Post of the Day
Let’s talk about battery storage, and why it’s so much easier than pumped hydro
David Leitch
Battery storage is really easy to do if the economics are supportive, but pumped hydro is incredibly difficult to do.
On This Day
Shavuot – Judaism
Coronavirus Watch
Confirmed cases: 7,150. Deaths: 103
Dinner parties are back — but can we hug our friends?
Dinner parties, playdates and family gatherings are back on the cards. But how do we socialise safely, and how long will social distancing last?
US crosses a ‘terrible threshold’ as coronavirus death toll passes 100,000
More US residents have now died from coronavirus than during the Korean War, Vietnam War and the US conflict in Iraq combined.
Climate Change
People with disabilities needed in fight against climate change
People with disabilities are at increased risk of the adverse impacts of climate change – including threats to their health, food security, water, sanitation, and livelihoods – the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a recent report.
Scripps scientists identify climate change as major contributor to marine heatwave
Two new studies led by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego highlight the significance of long-term observations for understanding ocean climate trends and events, including record-shattering marine heatwaves.
We are in an unprecedented climate experiment
The pandemic has shut down the most polluting industries around the world and turned us all into more adaptable consumers. That still isn’t enough.
3 lessons COVID-19 is teaching us about emissions reductions
Sarah Golden
Greenhouse gas emissions are on track to plunge nearly 8 percent this year, the largest drop recorded. The decline in large part is due to the reduced fossil fuel demands as people across the globe lockdown and stay at home.
National
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fall slightly as new clean energy comes online
Reduction largely wiped out by a rise in carbon pollution from big industrial sites, particularly liquefied natural gas plants
Wetter than average conditions expected this winter
Wetter than average conditions are expected this winter with temperatures also likely to also be cooler, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts.
Water used for irrigation fell 26 per cent in 2018-19
Above average temperatures and drought across much of the eastern states led to a 26 per cent fall in the volume of water used for irrigation in 2018-19, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Rapid shift to renewable energy could lead Australia to cheap power and 100,000 jobs
Ambitious goal requires us to ‘get over the political roadblock’ says Malcolm Turnbull, who backed climate change thinktank’s report
Rust pathogen for biological control of mile-a-minute weed
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the Department) today released its final risk analysis report for the release of the rust fungus Puccinia spegazzinii for the biological control of the weed Mikania micrantha.
Water resources are in the spotlight with the latest Productivity Commission Inquiry into the reform of Australia’s water resources sector.
Networks can now replace costly poles and wires with solar and storage micro-grids
AEMC sets new rules to open up the option of stand alone power systems to remote and fringe-of-grid communities as network alternative.
New electric vehicles that Australia needed yesterday
If uptake of EVs is to gain hold in Australia, they need to be fit for purpose – here’s a list of what we should expect to see in…
Australian regulator flags new “reliability” rules for wind and solar farms
Regulator flags new “reliability” rules to affect wind and solar farms, as ESB considers tightening Australia’s reliability standard to 99.9995 per cent.
Faster, further, fairer: putting people at the heart of tackling the climate and nature emergency
Institute for Public Policy Research
The Environmental Justice Commission was founded with the recognition that action to address the climate and nature crises need not be about staving off the worst, but can instead be about imagining a better world which we can build together.
Jack Mundey: why inspiration lives on
Lee Rhiannon
Earlier this month, activist and Greens legend Jack Mundey passed away aged 90. Former senator Lee Rhiannon shares his story and reminds us of his extraordinary achievements that have left a lasting impact on the Greens and beyond.
Leaders must heed the bushfire experts and act
Age editorial
The pandemic has proved how effective government can be when it puts aside partisan politics and acts in the national interest. Now it’s time to do that again.
4 ways our streets can rescue restaurants, bars and cafes after coronavirus
Thami Croeser
Distancing rules will make life very difficult for smaller bars, cafes and restaurants. Our streets can be modified quickly to help save an important part of the life of cities and their economies.
They have learned nothing and forgotten nothing
David Ritter
In his speech to the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison showed that he has learned nothing from our spring and summer of fire and the trial of the pandemic, and forgotten nothing of his record of inaction when it comes to our national reckoning with the climate emergency.
Let’s talk about battery storage, and why it’s so much easier than pumped hydro
David Leitch
Battery storage is really easy to do if the economics are supportive, but pumped hydro is incredibly difficult to do.
