off climate change shrinks.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/09/carbon-tax-climate-change-environmentalists-1052210
Climate Politics: Plant response to rise in CO2
Contrary to intuition, climate change is likely to have a net negative effect on plant production.
http://harvardpolitics.com/columns/climate-politics-plant-response-to-rise-in-co2/
Ozone Depletion Increases Antarctic Snowfall, Partially Mitigates Ice Sheet Loss
Ozone layer depletion has increased snowfall over Antarctica in recent decades, partially mitigating the ongoing loss of the continent’s ice sheet
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181210101923.htm
Humans may be reversing the climate clock, by 50 million years
Our future on Earth may also be our past. In a study published Monday (Dec. 10, 2018) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers show that humans are reversing a long-term cooling trend tracing back at least 50 million years. And it’s taken just two centuries.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/uow-hmb120618.php
US, Saudi Arabia back-of-the-pack on curbing climate change
Researchers have identified the United States and Saudi Arabia as the climate change laggards.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/us-saudi-arabia-back-of-the-pack-on-curbing-climate-change
Right to end life on Earth: Can corporations that spread climate change denialism be held liable?
If a corporation’s propaganda destroys the world, doesn’t that conflict with our right to live?
Climate risk: Insuring against the inevitable
The world’s poor are being encouraged to take out insurance against climate-related disasters. But as the logic of some schemes unravels, those who profited least from fossil fuels are left paying for their damage.
https://www.dw.com/en/climate-risk-insuring-against-the-inevitable/a-46615364
Burning Down The House: Fighting Climate Action From The Centre Will Leave Us In Ashes
Jeff Sparrow
As the globe – and the political climate aimed at saving it – heats up, we need a different politics to tackle an entrenched problem
https://newmatilda.com/2018/12/10/burning-house-fighting-climate-action-centre-will-leave-us-ashes/
Fossil nations sideline science at Katowice, even as emissions rise and warming accelerates
David Spratt
In a deadly diplomatic strike, big oil and gas nations took a key scientific report out of the Katowice text, replacing it with an ambiguous formulation that merely notes… https://reneweconomy.com.au/fossil-nations-sideline-science-at-katowice-even-as-emissions-rise-and-warming-accelerates-71416/
Waste of time in a coal town [$]
Judith Sloan
The COP24 conference in Katowice will achieve nothing even as Paris continues to unravel.
National
Australia’s renewables sector doubles output in boom year
Clean Energy Council warns surge ‘could come to an end if the energy policy debate is left to languish unresolved’
Supermarkets’ plastic bag bans set to escalate after most recent recommendation
The war on plastic bags looks set to escalate with heavy-duty bags used by retail stores now targeted by state environment ministers.
Australia seeks bigger slice of lithium battery pie
The federal government is launching a strategy to attract battery cell manufacturers to invest in Australia, with news of an initial investment expected within weeks.
Climate change is firing up middle-class activism [$]
Parents in Sydney are cheerfully letting their children skip school to protest.
https://www.afr.com/leadership/climate-change-is-firing-up-middleclass-activism-20181210-h18y0p
Main culprits in nation’s population pinch pointed out in new report
Australia’s five largest cities will bear the brunt of the country’s 10 million population increase in the next three decades and are already behind the eight ball.
‘Fake action’: Australia’s secret path to hitting Paris climate goals
Australia could use a little-known loophole to help meet up to half its Paris climate commitments in a move that analysts warn could undermine the global accord.
How a 200-kilometre car ride could help the threatened Murray crayfish
Threatened Murray crayfish are hitching a ride down the Murray River with scientists, who hope the relocation program will speed up the recovery of the crays.
Rooftop solar could supply 15% of Australian demand by 2023
Study shows contribution to grid from Australia’s rooftop solar systems up 33% over 2018. At this rate, it could supply 14% of NEM demand within 5 years.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-could-supply-15-of-australian-demand-by-2023/
Labor “safeguard mechanism 2.0” likely to be short, but cheaper than EU ETS
A scaled up ALP baseline-and-credit scheme for industry is modelled to be short from day one, with domestic offsets the marginal source of emissions reductions.
Australia’s silence during climate change debate shocks COP24 delegates
Country accused of tacitly supporting oil allies’ rejection of the latest science.
