Post of the Day
Australian-first research finds water being redirected from irrigators under the $13 billion Murray Darling Basin Plan isn’t being delivered to its intended wetland targets, with private land blocking the connections between rivers and floodplains.
On This Day
Climate Change
Climate is a ‘mainstream’ financial risk [$]
Investment strategies factoring in climate change risk as a financial threat is now “mainstream” for pension funds, says former Cbus super fund boss, amid a flurry of funds pledging to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
A sweeping climate model of the Red Sea
An all-inclusive climate model for the entire Red Sea region is supporting Saudi Arabia’s plans for a sustainable future.
Here’s how scientists want Biden to take on climate change
Ambitions include promoting electric vehicles and incorporating environmental justice
The thaw of the Third Pole: China’s glaciers in retreat
Glaciers in China’s bleak, rugged Qilian mountains are disappearing at a shocking rate as global warming brings unpredictable change and raises the prospect of crippling, long-term water shortages, scientists say.
National
Australian-first research finds water being redirected from irrigators under the $13 billion Murray Darling Basin Plan isn’t being delivered to its intended wetland targets, with private land blocking the connections between rivers and floodplains.
A coalition of 29 health groups are urging climate action in open letter to Scott Morrison
Health groups have sent an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for urgent action on climate change. Source: Climate Media Centre
Health groups have banded together to send an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for urgent action on climate change.
More safe havens for threatened species
The Morrison Government is providing further protection for threatened species with a $6.78 million expansion of Australia’s network of environmental safe havens.
PM to talk up Australian hydrogen in first meeting with new Japanese leader
Scott Morrison will push for Japan to take Australian hydrogen during a trip to Tokyo, where he will meet Yoshihide Suga for the first time.
A gas-led recovery won’t create jobs, so who benefits? [$]
Georgia Wilkins
Gas has been front and centre of the government’s COVID-19 recovery plan. But that it would lead to manufacturing jobs is “wishful thinking”, according to the Grattan Institute.
Christine Schlesinger et al
Many of us are aware of the enormous destruction feral cats inflict on Australia’s native wildlife, but there’s another introduced species that will cause at least as much harm if left unmanaged — yet it receives far less attention.
On the make: gas and manufacturing in Australia
The Australia Institute
This discussion paper asserts that the Morrison Government’s ‘gas-fired recovery’ will not assist Australia’s manufacturing industry, arguing that increasing gas production is likely to benefit gas exporters, not the manufacturing industry.
Flame out: the future of natural gas
Grattan Institute
Far from fuelling the recovery from the COVID recession, natural gas will inevitably decline as an energy source for industry and homes in Australia. This report shows that a combination of economics and environmental imperatives imperil the industry.
A national approach to national disasters
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)
The Commonwealth Government response to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements
Gas won’t fuel Australia’s recovery or reduce emissions. It’s a mirage
Greg Jericho
The truth is gas is both too expensive and too dirty. We’ve known this for nearly a decade
Victoria
Recycling Reset to turnaround bin contamination
Port Phillip Council has launched a Recycling Reset campaign to help residents combat growing bin contamination linked to people staying at home more during to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Metro Tunnel digging running ‘seven months late’
Premier Daniel Andrews underground at the State Library station last week.
Work on some sections of the $11 billion Metro Tunnel is running up to seven months late, with one machine on its way to the State Library station scheduled to have arrived two months ago.
Blackouts across the state’s east as bushfires burn in the west
Residents in the state’s east may be without power for two days, while two out-of-control bushfires are burning through the Little Desert National Park in Victoria’s west.
‘Lost opportunity’: Melbourne considers slashing cost of parking as part of car-led recovery
The City of Melbourne is considering cutting the cost of parking in the CBD and seeking a reduction in the congestion tax in a bid to encourage motorists to return to the city centre.
Families in shock as they’re told to get out for the loop
Residents told they may lose their homes to make way for the $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop – a new underground rail link through Melbourne’s inner suburbs – say they do not want to give up their properties for a “pie in the sky” idea.
It was a gas while it lasted but the love affair is over
Bruce Robertson
It is time for Victoria to move on from gas as a fuel source.
New South Wales
Oil giant BP’s first solar farm in Australia powers up in western NSW
The 200MW Wellington solar farm in central NSW has started sending small amounts of power to the grid.
BlueScope pivots to green energy, to make steel for wind and solar transition
Steel giant BlueScope to invest $20m in pivot towards local manufacturing of wind and solar components, anticipating a surge of demand in NSW.
NSW renewable energy plan seals death warrant for six gigawatts of coal
The NSW government’s renewable plan signals the death knell for many coal generators, and even the Loy Yang generators in Victoria will be struggling by 2030.
