Date: 10 November 2020 at 9:08:05 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Nov 10
Post of the Day
America’s poised for a 180-degree turn on climate change with a Biden victory
A Joe Biden victory means America is about to make a 180-degree turn on climate change and the environment.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
International Week of Science and Peace
Climate Change
Rolling back Trump’s rollbacks: Biden seen reversing climate deregulation
Trump’s rollbacks are on shaky ground because most were done not through Congressional lawmaking
America’s poised for a 180-degree turn on climate change with a Biden victory
A Joe Biden victory means America is about to make a 180-degree turn on climate change and the environment.
Australia’s climate policy can no longer lag behind
Canberra Times editorial
There will no longer be a climate change denier in the White House come January 20, and with that comes even greater impetus for Australia to make meaningful commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
National
Watch like a hawk: Satellite trackers on endangered ospreys in Australia-first study on population
A new experiment opens a window into the world of the fish-hunting birds enabling scientists to study their hunting and foraging habits, including the depths they dive to and the altitude at which they usually fly.
Calls for moderate Liberals to cross floor on ‘sensible’ emissions bill
Zali Steggall has challenged moderate Liberal MPs to cross the floor and vote for her environmental bill, saying they must “walk the walk” on climate change action.
Bin bad habits to lift lid on recycling benefits
“Reduce, reuse, recycle.” It could well be the catchcry of any National Recycling Week program, but it particularly fits this year’s theme of “Recovery – A future beyond the bin”, which has an emphasis on giving resources a second chance and thereby reducing virgin resource use through reuse and recycling.
Waste that will be radioactive for years currently stuck in Australian hospital basements
A roundtable at Parliament House involving medical experts has been told the establishment of a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility is essential to ensure that Australia can continue to provide world class nuclear medicine treatment.
New chief scientist steps carefully on climate change
Physicist Cathy Foley has been appointed Australia’s next chief scientist, taking over from Alan Finkel, with her three-year term to begin in January.
‘Herd of white elephants’: Governments warned over pursuit of megaprojects
Australian governments must rethink their multi-billion dollar mega transport projects as they search for an infrastructure-led recovery from the COVID-19 downturn or risk delivering a “herd of white elephants”, a new report has warned.
Support for superannuation funds on climate, social action: survey [$]
Most superannuation account holders support funds taking active positions on environmental and social issues, according to a survey from a peak industry body.
‘We’re not all the way with USA on climate’ [$]
A 2050 net-zero emissions commitment will require an ‘aggressive’ short-term target and the Morrison government will not necessarily follow the US on climate policies, Angus Taylor says.
Australia’s government agencies increasingly refusing environment-related FOIs, audit finds
Australian Conservation Foundation also finds growing delays in processing requests by departments and agencies
More Australian drivers embrace electrified cars, as hybrid SUV sales triple
Australian drivers embrace electrified drivetrains, with figures showing hybrid SUV sales tripling compared to same period in 2019, and passenger EVs up 25 per cent.
More wind and solar means early closure of coal plants is more likely
We now estimate that Australia’s main grid will be around 45% renewable as early as 2025, and that spells bad news for some coal generators.
NHS committing to net zero emissions by 2040, Australia should do the same
Caroline Lee
Why can’t the Australian Healthcare Sector commit to net zero emissions if the National Health Service (NHS) can?
Ashleigh Best et al
The Black Summer bushfires were devastating for wildlife, with an estimated three billion wild animals killed, injured or displaced. This staggering figure does not include the tens of thousands of farm animals who also perished.
Climate ambitions stir trouble for Morrison and Albanese
Paul Bongiorno
The incoming Biden administration in the United States has already formed the view that Australia is not a like-minded country on combatting climate change.
A Biden Presidency could be the final push for Australian energy policy
Tim Cornwall
With the United States set to shift its policy on energy, Australia should follow suit and become an example of proactive climate action
Australia suddenly isolated in the new global climate
Steven Hamilton
Four years of Trump’s climate denialism has given Australia ample cover for its own climate inaction.
Walls close in around Morrison on climate [$]
Bernard Keane
Australia risks becoming an international pariah if it maintains its climate denialism as its major trading partners embrace carbon neutrality.
At the coal face, carbon dating holds the floor [$]
Alice Workman
“Now, we understand science on this side of the house,” Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews claimed during question time … forgetting for a second that behind her sat Craig Kelly, who is not so much drinking as mainlining the hydroxychloroquine kool aid.
Zali Steggall’s new climate change bill comes just as economic sectors step up
Anna Malos and Amandine Denis-Ryan
Yesterday, Zali Steggall, the independent member for Warringah, introduced her long-awaited climate change bill to the Australian parliament.
New South Wales
Households and businesses to save money under NSW Government’s energy overhaul
Householders and industry are being promised cheaper and cleaner power by the State Government, which is announcing the start of a $32 billion renewable energy package ahead of next week’s State Budget.
Manufacturers, clean energy investors back NSW push for cleaner energy
Tomago Aluminium says the plan is desperately needed, but big power companies say it needs further scrutiny.