Strike One: It’s Time To Heat Things Up A Little On Climate Change Action
Jonathan Sri
We’ve done a lot of talking about action on climate change. But government’s still aren’t listening. A general strike is a pretty simple way to make them take notice
https://newmatilda.com/2018/12/10/strike-one-time-heat-things-little-climate-change-action/
Forget “Big Sticks”, more competition will lower electricity prices
Dean Harris
Tony Abbott, my opponent for the seat of Warringah at the next federal election, thinks building new coal fired power stations will reduce power prices. He is sadly mistaken.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/forget-big-sticks-more-competition-will-lower-electricity-prices-10628/
The technology, and new thinking, needed for 100 per cent renewable grid
Giles Parkinson
For much of this decade Ivor Frischknecht was CEO of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and saw thousands of proposals for the development of new renewable energy technologies and new energy business plans that crossed his desk.
Victoria
Vic fight to stop old growth logging
An environmental group is fighting to stop logging old growth forest in parts of regional Victoria, arguing it is home to plants and animals found nowhere else.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic-bid-stop-old-growth-forest-logging-025753582–spt.html
Pet detectives: Dogs sniff out the disappearing greater glider
Volunteers and their pet dogs are searching Victorian forests for any sign of the vulnerable greater glider which hasn’t been spotted in the region for years.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-11/detection-dogs-defence-bid-to-save-greater-glider/10601694
Could e-scooters help solve our congestion crisis?
A global electric scooter company says allowing the vehicles in the Melbourne CBD could help solve our congestion crisis, but walkers don’t think they’re such a good idea.
Our roads and rail may not be as bad as you think. But here’s why we could still do better
Politicians love big road and rail projects. But are they always a good idea?
New South Wales
Sydney roads could be winner from legal fight over NSW container ports
Pressure on Sydney’s roads could be eased by the removal of hundreds of thousands of truck trips if the competition regulator is successful in forcing the Berejiklian government to unwind a significant element in one of its signature privatisation deals.
When the drought forces communities to dig for drinking water
With nothing to pump from the local weir, the residents of Walgett are being forced to go underground for water.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-11/health-experts-warn-walgetts-water-too-high-in-salt/10599186
Queensland
Surviving Great Barrier Reef corals have higher heatwave resistance
‘Ecological memory’ shows cumulative impact of climate change, say scientists
Brisbane needs to grow up, not out: Infrastructure Australia
Brisbane will be challenged to squeeze in almost half a million new homes by 2041 while maintaining liveability.
State government’s new trains were flawed ‘from day one’
However, the Forde inquiry has revealed Indian company Bombardier built the New Generation Rollingstock trains to the specifications in its contract, which meant they were disability non-compliant.
Adani promises land ‘the size of Moreton Island’ to protect rare finch
Adani has set aside an area of land larger than Moreton Island as an offset habitat to protect the endangered black-throated finch at its Carmichael Mine in the Galilee Basin.
The reef shows less bleaching, but that’s not necessarily good news
Researchers have found that the Great Barrier Reef suffered less bleaching in 2017 than 2016, despite 2017 having worse conditions for bleaching.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-11/great-barrier-reef-bleaching-less-2017/10599840
Cyclone set to return with a vengeance [$]
A category three cyclone could hit Queensland on Friday if a weather system in Gulf of Carpentaria continues to strengthen.
Join the biosecurity conversation in Australia!
The Gold Coast will be abuzz with all things biosecurity on 12-13 June 2019, when government, industry and other interested parties unite for the inaugural Australian Biosecurity Symposium.
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2018/12/join-the-biosecurity-conversation-in-australia/
Remedy to our cities’ growing pains ignored
Infrastructure Queensland’s rapidly growing communities are causing major issues for our public transport, roads, hospitals and schools a landmark report warns, yet a key issue that could lead to a fix for the problem is frequently being overlooked.
South Australia
Gupta doubles down on green industrial plans for Whyalla, powered by cheap renewables
Steel magnate unveils more sensational details of Whyalla’s renewable powered industrial revolution, including plans for an additional steel plant – “one of world’s biggest.”
Can we fit an entire Darwin in our city? [$]
Population Growth Adelaide will have to squeeze the equivalent of a city bigger than Darwin within its current footprint by 2045, Infrastructure Australia says.
