Date: 23 February 2019 at 09:04:56 AEDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Feb 23
Post of the Day
Women ‘uniquely placed’ to inspire climate action, mayors say
Cities, which are home to over half the world’s population, must involve all residents in efforts to adapt to climate change, said mayors
Today’s Celebration
Army Day Tajikistan
National Day – Darussalam
Republic Day – Guyana
National Day – Brunei
Defender of the Fatherland Day Russia
Climate Change
Women ‘uniquely placed’ to inspire climate action, mayors say
Cities, which are home to over half the world’s population, must involve all residents in efforts to adapt to climate change, said mayors
Insurance not enough to offset financial risks of climate change, analysts say
From homeowners facing higher flood insurance premiums to investors putting money into coal-fired power plants, financial risks related to climate change are growing, analysts say.
Earth facing ‘global warming Armageddon’ in less than 150 years: study
Scientists say our planet is just 140 years away from a climate change event similar to one that triggered mass extinctions, according to sobering new research.
What 17th century’s “Little Ice Age” teaches us on climate change
To get some sense of the future we face, a new book looks backward at a time of extreme weather and societal transformation.
Canada obliged to protect future generations from climate change, test case on carbon tax hears
Young people ‘will live their entire lives under the mounting environmental, economic, and health stresses’ caused by growing greenhouse gas emissions, coalition argues
National
‘No evidence’ of Chinese ban on Australia coal imports
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says while coal is subjected to Chinese import restrictions, there is “no basis to believe” the processes are discriminatory to Australia.
‘Coal, not cow, right?’: China makes light of Aussie coal block reports
China says its reported ban on Australian coal is to “protect the environment” and warned against “baseless speculations” about a cyber attack on the Australian Parliament.
De facto regulation for energy prices
Energy companies are set to face de facto price regulation after federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the Morrison government would introduce a default market offer to replace existing standing offers in the market.
Cost-effective, clean, reliable grid: “You can have it all,” says Zibelman
Australian Energy Market Operator boss Audrey Zibelman says Australians need to understand that they can have a renewables-based grid that is cost effective, zero carbon, and reliable and secure. All at the same time.
BoM challenged over warming claim [$]
The temperature warming trend in Darwin has been increased by a further 0.5C by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Energy value increasing, households more efficient
Australian energy use increased in 2016-17, but also became more efficient according to the latest edition of the annual Energy Account released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Business or politics? China’s coal cut kills two birds with one stone
Elizabeth Knight
China’s brake on Australian coal imports is sending a clear message to Canberra, whilst also propping up China’s own coal producers.
Simple question that saves you more than $200 off your power bills
Liam Phelan
Consumers are being ripped off by electricity retailers because of the complexity of the pricing system. But there are simple ways to reduce your costs.
Coal delay a sign of our growing China dilemma
Age editorial
Australia has a duty to speak out on such issues as China’s human rights abuses, but there is no point in artificially raising tensions.
The Murray-Darling needs life support with expert team management
David Shearman
The vital Murray-Darling basin system is dying and it’s up to a combined effort between politicians and scientists to save it.
Tribal warfare saps our energy
Paul Kelly
A fossil fuel-endowed nation enriched by its resources is set against a middle-class moralism hooked on climate action.
Victoria
State government must act to fix recycling crisis, councils urge
The state government must urgently address Victoria’s recycling crisis rather than blame councils, the state’s local government peak body says.
New South Wales
Labor vows ‘end to war on cyclists’ with $412m for active transport
The state ALP promises to boost spending on cycleways, pedestrian links and rail trails if it is elected to government.
The ‘magical, otherworldly’ solution to sustainable clean drinking water
One town’s ground-breaking new technology is harvesting sun and air to create water.
Elderly climate change protester interrupts Premier
Gladys Berejiklian’s election pitch to industry leaders has been interrupted by an elderly woman with a climate change protest sign. Ms Berejiklian said it was ‘OK’ before asking the audience to give her a round of applause.
Energy cost caps to save families hundreds [$]
Up to 470,000 families in NSW will save an average $218 on their power bills from July in a price safety net released today as part of the Morrison government’s bid to drive down power prices.
Queensland
Ipswich mega-city developer warned on Aboriginal graves
Indigenous families want their voices heard as one of Qld’s oldest Aboriginal missions is to be turned into an estate.
