Post of the Day
Biodiversity highest on Indigenous-managed lands
More than one million plant and animal species worldwide are facing extinction, according to a recent United Nations report. Now, a new study suggests that Indigenous-managed lands may play a critical role in helping species survive.
Today’s Celebration
Army Day – China
Warsaw Uprising Memorial Day – Poland
National Day – Switzerland
Emancipation Day – West Indies
Independence Day in Benin
Parents’ Day – DR Congo
Saint Dominic Day – Managua
Day of Azerbaijani Language and Alphabet – Azerbaijan
Memorial Day for the Victims of World War I – Russia
Minden Day – UK
Victory Day – Laos and Cambodia
Lughnasadh – Ireland
National Forestry Planting Day
Climate Change
Capitalism is part of solution to climate crisis, says Mark Carney
Bank of England governor says firms that ignore crisis ‘will go bankrupt without question’
Climate crisis already causing deaths and childhood stunting, report reveals
‘Insidious’ health-related impacts in Australia and Pacific include lowered cognitive capacity and spread of diseases
Harvard creates advisory panel to oversee solar geoengineering project
Scientists will inject particles of calcium carbonate into the atmosphere and study their effects on incoming sunlight.
From Townsville to Tuvalu: health and climate change in Australia and the Asia Pacific region
Global Health Alliance (Australia)
This policy paper highlights evidence and case studies to show how climate and environmental change will affect human health in the Asia Pacific region. It also provides proposals for how Australian governments – Federal, State and Local – might respond to this challenge.
We must doubt disturbed teen’s climate dogma [$]
Andrew Bolt
No messiah As the deeply disturbed Greta Thunberg spreads her climate panic, we should ask why so many world leaders are listening to her.
National
New Liberal MP wants ‘both sides’ of climate change debate taught at schools
School children should hear a diverse range of views in the classroom, including from climate change advocates as well as sceptics, a new Liberal MP says.
Pacific islands up the pressure on climate
The smallest Pacific island nations are urging the Morrison government to not use carryover credits towards the Paris agreement emissions reduction goal.
Is Australia’s population growth mostly migration, and is that underpinning the budget?
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson says that migration makes up most of Australia’s population growth, and that it underpins the budget. RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates.
National Forestry Planting Day recognises Australia’s most renewable industries
Today, 1 August, is National Forestry Planting Day, and a time to celebrate Australia’s most sustainable and renewable industries, our forest industries, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Mr Ross Hampton said today.
Bush push for sustainability [$]
There’s a push in the bush for what’s described as sustainable farming, encouraged by governments.
Corporate PPAs take chunk out of Origin electricity sales
Origin Energy reports electricity business volumes down by 10% compared to March quarter and 9% on June 2018 levels, “due to the loss of higher volume customers.”
Tesla megapacks, community batteries, big turbines and a banana republic
The Clean Energy Summit had more panels than your average solar farm, but there were some key highlights.
Murray-Darling ‘tough cop’ introduced to oversee water theft, compliance
A Murray-Darling Basin inspector-general will focus of water efficiency, compliance and theft under a proposal by Water Minister David Littleproud.
A decade of power policy failure finally comes calling
AFR View
After years of inconsistent energy policies, the chooks may finally be coming home to roost.
While others face climate reality, our government denies the undeniable
John Hewson
Australia is ignoring the risks, but also the great opportunities, of a low-carbon future.
Don’t just blame government and business for the recycling crisis – it begins with us
Trevor Thornton
Recycling is a communal problem.
With or without you: Rebutting criticism of AEMC’s demand response proposal
Mark Byrne And Craig Memery
A look at the main criticisms of the AMEC’s proposal for a wholesale demand response mechanism – and why we think they are incorrect.
How quickly can Australia transition to 100% renewables?
Giles Parkinson
As Australia installs renewable energy at a record rate, and sets new benchmarks on output and the share of wind and solar in the grid, the next question must surely be – how far can this transition go?
Victoria
Councils in a dogfight over green space carve-up for North East Link
A fight for parks, tennis courts and popular walking and cycling routes is under way in the city’s north-east, as councils try to cling to land being acquired for the $15.8 billion North East Link.
Melbourne’s most solar-friendly suburbs revealed [$]
Melbourne’s most solar-friendly suburbs have been revealed — and the inner-city “smashed avo set” have been trumped by ‘battler burbs.
Victoria says energy market rules come from different era, regulators fail to keep pace
Victorian energy minister says energy market rules out of date, and calls for reforms to ensure regulators can respond to clean energy transition.
New South Wales
What we learnt when we went plastic-free for a month (and what we couldn’t live without)
When Chontelle Grecian took up the Plastic Free July challenge, she was looking for a simpler way of living. What she discovered was a way to save the household budget and have fun with the whole family.
Jemena buys electrolyser for NSW as industry eyes mammoth hydrogen opportunities
Jemena acquires electrolyser for NSW “green gas” trial as industry talks up importance of domestic hydrogen market and export opportunities.
