Post of the Day
This story should be front-page news, every single day [$]
Guy Rundle
There is a melancholy settling across the world, as the consequences of decades of climate inaction reverberate. What can be done to place the impending cataclysm back at the centre of everyday life?
Today’s Celebration
Antifascist Struggle Commemoration Day – Croatia
Midsummer Day – Finland and Sweden
Flag Day – Finland
National Guild Day – Iran
Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War – Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
Heroes’ Remembrance Day – Latvia
Climate Change
Climate change is having a devastating effect on vital organisms you can’t see
Mankind is responsible for dramatic changes to Earths’ climate that may well spell doom for our continued existence on this planet.
The next way to stop climate change: storing data in space
Data centers consume the energy of 50 power plants and spew out more greenhouse gases than 140 countries.
This story should be front-page news, every single day [$]
Guy Rundle
There is a melancholy settling across the world, as the consequences of decades of climate inaction reverberate. What can be done to place the impending cataclysm back at the centre of everyday life?
National
Extinction Rebellion activists occupy four Australian cities protesting Adani
Protesters are ramping up anti-Adani demonstrations – tonight taking over four major CBDs – as works on the controversial mine get underway.
Financial regulator warns that firms ignoring climate change may face their own ‘Kodak moment’
One of Australia’s leading financial regulators warns businesses that conservative bodies with ‘barely a hipster beard…between them’ agree that climate change is a financial risk.
Fund set up to fight climate change considers ‘insane’ idea to give money to coal-fired power
The multi-billion-dollar Emissions Reduction Fund is under review and one idea being considered is to use taxpayer money to subsidise power generators, including coal-fired stations.
Liberal states in talks to revive Turnbull’s dumped energy policy
They have an option through the COAG route to pursue the Neg even if Angus Taylor refuses to play ball
Much of Australia expecting drier and warmer than average winter
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its latest climate outlook for July to September
Substantial rainfall hit many places this week
Some parts of Australia saw the best rain all year this week
You’ve hit a roo, so what do you do next?
For most drivers, hitting a kangaroo can be a terrifying experience. But if the animal is still alive, the next steps you take can be the most important.
BHP energy tender could deliver “game changing” shift to renewables
BHP puts its Chile and Australian electricity contracts out to tender, and expects renewables to feature strongly in “game-changing” shift.
Miners see 50% renewables as standard, but are aiming for 100%
Consider this statistic. An average size off grid mine with a 30MW power plant will likely burn about $1.4 billion of diesel fuel over a 20-year period, at current prices. That’s about one third of the total cost of the mine.
EnergyAustralia hit by power price interventions, coal troubles
After a bumper year of profits in 2018, EnergyAustralia has taken a hit from state and federal retail power price re-regulation, suffering a write-down of up to $A1.3 billion.
A taxpayer-funded network of environmental lawyers has been handed more than $2.5m to fight mining projects.
Time to Step Up: Commit to 1.5°C
Climate Group media release
The scale of the climate crisis is more visible than ever. Not only has it been clearly articulated by the world’s leading climate scientists, communities around the world are suffering more frequent, extreme and widespread storms, heat waves and wildfires.
We bought a farm to have more family time. We’re risking it all to join a natural farming revolution
Virginia Tapscott
About a year ago, my partner and I learned of a revolution in Australia’s paddocks. We want to farm in a more natural way, but the stakes are high — making the shift could send us broke.
Climate crisis: what you can do while government does nothing
Nicky Ison
Action to save environment is even more imperative; it beats sitting on hands for another three years
Gender issues top climate summit [$]
Graham Lloyd
Australian officials are being grilled on how the country is tackling global warming by addressing gender and indigenous issues.
Victoria
Calls for new Victorian national parks
A new report is calling on the Victorian government to better protect nearly 60,000 hectares of land in the state’s central west.
EPA amends Works Approval for Australian Paper waste to energy proposal
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued an amended Works Approval for Paper Australia Pty Ltd’s (Australian Paper) waste to energy project.
Premier turns first sod for Berrybank Wind Farm
Premier Daniel Andrews was in Corangamite Shire this morning to turn the first sod for construction of the Berrybank Wind Farm.
Quarry set to transform into $1b Melbourne housing estate
A giant brick quarry next to public parkland in the city’s south-east will be transformed into a huge 1700-home estate under a development deal between Boral and Mirvac.
‘People will die’: Local groups unite to battle toxic waste danger
At first glance, Stony Creek in Yarraville is a pretty stream in a tranquil green park but it’s ‘‘dead, effectively’’ due to a huge toxic chemicals fire, a nearby resident claims.
New South Wales
Renovations for new facilities underway at Arakoon National Park
Visitors to Arakoon National Park on the Macleay Valley Coast will soon have new picnic, toilet and kiosk facilities with three major building renovations underway.
City of Sydney councillors to vote on declaring climate crisis a national emergency
Clover Moore says ‘successive federal governments have shamefully presided over a climate disaster’
Santos coal seam gas plan still has hurdles to clear: NSW government
The Minister in charge of assessing the $3 billion coal seam project proposed by Santos for the NSW north-west says the process is ongoing, downplaying speculation that an approval is imminent.
