Post of the Day
For decades, scientists puzzled over the plastic ‘missing’ from our oceans – but now it’s been found
Britta Denise Hardesty and Chris Wilcox
New research from Australia’s national science agency shows a huge amount of ocean plastic ends up on land, where it gets trapped.
On This Day
Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis in Vatican City – Catholicism
Climate Change
Heat stress may affect more than 1.2 billion people annually by 2100
Heat stress from extreme heat and humidity will annually affect areas now home to 1.2 billion people by 2100, assuming current greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Rutgers study. That’s more than four times the number of people affected today, and more than 12 times the number who would have been affected without industrial era global warming.
Greta Thunberg calls for Friday climate rallies to be held online
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has called on fellow climate activists to move their weekly rallies online to prevent the spread COVID-19.
Greta Thunberg against the world [$]
How a 17-year-old girl with Asperger’s Syndrome, plaits and a homemade protest sign got under the skin of the US president.
Q&A: A Harvard expert on environment and health discusses possible ties between COVID and climate
Air pollution makes people more vulnerable to respiratory infections; climate change brings people in closer contact with animals that can spread disease.
Cosmic catastrophe always there if you look for it [$]
Henry Ergas
In one of his last works, written a decade after he had defined enlightenment as “daring to know”, Immanuel Kant identified what he regarded as one of the greatest threats to reason: the human tendency to seek, in ever-changing realities, a sign of the End of Days.
National
Climate change taking toll on reliable electricity supply, industry panel says
AEMC Reliability Panel says climate change making reliable electricity supply more difficult, but that emerging technologies like battery storage will help address these challenges.
AEMC set to approve demand response energy trading, but households left out
The Australian Energy Market Commission is set to approve the creation of a wholesale demand response mechanism for large-scale energy users, with the publication of a second draft determination on the rule change as it nears final sign off.
Huge revolution coming’: Ditching plastic wrap for compost
Great Wrap is on a mission to remove 1 million tonnes of plastic from the environment by creating the world’s first certified compostable industrial stretch wrap.
Major super funds back companies using fracking
Five of the country’s largest funds have money in companies that use the controversial technique to extract gas.
Future of Australia’s Waste and Recycling Industry is in COAG’s Hands
National Waste Recycling Industry Association media release
The Prime Minister and Premiers’ decisions on waste export bans at this Friday’s Council of Australian Government (COAG) meeting will be key to determining Australia’s future capacity to capture and reuse the millions of tonnes of recycled materials currently being lost from the economy.
Wanted (and needed): one supply ship to aid coastal aussies trapped by wildfires
Ian Bray
The world’s climate is changing, and so must Australia’s preparedness for disaster.
Victoria
AEMC approves Victoria’s request to go it alone on energy reliability reform
AEMC approves request from Victoria for ‘enhanced RERT’ powers to allow AEMO to secure multi-year emergency electricity supply contracts.
Extinction Rebellion activists free to protest [$]
Dozens of Extinction Rebellion protesters have succeeded in having a bail condition lifted which will allow them to protest again after being charged over a series of blockades in Melbourne in September and October last year.
New South Wales
Darling River flows at Menindee, washing away spectre of mass fish kills
Billions of litres of water begin arriving at the Menindee Lakes in outback New South Wales, where fish died en masse just over a year ago.
‘Wonderful’ flows prompt removal of Lower Darling River temporary dams
Earthwork dams along the river will be removed in coming weeks to ensure powerful flows can flush all the way down to the Murray.
Queensland
We should be able to rely on politicians – not weather – to protect our Reef
As widespread coral bleaching continues across our Great Barrier Reef, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) says Australians are sick of hoping for good weather when it comes to protecting our national icon from global warming amidst a lack of political leadership.
Queensland Premier yet to float Bradfield scheme with PM
The scheme, once touted as the answer to drought in western Queensland, was first floated by Sydney Harbour Bridge architect John Bradfield in the 1930s.
State moves to ban plastic straws [$]
New laws are set to be introduced, before the year ends, that will outlaw the distribution of plastic straws, drink stirrers, cutlery and plates under sweeping changes proposed by the Palaszczuk Government.
South Australia
Adani Renewables applies – again – for Whyalla solar farm generation licence
Adani Renewables’ ongoing bid for regulatory approval for its long-delayed 140MW Whyalla solar farm is back in the hands of the state’s Essential Services
Aussie Backyard Bird Count highlights need for native gardens
By managing garden vegetation to promote a diversity of native birds, through the availablility of important food, shelter, and nesting locations, community members can provide valuable secondary habitat for the conservation of native bird populations.