This Aboriginal community is hoping a new political party will help save its river
Indigenous Australians are still waiting for representation on the board that manages water in the Murray-Darling Basin, a year after they were promised it. Now, one man in the New South Wales town of Wilcannia is hoping to take the matter into his own hands.
NSW’s coal heartland to host state’s newest renewable energy zone
The Hunter Valley is to become the home of NSW’s fourth renewable energy zone after a last-minute change to the state government’s new energy roadmap.
ACT
Electric police cars will be part of the ACT’s future law enforcement fleet – but not just yet.
Record numbers join ACT Rural Fire Service after Black Summer
Nearly 60 new firefighters have joined the ACT Rural Fire Service, after the Black Summer bushfires ignited record interest in signing up.
Queensland
There are only about 200 left, so breeding this tinker frog in captivity is a ‘huge success’
A precious tinker frog found only in small patches of rainforest in Queensland’s Kroombit Tops National Park is bred in captivity after 20 years of trial and error.
Level 1 water restrictions implemented
Cairns Regional Council is calling on residents to reduce water use, with Level 1 water restrictions in force from tomorrow (17 November).
Huge expansion for gold mine amid price boom driven by COVID-19 stimulus spending
A North Queensland gold mine is expected to tip more than half a billion dollars into state coffers over its lifetime, with production to begin in December.
Tasmania
Fire destroys historic Trailside Museum at Cradle Mountain in “devastating” blow
The charred remains of one of Cradle Mountain’s historic huts offers little evidence as to the cause of the fire that destroyed it.
No ‘strategic’ work in govt’s climate change plan: Greens [$]
Global crisis The climate crisis is being addressed like a side project rather than a critical issue, the Greens say, who have accused the state government of “tinkering” with plans.
Western Australia
Massive W.A. renewable hydrogen project signs up Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Plans for hydrogen production facility near Kalbarri, supplied by 5,000MW of solar and wind projects, wins backing of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
Sustainability
Renewable energy demand rises as China leads 2020 growth
The pandemic has had a brutal effect on many parts of the energy sector, with oil, gas and coal suffering tremendously in the wake of COVID-19.
EU plans to increase offshore windfarm capacity by 250%
Proposal would create 62,000 jobs and help towards carbon neutrality, says commission
Low-traffic schemes benefit everyone, not just better-off, finds study
Authors find ‘no clear social equity problem related to low-traffic neighbourhoods’ after studying slew of projects sparked by Covid restrictions
Increase in burning of plastic ‘driving up emissions from waste disposal’
Expansion of energy-from-waste incineration could stop UK hitting its net zero carbon target, campaigners warn
Global treaty to tackle plastic pollution gains steam without US and UK
More than two-thirds of UN member states have declared they are open to a new agreement to stem the rising tide of plastic waste
Plastic pollution is everywhere. Study reveals how it travels
A study reveals the mechanism by which microplastics, like Styrofoam, and particulate pollutants are carried long distances through soil and other porous media, with implications for preventing the spread and accumulation of contaminants in food and water sources.
President-elect Joe Biden’s review teams at the Department of Energy and other agencies include a slew of clean energy and electric vehicle backers, as well as an occasional supporter of fossil fuel projects. How will they change energy policy?
Peel-off coating keeps desalination cleaner and greener
A polyelectrolyte coating enables clean seawater desalination systems without harmful chemicals.
Surrey reveals simple method to produce high performing Lithium Selenium batteries
Engineers at the University of Surrey have developed a simple and elegant method of producing high-powered lithium-selenium (Li-Se) batteries.
Biochar from agricultural waste products can adsorb contaminants in wastewater
Biochar — a charcoal-like substance made primarily from agricultural waste products — holds promise for removing emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals from treated wastewater. That’s the conclusion of a team of researchers that conducted a novel study that evaluated and compared the ability of biochar derived from two common leftover agricultural materials — cotton gin waste and guayule bagasse — to adsorb three common pharmaceutical compounds from an aqueous solution.
Branwen Morgan et al
Antimicrobial resistance is increasing in Australia and globally. As resistance increases, the cost of treatment and management of human and animal infections is forecast by the World Health Organisation to skyrocket.
Christiaan De Beukelaer
The shipping of goods around the world keeps economies going. But it comes at an enormous environmental cost – producing more CO₂ than the aviation industry. This problem should be getting urgent international attention and action, but it’s not.
Newly identified species of monkey already facing extinction
The Popa langur is a newly identified species of primate that scientists just realised is different from other langur, but only 200 are left.
Common herbicide likely to harm endangered species, US EPA says
Atrazine has potential to affect numerous species and their habitats
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