Date: 27 May 2020 at 9:02:58 am AEST
Subject: Daily Links May 27
Post of the Day
A single mega-project exposes the Morrison government’s gas plan as staggering folly
Bill Hare
Every few years, the idea of using gas to transition to a zero-emissions economy seems to re-emerge. Woodside’s Burrup Hub proposal shows why it’s still a bad move.
On This Day
Coronavirus Watch
Confirmed cases: 7,133. Deaths: 102
‘The disease is actually on the way up’: WHO issues COVID-19 warning
As countries look to reopen their borders the World Health Organization issues a stark warning that coronavirus is “actually on the way up” and takes specific aim at Brazil, which is looking to ease restrictions despite an increasing caseload.
Japan lifts state of emergency, saying ‘unique’ coronavirus strategy is working
By North Asia correspondent Jake Sturmer and Yumi Asada in Tokyo
Japan’s coronavirus containment measures were seen as risky by some public health experts. But with infection rates continuing to fall, the country has now lifted its nationwide state of emergency and declared the “Japanese model” a success.
Testing of Donald Trump’s preferred COVID-19 drug hydroxychloroquine suspended by WHO
The World Health Organization stops trials of the malaria drug after a paper in a top medical journal warns that those taking it are at higher risk of heart problems and death.
Climate Change
Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow likely to be delayed again
UK to ask for postponement to November 2021 because of coronavirus travel controls
World health leaders urge green recovery from coronavirus crisis
Open letter to G20 leaders says addressing climate breakdown key to global revival
Climate change increases migration at the expense of the poor
A climate game shows that global cooperation can be possible — although not without effort
Sugar turns brown algae into good carbon stores
Only highly specialized bacteria can carry out the degradation of brown algae with the help of more than hundred enzymes
Climate explained: why countries don’t count emissions from goods they import
Sarah McLaren
Countries account for emissions based on all activities that happen within their territory, which means countries that export more than they import will likely have higher per capita emissions.
National
Finkel vs Turnbull, gas vs big batteries: Are we really decades away from transition?
Chief scientist says Australia will remain dependent on gas power for up to 30 more years because batteries not yet capable of supporting a majority solar and wind grid.
Morrison government finally admits there will be electric utes, and EVs can tow caravans
Morrison government admits its fear-mongering about EVs during election campaign had no basis. Utes can be electric, and EVs can tow things.
Our public transport networks need to change. And fast, experts say
The crowded bus, train or tram you take each day to work isn’t designed to be coronavirus safe.
Bushfires left estimated 445 dead from smoke and a nation traumatised
An estimated 445 people were killed by exposure to bushfire smoke over the Black Summer fires, while 3340 were admitted to hospital due to heart and lung problems and 1373 people attended emergency departments due to complications with asthma.
Large-scale solar leads Australia’s renewable energy revolution [$]
A new report shows renewable energy now makes up 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity generation.
Cooking with gas: how we’ll beat the COVID economic blues [$]
Australia is looking to gas-powered electricity as one of the key drivers to power Australia’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Plan for cheap gas to fuel recovery unrealistic: Senex
A government-linked plan to make gas available at $4 a gigajoule to salvage manufacturing has been criticised by east coast producer Senex Energy, warning the price target failed to reflect the cost of developing new supplies.
Don’t fall into the faux-progress trap: Australia still loves coal
Ketan Joshi
Every single time Australia’s government discards an idea they never should have adopted in the first place, accolades come pouring in.
Australia shows how policy can stifle renewable energy future
Clyde Russell
One of the themes emerging as the world looks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic is that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reboot the global energy system and embrace a future of renewables.
The coal, hard fact is we must put jobs first in this economic climate [$]
Matt Canavan
As the biblical saying goes, you can’t serve two masters. For a decade we have been trying to con ourselves we could. We thought you could serve the master of climate change and keep a strong manufacturing sector.
A single mega-project exposes the Morrison government’s gas plan as staggering folly
Bill Hare
Every few years, the idea of using gas to transition to a zero-emissions economy seems to re-emerge. Woodside’s Burrup Hub proposal shows why it’s still a bad move.
Victoria
North East Link must drive ahead even if approval ruled invalid
The impact of the pandemic on jobs is so severe that the $16b road project must proceed even if councils win a court battle against it, the Andrews government says.
Public weren’t asked about shooting brumbies from ground, court hears
Parks Victoria failed to properly consult with the public about its plans to cull brumbies, the Supreme Court has heard.
New South Wales
Off-grid and out of line? Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro to test Morrison leadership
Eden-Monaro by-election to be a test of the Morrison leadership and bushfire response and a local battle fought on issues including climate and renewables.
‘Hopefully now we can all move on’: Fire victims compensated after 10-year legal battle
Grassfire victims in southern NSW will soon be paid a share of $16 million compensation as a long-running legal battle concludes.
‘Going great guns’: Meet the tiny insect bred to bring down an animal-killing cactus
This cactus ensnares animals, slashes tyres, and halves property prices. Now, researchers have found a weapon to take it down.
