Date: 2 October 2019 at 9:06:21 am AEST
Subject: Daily Links Oct 2
Post of the Day
New world-first research says restoring Australia’s marine ecosystems would significantly help fight climate change and create tens of millions of dollars’ worth of carbon credits.
Today’s Celebration
Independence Day – Guinea
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday – India
National Batik Day – Indonesia
Mehregan Festival – Iran
Grandparents’ Day – Italy
Fast of Gedalia – Judaism
International Day of Non-Violence
Climate Change
A ‘gigantic’ 315 billion tonne piece of ice has broken loose from Antarctica
The “calving” is part of the normal life cycle of ice shelves and not due to global warming, scientists have said.
It’s enough to make your eyes water: Climate change could prolong hay fever season
Global warming is making the pollen season longer in the northern hemisphere, and Australians will be vulnerable if it happens here.
Science data struggles to keep up with climate change
Researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara say a fundamental gap in understanding how humanity is affecting oceans is limiting knowledge about the pace of change in cumulative impacts on ocean ecosystem.
The future of carbon capture: An old idea to fight climate change gets new look
As the world gets closer to burning through its carbon budget – the amount of greenhouse gas pollution that scientists say humans can produce before incurring the worst effects of climate change – one old idea is getting a new look: carbon capture.
Winter storms are speeding up the loss of Arctic sea ice
Amelie Meyer
Warm summers aren’t the only threat to Arctic ice – increasingly intense winter storms are also weakening and reducing ice cover.
Where are they now: the causes other than climate change
David Hale
Even the campaign to reduce the deaths by pollution is going to be much broader than government and industry shifting to cleaner energy and flight shaming.
Bad ancestors: does the climate crisis violate the rights of those yet to be born?
Astra Taylor
Our environmental vandalism has made urgent the question of ethical responsibilities across decades and centuries
National
Australia rooftop solar installations equal record 180MW in September
Rooftop solar installations continue strong growth in 2019, hitting a record-equalling 180MW in September.
Battery storage nearly there as smarter, cheaper choice for grid upgrades
Role of big batteries as “virtual transmission” links has been heavily promoted by the sector, and a new report by Transgrid highlights how close they are to being cheapest…
Helping businesses thrive through the climate change transformation
Australian businesses must adapt to the economic transformation caused by climate change if they want to remain successful, according to new research.
Nuclear inquiry hears cost, health risks
Taxpayers would be bear the brunt of a potential nuclear energy industry in Australia, a parliamentary committee has been told.
Philanthropy centre announced to tackle Australia’s freshwater crisis
Two Australian philanthropy giants have joined forces, pumping millions of dollars into a project to protect the country’s freshwater resources.
Australia’s vast carbon sink releasing millions of tonnes of CO2 back into atmosphere
Australia’s mangroves and seagrass meadows absorb 20m tonnes of CO2 a year but report warns damage to ecosystems contributing to climate change
New world-first research says restoring Australia’s marine ecosystems would significantly help fight climate change and create tens of millions of dollars’ worth of carbon credits.
Essential poll: 70% of Australians think Morrison was wrong to snub UN climate summit
Survey, taken before revelation that Australia agreed to help Trump investigate Russia inquiry, finds voters support PM’s handling of relationship with US president
Do your job, mining minister tells banks
Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan is demanding the big banks “do their job” and bankroll mining projects.
Critical minerals supply chain in the United States
Australian Trade and Investment Commission
This report highlights the potential for Australia to become a major exporter of critical minerals products to meet growing industrial and technology needs.
Recycling is not a waste problem, it’s a resource opportunity
Thomas Maschmeyer
While media attention has focused on domestic issues, a fundamental rethink is required on how business considers waste.
Coal and Joel Fitzgibbon good for Labor [$]
Nick Cater
For a nation of 1.4 billion people who burn about 40 times their total body weight in coal each year, the turnout for last month’s climate strike was underwhelming. In fact there were no reports of any protests in China.
Corporates must step up. The planet’s at stake.[$]
Tory Shepherd
A wicked climate-change hoax is being played on the Australian people.
Victoria
Another 4,000 Victorian solar rebates snapped up in 80 minutes
Solar Victoria confident solar rebate challenges resolved as fresh allocation of 4,000 rebates exhausted in 80 minutes.
Calls for consistent approach to recycling
Councils across Victoria are left to fight the war on waste from the frontline while the State Government works towards a consistent recycling policy.
Coalition’s water authority has no boss and no experts [$]
The federal government has no proposal of its own for a new dam in Victoria, and the expert body it says commenced work on Tuesday to identify water infrastructure opportunities has no boss and no experts.
Why it’s harder than ever to get a seat on the train [$]
Melbourne train commuters are suffering more than ever during crush hour as new data shows about 18,000 passengers are squeezing into trains during the evening peak. But as the population soars, is there a solution in sight?
Victorian roos to be culled for pet food [$]
The kangaroo is one our most beautiful native animals, however it will now be hunted and served to our pets under a new state government program.
New South Wales
NSW reveals grants shortlist for nearly 3GW of renewables and storage capacity
NSW prepares for life after Liddell and woos more than 30 projects with the prospect of funding that could plug any supply gap.
