Post of the Day
The rare environmental victories of 2018
Let’s face it: 2018 sucked. But before we pop our champagne and wish for a year of fewer environmental failures and heartbreaking studies, hold onto the strides we made this year.
https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-rare-environmental-victories-of-2018-1830780065
Today’s Celebration
Earthquake Victim’s Memorial Day – Armenia
Felix Houphouet-Boigny Remembrance Day – Ivory Coast
Good Neighbourliness Day – Turkmenistan
National Day – Ivory Coast
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day – United States of America
St. Ambrose Day (Milan Only) – Italy
International Civil Aviation Day
Climate Change
Shell unveils new climate targets, links them to executive pay
British-Dutch oil and gas megalith reveals plan to develop new, shorter-term Net Carbon Footprint targets – that will be tied to executive remuneration.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/shell-unveils-new-climate-targets-links-them-to-executive-pay-25090/
Climate books as holiday gifts
Twelve provocative 2018 climate books spell out challenges … and hope for solutions.
https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2018/12/climate-books-as-holiday-gifts/
The best technology for fighting climate change isn’t a technology
Forests are the most powerful and efficient carbon-capture system on the planet.
Unhinged GDP growth could actually destroy the economy, economists find
A new paper from prominent economists concludes that failing to halt climate change will lead inevitably to “worldwide economic collapse.”
https://theintercept.com/2018/12/05/climate-change-economics/
Climate change: Warming made UK heatwave 30 times more likely
Rising global temperatures have massively boosted the chances of summer heatwaves in the UK, says a study.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46462014
COP24 President defends participation of coal companies at climate talks
COP24 President Michal Kurtyka defends displays of coal soap and jewellery at climate change talks in Poland, saying “it’s good to have everybody on board” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-07/coal-company-participation-at-climate-talks-defended/10592146
What you know about the American south and climate change is wrong
Megan Mayhew Bergman
Southern states are not a uniform swath of white, populist, anti-science zealots. As climate is changing, so is the south.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/06/climate-change-south-usa
George Bush Sr could have got in on the ground floor of climate action – history would have thanked him
Marc Hudson
George H.W. Bush, who has passed away aged 94, was US president when the world began grasping the climate issue in earnest. But he was pivotal in setting the US on a course of blocking climate action.
Africans swamp UN climate talks [$]
Graham Lloyd
Australia has 30 delegates for the UN climate talks in Katowice but for carbon fly miles has been dwarfed by Africa.
Emissions are still rising – ramp up the cuts
Christiana Figueres and colleagues
With sources of renewable energy spreading fast, all sectors can do more to decarbonize the world.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07585-6
The Guardian view on climate change: too much, too soon
We are losing the war against climate change; the use of fossil fuels is driving higher carbon emissions when they need to be coming down.
National
Power companies blast Morrison’s move to hand regulator power to set prices
Energy Council chief says last-minute changes made without consultation
‘Wasted opportunity’: Industry, states seek federal recycling funding
Major states and the recycling industry say the Morrison government must allocate funding if it’s serious about implementing a much-needed nationwide waste strategy to address mounting piles of refuge.
Power giants freeze new projects [$]
Two big energy companies say they will delay investment in new generation capacity until there is more policy certainty.
The future of the planet is in the hands of denialists, again
David Shearman
Climate change denial prevents effective action on emissions, and leads to other lies and evasions by our leaders who support big coal and other polluters. Our government hit a new low point this week, by admonishing those who care.
Energy minister’s wife says rolling blackouts needed to teach lefties a lesson
Giles Parkinson
It was bad enough last year when Tom Elliott, the radio-talk back host and son of former business man and Liberal Party grandee John Elliott wrote that he wanted to see a major blackout to prove his theory that renewable energy doesn’t work. Now we have another – Louise Clegg, the barrister wife of federal energy minister Angus Taylor – suggesting that she, too, thinks that the best way to get the lefties to see the light about the error of their ways is to, well, have the lights go out.
Cheap Power: A Whole Lot Of Energy For A Whole Lot Of Nothing
Martin Zavan
Despite the obvious disappointment of the Morrison Government, the nation can build an energy network reliant on renewables, while lowering prices.
https://newmatilda.com/2018/12/06/cheap-power-whole-lot-energy-whole-lot-nothing/
Victoria
Melbourne set for scorcher as fire watch continues [$]
A hot, windy morning is on track to deliver Melbourne a 38C scorcher today after a sweltering night. And severe fire warnings remain in several Victorian regions, after an intense blaze near Ballarat overnight.
Buninyong Victoria bushfire threat eases
Residents are being told to stay indoors as a bushfire burns near Ballarat, Victoria, with an online notice warning that leaving now could be deadly.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/buninyong-victoria-bushfire-threat-eases
The Victorian election, the middle class and the Liberal Party
Michael Galvin breaks down some of the reasons behind the Liberal Party’s loss at the Victorian election according to electorates.
New South Wales
Friskier frogs: endangered species gets a sex appeal boost
Australian researchers have a new way to increase desire in the northern corroboree frog
Desalination plant on alert [$]
It may have been the heaviest rainfall in Sydney since 1984 but last week’s freak deluge has failed to replenish the city’s water supply.