Citrus growers on the lower Darling River stare down an unprecedented disaster, with some being forced to abandon their crops as they wait for the Federal Government to agree to a water buyback.
ACT
CSIRO to oversee Ginninderry bushfire management
The nation’s peak science body, CSIRO, will oversee bushfire management at the cross-border Ginninderry development in Canberra’s west.
Calls for free transport as bus cancellations soar
Thousands of weekend bus services have failed to show up since sweeping and controversial changes to the network were made in late April.
Manuka tree’s final moments at the centre of a planning controversy
It was hardly a poetic end for the large, leafy tree that loomed over Manuka.
Queensland
‘It’s a joke’: Biosecurity insider slams slow response in war against fire ants
Fire ants are spreading into new areas across south-east Queensland according to a Biosecurity Queensland insider who says the war to eradicate the potential killers is all but lost, a claim vehemently denied by the man tasked with stopping the spread.
How unique music playlists are helping save water in the shower
How long do you spend in the shower? A Queensland utility group believe a four-minute song could be the key to keeping showers shorter and in turn save water.
Inner-city Brisbane bikeway opened years after cyclist’s death
The 2.5km Woolloongabba bikeway has been opened, connecting cyclists through the city.
When climate change interferes with ability ‘to listen to the earth’
From graveyards being washed into the sea to salt lakes appearing out of nowhere, remote communities are at the forefront of climate impact – with more to come.
Parliament estimates live blog: Follow debate about state’s key issues [$]
Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch and her senior bureaucrats have been peppered with questions about the handling of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine as Budget Estimate hearings continue this afternoon.
Finch‘s $27k taxpayer burden [$]
Adani’s black-throated finch plan, ordered by the Palaszczuk government, came at a price.
South Australia
Mining a rich vein for growth [$]
Regional SA is still full of potential copper deposits, says our energy chief – but he’s also got his eye on more renewables and another industry taking off.
Cause of mass corella deaths revealed [$]
More than 50 birds that fell from the sky and died on the grounds of a primary school north of Adelaide were killed by a common agricultural pesticide, the Environment Department has revealed.
Tasmania
$5m abalone fund to tackle thorny issue,[$]
A new fund has been established to battle an 18 million-strong army that has moved in and created underwater deserts devoid of all marine life.
Down and dirty to meet earth’s demands [$]
Our green army is growing, and so are their expectations. Meeting them is today’s challenge, says the chief executive of Landcare Tasmania.
Company reveals wind farm jobs prediction [$]
The company behind a proposed 80-turbine wind farm in the state’s Central Highlands has revealed how much it expects the project to cost and how many jobs it would create.
Epuron to put 300MW Tasmania wind farm plans to community
Plans to build a wind farm of up to 300MW in capacity in Tasmania’s Central Highlands are set to be put to community, by Sydney-based developer Epuron.
Farming the wind: The cost on our environment in order to save it
Don Owers
While wind farms provide a clean source of energy, producing them can have detrimental effects on the environment.
Northern Territory
Uranium mine ‘still has future’
ERA shareholder Richard Magides says he’ll fight Rio Tinto demands over a clean-up of the Ranger uranium mine.
Western Australia
Yeelirrie uranium mine’s environmental approval upheld
Environmentalists and native title holders had opposed the approval, arguing the Cameco-owned mine could make several species of underground fauna extinct.
New fishing boss in push for better access rights
Securing better access rights for WA’s billion-dollar commercial fisheries is a top priority for the WA Fishing Industry Council’s new chief executive, Alex Ogg.
Sustainability
Walkability is key: A look at greenspace use
New research suggests the key to getting more people to use public greenspaces may be making access to them easier and safer.
Shale natural gas development impacting recreationists
Researchers took a closer look at shale natural gas energy development (SGD) and how it is affecting the experiences of outdoor recreationists, like hikers and campers. They found a significant number of recreationists encountered SGD-related activities and a smaller number even changed their outdoor behaviors or experiences as a result of encountering SGD.
The case for a coercive Green New Deal
Only a massive, democratically elected administrative apparatus can stop climate change.
New Zealand poised to introduce clean car standards and incentives to cut emissions
Robert McLachlan
Australia and Russia could soon be the last remaining developed nations without fuel efficiency standards, with New Zealand proposing new rules and financial incentives to get more people driving cleaner cars.
Nature Conservation
Climate change alters tree demography in northern forests
The rise in temperature and precipitation levels in summer in northern Japan has negatively affected the growth of conifers and resulted in their gradual decline, according to a 38-year-long study in which mixed forests of conifers and broad-leaved trees were monitored.
Biodiversity highest on Indigenous-managed lands
More than one million plant and animal species worldwide are facing extinction, according to a recent United Nations report. Now, a new study suggests that Indigenous-managed lands may play a critical role in helping species survive.