Post of the Day
Joëlle Gergis
It’s 3am and I’m awake – again. It’s no exaggeration to say that my work as a climate scientist now routinely keeps me up at night.
On This Day
Coronavirus Watch
Confirmed cases:. 7,767 Deaths: 104
Where in the world are our coronavirus cases coming from?
Despite a concerning uptick in locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, figures show the majority of cases recorded in Australia have come from overseas, but the numbers reflect more than just which countries are facing outbreaks.
How far can you drive and what are the travel and border restrictions in Victoria, NSW and Queensland? How many people can you have over at your house in Tasmania, ACT, SA, WA or NT? Untangle Australia’s Covid-19 laws and guidelines with our guide
Teleworkability in Australia: 41% of full-time and 35% of part-time jobs can be done from home
Mehmet Ulubasoglu and Yasin Kursat Onder
We estimate 39% of all jobs in Australia can be done from home, with men more likely to have teleworkable jobs.
Climate Change
‘Nowhere to hide’: South Pole warms up with climate change a factor
The South Pole, the most remote part of the planet, has been warming at triple the global average, as natural variability joins with climate change to produce an abrupt shift in temperature trends.
Joëlle Gergis
It’s 3am and I’m awake – again. It’s no exaggeration to say that my work as a climate scientist now routinely keeps me up at night.
Their fate isn’t sealed: Pacific nations can survive climate change – if locals take the lead
Rachel Clissold et al
Pacific communities have always been resilient, surviving on islands in the middle of oceans for more than 3,000 years. But climate change is an unprecedented challenge.
National
Fund designed to mitigate natural disasters untouched at end of financial year
Not a cent of a $50 million Federal Government fund designed to be spent on natural disaster mitigation has been put to use this financial year.
New clothes and furniture bound for landfill unless charities get more funding
Coronavirus shutdowns leave retailers with excess stock that will be dumped if charities cannot find more funding to divert it from landfill.
Energy retailers at risk due to nonpaying customers and higher costs during pandemic
Energy demand decreased by 17% for small businesses and 11% for large consumers, but increased by 21% for residential consumers.
Australian emissions break Paris targets even after corona quiet
While Australia’s greenhouse gas numbers have fallen during the epidemic, the reduction is not yet enough for the nation to meet Paris agreements targets.
Eden-Monaro Liberal candidate says reducing fuel is the only way to manage bushfires
In a submission to the bushfires royal commission, Fiona Kotvojs says nothing can be done about ‘heat’
Ombudsman to have greater powers to protect consumers with solar, storage
Energy ombudsman could have new powers to oversee complaints relating to new energy technologies such as solar and battery storage provided by electricity retailers.
Coal’s share of Australia’s grid scale generation tumbles below 70% for first time
TAI report shows that as renewables flourish, total sent-out coal-fired power fell to below 66% of total generation and to less than 70% of grid-level generation, excluding rooftop solar.
‘A global dirt magnet’: Australia is losing out from fuel efficiency failures
Behyad Jafari
The nation is missing out on electric cars the rest of the world loves.
More power to compare and switch energy providers
Josh Frydenberg and Angus Taylor
The Morrison Government is giving consumers more power to compare and switch providers to lower their energy bills by formally applying the Consumer Data Right regime to the energy sector.
Unless we improve the law, history shows rushing shovel-ready projects comes with real risk
Alexander Gillespie
A law to fast-track development consents is being fast-tracked itself. Before it’s too late, politicians should insist on greater protection against long-term environmental damage.
Smart money is chasing wind assets [$]
John Durie
Just when Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) was launching its report aimed at boosting jobs through renewable energy investment, a takeover battle was playing out over wind producer Infigen Energy.
GST success shows up carbon tax failure [$]
AFR View
The success of the GST only underlines continuing tax reform failures on both sides of politics, including over the carbon tax.
The cure for energy crisis is more coal [$]
Alan Jones
If we are to recover from the economic disaster brought on by COVID-19, we must reject renewable fantasies for a cheap, reliable power source we have in abundance.
Utility solar may be low cost, but it is even lower value
David Leitch
Now that the transmission issue is “solved”, getting value back into solar is the No 1 policy priority.
Green tape! It’s destroying our booming economy just to protect those fur-covered things
First Dog on the Moon
How many jumping mammals does one country need and what do birds and animals do for the environment anyway?