UNSW deal for next generation solar cells to help halve cost of solar power
As solar PV continues to smash records for rates of installation and low-cost new power generation around the world, it’s easy to forget that there are still teams of researchers working tirelessly to make the technology even cheaper and more efficient.
Popular Jervis Bay holiday spots slapped with health warning for PFAS contamination
Visitors to some of the south coast’s most popular holiday spots, including Hyams Beach and Green Patch, are being warned not to fish or swim due to contamination by chemicals used in firefighting foam at a facility in nearby Jervis Bay.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-07/pfas-jervis-bay-health-warnings-concern-locals/10587480
ACT
Barton and State Circle options to be referred to Environment Minister
The ACT government will refer both of its prospective light rail stage two routes to the federal Environment Minister, keeping both options alive while it waits for a report back from the Commonwealth on the pathway to getting the project approved.
Queensland
Calls for inquiry into protected Queensland wetlands development assessment
FOI documents show Josh Frydenberg rejected department advice that developing the area was ‘unacceptable’
LNP wants Galilee Basin royalties stashed in investment fund
The opposition has sought Labor support for its proposal to invest the royalties into a fund so benefits are “preserved for future generations”.
‘Ought to have known’: Council seeks damages over PFAS contamination
A southern Queensland council is suing the Federal Government for negligence over the management of land contaminated by firefighting foams, claiming the Commonwealth had been negligent in its management of the issue.
South Australia
KI bushfire downgraded but still a danger [$]
A large bushfire on Kangaroo Island has been downgraded but is still burning uncontrolled in scrub.
The town taking energy prices into its own hands
Low-income residents of a regional South Australian city are using an innovative solar scheme to shave money off their power bills.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-07/solar-panels-pension-prices/10590772
Tasmania
Second takayna/Tarkine petition wants inquiry meaning of ‘wilderness’
A second takayna/Tarkine petition has been launched but this one asks the Legislative Council to reject any proposal to expand Tasmania’s World Heritage Area.
https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5797147/takaynatarkine-petition-fever-breaks-out/?cs=12
Hydro Tasmania probed at Government Business Enterprise hearings for 2018
Energy Minister Guy Barnett says he holds no concerns over Commonwealth legislation that could force Hydro Tasmania to sell assets if it is found to unfairly charge consumers too much in energy costs.
https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5797280/no-fear-of-new-energy-law-says-barnett/?cs=12
Senate calls on Environment Minister to call in Lake Malbena development
The Senate has today called on federal Environment Minister Melissa Price to conduct a full assessment of the Lake Malbena development, including public consultation.
Timber firm owes state forestry [$]
Log exports A timber firm that suspended operations in September owes an undisclosed debt Sustainable Timber Tasmania.
Sustainable Timber continues to grow
Sustainable Timber Tasmania has achieved its first operational profit in 10 years demonstrating the sound management of the company under the Hodgman Majority Liberal Government.
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2018/12/sustainable-timber-continues-to-grow/
NSW bid wins $1.5b TasWater project
The tender to carry out TasWater’s $1.5 billion capital works program has been awarded to a consortium of NSW companies.
Western Australia
WA backflips, reveals plan to develop new state climate policy
Just weeks after saying it wouldn’t, McGowan government reveals plans to release a new, explanded and upgraded climate policy over the next 12 months.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/wa-backflips-reveals-plan-to-develop-new-state-climate-policy-35664/
Sustainability
All public transport to be free in Luxembourg in a world first
It’s hoped the move, announced by prime minister Xavier Bettel, will ease the traffic congestion in the European country.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/all-public-transport-to-be-free-in-luxembourg-in-a-world-first
Why Italian populists are abandoning green energy [$]
While Five Star entered government this year with pledges to shut down pollution-belching power plants and boost renewables, its latest green strategy caps incentives for some projects.
The rare environmental victories of 2018
Let’s face it: 2018 sucked. But before we pop our champagne and wish for a year of fewer environmental failures and heartbreaking studies, hold onto the strides we made this year.
https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-rare-environmental-victories-of-2018-1830780065
US coal consumption drops to lowest level since 1979
Americans are consuming less coal in 2018 than at any time since Jimmy Carter’s presidency, a federal report said Tuesday, as cheap natural gas and other sources of energy frustrate the Trump administration’s pledges to revive the U.S. coal industry.
https://www.apnews.com/2b47b6773d6d4e6aae638610180c1f98
Norway to heavily restrict palm oils linked to deforestation
‘The Norwegian parliament’s decision sets an important example to other countries and demonstrates the need for a serious reform of the world’s palm oil industry,’ activist says.
The weedkiller in our food is killing us
Erin Brockovich
Growing research show that glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicides in the US
Nature Conservation
Third of bird species in Wales in ‘significant decline’
Some bird species have disappeared entirely, such as . Others, like the Black-tailed Godwit (photo) are in serious decline (down 73%). Even starlings are losing ground (down 72%).
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46441212
Even corals deep down on the ocean floor can’t escape humanity’s impact
Climate change, industrial fishing, offshore drilling, and deep sea mining are all threats to life at the bottom of the sea.
https://massivesci.com/articles/deepwater-corals-ocean-floor-human-threats-impacts/
Freshwater is getting saltier, threatening people and wildlife
Road deicing, industrial activity and other culprits are pushing salt levels in rivers and streams to alarming levels.
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