Post of the Day
If we’re to feed the estimated 10 billion people on Earth in 2050—and protect the planet— we have to completely overhaul food production and choose healthier diets, says international report
Today’s Celebration –
Lima Foundation Week – Peru
Maintenance Day – United States of America
Revolution Day – Tunisia
Royal Thai Armed Forces Day – Thailand
Week of Prayer for unity among Christians
Climate Change
For geoengineers, a scientific existential crisis
Technofixes for the climate crisis are no one’s first choice. What is it like to study something you wish would disappear?
Ex-Fed chiefs back carbon tax [$]
An all-star roster of US policymakers and advisers has signed on to a new statement in support of a carbon tax.
National
PM warns against game-playing with rivers
The prime minister says the Murray-Darling Basin must be a bipartisan issue, as Labor decides whether to back a royal commission into the river system.
Australian coal is killing the Pacific: Fiji PM tells Scott Morrison
Fiji has firmly told Australia to shift away from coal and fossil fuels because climate change is hurting Pacific island nations.
How blockchain tracking technology could revolutionise Australia’s food industry
Scanning a menu at a restaurant with a smart phone, a diner could find out when and where a fish was caught, the duration of its journey to the plate and even the name of the captain of the ship it was caught on.
Pipeline no pipe dream: Barnett
An advocate for a cross-country gas pipeline says he still believes the project has a future, despite a study finding otherwise.
Tony Abbott played us for fools on electricity prices. Will we be played again?
Nicky Ison
Australia has gone from some of the lowest electricity prices in the world to some of the highest and a good number of people are hurting
Dead fish could stink up the election campaign
Shane Wright
The Darling’s mass fish kill may send a stench through the federal election campaign.
Something stinks in the Coalition and it’s not just dead fish
Michelle Pini
The sight of close to a million dead fish in one of Australia’s most important waterways may herald the end for the Morrison Government.
Five things the Business Council can do if it really ‘supports action on climate’ [$]
Nicky Ison
The BCA says it wants “a workable plan for Australia”, but it’s just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.
Victoria
‘Not drinking it’: Taps run brown in Victorian town
Residents are buying bottled water after their supply turned a yellowish, murky colour following repairs to pumps.
New South Wales
AGL halts coal ash sales on metal concerns
AGL has suspended sales of coal ash from its Bayswater and Liddell power stations, while a downgrade from JP Morgan has also seen its share price dip.
Roads melt as temperatures break records across NSW
The conditions were so extreme that the bitumen on a major highway began melting about midday.
‘He’s dreaming’: Road tunnel experts rubbish Elon Musk Sydney tunnel idea
A group of senior road tunnelling experts have dismissed Elon Musk’s claim he can build a 50km tunnel through the Blue Mountains for $1 billion, with one calling it “Alice in Wonderland” talk.
‘It just hasn’t rained’: Michael McCormack blames drought for Murray-Darling fish kill
Nationals leader and acting PM brushes off suggestions government could do more to solve Menindee Lakes crisis, saying ‘that’s Australia’
Fish ‘struggling’ as NSW river worsens
A cool change in far western NSW could cause algae in the Darling River to die again, worsening the water conditions which led to last week’s mass fish deaths.
Native title holders back Greens’ call for royal commission into Murray-Darling
The Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations back Sarah Hanson-Young’s claim that Menindee fish kill is just the latest example of mismanagement
We’re cooking in heatwave not seen in 80 years
Welcome to Fryday. After two unbearably hot days where temperatures nudged 50C, forecasters have warned today will be even worse but be patient, there’s relief on the way.
Power prices rise as temperatures soar [$]
The heatwave that sent NSW residents rushing to their airconditioners this week increased demand on the grid, forced providers to import electricity from other states, and sent power bills soaring.
ACT
Discoloured water warning as Canberra heats up
Icon Water has warned that the supply to some homes in the ACT has been “discoloured”.
Canberra Now: Heat puts pressure on electricity; more light rail testing
Canberra is facing its longest heatwave on record.
Queensland
Scientists to conduct large-scale survey into feral cat behaviour in north Qld
Feral cats are devastating native animal populations in north Queensland, and now scientists hope the first extensive survey of the predators in the state’s far north will reveal where they like to live, how they hunt, and what might get rid of them.
Adani remains under investigation by Qld Government over bores
Indian miner Adani remains under investigation by the Queensland Government for alleged illegal works on its Carmichael mine site, despite federal authorities ruling out any wrongdoing in October.
Legal challenge to Great Barrier Reef shark cull
Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef shark culling program is to be challenged in court by the Humane Society.
Queensland towns break record for consecutive days over 40 degrees
Cloncurry and Camooweal, in north-west Queensland, have seen the mercury soar past 40 degrees for the past 33 days, and the trend it is set to continue.
Audit Finds $443M Government Grant Process ‘Insufficient’
Australian charity leaders say the $443 million government grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is a slap in the face for every charity applying for government funding, after an audit report found the government applied insufficient scrutiny to the grant proposal.
