Post of the Day
We’ve run out of elections to waste – this is the last chance to make a difference on climate change
Bill McKibben
We’ve wasted three decades since scientists first raised the warning
Today’s Celebration
Independence Day – Paraguay
International Day of Families
San Isidro – Spain
International Conscientious Objector Day
Climate Change
‘Grow the f–k up’: Kid’s TV host Bill Nye’s expletive-ridden warning to climate deniers
Host of popular children’s television show Bill Nye the Science Guy has warned that the planet is “on fire” in a now-viral segment on John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight.
‘Green not grey’: UN head calls time on coal during Pacific climate change mission
The world’s top diplomat has called for no more new coal fired power stations and more ambitious emission reduction targets while visiting the Pacific to tackle climate change “crisis”.
The surprising interplay between climate change and fertility
Climate change will shape every aspect of human life – often in complex ways. Take the question of deciding how many children to have, for example.
Co2 concentrations hit highest levels in 3 million years
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hit 415.39 parts per million over the weekend – the highest level seen in some 3 million years, before humans existed, according to scientists at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. CO2 levels are now rising 3 ppm each year, up from an average 2.5 ppm over the last decade, the scientists said.
Fossil fuel divestment: Climate activists want to cut off money for dirty energy
Divestment is one of the fastest-growing movements in the fight against climate change.
A baby born today: The climate and their future
An ever-depleting natural world has huge implications for the coming generation.
National
Voters back more action on climate change, renewables and electric cars
More than 80 per cent of Australians want the Government to take more action on climate change. That’s 20 percentage points higher than in 2013.
New timelines revealed for 27 wind, solar and battery projects
AEMO reveals new timelines for 27 wind, solar and battery storage projects due to join the grid in next 18 months.
The Liberal party’s rank opportunism spells danger for Australian energy policy
Richard Denniss
Whoever forms government this weekend, we can expect the Coalition to keep playing silly buggers with climate policy
We’ve run out of elections to waste – this is the last chance to make a difference on climate change
Bill McKibben
We’ve wasted three decades since scientists first raised the warning
Inequality and climate change: the perfect storm threatening the health of Australia’s poorest
Melissa Sweet
Health policy can do much to lesson the wellbeing gap between rich and poor, but inequality is being compounded by climate change
Transport promises for election 2019: the good, the bad and the downright ugly
Greg Moran and James Ha
When political leaders swap suits for hi-viz vests the costs of the promises they make are high, and often not well justified.
How to transition from coal: 4 lessons for Australia from around the world
Chris Briggs et al
A Hazelwood power station employee hangs his hat on the fence after it closed after 52 years of operation. AAP Image/Mal Fairclough
Melissa Price and the Coalition’s climate change denying non-environmental policy
Binoy Kampmark
The Government’s attitude to climate change can be gathered by the cloak of invisibility that hangs heavily over Environment Minister Melissa Price.
Why the Coalition can’t be trusted on climate and energy
Giles Parkinson
As the federal election draws near – the poll is set for this Saturday but more than two million people have already cast their vote – some polls tells us that climate change and energy rate as the most important issues for many voters.
Victoria
Consumers to foot bill for state’s energy upgrade [$]
Victorian homes and businesses will cough up an extra $87 million through energy bills next year as the system used to deliver power across the state is upgraded.
Victoria rooftop solar market languishing since rebate pause: SunWiz
New data confirms Victoria’s residential rooftop solar market “languishing” since pause in state rebate scheme early last month.
New South Wales
Basin authority facing $750m negligence claim from Murray River irrigators
A group of nine irrigators has lodged a class action in the NSW Supreme Court against the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, claiming its negligent water management has caused $750 million in losses.
Brumby lobby and conservationists urge NSW to reduce horrific collisions
There were four crashes between horses and cars in the Kiandra area of the Snowy Mountains highway alone last year
‘Worse than expected’: WaterNSW calls for mining curbs in Sydney’s catchment
NSW’s top water agency has called for curbs on two big coal mines in Sydney’s catchment, saying millions of litres of water are being lost daily.
Rescue operation cost for Greenpeace activists ‘significant’ [$]
Fifteen protesters have been charged after they scaled the Sydney Harbour Bridge and demanded Prime Minister Scott Morrison declare a “climate emergency” before the federal election. Police say significant resources were diverted from other tasks to this incident.
Owners ‘used to ban climbers’ [$]
Australian Climbing Association Victoria spokesman says climbers are focused on legal action over Parks Victoria bans.
The tweak that could make high speed rail to Sydney a reality
Philip Davies
The east coast route should go through the new airport at Badgerys Creek.
ACT
Snowy Mountains Highway safety fears as feral horse collisions rise
The ACT government will look to officially declare feral horses a pest and update its management plan, it announced on Tuesday.
Queensland
Investment bank cuts Adani links after pressure from environmentalists
Rothschild & Co says it will not advise India’s Adani on the financing or development of the Carmichael coal mine in Queensland.
PM dismisses Adani approval challenge
The federal government and its Environment Minister Melissa Price are again being challenged over the approvals process for the Adani mine groundwater plans.
