Date: 2 November 2019 at 9:33:59 am AEDT
Subject: Daily Links Nov 2
Post of the Day
Australia’s hidden opportunity to cut carbon emissions, and make money in the process
Oscar Serrano et al
It’s no secret that cutting down trees is a main driver of climate change. But a forgotten group of plants is critically important to fixing our climate — and they are being destroyed at an alarming rate.
Today’s Celebration
Health Day – Turkmenistan
Arrival of Indentured Laborers Day – Mauritius
National Bison Day – US
Dziady (Commemoration of the Dead) – Belarus
Day of the Dead – Mexico
All Saints’ Day – Sweden and Finland
All Souls’ Day – Western Christianity
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Climate Change
UN climate talks to take place in Madrid
The United Nations’ annual climate conference will take place in Madrid, Spain, in December after Chile pulled out of hosting duties following weeks of unrest.
National
Staff? Customers? Environment? New reporting to capture corporate failings
The old financial-focused annual reports’ days may be numbered, set to be replaced by a broader look at the impacts a company has on all its stakeholders.
Climate and water outlook: November – January
The Bureau of Meteorology’s climate outlook predicts the next few months to be hotter and drier than average.
The native animals that turn cane toads into tucker
From rakalis to crayfish, estuarine crocodiles and swamphens, plenty of our native animals have added cane toad to their diets.
Greenhouse gas emissions from diesel v cancelled out cuts from renewable energy
Annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning diesel increased by 21.7m tonnes between 2011 and 2018
Taylor’s ‘expert panel’ in search of emissions reductions shuts out clean energy sector
The Morrison Government’s ‘expert panel’ has shut out the clean energy sector in its search for extra emissions reductions.
Coalition’s carbon market plans at risk from low quality “grey” credits
Carbon price jumps, but long term clouded by Taylor’s climate policy review and the threat of low quality “grey” credits for big polluters.
Capacity markets a barrier to cutting emissions, research paper argues
New research published in the journal Nature Energy argues capacity markets disproportionately support gas generators at the expense of renewables.
Macquarie bets on green energy to turnaround capital unit [$]
Macquarie will deploy part of its $1.6 billion capital raise on a recruitment drive to short up its global renewable energy bets.
End water wars with federal takeover of basin plan: Rex Patrick [$]
NSW Deputy Premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro has threatened to pull out of the Murray-Darling Basin plan at least four times.
Former AFP chief eyes water officials
Karen Middleton New Murray–Darling Basin inspector-general Mick Keelty is pushing for tough expanded powers to get answers from those responsible for the river system’s chaos.
Defending a liveable climate should not be a crime
ACF media release
Politicians have a responsibility to defend our democracy, not degrade it.
As he rails against activism, Scott Morrison is turning a bit sinister, a bit threatening
Katharine Murphy
The government the PM leads finds activism inconvenient, but it is the same government that has sparked the activism
I was Australia’s ambassador for the environment, I know how we can fight climate change
Patrick Suckling
The implications of worsening climate change are clear: while the world will not end, it will as we know it
Morrison is being transparently political in targeting climate groups
David Crowe
Condemning a protest is easy. Passing a new law to limit free speech is another matter altogether.
Sunny side up: Australia can seize a climate of opportunity
Peter Hartcher
Labor is reframing the climate debate to Australia’s potential as a clean energy powerhouse. So is the nation’s pre-eminent climate economist.
Hey kids, would you like to hear more about the olden days?
Danny Katz
They all yelled, “Yes please!”, their little cheeks glowing with anticipation, and also permanent solar-radiation climate-change burn.
Morrison doesn’t like it when the quiet Australians start to speak up
Ebony Bennett
In his government’s latest free-speech crackdown, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to outlaw civil society groups campaigning against Australian businesses that work with companies with dubious environmental, human rights or ethical records.
Morrison’s crackdown on climate protests could have unintended consequences
Michael Mazengarb
Morrison’s move to crackdown on climate protestors has been slammed as undemocratic, and may have unintended consequences.
Australia’s hidden opportunity to cut carbon emissions, and make money in the process
Oscar Serrano et al
It’s no secret that cutting down trees is a main driver of climate change. But a forgotten group of plants is critically important to fixing our climate — and they are being destroyed at an alarming rate.
We Need Climate Warriors Like Gideon Polya
Richard Hil
Speaking out against injustice – whether it’s a lack of action on climate change, or slaughter in the Middle East – comes at a price
Victoria
‘Eat a d**k, hippy’: Victoria Police to investigate crude message to climate protesters
A photo of a Victoria Police officer with an indecent message on his body camera has been criticised online.
Regulator puts coal mine on notice for fire safety
Earth Resources Regulation is warning coal mine operators to ensure they are meeting their obligations regarding fire safety ahead of the summer high fire danger period.
The mysterious hairy crayfish of the Dandenong Ranges
It’s the size of a tea bag and plays dead if you manage to catch it — but this little crayfish is starting to get noticed.
New South Wales
‘Scenic vandalism’ argument wins the case for wind farm opponents
Renewable energy advocates are baffled the NSW Government is not backing green energy, as a wind farm is blocked for its visual impact on residents.
