Daily Links May 31

In many ways, we never left business as usual for this pandemic. In considering a gas industry in the Channel Country and possible environmental contamination, there’s reference to deep fracking but no mention of the Great Artesian Basin, and the CSIRO research that cites no concerns is carried out in an industry partnership that includes, yep, Santos among a number of gas companies. The blanket coverage of COVID19 is cover for many issues.

Post of the Day

Why Australia’s vast coastline could become the next big renewable energy resource

A new Australian-developed system is to begin generating electricity from ocean waves later this year, with a report showing three-quarters of Australia’s energy needs could be met by renewables by 2025.

 

On This Day

May 31

Pentecost – Western Christianity

 

Ecological Observance

National Arbor Day – Venezuela

 

Coronavirus Watch

Confirmed cases: 7,185. Deaths: 103

 

From working at home to walking the dog: How COVID-19 has changed Australian lives

Surveys of the impact of COVID-19 show how it has affected the finances, family life and waistlines of Australians.

 

Climate Change

Could seaweed forests help turn the tide in the fight against climate change?

Kelp trapping atmospheric carbon dioxide could be the ocean’s answer to forests in the terrestrial world, scientists say.

 

Towards a climate neutral Europe: The land sector is key

Land use choices can have a significant impact on climate change mitigation and help meet the increased ambition foreseen by the ‘European Green Deal’.

 

National

Why Australia’s vast coastline could become the next big renewable energy resource

A new Australian-developed system is to begin generating electricity from ocean waves later this year, with a report showing three-quarters of Australia’s energy needs could be met by renewables by 2025.

 

Australia’s national environment laws ‘actually allow extinction to happen’

Carnaby’s black-cockatoo, the grey range thick-billed grasswren and the swift parrot just three species in deep trouble after laws fail them

 

Welcome rains boost Basin’s fortunes but water wars are far from over

Ian Cole, the scion of a late cotton baron, was in the lift of a hotel in Sydney’s Martin Place in early March when he heard a familiar voice approaching and held the door open.

 

Renewable energy, gas generation increases as Qld and WA prop up the grid

The electricity in Australia’s power grid is generated using a range of methods, but while some sources are in decline, others are growing in popularity.

 

Victoria

Cultural burns need to be done in collaboration

Collaboration the key to managing bushfires, according to a central Victorian Indigenous leader.

 

Rare visitor excites Melburnians, yet its presence is a sad sign

It sounds like good news: for the first time in 150 years Melbourne bird lovers have seen endangered glossy black cockatoos alighting and feeding on trees in the city’s outer suburbs.

 

State authorities close parks over distancing fears

Victorian authorities have closed several major state parks due to concerns visitors are failing to observe social distancing laws.

 

Pollution warning on North East Link

A new cap on air pollution caused by vehicle emissions would be exceeded once the $16 billion North East Link is built, creating the need for cleaner energy cars and pollution controls as the project sends an extra 100,000 vehicles to the Eastern Freeway.

 

New South Wales

Call for forestry halt after koala national park assessment revealed

Environmental groups are calling for a moratorium on new logging in 10 key koala habitat zones identified by the NSW government as deserving increased protection for the marsupial.

 

ACT

ACT still in drought with wetter than average winter on the way

Despite a few rainy days, the ACT and all local government areas adjoining it are either currently considered drought affected, or they are experiencing drought or intense drought.

 

Pathways are basic infrastructure. Why don’t we treat them as such?

Ian Ross

Have you noticed how angry people have become about our path network lately?

 

Queensland

Warning on use of fracking chemicals in Queensland’s channel country

Unconventional gas projects use chemicals that are of ‘potentially high concern’ for sensitive region, report finds

 

Northern Territory

Miner’s last call as Jabiru uranium mine deadline looms [$]

The company behind a contentious uranium mine in Jabiru has held its final AGM before production grinds to a halt, telling shareholders its focus is now on rehabilitating the site.

 

Time to dig deep to save the Territory’s economic future [$]

NT News editorial

Editorial AT a time when the NT is staring into an economic abyss, energy giant Santos’ strategic plans for Darwin are a reminder of the critical importance of the resource sector to its future

 

Western Australia

Families demand answers over toxic Cleanaway mess [$]

People impacted by plumes of thick black smoke from burning plastics when a Perth recycling plant went up in flames say they’re still being kept in the dark on the cause.

 

Sustainability

Invasion of locusts damages crops in Pakistan

An invasion of locusts has spread across Pakistan, causing damage to crops and orchards and posing a threat to food security in an impoverished nation already struggling to tackle a virus pandemic.

 

Nanoparticles can make home refrigeration more accessible for low-income households

Power consumption of a home refrigerator can be cut by 29% while improving cooling capacity.

 

The world wasn’t ready for a Green New Deal in 2009. Today, it may be

Larry Elliott

There is no easy route to a greener global economy. But since coronavirus hit, politics and business are thinking again

 

Nature Conservation

How drones are being used in the fight against Asia’s plastic-polluted rivers

Experts warn plastic pollution originating along a river like the Mekong, may make its way out to the sea, and ultimately “could end up on Australian shores”.

 

New Zealand’s new plan to save our seabirds is strong on rhetoric but light on action

Jessica Desmond

Vision for commercial fishing to reduce deaths to zero is right, but implementation will fall short

Maelor Himbury

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