Post of the Day
Bonn climate talks: Key outcomes from the June 2019 conference
With a “rulebook” for the Paris Agreement largely settled, the focus was on hammering out some contentious issues and laying the groundwork for the upcoming COP25.
Today’s Celebration
Danish West Indies Emancipation Day – US Virgin Islands
Independence Day – Belarus
Women’s Day – Myanmar
Festival of Cerridwen – Celticism
Climate Change
Bonn climate talks: Key outcomes from the June 2019 conference
With a “rulebook” for the Paris Agreement largely settled, the focus was on hammering out some contentious issues and laying the groundwork for the upcoming COP25.
Amid France Heat Wave, Police Teargas Climate Activists
Government Should Invite, Not Repress Climate Change Activism
Nerilie Abram
Greenland has been in the news a bit lately. From Huskies seemingly walking on water, to temperatures soaring to 20℃ above average for the time of year, to predictions of the vast ice sheet being lost entirely, what is going on?
If the West gets through this it won’t be in one piece [$]
Guy Rundle
Startling new data about rapidly thawing ice and permafrost is escalating the sense of inevitability of the climate crisis.
National
Australia condemns Japan whaling move
Australian government ministers have condemned Japan’s decision to pursue commercial whaling for the first time since 1988.
Climate activist interrupts Senate day one
A man has been removed from the Senate chamber by Parliament House security after interrupting proceedings on the first day of the new parliament.
Climate change blamed for decline in Australian seabirds
A 17-year study has found seabirds are declining off the coast of southeast Australia, likely because of warming ocean temperatures.
‘Carbon price useful’ as sugar industry struggles to diversify and value-add
Stagnant domestic production and a slump in global raw sugar prices require serious action to combat future declines in the $2 billion sugar industry, a report finds.
Booming LNG industry could be as bad for climate as coal, experts warn
Liquefied natural gas developments on a collision course with Paris agreement, Global Energy Monitor says
Ethical fund managers fail to meet investors’ concerns over climate change
Ethical investment managers are failing to meet the climate change concerns of retail investors in the choice of businesses to exclude from their funds.
Ethical investments soar to nearly $1 trillion [$]
Almost half of all professionally managed money in Australia is now classed as responsible investment, representing a meteoric rise for a sector that was still considered niche five years ago.
Koalas on the decline – dangerous new threats, emerging solutions
The Australian icon could lose its fight against climate change, disease, habitat destruction and cars – but not if dedicated conservationists get the tools they need to protect the species.
New paper undermine the claim that nuclear power is more about culture wars than electricity generation.
Unions revolt over Industry Super’s nuclear backing [$]
The Electrical Trades Union has called on industry funds to condemn a paper by their peak body that says nuclear power must be considered for energy investment.
Adani protest echoes in void as parliament without a compass sets sail
Katharine Murphy
The only person who looked delighted to be back was Jacqui Lambie, who was passed from arm to arm like a newborn
While the government is in denial, the states are making staggering progress on renewable energy
Tristan Edis
State governments seem frustrated with the Coalition – but we are closer to 100% renewables than you think
Why the Government’s new energy plan won’t help you [$]
Fred Van der Tang
Before Australians get too excited about the latest “solution” to the ongoing power bill crisis, it’s important to know what the Default Market Offer really means, and if it’s actually going to help at all.
Delayed greenhouse data confirms rising emissions, “contemptuous” government
Sophie Vorrath
Key federal government data charting the progress of Australia’s climate action – released belatedly by the Coalition – confirms total emissions have been rising steadily over the past three years, and are likely to increase again, thanks largely to fossil fuel mining.
Victoria
Inside Victoria’s other parliament, where political parties don’t exist
Twenty bills which were first debated at Victoria’s Youth Parliament have gone on to become state legislation. This year, the state’s youngest parliamentarians are pushing for more change, including mental health days for high school kids.
New seabird rule an albatross around the neck of trawl fishers, industry says
Trawl fishers who provide the bulk of fresh Australian fish to Sydney and Melbourne could see productivity plummet by up to 40 per cent after the introduction of a new rule to protect seabirds.
Hi-tech crackdown to catch Melbourne’s polluters [$]
Environmental vandals dumping toxic waste into Melbourne’s waterways are on notice. New technology can pinpoint dodgy polluters down to the street.
Crowded roads blamed for increasing number of tram crashes
The number of trams crashing into pedestrians and cars is the highest it has been in the past five years – and growing congestion on our roads is to blame.
New South Wales
NSW plastics review could lead to bag ban
NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean will lead a review into the use of plastics in the state and develop a “comprehensive” policy on the issue.
Improving safety for Blue Mountains walking tracks
A number of walking tracks across Blue Mountains National Park have re-opened with improved safety thanks to the hard work of National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff and contract trackworkers.
Tree-mendous team effort for a greener future
Abigail watered Elsa attentively as her friends patted down the soft mulch. “I’ve never planted a tree before – it’s fun,” Kenndra said. “I hope we can plant more in the future.”
‘Economically stupid’: Call for speedier waste management plan for NSW
The state is falling short on many of its 10-year waste management plans, prompting calls for the Berejiklian government to develop a shorter-term strategy.
NSW plays to its pumped hydro strengths, with green light for Shoalhaven
NSW green lights stage one works for expansion of Origin Energy’s Shoalhaven Pumped Hydro Storage Scheme as Snowy pushes for interstate support on new transmission line.
Queensland
Scientists discover tiny spider species
A Queensland Museum arachnologist has helped identify five new species of tiny Brushed Jumping Spiders the size of a grain of rice.