People lose for power companies’ shoddy service [$]
Steven Wardill
Last year Queensland’s government-owned electricity providers shelled out an extraordinary amount in compensation to consumers for bad service — but the Palaszczuk Government is quietly trying to water down current laws.
Award of a $443.3 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Australian National Audit Office
The objective of the audit was to assess whether the award of a $443.3 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation was informed by appropriate departmental advice and a thorough processes that complied with the grants administration framework.
South Australia
Dolphin found snared in fishing line [$]
A dolphin was spotted this week in the Port River with a fishing hook and line stuck in his dorsal fin, raising fears more could fall victim and calls for more places to dispose of fishing line.
Tasmania
Failed legal battle against Bob Brown cost Tasmanian Government $355k
More than $350,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent defending Tasmanian anti-protest laws struck down after a High Court challenge by former Greens leader Bob Brown, and a constitutional law expert says there could be more costs to come.
Fires keep burning in Tassie wilderness
Firefighters are making progress putting out scores of fires burning across Tasmania ahead of worsening weather next week.
University of Tasmania study finds digging mammals enhance soil fertility and condition
The activity of small mammals digging for food helps reduce the risk of bushfires, a new study has found.
Halls Island standing camp proposal [$]
Development Images from the development application for a standing camp on Halls Island on Lake Malbena.
Malbena pods plan angers opponents [$]
A proposed luxury tourism development within the Walls of Jerusalem National Park will have four semi-permanent buildings on the island the proponents privately lease.
Northern Territory
Ranger mine closure costs to hit more than $800m [$]
The Northern Territory’s Ranger mine is counting the millions — more than $800 million to be be exact — to move the mine, which is surrounded by Kakadu National Park, towards full closure
Western Australia
How WA’s weather will play out
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its climate outlook for February to April.
Sustainability
If we’re to feed the estimated 10 billion people on Earth in 2050—and protect the planet— we have to completely overhaul food production and choose healthier diets, says international report
Seeds, kale and red meat once a month – how to eat the diet that will save the world
A complete overhaul of what we eat may be the only way to meet the needs of a planet in crisis. So what’s on – and off – the menu?
Big plastic trash plan is a drop in the polluted ocean
The plastics industry is ramping up its greenwashing effort with a plan that can’t possible deal with the scale of the problem and costs them pocket change compared to their sales.
Millions of Americans exposed to elevated nitrate levels in drinking water
More than 5.6 million Americans are exposed to nitrate in drinking water at levels that could cause health problems. I
Smoke from wildfires may increase violent crime and asthma attacks
Exposure to wildfire smoke can send people with asthma rushing to the hospital, and it may also cause violent crime rates to spike, according to new research.
Scientists say microplastics are all over farmlands, but we’re ignoring the problem
Widely seen as a problem affecting the world’s oceans, researchers warn microplastics could also be taking a toll on land-based agriculture and ecosystems.
Nuclear power can be green – but at a price
Damian Carrington
As Hitachi and Toshiba abandon plans for new British nuclear reactors, Damian Carrington assesses the merits of the technology
The UK government is not quite ready to drop its obsession with nuclear
Nils Pratley
Greg Clark knows nuclear cannot compete with the likes of wind and solar – but he is not giving up
Some Light Holiday Apocalypse Reading: A Prequel
Mike Dowson
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Apocalypse. It’s going to be a wild ride, so please fasten your seatbelts, keep your arms inside the guard rails, follow instructions from your crew, and we’ll have you back at the Visitor Centre in time for lunch. Or not. Depending on a couple of things. Your choice.
Nature Conservation
Gisele Bundchen accused of criticising Brazil’s environment record ‘without any knowledge’
Former model Gisele Bundchen has defended her commitment to the environment after criticism from the country’s new agriculture minister.
More jellyfish, fewer fur seals. How shrinking ice sheets will reshape Antarctica
New research has predicted which animals will be Antarctica’s “winners and losers” as warming continues to change the face of the frozen continent.
The case for forests’ prominent role in holding off climate change
The authors of a new report argue that investment in forests as a climate change mitigation strategy is just as important as addressing emissions from the energy sector.
Penguins, starfish, whales: Which animals will win and lose in a warming Antarctic?
Using risk assessments, like those used for setting occupational safety limits in the workplace, researchers determined the winners and losers of climate change in the Antarctic.
Sunspots to blame for jellyfish surge, expert says, as warming waters ‘rev up’ metabolism
A researcher pours water on “emotive” claims that warming seas are spawning an abundance of jellyfish, instead pointing the finger at a correlation with solar activity.
‘Stop treating seas as a sewer,’ UK MPs urge in bid for protection treaty
Paris agreement for the sea recommended as rates of plastic pollution to skyrocket
Now for something completely different …
Predictions for 2019: Volunteering
This year marks 30 years since volunteering was formally recognised during National Volunteer Week. It’s time to turn our attention to ensuring the volunteer sector is adequately resourced, writes Volunteering Australia CEO Adrienne Picone, as part of a series of 2019 predictions from leading experts across the social sector.
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