Conservationists say Snowy 2.0 project ‘worse than our worst imaginings’
Conservationists are alarmed about the amount of vegetation to be cleared for Snowy 2.0, but Snowy Hydro says the benefits outweigh their concerns.
NSW considers laws to stop courts and planners blocking coalmines on climate grounds
Move comes after Minerals Council attacked planning decisions that cited carbon emissions as a reason for rejecting or imposing conditions on a mine
Country towns fighting to stop contaminated recycling from city areas ending up in their tips
In country New South Wales, residents are up in arms about tens of thousands of tonnes of recycling waste from Sydney and surrounding areas being dumped in landfill sites in their local region.
Kevin McCracken
The present long-running drought that has brought Sydney water catchment levels below 50% should raise concerns about the wisdom of being relaxed about a Sydney of 2-3 million more people.
ACT
Canberra’s green machines: ACT reaches 100% renewable electricity target
In the week that sees the Canberra Raiders heading to their first rugby league grand final in 25 years, it is Canberra’s other green machines that have achieved their own milestone, with the national capital now officially 100% powered by renewable electricity.
The ACT is set to run on 100 per cent net renewable energy. What does that mean?
The Australian Capital Territory has accomplished an Australian first. Is it now covered in wind farms and solar panels? And are other states following?
Canberra firies warn that ‘people have forgotten’ the devastation of the 2003 bushfires
More than 16 years on from the bushfires that killed four people and destroyed hundreds of homes, the ACT Rural Fire Service warns the community is becoming “complacent” as memories of the territory’s darkest day fade.
Queensland
Queensland’s climate response ‘stalled by Labor’s federal poll loss’
One of Australia’s most distinguished scientists says the Queensland government has not released its discussion paper on how to meet its carbon emissions targets because Labor lost the federal election in May.
Expert raises questions about environmental impact of Adani’s proposed water scheme
‘The water trigger has been established specifically so large coal mining and coal seam gas projects that will affect water resources are subjected to proper scrutiny.’
Brown: Adani leeching off Gandhi’s legacy
Former Greens leader and climate change activist Bob Brown has accused billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani of leeching off Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.
Anglo American halts plan for driverless trucks at Dawson mine [$]
Anglo American has pressed pause on plans to roll out autonomous trucks at its Queensland coal mines, telling the workforce at its Dawson mine on Tuesday the case for the vehicles does not yet stack up.
When $1.5b in profits aren’t enough [$]
State-owned energy companies have contributed $1.5 billion to state coffers in the most recent financial year — but even that has disappeared into a Budget black hole.
Power profits should be for the people [$]
Courier Mail editorial
While we’ve been left with growing power bills, the State Government has managed to squirrel a huge chunk in profits from state-owned power companies.
South Australia
Solar cuts demand on grid to a record low [$]
The rise of solar has claimed another record in SA, pushing grid demand even lower and providing more than half of power needs. Meanwhile, retailers are on notice to help struggling customers.
Call to allow more GM-free regions in SA [$]
Regional communities should be able to opt in or out of being free of genetically modified food crops, an SA council says.
Tasmania
Purrfect new home for caracal siblings at Tasmania Zoo
They may look like larger-than-average house cats, but Tasmania Zoo’s newest residents are more at home in forests and savannahs than laying on a living room floor.
Northern Territory
Could an apex predator be brought down by a tiny germ?
Scientists question if crocodiles are as impervious to infection as first thought, after a recent study reveals a deadly bacterium killed two hatchlings at a Top End wildlife park.
Many regions under total fire ban [$]
A large part of the Top End from Lajamanu north and from Elliott north and across to the Queensland border is under a total fire ban today.
Western Australia
Farmers warn booming roo numbers spell trouble
A massive boom in kangaroo numbers in Western Australia has sparked calls for an expansion of the state’s roo meat industry.
Dibblers return to their island home, circa 1616 [$]
This is the story of the tiny dibbler, the scientist and the wiliest of cats that grew fat on the hatchlings of endangered turtles.
Sustainability
Rome metro offers trash-for-tickets to tackle plastic pollution
Rome is trying to become more environmentally friendly by offering free metro tickets to travellers who bring plastic bottles to be re-cycled in machines set up in three of the Italian capital’s stations.
World’s largest wind turbines to be built off Yorkshire coast
Biggest offshore windfarm in North Sea will generate electricity for 4.5m homes
Microplastics may affect how Arctic sea ice forms and melts
A recent University of Manitoba study reveals distinct changes in sea ice albedo in response to medium and high concentrations of microplastics.
How Britain ended its coal addiction
The UK was once the world’s largest coal consumer, but the highly polluting fossil fuel has been pushed out by renewable energy and natural gas.
How worried should we be about microplastics?
Graham Readfearn
Plastic is everywhere – in our food, air, water and oceans. But do we know enough to determine how harmful it is to our health?
Nature Conservation
For animal species to survive climate change, they will have to genetically adapt or shift their ranges – or both.
Tens of thousands of tuna-attracting devices are drifting around the Pacific
Joe Scutt Phillips et al
Fishers who hunt wild tuna use fish’s natural attraction to floating objects to lure them to known positions near GPS-equipped rafts. However, these rafts are attracting increasing concern.
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