Post of the Day
How to turn climate-change denial into acceptance and action
John Sharry
One of the biggest challenges in tackling the climate emergency has been the widespread denial of the cause and severity of the problems.
Today’s Celebration
Labour Day – New Zealand
Independence Day – Czech Republic
Ochi Day – Greece
Liberation of Ukraine from Nazi Invaders Day
Youth Pledge Day – Indonesia
Nine Emperor Gods Festival – Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
Climate Change
How to talk to kids about the climate crisis
The climate crisis is a complex issue. So how do you explain it to kids?
Extinction Rebellion: One year on
The media no longer appear to be supporting the continued efforts of Extinction Rebellion. So, after a year of scrambled protests, thousands of arrests, and a notable feature at Glastonbury Festival, what has this international rebel group truly achieved?
How to turn climate-change denial into acceptance and action
John Sharry
One of the biggest challenges in tackling the climate emergency has been the widespread denial of the cause and severity of the problems.
National
Toughen environmental laws to stem extinction crisis, scientists tell Morrison
More than 240 conservation scientists sign open letter warning PM that 17 Australian native species face extinction in next 20 years
The Australian bird of the year 2019
Vote for your favourite Australian bird of 2019 from our list of 50 birds
PM to unveil plan to slash power costs with $102m upgrade of Qld-NSW link
Under the plan, the federal and NSW governments will jointly underwrite the first stage of TransGrid’s upgrade to the transmission link between Queensland and NSW to deliver an extra 190 megawatts of capacity during peak demand periods and lower prices.
Emissions flat-line as ‘carrot’s not working and there’s no stick’
Australia’s carbon emissions likely edged higher in the final quarter of the 2018-19 financial year, delaying the downward trajectory the nation needs in order to hit the country’s Paris climate goals.
Indigenous land for protection increases in bid to protect endangered species [$]
The area of land covered by indigenous environmental protection programs will be increased 30 per cent to 100 million hectares, an area the size of South Australia, as part of efforts to better safeguard biodiversity and protect endangered species.
Parliament House emits more radiation than a nuclear power plant, according to a 42-page handout given to federal MPs last week by the Minerals Council of Australia.
The burden of drought should fall on us all
Steve Evans
I will never forget the talk I had with a farmer up near the border between New South Wales and Queensland.
Big challenges like climate change, drought require flexible approach
Canberra Times editorial
Of the many great challenges we face, climate change and drought are certainly two of the biggest.
It’s helter skelter for the smelters as aluminium prices fall [$]
Ticky Fullerton
Aluminium is the new flashpoint in the energy debate. The industry is in a world of pain. It is not the first time, of course, but in Australia, could it be the last?
Victoria
Stations on the Upfield Line to close for three months
A stretch of the Upfield train line will be closed for three months as part of a major project to remove four level crossings in Melbourne’s inner north – but commuters have not yet been told where or when the closure will occur.
From grey to green: Melbourne deals with its urban heat issues
It all started with 10 trees in a tiny street in South Yarra. The year was 1985, the car was king, and Melbourne was a doughnut city – dead in the centre. Melbourne City Council urban designer Rob Adams was tasked with making the city more liveable.
State government announces plan which includes $1.75 billion upgrade to regional rail
Regional Victorians would get “commuter-style” train services heading to Melbourne every 20 minutes by the end of next decade, as part of a plan to bolster country lines.
No pain, no gain as construction blitz turns city into maze
Julie Szego
Here’s something to note in your gratitude journal: Melbourne’s “Spring Construction Blitz” is nearly over. For me, that means no more three-part, tram-bus-tram journey down St Kilda Road to the CBD.
Plastic bag ban should not be a waste of our time [$]
Tom Minnear
Single use plastic bags will be banned in Victoria from next week but the ban, and recycling in general, raises questions.
New South Wales
Warnings issued as dozens of bushfires burn across NSW
Almost 1200 firefighters are tackling large bushfires on the NSW mid-north coast among scores of blazes around the state.
Government documents suggest construction of a new school within the state park will disturb long-buried toxic materials, affecting human health and local wildlife.
Are fines for not wearing a bicycle helmet too high?
Fines for cyclists who do not wear helmets in New South Wales are more expensive than anywhere else in Australia, and should be drastically lowered, according to university researchers.
Bureaucratic bungling delayed crucial water infrastructure
Infrastructure has been delayed for years across a swathe of the state’s central west, worsening the impact of the drought, according to a damning investigation.
