Post of the Day
Smaller habitats worse than expected for biodiversity
New international research breaks ground for the next generation of biodiversity forecasts
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Coronavirus Watch
Confirmed cases:16,303 Deaths: 189
End of last month: Confirmed cases:. 7,767 Deaths: 104
Sniffles, sneezing and cough? How to tell if it’s a simple allergy rather than the virus
We’re told to stay home if we feel unwell during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what if your sniffles, sore throat or cough aren’t infectious?
What you missed as Victoria announced Australia’s worst numbers of the pandemic so far
Victoria widens restrictions to cover regional residents after its daily coronavirus numbers break records. Here’s what you missed from Daniel Andrews’ press conference.
Mapping COVID-19 spread in Melbourne shows link to job types and ability to stay home
Melanie Davern et al
Not everyone has a job they can do from home. Mapping the patterns of occupations across Melbourne’s suburbs against COVID-19 cases strongly suggests why some parts of the city are more vulnerable.
Climate Change
Human-caused sea level rise, storm surges and high tides will put trillions of dollars of assets at risk around the world by the end of the century
41 US states have reduced their emissions while growing their economies
It’s possible for the U.S. to decouple emissions growth from economic growth.
The four types of climate denier, and why you should ignore them all
Damian Carrington
The shill, the grifter, the egomaniac and the ideological fool: each distorts the urgent global debate in their own way
National
World’s fastest energy transition: AEMO maps path to 94 per cent renewables
It doesn’t feel like it at times, and the political debate would have us believe it is not happening at all. But the Australian Energy Market Operator says Australia is in the midst of what is likely to be the world’s fastest energy transition.
Green mining: CEFC takes $51m stake in lithium producer
CEFC turns attention to transformation of Australia’s mining sector towards a greener future after boosting its stake in lithium producer by $51 million.
AEMO’s recipe for a cheap, clean and reliable energy future
The ISP’s doesn’t target lowest emissions. It targets a lowest-cost replacement of ageing fossil fuel power stations, with a minimum standard for reliability. It finds that the cheapest, most…
AEMO says batteries will be cheaper and cleaner than new gas plants
The Integrated System Plan confirms that the gas lobby claims of gas as a transition fuel is tenuous – on both economic and environmental grounds, and because there are…
Murray-Darling water market open for price manipulation, conflicts of interest, ACCC finds
Australia’s $1.5 billion water market could be set for major reform after the release of a hotly-anticipated ACCC report that has highlighted a host of regulatory concerns.
Environment reforms destined to fail without data: Samuel
New environmental standards are destined to fail unless data on threatened species becomes more accessible, the architect of the reforms has warned.
Australian bushfire and climate plan
Emergency Leaders for Climate Action
Final report of the National Bushfire and Climate Summit 2020
Love letter from 2029: I want you to know we did it, we turned the ship around
Scott Ludlam
In a series that asks writers to imagine a not-too-distant future, Scott Ludlam urges the citizens of 2020 to hold on, keep fighting and look to the margins
If you choose to stay, we may not be able to save you
Sophie Cunningham
If you are in or close to the bush, leave now. If you choose to stay, we may not be able to save you. Save woollen blankets to wrap yourself in if the fire comes. If you are trapped in your car, face the oncoming fire, close windows and doors tightly, and get down below window level.
Murray-Darling Basin’s murky trade in water [$]
Australian editorial
Water is scarce in a country prone to droughts, which are likely to become more frequent. Scott Morrison has said building drought “resilience”, which replaced the goal of drought “proofing”, requires comprehensive understanding and integrated management of our soil, vegetation and water resources.
Rail freight network facing death sentence, undercut by road and sea [$]
Robert Gottliebsen
Step by step death warrants are being signed for our great national railway network. Unless the community wakes up little will remain by the end of the decade.
America has corn and Asia has rice. It’s time Australia had a native staple food
Angela Pattison et al
Aboriginal people once used native grasses to produce bread. So let’s resurrect Australia’s ancient breadmaking tradition.
Victoria
Fight over sacred trees on Western Highway cost $60m, watchdog says
Ombudsman exposes delay costs on contentious Western Highway duplication project and finds the government consulted traditional owners in ‘good faith’.
New South Wales
Protester tapes himself to logging equipment in Lower Bucca State Forest
A protester has been arrested after he duct taped himself to logging machinery on the NSW northern coast.
Still no solution for Santos’ toxic waste
Johanna Evans
The controversial Narrabri Gas Project has raised concerns over the disposal of toxic waste products.
Queensland
“Extra fast” EV battery could be made at planned $3 billion Australian gigafactory
An electric vehicle battery that recharges to 85% in just six minutes could be made at a Townsville factory being planned by Australian company Magnis Energy.
Shine Energy listed Glencore as ‘project partner’ in Collinsville power station proposal
Documents used by inexperienced company to seek funding name mining giant as partner for coal plant
South Australia
Wilpena Pound Resort’s Aboriginal owners face police probe [$]
The Flinders Ranges Aboriginal corporation that owns Wilpena Pound Resort is being investigated by police over severe problems in financial and other records.
Crucial NSW power link now a billion dollar fix [$]
Linking up NSW and SA with a transmission line through solar-rich regions is a crucial part of fixing the grid, a major report says. But it might cost a lot more than earlier estimated.
Tasmania
Marinus Link construction key to Tasmania’s economic recovery from coronavirus pandemic
UPC Renewables has proposed the Marinus Link project be expedited to assist in Tasmania’s post-coronavirus recovery.
Unpicking the climate forest furphy [$]
John Hunter
Is Tasmania really a world leader in climate action? Not so fast.
Western Australia
One in, all in. Making community scale batteries work in the NEM
Community-scale batteries are all the rage on Western Australia’s government-run grid. And what’s not to like? But what about the rest of Australia?
Plan for Kimberley unveiled as part of WA Recovery Plan
Premier Mark McGowan releases Kimberley Recovery Plan
Some 10,000 cans which were meant to be recycled were accidentally sent to landfill. [$]
A red-faced South West shire has blamed a “tragic miscommunication” for the dumping of 10,000 containers in landfill — after they were collected as part of a new recycling initiative.
Sustainability
A solution to pollution is actually a problem, PFAS study reveals
When we release substances that don’t biodegrade into the environment they are, eventually, bound to end up even in the most remote parts of the Earth.
How to create 25 million jobs by decarbonizing the economy
A new plan shows how the U.S. could massively mobilize to hit the Paris climate goals by building up the power grid with renewable energy to support a newly electrified economy.
Plastics, pathogens and baby formula: What’s in your shellfish?
New study finds coastal urbanization increases contamination in seafood
Whale airway mucus reveals likely poor health during migration
Researchers have linked the burden of humpback whales’ annual migration to depleted microbial diversity in their airways – an indicator of overall health.
Smaller habitats worse than expected for biodiversity
New international research breaks ground for the next generation of biodiversity forecasts
Maelor Himbury
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