Post of the Day
Climate disasters increase risks of armed conflicts: New evidence
The risk for violent clashes increases after weather extremes such as droughts or floods hit people in vulnerable countries, an international team of scientists finds
On This Day
Coronavirus Watch
Confirmed cases: 5,139. Deaths: 27
(This time last week: Confirmed cases: 2810. Deaths: 13)
Free child care to help nearly one million families, especially workers in essential services
The government will provide free child care in a move aimed at ensuring parents, especially in essential services, are able to keep working. More than 945,000 families with 1.3 million children will benefit.
White House told COVID-19 could be spread by talking and breathing
America is considering the widespread use of face masks following research that coronavirus could potentially be spread through talking and breathing.
Climate Change
Glasgow climate talks postponed, but NGOs say it’s no excuse for go slow on action
Climate talks delayed to allow focus on Covid-19, but enviro groups warn that it is not an excuse for Australia and other nations to go soft on climate action….
‘We must use this time well’: climate experts hopeful after Cop26 delay
Moving summit gives world time to respond to coronavirus and may allow a new US leader to join talks
Climate disasters increase risks of armed conflicts: New evidence
The risk for violent clashes increases after weather extremes such as droughts or floods hit people in vulnerable countries, an international team of scientists finds
Smaller scale solutions needed for rapid progress towards emissions targets
Low-carbon technologies that are smaller scale, more affordable, and can be mass deployed are more likely to enable a faster transition to net-zero emissions, according to a new study.
Climate change: the big picture is being missed
Melvin Bolton
The study of earth’s climate is as big as it gets in terms of system science so making sense of climate change is mainly the work of specialists who feed enormous amounts of data into computer models.
National
Ambitious climate action a ‘double win’ for economy in coronavirus recovery
Climate change experts and industry have called for investment in low-emissions technologies to boost jobs and growth during the economic recovery effort from COVID-19.
Finally, Australia’s energy network planning will include climate policies
AEMO to be granted ability to incorporate state and federal climate change targets in network system planning.
Good news and bad for solar farms as AEMO reverses some transmission losses
The Australian large scale renewable energy sector can by and large breathe a small sigh of relief after the release of the latest marginal loss factors (MLF), which calculate transmission losses, but the good news is tempered by the fact that the reprieve is driven largely by a substantial fall in new investment in large scale wind and solar across the country.
Busy miners deliver coal comfort as foreign rivals lock down [$]
Australian coal exports have been particularly strong over the past three months while rivals in South Africa and Colombia have struggled with lockdowns.
Coronavirus energy bill relief on its way to Australian households
Australians have one less bill to worry about this month as energy providers roll out new coronavirus support measures for customers facing hardship.
Wet, wild and fatty as the nation’s drains feel coronavirus strain
Welcome to stage three of the toilet apocalypse. The blocked drains.
Farming and conservation groups call for $4b post-pandemic jobs boost
A coalition of farming, land management and conservation groups is calling on Canberra and the states to back a package that could open up 24,000 rural jobs in a post-coronavirus world.
Scott Morrison’s green footprint spreads into regional area [$]
The Emissions Reduction Fund — a key plank of Scott Morrison’s pledge to “meet and beat” Australia’s Paris target — is expected to deliver more than 16 million tonnes of carbon abatement this year as the government expands its green footprint in regional areas.
1 in 10 children affected by bushfires is Indigenous. We’ve been ignoring them for too long
Bhiamie Williamson et al
In past bushfire inquires, Aboriginal people have been mentioned only sparingly. When referenced now, it’s only in relation to cultural burning. This must change.
Victoria
Decision to renew Victorian logging agreements criticised after summer bushfires
Conservationists call on the state to explain how it will boost wildlife protection in the wake of devastating fires
Council’s confusing waste message rubbished by residents [$]
A council’s response to overflowing rubbish bins has caused outrage in Melbourne’s west, with locals saying the new policy flies in the face of the government’s stay-at-home directives.