Birds of prey, bats to boost grape production [$]
Environment Scientists and viticulturists are discovering how birds of prey, tiny bats and predatory insects can help boost wine production in McLaren Vale.
Populate or perish revisited: how to avoid a shrinking SA
Michael O’Neil and Peter Gill
New projections show that South Australia could enter population decline around the middle of this century, underlining the need for firm policy action.
https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2018/12/10/populate-or-perish-revisited-how-to-avoid-a-shrinking-sa/
Tasmania
Fairbrother wins contract for new Cradle Mountain visitor centre
Tasmanian company Fairbrother has won the contract to build the Cradle Mountain Gateway precinct, and will start work on it this week.
SFFP is totally opposed to the road closure to Craigbourne Dam
It has come to the attention of Shooters Fishers and Farmers Tasmania, of the potential closing to “Public Access” of the section of road, from Links Road to the North Eastern end of Craigbourne Dam.
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2018/12/sffp-is-totally-opposed-to-the-road-closure-to-craigbourne-dam/
Northern Territory
What are these strange Darwin rooftop boxes?
They’re about one metre square, made of corrugated iron, and sit in the dead centre of many Darwin roofs. They certainly give the house a distinctive shape, but what on earth are they?
Ranger mine rehab costs blow out by $296m
The cost of rehabilitating the mine on the doorstep of the World-Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park will be almost $300 million higher than previous estimates, Energy Resources of Australia concedes.
Western Australia
Labor aims battery lure at key seats
Labor will use its household battery push to target key WA seats before next year’s Federal election, with figures showing voters in must-win electorates are well placed to benefit from the policy.
Thicker bags next target in war on plastic
Thicker shopping bags offered by retailers such as Myer and David Jones will likely be phased out under a plan by the nation’s environment ministers to escalate the war on plastic.
https://thewest.com.au/news/environment/thicker-bags-next-target-in-war-on-plastic-ng-b881045070z
Power grid controller bids to limit solar output
The body that runs WA’s main electricity market wants the power to control household appliances from pool pumps to solar panels to help stabilise the grid from rocketing levels of renewable energy.
Sustainability
From freecycling to Fairphones: 24 ways to lead an anti-capitalist life in a capitalist world
We asked readers for their thoughts on ‘non‑capitalist living’ and were deluged with replies. Here are their ideas for everyday ways to buck the system
UK’s nuclear plans in doubt after report Welsh plant may be axed
Hitachi’s £16bn Wylfa station on Anglesey is next proposed project after Hinkley Point C
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/10/uk-nuclear-plant-hitachi-wylfa-anglesey
US: Deregulating Mountaintop Removal Threatens Drinking Water and Public Health
Canceling rule, study endangers Appalachian coal communities
Life after carbon: The next global transformation of cities
Building resilience in cities means preparing for nature’s power—but also addressing the social vulnerability of specific people due to climate changes.
https://www.ehn.org/life-after-carbon-the-next-global-transformation-of-cities-2622399801.html
Cities can help solve the climate crisis, says Michael Bloomberg
A new documentary highlights the ways cities, towns, and counties address climate change. Bloomberg, NYC’s former mayor, tells us how.
Cities can grow without wrecking reefs and oceans. Here’s how
Silvia Tavares and Karine Dupré
Urbanisation is the main reason for rising temperatures and water pollution, but receives little attention in discussions about the health of water streams, reefs and oceans.
https://theconversation.com/cities-can-grow-without-wrecking-reefs-and-oceans-heres-how-107263
Nature Conservation
Butterfly sanctuary along Rio Grande expected to be plowed over for President Trump’s border wall
Bulldozers are expected to tear through a protected butterfly habitat tucked along the Rio Grande to make way for President Trump’s border wall after the United States Supreme Court brushed off legal challenges from several environmental groups.
The giant Ocean Cleanup device’s first tests aren’t a success
Its first trial in the open ocean has revealed some problems, but creator Boyan Slat is confident a few simple fixes can get it back on track.
How will the winds of climate change affect migratory birds?
Under future climate scenarios, changing winds may make it harder for North American birds to migrate southward in the autumn, but make it easier for them to come back north in the spring. Researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology came to this conclusion using data from 143 weather radar stations to estimate the altitude, density, and direction birds took during spring and autumn migrations over several years.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/cu-hwt121018.php
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