Post of the Day
Sebastian Leuzinger
If agricultural land was used to grow crops, it would limit methane emissions from livestock, but not store a substantial amount of carbon. Growing trees is what makes the difference.
On This Day
Coronavirus Watch
Confirmed cases: 10,250. Deaths: 108
A negative COVID-19 test ‘does not mean you can breach self-isolation’. This research shows why
By national science, technology and environment reporter Michael Slezak
New research suggests more than 20 per cent of coronavirus cases are being missed by testing — known as “false negatives” — with one expert saying the results could require a rethink of Australia’s COVID-19 strategies.
How scientists know the coronavirus came from bats and wasn’t made in a lab
One of the conspiracy theories that have plagued attempts to keep people informed during the pandemic is the idea that the coronavirus was created in a laboratory.
Climate Change
Coal, gas leading to ‘quite dramatic’ increases in methane emissions
Fossil fuel developments are rapidly increasing emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, led by the opening of new coal mines and gas fields, some of which are in Australia.
Climate crisis: First half of 2020 was second-warmest on record
The first half of 2020 was the second-warmest on record and the year could become the warmest in recorded history, based on reports from Nasa and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Sebastian Leuzinger
If agricultural land was used to grow crops, it would limit methane emissions from livestock, but not store a substantial amount of carbon. Growing trees is what makes the difference.
Climate change is important, but shouldn’t distract from other priorities
Bjørn Lomborg
What is the point of climate change policy? To make the world a better place for all of us, and for future generations.
National
Climate hiccup in Australia-Britain free-trade deal [$]
Britain wants to introduce climate change regulations into a free-trade deal with Australia after the first round of talks scoped each country’s priorities.
Solar flow battery breakthrough combines PV generation and storage in one device
Australian researchers contribute to US-led research breakthrough on ultra-efficient way to generate, store and re-deliver renewable electricity from the sun in one device.
Australian start-up raises $1.3m for ‘stethoscope’ for wind turbines
Australian start-up Ping secures $1.3m in seed funding for device that uses sound to identify faults in wind turbines.
Coal seam gas: There’s enough questions about CSG it makes sense to turn it off
David Shearman, Melissa Haswell
The evidence that gas mining operations can harm those living near to the wells, processing plants and compressor stations has been accumulating since 2012. Of particular concern are impacts on the unborn and infants.
Hydrogen: The great energy hope, or a whole lot of hype?
David Leitch
Exported Australian hydrogen may have to compete with much cheaper offshore wind farms for a share of Asian electricity markets.
Victoria
Top scientists back Australian ecologist in VicForests bushfire row
More than 100 scientists have written to the Andrews government backing highly regarded ecologist Professor David Lindenmayer after the head of Victoria’s logging agency refused to “consider him an authority”.
New South Wales
Fitzsimmons to be questioned on bushfire season at royal commission
Several senior fire experts have said they are surprised the commission waited so long to ask him to attend.
Whitehaven Coal flags pricing pressure as China curbs cloud outlook
Australia’s largest dedicated coal miner, Whitehaven Coal, says the coronavirus-driven industrial downturn and uncertainty around China’s plans to restrict cargoes in favour of domestic coal have dented the outlook for export prices.
A few months ago, science gave this rare lizard a name – and it may already be headed for extinction
Jodi Rowley
The Kaputar rock skink is thought to have have one of the smallest ranges of any reptile in New South Wales – at the summit of a single extinct volcano, Mount Kaputar.
ACT
Bulky waste collection begins in Gungahlin, Tuggeranong
Bulky waste collection began on Wednesday for Gungahlin and Tuggeranong residents.
Queensland
Burning issue: Ipswich residents say waste incinerator will just encourage more waste
A proposed $4 million waste-to-energy incinerator, which would turn non-recyclable items into electricity, has residents at Ipswich, west of Brisbane, up in arms over concerns it will encourage people to create more waste, rather than recycle it.
Coalition backs ‘cloud-brightening’ trial on Great Barrier Reef to tackle global heating
Greens deride $4.7m funding for technologies that may shade corals and make clouds more reflective as ‘Band-Aid solutions’
Exclusive: Guardian Australia understands discussions between the government and Queensland firm Shine Energy have become fraught
Reef credits’ to help save the Great Barrier Reef [$]
Market-based solutions can help save the natural wonder as the Great Barrier Reef Foundation announces $97 million in new project funding.