Victoria
Yarra Ranges Council supporting businesses to move to cheaper renewable power
The success of a two-year pilot Environmental Upgrade Agreement Program that enables businesses to upgrade buildings to improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs will continue, after gaining support at this week’s Council Meeting.
‘Pick up the phone’: How small businesses can make big energy savings
Victoria’s energy regulator has revealed 10,000 small business owners are paying top dollar for gas because they are locked into costly default gas contracts.
Sweet stuff as shopping centres, unis and chocolate factories move to wind power
Energy-hungry office towers, university buildings, shopping centres and even chocolate factories will switch to wind power this week in a deal brokered by Melbourne City Council.
Authorities close Hanging Rock due to high visitor numbers
Authorities were forced to close Hanging Rock Reserve only three hours after opening when too many visitors flocked to the popular Victorian tourist destination yesterday.
New South Wales
Sydneysiders take to green space during COVID-19 pandemic
Visits to Sydney’s parklands and gardens have increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic as Sydneysiders embrace our wealth of green space.
Energy Insiders Podcast: Energy minister Matt Kean’s vision for NSW to be renewable superpower
NSW energy minister Matt Kean says cheap and clean wind, solar and storage can turn the state into an economic superpower. It’s an opportunity too good to miss.
Queensland
Funding certainty needed for fight against acid-spraying yellow crazy ant
The fight against invasive yellow crazy ants needs funding certainty to wipe the dangerous pests out, with advocates pressing for a commitment from governments.
How mining companies are planning a $1 billion ‘gift’ to our farmers
Queensland farm groups and a key lobbyist of Australia’s gas industry are applying pressure to have redundant mining assets worth more than $1 billion transferred for agricultural use.
Economy faces new threat from collapsing coal revenue
Queensland’s battered economy is facing the threat of a loss of billions in coal export revenue, according to the Federal Government.
Expert panel to second-guess the $10b Inland Rail project
A panel has been appointed to review the flood modelling for the chosen route for the $10 billion Inland Rail project as consultants conduct further economic analysis.
Children hold the key to resolving our violence problem, says A-G
After a spate of domestic violence incidents, and calls from the Liberal National Party for offenders to face tougher punishment, Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said cultural change would have the biggest impact.
New 500MW wind farm and big battery planned for southern Queenslandv
Developers behind Queensland’s “Battery of the North” are planning another massive project for the state’s south – a 500MW wind farm with 200MWh of battery storage.
South Australia
SA Government back-pedals on plan to axe bus stops and Service SA centres
A controversial plan to scrap hundreds of bus stops and routes across Adelaide is scrapped, after the SA Government admitted there was overwhelming public opposition to the proposal.
Tasmania
Faulty solar installations labelled a ‘wake-up call’ for consumers [$]
The discovery of close to 100 defective solar installations in Tasmania should be a “wake-up call” for consumers, the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance says.
Survey fishing for opinions [$]
The State Government is fishing for answers from Tasmania’s 100,000 recreational anglers to help shape Tasmania’s first Recreational Sea Fishing Strategy.
Olegas Truchanas was a Lithuanian-Australian photographer and conservationist. His photographs helped raise public awareness of the importance of Tasmania’s south-west.
Sustainability
America’s coalminers call for urgent help amid Covid-19 and industry decline
Thousands of jobs lost as economy shifts to renewable energy
Green surge in local elections puts Macron under climate pressure [$]
The unpopular centre-right President is now expected to reassert his environmental credentials with a headland speech on Monday.
VW factory produces last ever combustion engine car, shifts to EVs only
Volkswagen’s Zwickau factory produces its last ever combustion engine vehicle, closing a 116-year chapter on fossil-fuelled cars and switching to EV production, only.
Should environmentalists embrace basic income?
Cash payments from the government could help ease the transition to a climate-safe economy and weather the natural and economic storms to come.
Amazon has eliminated single-use plastic at its Indian fulfilment centers
Last year, Amazon pledged to eliminate single-use plastics in its packaging across its fulfilment centers in India – now it’s made good on that promise.
The world isn’t ready for Peak Oil
The coronavirus crisis is revealing the instability a sudden move away from petroleum would bring – but also giving us the chance to help countries make the necessary transition.
How cities are trying to avert gridlock after coronavirus lockdowns
As coronavirus lockdowns loosen around the world, city leaders are scrambling to address a new problem: the prospect of gridlock worse than before the pandemic.
Maelor Himbury
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