Date: 27 September 2019 at 9:50:08 am AEST
Subject: Daily Links Sep 27
Post of the Day
When it comes to climate change, Australia’s mining giants are an accessory to the crime
Jeremy Moss
Australia cannot distance itself from moral responsibility for emissions from exported fossil fuels.
Today’s Celebration
Independence Day – Turkmenistan
National Youth Day – Turks and Caicos Islands
Pchum Ben Festival – Cambodia
Manit Day (Culture Day) – Marshall Islands
Arbor Day – US Virgin Islands
Day of the Polish Underground State – Poland
French Community Day – Belgium
End of the Mexican War of Independence – Mexico
National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – USA
Grand Final Parade – Victoria
Elevation of the Holy Cross in Eastern Christianity
Climate Change
Greta Thunberg hits back at ‘the haters’ after UN speech criticism
Greta Thunberg has questioned why some adults ‘mock and threaten teenagers and children for promoting science’.
Prince Harry criticises climate deniers
Prince Harry, on tour in Africa, says there are undeniable facts behind climate change, and cannot understand how anyone denies the science.
Some industry officials wonder whether President Trump’s anti-regulation agenda has gone too far.
Forests, oceans & climate change
Forests and oceans bear the brunt of climate change, but they offer opportunities to help reverse
Arctic ice is melting faster than expected. These scientists have a radical idea to save it
Costly and controversial, yes. But we may be running out of choices.
Is climate change driving pirate attacks in Indonesia?
New research shows a correlation between poor local fishing conditions and increases in the rate of pirate attacks in Indonesia.
Greta Thunberg weaponized shame in an era of shamelessness
The real reason the teenage climate activist gets under the skin of so many adults.
The Greta Thunberg circus has become a complete farce
Amanda Vanstone
The whole trip, the hype and the expense was one big media circus. One can’t help but think it’s more to promote the person than the issue.
Peter van Onselen
Activists and sceptics lack nuance in discussions over climate change.
On climate change, humanity is not ‘evil’
Bjorn Lomborg
Greta Thunberg is echoing doomsayers who distract from the real solution for human-caused global warming: a solid replacement for the fossil fuels that have sparked prosperity
National
‘Used car salesman’: Morrison slammed over plastic pollution rhetoric
Climate change experts say Scott Morrison is using recycling and plastic in the ocean as a distraction from the much bigger threat of global warming.
Climate change in corporate Australia as businesses go carbon-neutral
Businesses will need to adapt and get ahead of the curve on climate change to survive, with experts and corporate leaders warning that those that stand still will be under threat.
Rats are starting to run the show in Australia’s east coast cities
An infestation of rodents is bringing a new kind of rat race to Australia’s eastern cities.
How does Scott Morrison’s climate declaration at the United Nations stack up?
Checking the claims: the PM trumpets Australia’s policies as ‘responsible and achievable’. But what do experts say?
Energy networks deny they have been slow to adapt to solar surge
The body representing electricity networks has called criticism in an AEMC report ‘a bit rich’ and says it has a range of proposals to cater for renewables.
‘CO2 is plant food’: Australian group signs international declaration denying climate science
Mining engineers and business leaders among those joining Clintel group targeting UN
Suncorp spruiks its green credentials [$]
Suncorp has issued a special flyer pitching its environmental credentials, ahead of its AGM, as it faces increasing pressure from green lobbyists.
BHP plans for ship carbon levy [$]
BHP believes an imminent emissions crackdown on the world’s shipping fleet may be extended to a broader carbon levy.
$100m for farmers as dams fast tracked
The federal government will fast-track environmental approvals for new dams as it pushes the states to build water projects.
Industry leaders gather to tackle waste
Sussan Ley
I have today begun a series of high level industry briefings to both challenge and work with Australia’s leading recyclers to achieve the earliest possible time frame in banning the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres.
Scott Morrison should have gone to hear Greta Thunberg
SMH editorial
The Prime Minister cannot dismiss climate change as ‘needless anxiety’.
Morrison needs to confront climate change deniers in his own party
Age editorial
The problem for Scott Morrison is that he wants to play up his climate credentials overseas, but he refuses to tackle the deniers at home.
Professor Tim Flannery laments his ‘colossal failure’ on climate activism [$]
The Mocker
Writing last week in online media outlet The Conversation (more on that name later), academic, author and former Australian of the Year Tim Flannery lamented the world’s failure to heed his warnings about climate change.
11 cool facts on warming to calm your sobbing child [$]
Andrew Bolt
I promised you a list – easy to print out – of scientific facts that should stop children from being terrified that global warming will kill them. It’s time to fight this hysteria, especially after Greta Thunberg’s breakdown at the United Nations. Here’s the list. Distribute widely.
When it comes to climate change, Australia’s mining giants are an accessory to the crime
Jeremy Moss
Australia cannot distance itself from moral responsibility for emissions from exported fossil fuels.