World Heritage Committee should push to cut fossil fuels and save iconic sites
The UN’s World Heritage Committee needs to push countries to drastically cut their fossil fuel use to save sites like the Great Barrier Reef that are highly vulnerable to climate change, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) says.
‘Teeming with life’: New hope for the Great Barrier Reef
At a time when portions of the Great Barrier Reef are being devastated by coral decline, Southern Cross University doctoral researcher Kay Davis has found an island near Gladstone has experienced remarkable coral growth.
Green light for M1 projects to ease traffic congestion until 2041
More than 50,000 extra cars and trucks could travel the Pacific Motorway each day under a road project which has been given the tick of approval.
Powering up north’s $1.5 billion network [$]
A billion dollar power network project that would connect northwest Queensland with the national grid is one step closer to getting off the ground.
South Australia
How Kangaroo Island could save koalas from chlamydia
Koala chlamydia has had devastating effects in Queensland and New South Wales, but a population believed to entirely free of the disease on Kangaroo Island is being heralded as a potential lifeline.
Rail privatisation fight explodes, but the evidence is not black-and-white
An intense political fight has broken out over the impending privatisation of South Australia’s public train and tram operations, but evidence of its benefits or otherwise from interstate and overseas is mixed.
Tasmania
EPA tick for quarry expansion [$]
A quarry has received approval to increase its production by two-thirds, with a special provision to allow for blasting at the site.
Northern Territory
Eyewatering cost of Darwin underground power plan revealed [$]
Fully undergrounding power to Darwin’s suburbs could cost up to $390 million and take decades
Western Australia
Iluka waste pit yields rare earths [$]
Mineral sands giant Iluka Resources is quietly plotting a low-key entry into the rare earths market after winning permission from the West Australian government to export a concentrate carrying rare earth ore from its mothballed Eneabba mine.
‘Two degrees above average’: WA on track to record hottest year on record
Western Australia is on track to record its hottest year on record, with temperatures two degrees warmer than average in the first half of 2019.
Thousands of workers needed for Woodside LNG builds
A report commissioned by the energy giant to be released today estimates the two projects will contribute more than $82 billion to government coffers over their life.
Sustainability
Five free ways to save energy and money this winter
Winter energy bills can come as a shock to many of us but they shouldn’t have to. There are heaps of free and easy ways to save energy – and money – this winter that won’t compromise your warmth.
Plastic Free July – will you accept challenge?
Plastic Free July is an Australian initiative that asks people try a day, week or whole month without plastic – either by seeking alternatives for a few key items (water bottles, plastic bags, straws, takeaway containers) or going cold turkey on everything single use.
Tiny granules can help bring clean and abundant fusion power to Earth
Physicists from PPPL and General Atomics have concluded that injecting tiny beryllium pellets into ITER could help stabilize the plasma that fuels fusion reactions.
Scientists discover processes to lower methane emissions from animals
Scientists are part of an international research collaboration which has made an important discovery in the quest to lower global agricultural methane emissions.
The world needs a global agenda for sand
Sand is a key ingredient in the recipe of modern life, and yet it is being extracted faster than it can be replaced.
Tilting of windmills could lead to performance gains, study finds
Stanford University researchers find simple technique of “wake steering” – or slightly tilting wind turbines – can boost performance and reduce variability of output.
Greece faces EU fine for not curbing water pollution
Greece faces a stiff European Union fine for failing to align with environmental standards regarding water purity.
Cities are beginning to own up to the climate impacts of what they consume
Consumption emissions from goods, food, and services are huge – and politically explosive.
Bioplastics could solve a major pollution problem
Advanced solvents and enzymes are transforming woody wastes into better biodegradable plastics.
Air pollution in Kampala is killing us
The incidence of allergies and asthma in developing countries including Uganda is on the rise.
Equations help predict the behavior of water in rivers
University of Cordoba researchers developed a mathematical model that allows for anticipating the failure of dikes that hold in overflowing river water.
Bionic catalysts to produce clean energy
A biohybrid material that combines reduced graphene oxide with bacterial cells offers an eco-friendly option to help store renewable energy.
The devastating reason some women are deciding not to have children
Laura Paddison
What kind of life can my children expect in a world facing down environmental crises too enormous and terrifying to wrap our heads around?
Operating theatres are healing the sick but harming the environment
Harriet Jones
I’m a nurse and I’ve realised I’m part of an organisation that is contributing billions of tons of plastic waste.
Battery storage: Hype, hope and analysis
David Leitch
We’ve been reading some exciting news about large-scale batteries lately. However, the economics are not as good as the headlines – yet.
There is no green revolution without tax justice [$]
Eva Joly
There’s a green wave sweeping through European Parliament. But meaningful action on issues like climate change cannot be achieved without countries rewriting corporate tax law.
Nature Conservation
Conservationists warn of extinction risk as Japan catches first whale after hunting ban lifted
Japanese whalers brought ashore their first catches as they resumed commercial hunting after a 31-year hiatus, brushing aside criticism from activists who say the practice is cruel and outdated.
Part of their culture or vicious practice? Why the Japanese hunt whales
A man who spent nine nights detained on a Japanese whaling vessel has called on the Australian government to pressure Japan to end its commercial whaling.
Revealed: Rampant deforestation of Amazon driven by global greed for meat
Investigation exposes how Brazil’s huge beef sector continues to threaten health of world’s largest rainforest.
Bananas are at risk of extinction thanks to climate change
Bananas as we know them could become extinct due to numerous factors like climate change, insect infestations, poor soil quality and plant pathogens.
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