‘We’ve got to bring those wallabies back’: how a species was saved
It was the rarest of second chances. A zoologist flew to the other side of the world looking for clues about a wallaby species that was believed to be extinct, only to discover that an exotic colony still existed on an island 2000 kilometres off the east coast of Australia – where they were under attack. Enter Peter Pigott.
Households to save $130 on power bills [$]
Households are forecast to save $130 a year and small businesses $430 year on their power bills under the state’s 20 year plan to deliver new electricity infrastructure.
Renewables industry rejoices as Australia’s biggest electricity state goes green
The reaction to New South Wales’ $32bn renewable energy plan has been swift and overwhelmingly positive, from all sides of industry and the political spectrum. Well, almost…
NSW road map offers a way out of energy uncertainty
SMH editorial
The plan to underwrite renewables will help meet Paris Agreement targets, even as the federal government equivocates.
ACT
Lake Burley Griffin Central and East Basins closed for swimming due to bacteria
The Central and East Basins of Lake Burley Griffin are closed for swimming because of high levels of bacteria.
New ACT houses the nation’s largest [$]
The ACT is building the largest houses in Australia as the nation reverses a trend towards smaller homes.
Queensland
QIC investment in Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal backs resources
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the Queensland Investment Corporation’s (QIC) commitment to take a 9.9 per cent stake in the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) near Mackay.
State’s power companies at a loss due to COVID and switch to renewables
Robert MacDonald
Stanwell and CS Energy have long been reliable cash cows for the Queensland Government. But for how much longer.
South Australia
Council demands evidence for GM-free knockback
The state’s biggest council is pushing back against the Marshall Government’s rejecting its application to keep the McLaren Vale wine region free of genetically modified crops, calling for the GM Advisory Committee to justify the decision in a bid to have Primary Industries Minister David Basham review the finding.
SA fishing reforms to put ‘two-thirds of local commercial fishers’ out of business
A petition to address “loopholes” in the South Australian Government’s Marine Scalefish Fishery reforms is launched by stakeholders who believe the changes will render the majority of local commercial fishers unviable.
Tasmania
Forest Industries welcome Tasmanian Budget’s investment in bushfire mitigation
The peak Australian and Tasmanian forest products industry bodies have welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s significant investment in bushfire mitigation announced today, and the inclusion of mechanical fuel reduction in the state’s Fuel Reduction Program.
Tasmanian Aboriginal community questions stalled land returns process [$]
Fifteen years since the Tasmanian Government’s last significant return of land to the Aboriginal community, the land council is asking this question during NAIDOC Week 2020: “what is the problem?”
Algal growth smothers marine life
The Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection (TAMP) has put Tasmania’s industrial salmon companies on notice that it will produce more evidence over coming weeks that soaring nutrient levels are damaging marine life in areas around the floating fish cages operated by Tassal and Huon Aquaculture.
Western Australia
Rare November storm soaks WA, brings catastrophic bushfire risk to north
An unseasonably late cold front crossing the WA coast brings with it both the risk of hail and damaging winds and catastrophic bushfires in the north of the state.
Western Australian building biggest new homes in Australia
Government lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted WA home builders to reassess their housing needs with more time spent at home for both work and leisure.
New opportunity to unlock renewables under Biden [$]
A Joe Biden presidency is expected to be largely beneficial for Australian businesses — particularly WA companies operating in the renewable energy space, according to trade experts and analysts.
Sustainability
Toxic smog clouds reduce visibility in Indian capital
Toxic smog hovering over the Indian capital reduced visibility drastically on Monday as Delhi resident struggled to make their way through the thick smog. Pollution accompanied by winter has added to the woes of Delhi resident who said they were not able to even see 200 metres ahead.
Biden could change these key policies on ‘Day One’ in the White House
Now that Biden is headed to the White House after winning Tuesday’s election, here is a list of the some of the policies the president-elect and his team want to take “on Day One” or early in his four-year term in office slated to start on Jan. 20, 2021.
Why oil prices are only going in one direction
Cold winter weather may help to support fuel demand, but little of that will be in the form of oil.
Tire pollution: A potential solution to an invisible problem
Environmental destruction often comes from unexpected places. But to this team of young inventors, identifying the source of the problem is just the first step toward devising a solution.
Environmental ballot measures get widespread approval by American voters
Many of the successful measures focused on improving equitable access to parks, as well as countering the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income communities and communities of color.
China coal imports plunge 47pc in October
China’s coal imports in October plunged by 47 per cent from a year earlier, reflecting strict import quotas and raising fresh concern over the outlook for one of Australia’s biggest export earners.
The Biden agenda: Climate promises will crash into regulatory bureaucracy
In addition to rejoining the Paris agreement, Biden could rescind executive orders speeding fossil fuel project infrastructure.
How life-cycle assessments can be (mis)used to justify more single-use plastic packaging
Trisia Farrelly et al
Life-cycle assessments of food packaging often omit the impact and possible toxicity of plastics leaking into the environment. Excluding these factors gives plastics an unjustified advantage.
The continued fight over farming the oceans
Recent efforts to open up federal waters to marine finfish aquaculture are viewed as either an environmental imperative as the climate changes, or a potential industrial disaster.
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