Coal-loving Morrison scolds China over emissions [$]
Jeff Sparrow
Australia may be the world’s third-largest exporter of CO2 in fossil fuels, but blaming China is much easier than dealing with our own shoddy emissions record.
Exporting our shame: Australia’s dirty little secrets
Christian Slattery and Dave Sweeney
Resources minister Matt Canavan jetted off to India last month to continuing the unedifying Australian government tradition of flogging the nation’s dirtiest minerals to the places that least need them, documents obtained by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) have revealed.
Victoria
Red dye causes pollution of Stony Creek but impacts are still unclear
Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority finds 5 litres of dye from a Brooklyn company caused the discolouration of Melbourne’s Stony Creek but the chemical content has not been confirmed.
In good news for Nillumbik, recycling is expected to resume shortly as contractor SKM starts to reopen processing facilities.
Loy Yang back by Christmas [$]
AGL Energy expects to complete repairs on its coal-fired Loy Yang A coal plant by a December deadline.
Hazelwood operators should have foreseen mine fire, prosecutor tells jury as trial gets underway
The operators of Hazelwood Power Station should have been better prepared for a blaze in its open-cut brown coal mine that burned for 45 days five years ago, a court hears.
Royal Park could be eaten up by tollway if not protected, experts warn
Royal Park must be protected from future plans to dig it up for the East West Link, Melbourne City Council has been warned amid continuing pressure from Canberra to build the controversial tollway.
More help on the way for drought-ravaged Victoria [$]
Five new drought-stricken regions in Victoria will be eligible to receive extra funding under a move to be unveiled by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to tackle the worsening situation.
‘Drowning’ climate change activists to shut down Northcote [$]
A busy Northcote thoroughfare will come to a standstill on Sunday when protesters don wetsuits and floaties to “drown” in the middle of the road. They are demanding the government stops lying about the climate and goes emissions free.
New South Wales
Australia’s recycling technology breakthrough
A new Federally funded microfactory unveiled at the University of NSW is helping to deliver world first technologies that include turning discarded plastic into high quality 3D printing filaments.
Have your say: Making it simpler to install cost saving energy storage
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is proposing changes that would make it easier to install cost-saving electricity storage and solar energy systems. The community is invited to have their say on proposed changes which would allow residents and businesses to install electricity storage technologies such as batteries.
An underground spaghetti junction so complex, it could be a world first
“I’ve worked on a number of large tunnelling projects and this is certainly one of the most fascinating,” said the director of the Sydney tunnelling project.
Green mine rules about to get shafted [$]
The Premier’s office and three senior ministers are discussing how to regulate when “scope three” emissions are factored into mine approvals in a bid to stop more jobs being lost in NSW due to overseas coal use.
Pressure on Gladys to ban plastic bags [$]
Labor’s environment spokeswoman says there are only two people standing in the way of banning single-use plastic bags from NSW — Gladys Berejiklian and John Barilaro — after a bill unexpectedly passed the state’s upper house on Thursday.
Queensland
Explainer: What’s happening to Bundaberg’s Paradise Dam?
SunWater is about to shed the equivalent of 32,000 Olympic pools of water from Bundaberg’s Paradise Dam, which is less than 20 years old — so what went wrong?
Adani coalmine: Queensland warned not to sign royalty deal until rail line agreed
Taxpayers risk subsidising ‘a foreign-owned unregulated monopoly asset’, the Australia Institute says
Croc-spotting drones to patrol north Queensland
Eyes in the sky will be used this summer to keep swimmers safe in tourist hot spots.
Twelve-year-old girl stages lone climate strike in ‘coal and gas central’
A year 6 student who lives in a town surrounded by mines and CSG wells demonstrated by herself during last week’s climate strike. But the reaction to her protest proved she was anything but alone.
Gold Coast Mayor rebuffed on shark net call
The Queensland government has backed its shark control program on the Gold Coast, after the city’s mayor said he was concerned shark nets could be removed from the tourism mecca’s beaches.
Activists on bikes block CBD streets [$]
Dozens of Extinction Rebellion protesters have taken to the streets of Brisbane’s CBD on bicycles this morning, ahead of plans to stage a ‘die-in’.
Safety on the line as pollies squabble [$]
Steven Wardill.
The Federal Court’s decision on baited drumlines was clearly out of step with public sentiment and requires the politicians who’ve supported the program to fix it.
Climate warriors are costing us jobs and money [$]
Anna Caldwell
Appeasing the vengeful gods of climate change means that regional NSW misses out on employment and advancement — all because of emissions 8000km away.
Mine rejection highlights stupidity of planning rules [$]
Telegraph editorial
News that the Premier and her ministers are discussing the validity of ‘scope three emissions’ in planning decisions is belated but welcome. Jobs, not emissions 8000km away in South Korea, should be the primary focus when it comes to new projects.
