Post of the Day
No-take marine areas help fishers (and fish) far more than we thought
Dustin Marshall and Liz Morris
One hectare of ocean in which fishing is not allowed (a marine protected area) produces at least five times the amount of fish as an equivalent unprotected hectare, according to new research published today.
Today’s Celebration
Birthday of Queen Sonja – Norway
Commemoration of Jewish Genocide – Latvia
Independence Day – Rwanda
Independence Day – United States of America and territories
King’s Day – Tonga
Climate Change
Explainer: Climate change and the European heatwave: It’s complicated
Attributing any one event to climate change is a complicated business, especially with a jet stream involved.
UK to put climate crisis and environment at the heart of overseas aid
Government will spend £193m on directly tackling climate-related issues in first initiative
June world’s hottest month, breaks records
All eyes were on the heatwave in Europe but a leading climate change institute says June was the hottest month the world has experienced since records began.
Moody’s Analytics says climate change could cost $69 trillion by 2100
The consulting firm warns of damage to critical infrastructure, workers’ health and productivity.
Antarctic sea ice declining ‘precipitously’ since 2014, study finds
Between 2014 and 2017, Antarctica suffered a precipitous decline, losing more yearly average sea ice in just three years than that observed in the Arctic over a period of 33 years.
Natural shift to bake Earth [$]
A natural sun cycle will add 2.5C warming to Earth’s climate in coming centuries, new research has found.
We’re happy to talk about climate change but not so keen to do anything about it
Mike Hosking
Emissions figures show the actions don’t match the talk on climate change.
National
Constraints on more road and rail projects
A senior economist says a call for the federal government to spend more on infrastructure could stall because the sector is already over-stuffed with projects.
Fact Check: How easy is it to drive from Sydney to Melbourne in an electric vehicle?
Former Labor minister Stephen Conroy says that you can’t drive an electric vehicle easily between Sydney and Melbourne. Is he correct?
‘Billions’ of animals are killed on Australian farms each year — but we don’t eat them
Australians are among the biggest meat eaters in the world, but we also kill hordes of animals each year with no intention of ever putting them on a plate. Here’s why.
The new indicator that tells us something is deeply wrong with the economy
According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, there were 117,817 vehicles sold across the nation in June. It was a 9.6 per cent drop on the same month last year. They were down by 10.7 per cent in NSW and 11.2 per cent in Queensland, while in Victoria they were off by 7.6 per cent. In perhaps the sickest economy in the country – the Northern Territory – sales were down by 31.4 per cent.
Australia’s unique opportunity for an infrastructure revolution
John Hewson
The economy needs stimulus and the nation needs to build its future. That’s a happy coincidence and there’s a way to pay for it, writes a former Liberal leader.
Here’s what you should know before going solar [$]
Domenico Gelonese
For many Australians, converting a home to solar seems to be the way of the future. But how do you get the best investment and the right system in an unregulated market? Here’s what you need to know.
Victoria
Where are you going? How and why? The state government wants to know
The state government is asking companies to help provide it with detailed data on how Victorians travel, and the purpose of their journeys.
Victorian park access backlash [$]
A business backlash is brewing in Western Victoria as park authorities drastically tighten access to key tourist spots.
Hi-tech Werribee ‘super city’ canned [$]
The state government has withdrawn support for a $30 billion plan for a hi-tech super city creating up to 100,000 jobs in the western suburbs.
The frog that’s holding up giant Melbourne water park [$]
It promises zip lines and a massive wave pool, but the growling green frog, a fish and swamp skink are now holding up works on this massive southeast Melbourne water park. Here’s how long you’ll have to wait to get in the water.
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.
New South Wales
Warragamba Dam plan ‘incompatible’: UNESCO
UNESCO has urged Australia to submit an updated environmental impact statement for raising the wall of the Warragamba Dam before a final decision is made.