New Acland coalmine: Anthony Albanese attacks environmental delays [$]
Anthony Albanese has called for an overhaul of the environmental regulations for mining projects amid an “extraordinarily long” 13-year fight to expand the New Acland coalmine in Queensland.
Labor leader backing coal mine a bizarre state of affairs [$]
Terry McCrann
You know times are strange when Labor’s Anthony Albanese is going into bat for extending a coal mine and the Coalition is largely silent.
South Australia
Councils considering GM crop opt-out after SA ban lifted
South Australian councils are considering whether to apply to keep a ban on genetically-modified crops in their areas, with one southeastern council already flagging its intention to allow GM farming ahead of a public consultation.
Feral cat control critical to KI dunnart survival
Rosemary Hohnen and Sarah Legge
The future of the critically endangered Kangaroo Island dunnart is even more precarious after last summer’s devastating bushfires. Their survival now may depend on controlling the growing feral cat population.
SA solar overload sparks huge power discounts [$]
The flood of rooftop solar installations could lead to electricity companies offering households price cuts of as much as 75 per cent during mid-day.
Foxes move into Adelaide’s west [$]
Lock up your pets and keep your chickens secure! Fox sightings are on the increase in Adelaide’s western suburbs with residents shocked by the animals’ brazen behaviour.
Tasmania
Corruption watchdog rejects Malbena complaint [$]
The state’s anti-corruption body spoke to top public servants about complaints of improper conduct surrounding a wilderness development plan.
Graph of the Day: Map of Tasmania generation – hydro and wind
Map of Tasmania’s fossil-fuel free electricity generation, showing existing hydro and wind.
Act on bushfire inquiry number 243 — before our next black summer [$]
Bob Gordon
Our fire-prone landscape deserves better management including planned burning.
Northern Territory
Residents of remote NT community lose legal battle over uranium in water
Residents of the remote central Australian community of Laramba lose a case against the Northern Territory Government over high levels of uranium in their drinking water.
Western Australia
Coral bleaching detected off Kimberley coast
Scientists have discovered a significant coral bleaching event at one of Western Australia’s healthiest coral reefs.
US oil and gas company Black Mountain Energy unveils plans to drill and frack WA’s Kimberley region
A US oil and gas company has plans to start drilling and fracking in the State’s Kimberley region.
West Australia’s biggest wind farm energised, delivers first output
First generation at what will be West Australia’s biggest, and one of the country’s lowest cost, wind farms.
Rio Tinto’s Aboriginal desecration shows folly of rote ESG [$]
Glynn Cochrane
The mining giant’s destruction of two sacred sites could be traced to its downgrading, about 15 years ago, of the importance of its site-level social scientists.
Sustainability
Car tyres are major source of ocean microplastics – study
Wind-borne microplastics are a bigger source of ocean pollution than rivers, say scientists
Pain for coal miners as China buys local [$]
Chinese power generators are paying 60 per cent more for their coal under a buy local campaign that has left Australian miners out in the cold.
How “supersized” wind turbines could boost value of wind energy to the grid
New study shows that “supersized wind turbines” can possibly enhance the value of wind energy to the electricity system by around $US4-5/MWh.
Is renewable natural gas a serious alternative to ‘electrify everything’?
While wind and solar power and electric vehicles tend to dominate the conversation around preventing catastrophic climate change, electricity and transportation aren’t the whole picture.
Clean energy technology is not ready
Global warming can often feel overwhelming, given its political, social, and economic complexities. From a purely engineering perspective, though, it is surprisingly simple.
Better food for world’s poor could hike climate-changing emissions
To balance the increases, richer countries may need to scale back, flagship UN report suggests.
The most powerful renewable energy
Can we harness the extraordinary power of rivers in a way that replenishes ecosystems, rather than harming wildlife?
Killing nearly 500 wolves in a year failed to protect endangered caribou – study
British Columbia performed cull as part of caribou recovery plan
Focus on wolves ignores complex web of factors, researchers say
Report: Sustainable ocean policies provide big economic benefits
Saving the ocean will have effects that go far beyond the shoreline.
Deforestation in Brazil continues to surge, up 10.7 percent in June
If the trends continue, 2020 is on track to be the country’s worst year for deforestation in more than a decade.
Oil slick threatens Philippine mangrove forest recovering from earlier spill
An explosion aboard a power barge has spilled up to a quarter million liters of fuel oil, threatening local communities and mangrove and seagrass habitats.
Maelor Himbury
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