Power price falls for one in five Qld homes, businesses
Price falls coming for power users as government puts in place default pricing system
Cyclone Oma to miss Queensland Coast
The latest update on the tropical cyclone has it downgraded to category one with huge seas, high tides and strong winds still expected to batter the Southern Queensland Coast.
‘I don’t think it’s a mess’: Treasurer Jackie Trad defends Adani process
It comes after Queensland’s Resources Investment Commissioner said the Adani approvals process could take up to two years.
Flying fox decline signals dire warning for Tropics in the grip of climate change
Rows of spectacled flying fox carcasses lie on the ground
The list of threatened species has been updated this week, with a decline in tropical species declared the ‘canary in the coalmine’.
South Australia
In the company of an inland taipan, the world’s most venomous snake
Most people actively try to avoid crossing paths with a snake, but two wildlife ecologists have travelled thousands of kilometres to outback South Australia to come face-to-face with the world’s most venomous.
Infigen says first big battery ready soon, looking at more “firming” technology
Listed renewables developer Infigen Energy says it is still seriously considering investing in a broader range of energy firming technologies to complement its wind and solar power assets, as its first major spend on physical firming – the Tesla big battery next to the Lake Bonney wind farm – nears completion.
Energy bill relief under supply cap proposal [$]
South Australians could be hundreds of dollars better off under an Australian Energy Regulator proposal that would cap energy retailers’ standing offers.
Own solar battery like on a mobile phone plan [$]
A first-of-its-kind program will allow households in South Australia to pay off a solar battery system like they would a mobile phone plan.
Residents to pay as recycling crisis deepens [$]
The sudden closure of two recycling plants has thrown the industry into turmoil — with hundreds of shipping containers full of waste being stored at Wingfield and residents across Adelaide set to carry the cost of the growing recycling crisis.
Let’s find a real solution to recyclables [$]
Advertiser editorial
South Australia has been at the vanguard of the recycling revolution for more than 40 years.
Tasmania
Central Highlands Council officers have recommended the approval of the Halls Island tourism development in Lake Malbena, despite receiving 1344 submissions against the proposal, and two in favour.
Northern Territory
Anxiety over plan that could see development near sacred site
An Indigenous community accuses the NT Government of failing to consult with them over a draft development plan that could see multi-storey residential dwellings encroaching on a sacred site.
Western Australia
Firefighters battle three bushfires in WA
Firefighters are battling three bushfires in Western Australia, including one blaze that damaged a home and destroyed four sheds.
Is this the day that solar and wind changed the W.A. grid forever?
AEMO issues market direction for back-up power for first time in W.A. grid and wants quick adoption of technology and market solutions to deal with increased volatility.
Sustainability
Boy, 12, said to have created nuclear reaction in playroom lab
Hobbyists say Jackson Oswalt of Tennessee is youngest person to achieve fusion
Soy, almond, cow’s, none? What milk should we be drinking for the planet?
More of us are considering switching to dairy alternatives like soy or almond milk, for health or ethical reasons. But environmentally, the alternatives aren’t perfect either. Before you go for an almond-milk latte, here’s what to weigh up.
Air purification is catching on – but it may be doing more harm than good
Filtering air uses lots of energy and concentrates harmful chemicals in landfills.
Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water leave military families reeling
The pollution, often from foam used in firefighting, is part of a mounting concern over the presence of toxic substances that could affect at least 10 million Americans.
Nature Conservation
Giant tortoise thought extinct is found on Galapagos
Conservationists in the Galapagos Islands have found a giant tortoise from a species thought to have become extinct.
UK watchdog permits 170,000 wild bird killings in five years
Exclusive: birds and eggs from 70 species, some rare, have been licensed for destruction
Cleaning up Everest – the world′s highest rubbish dump
Mount Everest has turned into a dumping ground as the growing numbers of climbers leave their trash behind on the mountain.
Brazil indigenous group mobilises against planned soy railway
The Kayapo say they’re worried that the project would bring farmers who use pesticides that would pollute local rivers.
The science of insect population collapse [$]
Alex McKinnon
Amid recent warnings of the mass extinction of insects in the coming decades, the global lack of research into insect populations has come into focus.
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