Light rail arrives in Sydney CBD for tests
Light rail vehicles will soon begin day testing through Sydney’s CBD with the line from Randwick to Circular Quay expected to open by the end of the year.
Dungog aims for six ticks and Blue Planet status as it kicks single-use plastics
A small town team harnesses sewing power to create more than 4,000 reusable alternatives to single-use plastic bags in a bid to save the planet.
Queensland
QRC welcomes new gas exploration
Lynham’s decision to award three companies the Authority to Prospect (ATP) for gas on more than 1,510 square kilometres of land in the Surat Basin.
Hundreds of Brisbane buses forced to skip stops each month
Popular bus routes through Brisbane’s busiest suburbs have been frequently at capacity and forced to skip bus stops, data shows.
Qld rules out another Cross River Rail business case
Infrastructure Australia would welcome a revised business case for Labor’s signature $5.4 billion rail project.
Flammable cladding to be banned from all new Queensland buildings
It comes as the state government attempts to solve a looming issue in professional indemnity insurance sparked by combustible cladding.
Climate change activists fundraise to pay fines [$]
Members of the activist group responsible for gluing themselves to a street and blocking a bridge with a canoe in the Brisbane CBD have started online fundraising campaigns to pay their court-issued fines.
Climate of fury puts Brown on the outer [$]
Andrew Bolt
What part of “democracy” does former Greens leader Bob Brown not understand, as he begs for money for a new protest camp?
South Australia
SA researchers changed Basin Plan science [$]
Science justifying millions of megalitres being flushed down the Murray River to keep Lake Alexandrina fresh is based on research “altered” by Adelaide University researchers.
$1.2 billion solar farm wins approval [$]
A solar farm in the state’s Mid North has the green light, driving a $1.17 billion investment and leading to a temporary jobs boost.
Farmers’ fury as controversial Bill passes [$]
Angry farmers have watched on as controversial mining reforms passed the state parliament’s Lower House, despite four backbenchers crossing the floor to vote against it.
Chief Scientist Alan Finkel to investigate Bight oil drilling plan [$]
Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel will be asked to investigate how drilling in the Great Australian Bight could impact Australian Marine Park values.
The fight to privatise Adelaide’s rail network
David Washington
The South Australian government is in a war of words with the state opposition over the impending privatisation of Adelaide’s public transport network. But what do the history books say on the matter?
Tasmania
A $2.5 million new facility is set to double the number of breeding pairs for captive breeding of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.
Northern Territory
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Western Australia
Saltwater Kimberley: is WA’s marine wilderness safe?
A health check of the pristine ecosystem has found warming waters, more crocodiles and a ‘humpback highway’
McGowan trumpets road build blitz but Roe 8 ghost still haunts
Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti have spent the day on a tour of seven major road project around Perth, claiming they would create 3200 new jobs.
Dolphin feeding is a visitor drawcard for Bunbury in Western Australia, but a new study finds the practice could be putting the dolphin population at risk of decline.
Sustainability
Iran to boost uranium enrichment: Rouhani
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says his country will increase its level of uranium enrichment after July 7 to whatever levels it needs.
FOI documents reveal why Amazon is fighting to keep its emissions data secret
Amazon has applied to have its greenhouse gas emissions withheld from the public in Australia, amid international criticism for its lack of environmental transparency.
Cockroaches could soon be almost impossible to kill with pesticides
Most common household cockroach able to develop ‘cross resistance’ to multiple types of chemicals, US study finds
Nuclear power, once seen as impervious to climate change, threatened by heat waves
The nuclear power sector is often portrayed as resistant to unpredictable weather associated with climate change. Heat waves, however, are punching holes in that narrative.
Hot v cold: What is the best way to wash your clothes?
Where do you stand on the great laundry debate? Hot or cold — your choice could be affecting the life of your clothing, and the environment.