Cost and legal warnings over city council zero waste move
Adelaide City Council will investigate setting up its own rubbish collection service in a bid to become Australia’s first zero-waste city, prompting warnings that it could cost ratepayers millions and may place the council at legal risk from private garbage contractors.
SA reveals autumn burn-off plans to reduce fire risk [$]
Thousands of hectares of SA scrub will be put to the torch this autumn but there’ll be 12 fewer burn-offs than in the spring before our devastating summer.
Fake lakes floated to create SA’s water-sports capital [$]
Artificial lakes would be dug on former dairy land on Murray Bridge’s riverside under a plan developers say will turn the town into a water-sports hotspot.
Tasmania
Tasmanian Hydrogen Industry Alliance launched
A new alliance has been formed to increase demand for hydrogen energy it’s hoped will soon be produced at Bell Bay.
City council backtracks on carbon neutral leadership goal
An axed ambition to make Adelaide “one of the world’s first carbon neutral cities” by 2025 has been reinstated by city councillors, who say the council should show global leadership on climate change.
Green deal to build ‘clean economy and more caring society’ [$]
New federal Greens leader Adam Bandt has announced action on inequality, jobs and climate change are the party’s top priorities during a “listening tour” across Tasmania.
Northern Territory
Santos to sell 25 per cent stake in Darwin LNG for $604 million
Energy giant Santos will sell 25 per cent of the Darwin LNG facility and the Bayu-Undan gas field, located 500km northwest of Darwin, for $US390 million ($A604 million)
Sustainability
‘Spillway’ for electrons could keep lithium metal batteries from catching fire
UC San Diego nanoengineers developed a safety feature that prevents lithium metal batteries from rapidly overheating and catching fire in case of an internal short circuit. The clever tweak does not prevent battery failure, but rather provides advance warning of failure and makes it much safer.
Wind and solar plants will soon be cheaper than coal in all big markets around world, analysis finds
Report raises fresh doubt about viability of Australia’s thermal coal export industry
Revealed: Monsanto’s secret funding for weedkiller studies
The research, used to help avoid a ban, claimed ‘severe impacts’ on farming if glyphosate was outlawed
Ottawa set to declare plastics as toxic substance
Government campaigned on vow to ban some single-use plastics to reduce waste and pollution.
Risks, benefits weighed of biking to work
A British study has found injuries are experienced by 7 per cent of people who cycle to work compared to 4.3 per cent of those who use “non-active” transport.
Asia’s rapid urbanization, deforestation linked to deadly diseases
Diseases like coronavirus which are passed from animals to humans are rising as wild habitats are destroyed and cities become more densely populated.
EU plans ‘right to repair’ rules for phones and tablets
European commission says linear growth model of ‘take, make, use, discard’ has reached limit.
Lesley Hughes
The end of the cow is near as animal-free milk is likely to decimate the traditional dairy industry within the decade, and plant-based meat is set to upend the beef market
Why tiny ants have invaded your house, and what to do about it
Tanya Latty
You’ve probably seen ants marching over your kitchen bench this summer. Should you get out the insecticide, or learn to live with them?
Nature Conservation
David Attenborough calls for ban on ‘devastating’ deep sea mining
Proposed mining of seabed could destroy unstudied ecosystems and disrupt vital carbon-storing functions, says naturalist
In Afghanistan, a new national park carries hopes for conservation and peace
Local inhabitants were crucial to developing the park and are set to have a voice in its management.
Record-high global tree cover loss driven by agriculture
Agriculture continues to drive tree cover loss globally and in the tropics while forestry and wildfires drive forest loss in North America.
PepsiCo renews sustainable palm oil policy to close supplier loophole
PepsiCo has updated its palm oil sustainability policy to require all its suppliers to commit to ending deforestation, conversion of pealands, and worker exploitation.
For decades, scientists puzzled over the plastic ‘missing’ from our oceans – but now it’s been found
Britta Denise Hardesty and Chris Wilcox
New research from Australia’s national science agency shows a huge amount of ocean plastic ends up on land, where it gets trapped.
We should stop buying fish until the industry stops slaughtering dolphins
George Monbiot
Britain and the EU are complicit in hundreds of deaths a year in their refusal to impose effective rules on commercial fishing
Now for something completely different
The family lockdown guide: how to emotionally prepare for coronavirus quarantine
What can parents and children do to survive self-isolation, and each other?
Maelor Himbury
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