ALP warned over ‘green-leaning Sanders-Corbynista’ push [$]
NSW Labor Treasury spokesman Walt Secord has broken ranks to warn of “a green-leaning Sanders-Corbynista position” that he says some shadow ministers are pushing Labor towards.
Sydney’s worst water wasters also the wealthiest [$]
Country towns at the coalface of the drought are drastically slashing water consumption, but the message isn’t getting through to residents in harbourside homes.
ACT
Recognising animals as sentient crucial for advancing animal welfare legislation
The recognition of animal sentience in ACT legislation is a positive step for animal protection that could lead to greater change, according to animal rights lawyers.
Extinction Rebellion protest to shut down parts of Braddon
A few dozen protesters have held a dance party in Braddon to raise awareness of climate change, causing delays for drivers on Friday morning’s commute.
Kowen housing option should “not be dismissed”, Coe says [$]
Opposition Leader Alistair Coe says Kowen Forest should remain an option for future residential development, as he foreshadowed plans to open up more land for housing on Canberra’s fringes if the Liberals win next year’s election.
Empower by cooling the cost of hot water
Juliette Milbank
This is what can happen when a passionate group of locals pull together to reframe energy generation, use and storage.
Queensland
Bushfire flares in south-east’s Currumbin Valley
Smoke may affect those in the area as the flames flare up near the NSW border.
South Australia
Firecrackers didn’t work so new solutions are needed to tackle these hungry seals
They have wreaked havoc on birds and the local fishing industry, but now locals are coming up with new ideas to control rampaging fur seals in South Australia’s Coorong.
Pressure to unveil report on desal [$]
Eastern states water ministers have joined the push for SA to consider using its desal plant to relieve drought-ravaged farmers.
Gas deal between ENGIE and Origin guarantees four-year supply for
The reliability of South Australia’s electricity system has been strengthened with a four-year deal guaranteeing gas supply to the Pelican Point power station.
Northern Territory
Project to save Oenpelli python [$]
A rarely seen python endemic to West Arnhem Land is part of a unique program that is seeking to preserve its existence
Curfew makes for purrsuasive argument [$]
The push to keep cats behind closed doors with a state-wide curfew to help crack down on wildlife predation has gained broad support from vets and advocacy groups.
Uluru ban part of a global trend to repress us [$]
Tim Blair
The freedoms and liberties granted by Western civilisation once stood as humankind’s greatest accomplishment, but now our first impulse is to surrender — take Uluru for example.
Western Australia
Party wants nukes on the table for WA [$]
Developing nuclear power in WA will be the key policy of a new political party to be launched on Channel 7’s current affairs panel show Flashpoint tonight.
Sustainability
Oktoberfest ‘produces 10 times as much methane as Boston’
First analysis of environmental impact of Munich festival reveals extent of emissions
Super-rich fuelling growing demand for private jets, report finds
Growth centred in US and China, with slowdown in Sweden attributed to Greta Thunberg
A lightbulb moment for nuclear fusion?
Boris Johnson’s gung-ho claims may be wide of the mark, but scientists pursuing the holy grail of energy generation are taking giant steps
China doesn’t care about pollution, says iron ore miner
Shrinking price premiums for high-grade iron ore are an admission by China that it does not care about the environment, according to the controversial boss of US miner Cleveland Cliffs.
Balkans suffering ‘very high’ air pollution
Health officials in Serbia are warning about the risks of “very high” levels of air pollution in Belgrade and several other cities, a problem also being experienced in neighbouring Bosnia and North Macedonia.
The answer to climate-killing cow farts may come from the sea
Methane is an especially potent greenhouse gas. A modest feed additive could provide a big leverage effect.
Richard Branson: ‘Aviation can be carbon neutral sooner than we realise’
The relentlessly upbeat entrepreneur believes efficiency and electricity could stop airlines worsening the climate crisis.
What if we measured the thing that matters most: “carbon productivity”
David Peetz
Labor productivity doesn’t matter as much as emissions productivity. Workers aren’t a particularly finite resource.
Nature Conservation
Pope warns against ‘plundering’ the Earth for financial gain
The Pope has expressed dismay at the ‘scarred face of the Amazon region’.
Every human should be alarmed by the plastic crisis in our oceans
A bipartisan bill is just the first step away from disaster.