Worse than Beijing: Call for air pollution curbs as Sydney climbs global rankings
NSW Health issued a bushfire smoke alert for a third day on Friday, advising those with asthma or other lung conditions to limit outdoor activity.
Deputy Premier is at war with the natural world
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro thinks there is some sort of competition between the environment and people; that flora and fauna are somehow beating us in the water wars
Rescuers to get more money to aid wildlife amid bushfires and drought
NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean will announce an extra $1 million to aid wildlife rescuers, lifting the funding to more than $5 million.
Environmental water the saviour of inland lake community which fears next big dry
Residents of Lake Cargelligo in New South Wales’ central west fear their lake is at risk of drying up if environmental flows cease, but currently enjoy the benefits.
Cabinet split on plan to boost council power in planning Sydney [$]
Power to decide how Sydney’s suburbs are developed and rezoned will be handed back to councils in a string of high-growth precincts, in a state government cabinet decision that split senior ministers.
Dams, not drought, to blame for the death of a once thriving billabong
Anson Cameron
When I’m up north in western NSW I always visit the billabong. It’s about 10km off the Darling up above Wilcannia. Over the years it became a special place for a group of us, a lonely oasis, the deepest we could reach towards Eden and the unspoiled Oz of the past.
Queensland
Leonie and Matthew have been collecting bottles and cans for a year to fund their wedding
A Sunshine Coast couple who launched an ambitious campaign to pay for their dream wedding using Queensland’s container refund scheme lock in a venue, celebrant and catering — all paid for by the initiative.
One billion down, billions more to go: Container deposit scheme celebrates its first year
More than $100 million has been paid out to schools, charities and households throughout Queensland as the container fund scheme celebrates its first birthday.
Abandoned Great Barrier Reef island resurrected as exclusive eco-holiday destination
An abandoned southern Great Barrier Reef island off the coast of central Queensland, has seen guests visit for the first time in five years.
Seeing red: sharks, drum lines and the media hysteria that surrounds them
The recent Whitsundays shark attack prompted the usual calls for lethal control measures, but would they have made any difference?
Kidston pumped hydro faces delay as EnergyAustralia pulls back from off-take deal
Genex Power is facing delays for its ground-breaking Kidston pumped hydro and solar and wind project in north Queensland after failing to lock in its previously announced off-take agreement with utility major EnergyAustralia.
Labor ‘one step ahead’ on plan to drought-proof Qld [$]
The Opposition Leader has thrown down the gauntlet, with an ambitious multibillion-dollar scheme she says would transform Queensland forever, but the Premier says she’s already held meetings about her own plans.
Dreams of nation building still flows [$]
Michael Madigan
Former Brisbane boy John Bradfield hasn’t had much peace since they laid him to rest in a Sydney grave in 1943, with Queensland Opposition leader Deb Frecklington the latest to evoke his bold 20th century visions as a path way to our future in the 21st. John Bradfield
South Australia
South Australia had lowest cost of supply in main grid in October
The renewable energy state of South Australia recorded the lowest prices in Australia’s main grid in October, a month when it sourced well over half of its its electricity supply from wind and solar.
Balloons banned as plastic push hits public parties
You won’t be getting official permission to hold a public party if you plan to have balloons anywhere near it as another council adds them to the banned list.
Tasmania
Earlier, longer fire season the new norm [$]
Firefighters have been working to contain bushfires across the South-East of the state this week, with the TFS saying an early start to the season is “our new normal”.
Northern Territory
The end of Uluru’s long, quiet conflict which baffled both sides
Last Friday a long stand-off ended. A sign announced the Uluru climb was closed permanently. Tony Wright and Alex Ellinghausen were there to capture it.
Tanami mine project could bear fruit past 2040 [$]
Miner Newmont Goldcorp has announced its Tanami Expansion 2 project northwest of Alice Springs will move into the execution phase, potentially extending its operations beyond 2040.
Bogan defilers unruly at Uluru
Ian Warden
There are times when one observes cohorts of one’s fellow Australians in action and wonders, in horror, if one is even a member of their same species, let alone of their same lucky nationality.
Sustainability
EPA to roll back rules to control toxic ash from coal plants
The Trump administration is expected today to roll back rules designed to limit emissions of heavy metals like arsenic, lead and mercury from coal-fired power plants.
We know plastic bottles are choking our planet. So why are companies still selling them?
If we all agree plastic bottles are a problem, why do companies still sell them?
Wait, there’s hope! Here’s how humans might save antibiotics
People have a poor track record of preventing global disasters. But for antimicrobial resistance, an unlikely group of allies is making big promises.
How to die a good, green death
With water cremation and human composting on the horizon, Washingtonians are asking: What should happen to our bodies after we die?
How Eileen Fisher thinks about sustainable consumption
“We actually think maybe we don’t have to sell so many clothes.”
Building new cities to meet Africa’s rapid urbanisation is a risky bet
Astrid R.N. Haas
Constructing fancy ‘smart cities’ might not be the best solution for Africa’s rapidly urbanising populations.
Involving kids in making schools sustainable spreads the message beyond the classroom
Belinda Gibbons et al
Kids are more engaged when they are actively involved in their learning, rather than learning through more passive modes such as listening or reading
Nature Conservation
The decision follows a lawsuit from environmental groups.