‘Political football’: controversial NSW coal project granted mining licence
The controversial Wallarah 2 coal project has been granted mining licences by the NSW government.
Botanic Garden’s top 40 plants that will flourish in Sydney gardens
Tested over the last three years, the winners of what will now be an annual list include new varieties of “grandma” plants that have been bred to flourish in tough conditions.
ACT
Canberra bus network sparks thousands of complaints
The ACT government has been swamped with complaints about changes to the city’s bus routes, as Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris admits she had been anticipating a major backlash to the public transport overhaul.
Queensland
86 per cent of Great Barrier Reef contaminated with microfibres
Surprising new research suggests about 86 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef is contaminated with microfibres.
‘This isn’t a path we want to be on’: Temperature rises will make city life difficult, report finds
Limiting outdoor activities and an increased risk of heat-related illness and death — life in Brisbane in 2050 will be very uncomfortable as temperature rises make it “a difficult place to live”, a new report finds.
Five anti-Adani protesters arrested after gluing themselves to the road
Several people are arrested and released without charge after gluing themselves to a Brisbane road during a protest against the Queensland Government’s approval of the Adani coal mine.
More than $500m spent buying land for Cross River Rail
Business owners have been compensated for disruptions while properties have been snatched up to allow construction of Cross River Rail.
New deal locks in $1 billion state funding for Brisbane’s buses
Queensland government funding has been secured to operate 1200 Brisbane buses along more than 420 routes for the next three years.
Crunch time as movement to Stop Adani gears up
Following the Queensland government’s approval of Adani’s conservation plan for the endangered black-throated finch and its groundwater management plan, the company again announced it would start work on its Carmichael coalmine project “within weeks”.
South Australia
Knoll taking Adelaide’s public transport back to the future
Road investment trumps light rail when it comes to Adelaide’s public transport future, according to Transport Minister Stephan Knoll, a position reiterated by this week’s SA budget.
Tasmania
Electricity price rises capped at 2 per cent in Tasmania for 12 months
The Tasmanian Economic Regulator has approved capping electricity price increases at 2 per cent until at least mid-2020, a move welcomed by Aurora Energy.
Devils’ survival is all in the details [$]
The latest group of healthy Tasmanian devils from an insurance population on Maria Island have been relocated to a national park in the state’s North.
Northern Territory
First lithium mine in NT a step closer
The first lithium mine in the Northern Territory is a step closer after the environment watchdog gave qualified backing to the project.
National parks including Uluru and Kakadu not managed properly, audit finds
Government agency has failed to work with traditional owners to look after parks such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Kakadu
$20 billion solar farm plan for Territory
A $20 billion plan for the world’s largest solar farm will create 1300 jobs in the Northern Territory — and that’s not even the most impressive part
How to create a country with no heart?
Viv Forbes
Why is every proposal to develop an outback mine, dam, irrigation scheme or a real power station now labelled ‘controversial’ by the ABC and opposed by the ALP/Greens?
Western Australia
Chinese company ordered to stop land clearing on Kimberley station following Aboriginal blockade
The WA Government has ordered Zenith Australia Investment Holding to stop clearing land at Yakka Munga station after a blockade by the area’s native title holders.
WA cops deserve pay rise … but they shouldn’t get it
Ben Harvey
Our men and women in blue should accept the $1000 the McGowan Government is offering them and stop whining. The reason is simple.
Sustainability
This man knows what it’s really like shovelling radioactive debris on top of Chernobyl’s reactor
One of the most intense scenes in the HBO blockbuster Chernobyl is when men are sent to the top of the melted-down nuclear reactor for the most critical few seconds of their life. Jaan Krinal was one of them. This is his story.
UK minister suspended after grabbing Greenpeace protester by the neck
UK Conservative MP Mark Field is suspended as a Foreign Office minister after he was filmed forcibly removing a female protester from a black-tie event in London, pushing her against a pillar before grabbing her by the neck.
Clean power to overtake fossil fuels in Britain in 2019
Britain is on track to use more electricity from zero-carbon sources such as wind, solar and nuclear than from fossil fuel plants this year, the country’s National Grid says.
Pollution is choking Europe’s poorest region
The air in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo can be worse than Beijing on some winter days.
This new biodegradable plastic is made from cactus
While some Earth-friendly plastic is now made from corn, cacti don’t need the resources and can be grown on land we don’t need for food production.
Charts: Is burning trash a good way to handle it?
Incineration is a poor waste management option.
Nature Conservation
The $3 trillion economic opportunity for spaceship Earth [$]
The ocean is vital to the world’s economy. But with plastic rubbish set to outweigh fish within decades, this invaluable resource is at risk.
New data show the US honeybee population is still dying in record numbers
Bees pollinate about $15 billion worth of crops each year. Scientists have many theories about why the colony collapse is continuing. Technology may provide a solution.
6 Florence St Niddrie 3042
93741902
0432406862