Coal and gas on notice, as US big solar and battery deal stuns market
Los Angeles deal for 400MW solar + 400MW/800MWh battery plant set to lock in prices of under 2c/kWh for PV, $1.3c/kWh for stored power.
The relentless (and growing) problem of plastic ‘nurdle’ pollution
The tiny pellets used to make plastic products are washing up everywhere, posing an environmental threat to places like the Gulf Coast of Texas.
Climate friend or carbon bomb? Global gas market faces $1.3trn stranded asset risk
The global gas market will need to slow the pace of its growth, to avoid both the risk of stranded assets and to prevent further increases to global emissions, a new report from US-based think tank Global Energy Monitor has found.
Avoid black plastic food packaging – and the 16 other essential rules of effective recycling
Do you have to wash your tins before recycling them? Are glass milk bottles better than plastic? Do you need to use a bag for life, for life? All your questions about staying eco without it becoming a burden
Indonesia sends trash to developed nations
Indonesia is shipping 49 containers of plastic waste back to developed nations after it was illegally imported.
Activity of fuel cell catalysts doubled
An interdisciplinary research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has built platinum nanoparticles for catalysis in fuel cells: The new size-optimized catalysts are twice as good as the best process commercially available today.
Experiments show dramatic increase in solar cell output
Researchers at MIT and Princeton have found a way to increase the output of silicon solar cells by allowing a single photon to release two electrons in the silicon.
Pesticide exposure linked to teen depression
Adolescent depression increases with exposure to pesticides, a study in the Ecuadorian Andes shows.
Ten common myths about bike lanes – and why they’re wrong
Peter Walker
From congestion to cost, there are many entirely misguided arguments in circulation
A covert deep-sea mission then disaster: has Russia’s nuke drone exploded?
Alexey Muraviev
The submarine disaster couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Russian Government, with its lavish Navy Day celebrations just around the corner
India’s monumental water crisis should be a warning to us all [$]
Michael Sainsbury
The arrival of monsoon season may not be enough to save India from the grip of a devastating water crisis. At what point does national crisis evolve to global catastrophe?
You’ve seen the TV series, now understand the Chernobyl catastrophe is far from over
Helen Caldicott
The death toll may be contentious, but the world’s worst nuclear accident will continue to poison humans for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Nature Conservation
Researchers collect tonnes of plastic from this viral island, but leave it all behind
When this island became “the poster boy for marine pollution”, researchers went to clean some of the 38 million pieces of plastic. But after collecting half of it, they had to abandon their efforts.
11% of destroyed moist tropical forests could be restored to boost climate, environment
Researchers identified more than 100 million hectares of lost lowland tropical rain forests — restoration hotspots — spread out across Central and South America, Africa and Southeast Asia that present the most compelling opportunities for restoration to overcome rising global temperatures, water pollution and shortages, and the extinction of plant and animal life.
Amazon rural development and conservation: a path to sustainability?
Small-scale oil palm projects show that sustainable supply chains, coupled with tough environmental regulation could benefit both farmers and forests.
From Shark Bay seagrass to Stone Age Scotland, we can now assess climate risks to World Heritage
Scott Heron and Jon C. Day
Climate change is the fastest-growing global threat to World Heritage. However, no systematic approach to assess the climate vulnerability of each particular property has existed – until now.
Daylight robbery: how human-built structures leave coastal ecosystems in the shadows
Martino Malerba et al
Human-built structures are home to a wide variety of creatures
No-take marine areas help fishers (and fish) far more than we thought
Dustin Marshall and Liz Morris
One hectare of ocean in which fishing is not allowed (a marine protected area) produces at least five times the amount of fish as an equivalent unprotected hectare, according to new research published today.
Darren Kindleysides
Japan’s brutal pursuit ignores its responsibilities to the world.
Now for something completely different …
I know you don’t want to read about it but here’s what we can expect from this parliament
First Dog on the Moon
Who will change their name to the Australian bootLickers party? And everything else to look forward to in the next three years
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