Adani refuses to pay for work on Carmichael mine [$]
Approvals for Adani’s $2 billion Carmichael mine have been hotly contested in this election campaign.
Expert’s contract not renewed after Adani comments [$]
A Palaszczuk Government resources expert who described the Adani mine approval process as a “mess” has not had her contract renewed.
Endangered finch won’t derail $1b coal mine [$]
Ecologists say the same bird jeopardising approval of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine should not derail another $1 billion project – but they have offered a way to protect the black throated finch if it was there.
Trad lobbies indigenous elders for mining ban [$]
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has been lobbying three native title groups in remote far north Queensland to lockup a huge swath of tribal land to mining on Cape York – but not all aboriginal leaders are happy with the move.
Approval provokes Adani outburst [$]
The Indian-owned miner has a warning for Pembroke Resources and its $1bn Olive Downs project.
Queensland mining’s reputation is in the pits due to coal, according to industry survey
A survey paid for by the Queensland mining lobby has found the industry has a poor image in the electorate, and that is almost entirely due to coal.
Gupta’s Cultana solar farm gets green light – overcomes objections from Adani
The 280MW Cultana solar farm has received planning approval, after objections were raised by its neighbour, Adani Renewables.
Job losses begin in Queensland as new solar rule puts 50% target at risk
Solar labourers forced to down tools, says CEC, as Queensland solar businesses scramble to accommodate “absurd” new rule and 50% renewables target at risk.
Irrigators furious over loss of Murray-Darling Basin recharge due to ‘haste’ in water release
Furious irrigators have requested an urgent roundtable meeting to investigate a decision by the Queensland Government to release water at a higher flow rate than the water resource plan recommended.
Thirty sharks captured on barrier reef and exported to France all died in captivity
Scalloped hammerheads were at the Nausicaá aquarium in the French port of Boulogne, near Calais
Scrapped Mt Coot-tha Zipline development application cost almost $1 million
Brisbane City Council spent more than $900,000 on its own development application for the planned Mount Coot-tha Zipline, before scrapping the project in the face of overwhelming community backlash.
Barry Tudor wins Qld approval to rebuild a coal kingdom
Matthew Stevens
The US private equity-backed miner Pembroke Resources plans to build that rarest of things: a new coal mine in Australia.
South Australia
Supercharged plan to build 15,000 electric vehicles in Adelaide per year
Electric vans, utes and eventually cars will be assembled in Adelaide from next year, with start-up company ACE EV to sign an agreement with an Adelaide-based business today.
Plantation firm swings axe at timber inquiry bid [$]
A major SA forestry company wants an impending parliamentary inquiry axed, claiming such a move could damage the industry.
Train, tram sell-off looms in Knoll’s transport overhaul [$]
Adelaide’s public transport system could be heading for the auction block as the state government refuses to rule out privatising trains and trams after defending selling the bus network.
South Australia’s experience contradicts Coalition emissions scare campaign
Glyn Wittwer
There is a lack of discernment in reporting research results on carbon reduction targets.
Tasmania
Greens want Tassie to be climate leader [$]
The Greens hope to spark a community conversation about making Tasmania a global climate change leader.
Deputy PM pledges funds for northern link [$]
The Coalition has promised to upgrade a major road connecting Longford with the Bass and Midland highways if it wins Saturday’s election.
Western Australia
Portable battery technology to debut at W.A. gold mine
Western Australia gold mine one of first sites in world to test out new, modular lithium-ion battery storage solution by EU-based Aggreko and subsidiary Younicos.
Sustainability
Saudi Arabia says oil stations attacked by explosive-laden drones
Saudi Arabia says oil infrastructure sites have been targeted in the kingdom and at least one of the attacks was carried out by drones.
Deepest underwater dive in human history finds plastic on ocean floor
Explorers fear plastic waste is spreading to the depths of the ocean after discovering rubbish on the deepest underwater dive in human history.
Energy investment ‘misaligned’ between gas and renewables, IEA says
The IEA has warned global energy investments have become mismatched and investors have not spent enough on oil and gas to support power demands or renewables to hit Paris Climate targets.
Couple awarded $2bn in Roundup cancer case
A US couple who claimed Roundup weed killer caused their cancer have been awarded more than $US2 billion in damages by a California court.
A new generation of activists confronts the extinction crisis
The unarrested progress of climate change and environmental degradation are forcing us to stretch our imaginations beyond specific narratives of loss.
Nature Conservation
It’s not just fish, plastic pollution harms bacteria that help us breathe
Ten per cent of the oxygen we breathe comes from just one kind of bacteria in the ocean. Now laboratory tests have shown that these bacteria are susceptible to plastic pollution.
Climate change spurs deadly virus in frogs in the U.K.
As temperatures climb, ranaviruses cause more frog deaths over a longer part of the year, according to a new study.
Now for something completely different …
Be an influence that benefits all humanity
Father Brendan Lee
The lessons learned in childhood shape who we are as adults, so we are then able to carry these values and understanding into adulthood.
6 Florence St Niddrie 3042
93741902
0432406862