Victoria
Public transport data suggests Victorians are abandoning the work-from-home effort
While the state government moves to prop up public transport operators during the crisis, it is also concerned Victorians are abandoning the work-from-home effort.
Net-zero emission buildings: council releases bold post-COVID development plan
Every new commercial and residential development in a swath of inner-Melbourne suburbs would need to have zero net carbon emissions to win planning approval under an ambitious Yarra Council plan.
Suntech’s 9.4MW Robinvale solar farm completed in Victoria
Suntech’s 9.47MW Robinvale solar farm – one of a growing number of ‘small but smart’ projects pitched at under 10MW – has been completed in Victoria’s north west.
New South Wales
Community welcomes first baby koala since devastating bushfires
The Australian Reptile Park in Sydney has welcomed a very special addition to its’ native wildlife family. Keepers have named her Ash, because she is the first koala joey born at the park since the devastating ‘Black Summer’ bushfires.
Providing water for thirsty koalas
Saving our Species has been working closely with Port Macquarie Koala Hospital to deliver emergency water to bushfire and drought-affected koalas across northern NSW.
NSW water officials knew decades of unmeasured floodplain harvesting by irrigators was illegal
Senior group meeting in January discussed the legal implications of practice that critics blame for preventing water flowing further down the Murray-Darling system
James Hitchcock
To inner west Sydneysiders, the Cooks River is known to be particularly polluted. But after a storm, microplastic particles increased more than 40 fold.
ACT
Burning waste off the cards under new ACT government energy plan
Burning rubbish to create electricity will be banned in the territory under a new ACT government energy policy.
Queensland
Pathway projects deliver smart connections for Springwood
Logan City Council’s vision for a highly connected pedestrian-friendly Springwood has taken a giant step forward with the completion of shared pathway and streetscape enhancement projects.
Grazier sues over Queensland land-curb mapping
Queensland’s vegetation “trigger mapping” has been dragged into a major court battle that could set a precedent for landholder rights.
New system to propel commuters into the future [$]
New details have been released about a hi-tech train tracking system that will be combined with the Cross River Rail to ensure more trains than ever can run on the southeast’s rail network.
South Australia
Massive shellfish reef to be built at Glenelg [$]
A $1.2 million artificial shellfish reef the size of Adelaide Oval will be built off the coast of Glenelg, boosting fishing in the area, creating a diving attraction and filtering water.
Tasmania
Government, environment groups analyse Federal Court forestry ruling [$]
Environmental groups and the state government are analysing whether a Federal Court judgment this week will have implications on the Tasmanian Forest Agreement in regards to logging in areas relied upon by threatened species.
Western Australia
Rio Tinto says it takes cultural heritage ‘very seriously’ after blasting 46,000-year-old site
There are mounting calls for changes to the approvals process for works likely to affect Aboriginal heritage sites after Rio Tinto destroyed two ancient rock caves last weekend.
Sustainability
Cutting down on emissions from buildings
The construction and operation of buildings account for nearly 40 percent of global CO2 emissions. As the urgency of the climate challenge increases, efforts to address carbon emissions in the buildings and construction sector is shifting from a focus almost exclusively on operations to the full life cycle of buildings.
IEA: Coronavirus ‘accelerating closure’ of ageing fossil-fuelled power plants
IEA says Covid-19 accelerating shutdown of older fossil-fuelled power plants and refineries, and provides opportunity to push for “more resilient, secure and sustainable energy path”.
Coronavirus aggravates Thailand′s plastic waste crisis
Thailand began the year with a ban on single-use plastic, but COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown has led to a huge rise in the nation’s plastic waste.
Countries around the world have committed to undertake ambitious climate action as part of the Paris Agreement. However, development of climate solutions cannot be solely dependent on limited concessional funds from multilateral institutions. Instead, they must be country driven and enabled by local ownership that drives investment and attracts both domestic and private capital. That’s where green banks come in.
Corporate renewable energy sourcing: way to 100% renewable
Atul Mudaliar and Shailesh Telang
India is committed to have a national grid with 40% installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, under the Paris Agreement. As of March 2020, the country already stood at 24% (87GW) of renewable energy installed capacity (not including large hydro projects)
New Trump public land rules will let Alaska hunters kill bear cubs in dens
The ‘amazingly cruel’ move by the National Park Service reverses Obama-era regulations which also affect wolves and coyotes
Brazilian taxpayers subsidizing Amazon-clearing cattle ranches, study shows
A new study shows taxpayer money is helping to prop up the beef industry in Brazil, one of the primary drivers of deforestation in the country.