Nuclear power, coal and Narrabri Gas Project to help power industry: Joyce [$]
Nuclear and coal-fired power along with the Narrabri gas project could all be options to power the future of manufacturing in Tamworth.
Queensland
Smoke from planned burn – Daisy Hill Conservation Park
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will conduct planned burn operations within the Daisy Hill Conservation Park near Priestdale on Wednesday 27 May 2020, weather permitting, as part of the annual hazard reduction program for parks and forests.
Joint state and council committee to tackle ‘missing links’ in active transport
A joint committee has been established between the state government and Brisbane City Council to target “missing links” in the city’s transport networks.
South Australia
Black cockatoo hatchlings spark hope on fire-affected Kangaroo Island
There are renewed hopes for the future of an endangered bird on Kangaroo Island, after glossy black cockatoo hatchlings are discovered.
Secrecy shrouds plans to boost desal plant use [$]
A report into increasing Adelaide’s desalination plan to offset River Murray water use is being kept secret because it could damage the relationship with the state and federal governments.
Harbour plan for $40m KI seaport too big, locals say [$]
A neighbouring abalone farm is opposing plans for the creation of a new harbour alongside a proposed $40 million seaport at Smith Bay, saying it will increase the threat to its business.
Northern Territory
Indigenous rock art found in the NT one of just three such examples worldwide
A team of Australian archaeologists have found some of the world’s rarest examples of rock art at Limmen National Park in the Northern Territory. The miniature stencils are only one of three such examples of small-scale rock art known around the world.
Western Australia
Western Power installs Tesla community battery in W.A. Goldfields region
Western Power installs first of 10 grid-connected PowerBank “community batteries” in Kalgoorlie-Bolder to support uptake of more solar and help smooth the grid.
W.A. backs wastewater hydrogen project using Australian technology
WA’s Hazer Group advances unique renewable hydrogen technology after securing deal from state water utility for supply of wastewater biogas.
Pilbara mining blast confirmed to have destroyed 46,000yo cultural sites
Traditional owners in the Pilbara are left devastated after mining giant Rio Tinto detonates explosives near ancient heritage sites, destroying them.
This week’s storm pounded one Perth beach to the point it is no longer worth repairing
The City of Fremantle is moving to permanently “retreat” buildings from Port Beach after the stretch of coastline was devastated by Monday’s intense WA storm.
Sustainability
Biotechnology: Metal collector made of bacteria
Bacteria, fungi and plants sometimes produce metal-binding substances that can be harnessed, for example for the extraction of raw materials, for their separation, for cleaning soils or for medical purposes. Researchers now outline how these natural substances or modified semi-artificial variants of them can be produced according to genetic information.
In order to identify materials that can improve storage technologies for fuel cells and batteries, you need to be able to visualize the actual three-dimensional structure of a particular material up close and in context. Researchers from the University of Delaware’s Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI) have done just, developing new techniques for characterizing complex materials.
Bricks made from plastic, organic waste
Revolutionary ‘green’ types of bricks and construction materials could be made from recycled PVC, waste plant fibers or sand with the help of a remarkable new kind of recently discovered rubber polymer. The rubber polymer, itself made from sulfur and canola oil, can be compressed and heated with fillers to create construction materials of the future.
Warming climate is changing where birds breed
Spring is in full swing. Trees are leafing out, flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, and birds are singing. But a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that those birds in your backyard may be changing right along with the climate.
HKU ecologists and international team discover ongoing and future tropical diversity decline
How can patterns in the marine biodiversity of the past help us to understand how it may change in the future? A recent research by Drs Moriaki Yasuhara and Timothy C Bonebrake (School of Biological Sciences and Swire Institute of Marine Science, the University of Hong Kong) and numerous international collaborators finds that the tropical diversity decline now seen in the ocean is not purely human induced, but nonetheless will worsen considerably if we do not limit anthropogenic climate warming.
Locals stage latest fight against Papua New Guinea mine dumping waste into sea
A coalition of more than 5,000 villagers and a provincial government has built a legal challenge against the world’s most productive battery nickel plant.
Coronavirus lockdown: How the River Yamuna cleaned itself in 60 days of coronavirus lockdown
Two months of the Coronavirus lockdown have done what successive governments could not do in 25 years with over Rs 5,000 crore at their disposa l- clean up the Yamuna river.
What dam removals can do for a river
Rising from the Ashes, from Trout Unlimited, follows the scientists studying the summer steelhead resurgence in Washington’s Elwha River.
Hawaii’s native forests threatened
Like so much of the tropical world, the forests of Hawaii’s coastal and mountain regions are under assault.
Why are we still failing to stop deforestation?
While national and international efforts to reverse the trend of deforestation have multiplied in recent years, there is still no clear evidence to suggest that these initiatives are actually working. A new paper published in One Earth, calls for a radically different approach that focuses on our understanding of how individuals make their choices about forests and livelihoods.
Scientists find hope for reefs battered by climate change: Bahamas coral that survive hot seas
The mountainous star coral off Great Harbour caught researchers attention after a searing 2015 bleaching event hit reefs across the islands. As water temperatures on Mermaid Reef soared above 91 degrees, the coral survived.
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