New South Wales
Universities form new global alliance to tackle climate in midst of pandemic
UNSW leads new group of 40 universities to form a new Climate Alliance to accelerate climate action, despite current focus on Covid-19 pandemic.
Final stage of Sydney’s CBD light rail opens
The final stage of Sydney’s controversial $2.9 billion CBD light rail quietly opened on Friday morning.
Koala bushfire victims back into the wild [$]
Staff from the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital release Koala bushfire victims back into the wild.
Queensland
Developers issue notice to proceed for 300MW solar farm in Queensland
Renew Estate gives “notice to proceed” for 300MW solar farm in Queensland, with construction expected to start later this year.
ALS refers fake coal analysis claims to police
Testing giant ALS is going to the police about allegations of potentially serious offences, following an internal probe into claims coal-quality results were artificially boosted.
Court ruling provides advocacy boost for Queensland charities
The decision provides clarity to the state’s NFPs unsure about their advocacy rights
Qld closes national parks as toll rises
Many Queensland national parks and recreation areas will be closed to the public as a third person dies from the coronavirus, and the state closes its borders.
How coronavirus turned Brisbane’s peak hour into a Sunday-morning drive
Traffic congestion throughout the country has plummeted as people heed calls to avoid unnecessary travel.
South Australia
MPower moves to full construction of 5MW solar farm in South Australia
MPower plan to develop a series of 5MW grid-connected solar farms continues to make progress, with EPC contract inked for one of its South Australia projects.
Recycling giant Visy awarded generation licence for SA solar and battery plant
Visy Board cleared to send power to the grid from a rooftop solar and Tesla Powerpack system the company installed on a facility in Gepps Cross, South Australia.
Wildlife feeding scaled back amid fire recovery [$]
A feeding program for Kangaroo Island wildlife is being scaled back as the bush begins to recover, while a local wildlife park continues to hand-raise about 30 koala joeys.
How the humble mushroom may soon help protect you (and your deckchair) from the sun
Researchers in Adelaide are working on turning mushroom waste into items like sunscreen, skincare products and coating for outdoor furniture.
Tasmania
Tiger hunt to be captured on TV
The production team behind a new search for the Tasmanian tiger has won a national pitching competition, which will allow the hunt to be filmed.
Sustainability
Why Covid-19 may complicate efforts to reduce airline emissions
Airlines may look to backtrack from committments to cap greenhouse emissions at 2020, as industry is slammed by the impacts of Covid-19.
China’s biggest power producers highlight perilous economics of coal power
As China debates role of coal in its next five year plan, results from its biggest power producers show coal generation to be costly and running at low capacity.
How corporate sustainability officers are helping big tech lessen climate change impacts
Once upon a time, common wisdom held that going green was bad for business; climate action and economic growth could not possibly go hand in hand. And once upon a time, that seemed to be true.
How can anyone continue to eat animals after coronavirus? [$]
Emily Rice
For all the energy we’re expending on worrying, panic-buying toilet paper, and hoarding hand wash are we really doing enough to turn things around? No, not even close.
Nature Conservation
Where lions roam: West African big cats show no preference between national parks, hunting zones
West African lions are a critically endangered subpopulation, with an estimated 400 remaining and strong evidence of ongoing declines.
Whooping cranes form larger flocks as wetlands are lost — and it may put them at risk
Over the past few decades, the endangered whooping crane (Grus Americana) has experienced considerable recovery. However, researchers found that habitat loss has led whooping cranes to gather in unusually large groups during migration. While larger groups are a positive sign of species recovery, the authors say that a disease outbreak or extreme weather event could inadvertently impact this still fragile population.
Our oceans are suffering, but we can rebuild marine life
It’s not too late to rescue global marine life, according to a study outlining the steps needed for marine ecosystems to recover from damage by 2050.
Maelor Himbury
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