Shark nets and culls don’t necessarily make Australian beaches safer
George Roff and Christopher Brown
Queensland can no longer cull sharks in protected areas of the Great Barrier Reef, but it’s time to move away from culls, nets and drumlines altogether. There are better ways to keep our beaches safe.
South Australia
Natural, holistic farming and homeschooling: the family living the good life on Eyre Peninsula
Sustainable farming for this Eyre Peninsula family means organic, holistic practices and homeschooling four children.
Water buybacks ruled out in Murray-Darling response [$]
The State Government has ruled out forced water buybacks in its response to the Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission, but accepted the majority of its recommendations.
Burnside considering tougher cat controls [$]
A cat curfew and limiting the number of felines a household can keep are being considered by Burnside Council.
Price rise if solar squeezed, says electricity rule setter [$]
We’ll all pay higher prices unless the electricity grid is opened up to homeowners with solar panels and batteries having a better chance to make a quid, the electricity market rule setter says.
Tasmania
Council opens Recycling Hub at Launceston Town Hall
A new recycling hub has been installed at the City of Launceston’s Customer Service Centre at Town Hall.
Council considers cameras to protect penguins in Bicheno
Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council will investigate the pros and cons of installing cameras at beaches and other coastal areas to monitor penguins in light of another fatal dog attack in Bicheno.
Camden dam wall complete as Scottsdale irrigation works progress
The dam wall for the 9300-megalitre Camden Rivulet Dam has been completed after seven months of work on the site east of Targa.
Transport hub misses bus again [$]
A transport solution the State Government took to the election has been labelled a “con job” by the opposition as a long-awaited report into the project is again delayed.
Liberals hit back at Greens’ report claims [$]
The Resources Minister has declined to answer Greens questions on a report on Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s bid for Forest Stewardship Council certification.
MP ejected twice in clash with Speaker [$]
Speaker Sue Hickey has taken exception to being singled out by an MP over the way she voted on a motion about the climate strike movement.
Campfire ban about to come into effect [$]
Dry conditions and forecasts for a potentially dangerous bushfire season will see campfires banned in four Tasmanian municipalities.
Western Australia
Would you hand your aircon remote to a power company?
A power company is remotely turning home air conditioners off in a trial to manage peak electricity demand, but will consumers hand over the remote control?
Solar boom burns Synergy’s bottom line as utility posts a massive $656m loss
State-owned power provider Synergy records a massive loss, far higher than the $180 million loss forecast over three years, blaming a “challenging energy landscape” and the rapid uptake of rooftop solar.
$1.3bn deal sorts land title claims
A $1.3bn land and economic package deal struck with traditional owners will end native title claims in WA’s midwest.
Greta Thunberg speech projected on to Perth Landmarks
Climate change protesters have undertaken wt they describe as ‘guerilla’ action overnight.
Sustainability
How to get on top of clutter before it gets on top of you
Decluttering isn’t just good for the home, it can improve our relationships, our attention and even our sleep, according to researchers.
Delicate wash cycle the worst for releasing plastic microfibres
Researchers say we should aim to use less water when putting on a load of washing to avoid polluting waterways with tiny bits of plastic.
Here’s where to find eco-friendly sustainable fashion online
75% of consumers say that sustainability is important to them
.
4 steps to make your company carbon-neutral
Fighting climate change will take enormous societal change, but there are very simple things businesses can do to mitigate their responsibility.
Pollutionwatch: how does World Car-free Day affect emissions?
Though air quality appeared to improve, measuring the precise impact of car-less days is difficult
What type of “smart city” will help most when climate change hits?
The “smart city” has captured the world’s imagination, but policymakers and innovators have not yet built cities that are “smart” enough to survive the challenges of the 21st century.
Clean-air scientists fired by EPA to reconvene in snub to Trump
The panel of researchers has plans to continue their studies revealing that 21 million Americans live with unacceptable air pollution
Swedish newspaper stops taking adverts from fossil fuel firms
Dagens ETC says ban is crucial for its credibility and urges other media to follow suit
Fight the power: why climate activists are suing Europe’s biggest coal plant
Future of Poland’s Bełchatów power station under scrutiny as grassroots groups and NGOs take radical action
The chemicals in our everyday lives are, argues immunologist Claudia Miller.
Nature Conservation
Why 300 women are giving up their day jobs to search the ocean for plastic
The voyage will take the women to the key epicentres of plastic pollution to better understand its distribution patterns.
The honeybee’s most fearsome enemy
Facing the scourge of a parasitic Asian mite, commercial beekeepers are trying to breed a resistant strain of honey bee. But other threats loom.
Inside the efforts to help animals hurt by the Amazon fires
Across Bolivia and Brazil, wild animals are dying in the blazes. One rescue center is working to help every survivor.
Apple is restoring African grasslands to curb climate change
It’s the company’s latest push to help conservation organizations use nature itself to fight climate change.
6 Florence St Niddrie 3042
93741902
0432406862