Post of the Day
Does climate change violate children’s human rights?
The field of climate litigation has been growing quickly in recent years. More than 1,300 climate-related cases have been filed since 1990, mostly in the U.S.
On This Day
Climate Change
European states ordered to respond to youth activists’ climate lawsuit
European court of human rights case could result in countries being bound to take greater action
Big business is divided on climate. Could that help Biden?
Trump’s aggressive moves on climate change split U.S. industry. Companies that produce oil, cars and electricity opposed Trump’s environmental rollbacks. The question now is whether they’ll help President-elect Biden meet his carbon goals.
Does climate change violate children’s human rights?
The field of climate litigation has been growing quickly in recent years. More than 1,300 climate-related cases have been filed since 1990, mostly in the U.S.
How climate change is hidden in ‘normal’ temperature data
Shifting climate baselines conceal warming that occurred in the past; our new “normals” differ strongly from normals decades ago.
Tipping point for the climate can already be a reality in East Asia
The climate in inner East Asia may already have reached a tipping point, where recent years’ transition to abnormally hot and dry summers can be irreversible. This is the finding of a new international study by researchers at University of Gothenburg now published in Science.
Emissions growth slower than worst-case projections
New research reveals that emissions are not growing as fast as the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s assessments have indicated — and that the IPCC is not using the most up-to-date climate scenarios in its planning and policy recommendations.
Future Brahmaputra River flooding as climate changes may be underestimated, study says
A new study looking at seven centuries of water flow in south Asia’s mighty Brahmaputra River suggests that scientists are underestimating the river’s potential for catastrophic flooding as climate warms.
Joe Biden must be the climate change president
Washington Post editorial
The world is out of time. Climate can’t be a priority. It must be the priority.
National
Food waste spiked during pandemic, thanks to panic-buying and food delivery
Australian households are wasting $1043 of food this year – a record high – thanks in large part to the pandemic.
Taylor ‘terribly happy’ with pre-COVID drop in emissions of 1 per cent
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has admitted the government was on track to reduce Australia’s emissions by just 1 per cent before COVID shutdowns and travel restrictions, with critics saying he deserves “no credit” for the latest greenhouse gas figures.
Release of redeveloped Climatch
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) is pleased to announce the release of the redeveloped Climatch (v2.0). Head of Biosecurity, Andrew Tongue, said Climatch was an important tool for predicting the potential spread of exotic species in Australia to assist preparing for and responding to pest and disease incursions to strengthen the national biosecurity system.
Three-quarters of Australians back target of net zero by 2030, Guardian Essential poll shows
Latest survey finds 75% support for setting net zero by 2030 target for emissions, and 81% support for net zero by 2050
Santos targets net-zero emissions by 2040 as climate pressure grows
Santos, one of the nation’s largest oil and gas companies, will target deeper emissions cuts in the next decade and aim for ‘net zero’ emissions by 2040.
Australian coal exports face ‘perfect storm’ as China restrictions hit
Australian coal exports face a “GFC-style threat” to their viability one of the country’s top auditors will claim.
Rain patterns to shift away from Australia more often as climate warms
Weather patterns are shifting as the western Indian Ocean warms faster than the east, increasing likelihood of dry spells in parts of Australia.
Honour your climate commitments, Australia. Signed, your neighbours
Flooded homes in the village of Taborio on the Tarawa atoll in Kiribati
Pacific leaders have signed an open letter to Scott Morrison urging Australia to take urgent climate action.
Bushfires toll on platypuses prompts protection call
Bushfires cause platypus populations in south-east Australia to decline up to 18 per cent.
State energy plans splinter national spirit [$]
The National Electricity Market is ‘national’ in name only as states go it alone with their own clean energy initiatives that appear to undermine moves for broader market reforms.
Household energy debt spiked after virus outbreak [$]
A new report has found that almost 60,000 households took advantage of retailer offers to defer energy bill payments.
Why Australia has no clear policy on electric vehicles – audio
Adam Morton
Australia is lagging behind many countries on the uptake of electric vehicles. Environment editor Adam Morton explains that there are a lot of practical reasons for this, but it’s also because of government-led scare campaigns and disincentives
When it comes to climate action, the states are showing up Morrison
Age editorial
Together, Victoria and NSW are moving well ahead of the federal government, which is still politically crippled on climate policy as a result of its previous fierce internal battles.
It is time to put an end to AEMC’s controversial transmission pricing plan
Stephanie Bashir
The AEMC’s transmission pricing proposal will ultimately hurt and disincentivise investment in wind and solar in Australia.
After a heatwave, is Australia ready for more fires? [$]
Kishor Napier-Raman and Poppy Fitzpatrick
This past weekend brought back painful memories of last year’s black summer.
The investor-led push on climate change
Jacqueline Peel and Rebekkah Markey-Towler
Investor-led pressure on Australian companies is forcing boards to adopt sustainable business practices to meet climate change goals
New South Wales
Changes to NSW water restrictions from today
Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra have been at Level 1 restrictions since March. But the first day of summer will see that change.
‘We’re not nationalistic about it’: Sydney needs exotic trees, light colour buildings to cool down
Planning Minister Rob Stokes says homeowners should plant exotic trees as well as native species around their homes as the state government pushes to boost tree canopy cover and combat urban heat across Sydney.
Focus on the land, not just the people: New push for Indigenous values to shape Sydney
When the NSW government announced plans to redevelop the land at White Bay in Rozelle, many developers and architects saw a parcel of waterfront land in inner Sydney that was ripe for new construction.
Disposable city? Shameful to bulldoze buildings in climate emergency
The idea of Sydney as a disposable city where “perfectly good buildings” were bulldozed because they were ugly – as NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet playfully suggested this week – was “shameful” in the midst of a climate emergency, say top Sydney architects.
Power barons pocket $62m, slash Vales Point value [$]
Trevor St Baker and Brian Flannery have slashed the value of the Vales Point power station by almost half despite posting a profit and pocketing a $62m dividend.
AEMO asks regulator to declare reliability gap for Liddell closure, of just 154MW
Regulator seeks input on whether it should declare a 154MW reliability shortfall in NSW, much less than the 1,000MW that Scott Morrison has claimed is needed.
Largest solar farm in NSW gets planning approval despite “nuclear meltdown” fears
Biggest solar project in NSW approved by planning commission, despite resident concerns of heat islands and glare and council’s fear of “batteries melting down like nuclear”.
Economic focus on ‘cheap energy’ pays off for climate policy
SMH editorial
The NSW government has found a way through the mire of climate policy. Trust the science, heed the market, focus on the consumer and reach across the aisle.
Do environmental approvals for gas projects mean anything?
Georgia Wilkins
Was there ever any doubt the environment minister would wave through the Narrabri gas project given it’s already been championed by the energy minister and the PM?
ACT
Googong’s water recycling plant fully commissioned
Googong’s water recycling plant, part of a $133 million system, has been fully commissioned.
Queensland
States scramble to grab a part of the $11 trillion hydrogen economy
A global economy fuelled by hydrogen is estimated to be worth $11 trillion and Queensland is fighting with the other states for its share.
Mining company with lobbyists spent $660,000 on election
The New Hope Group has been shedding staff amid ongoing delays with the proposed expansion of its New Acland coal mine.
Govt did ‘precious little’ to stop Fraser Island fire [$]
A Fraser Island tourist operator has blasted the Queensland Government for failing to learn from last fire season.
Genex kick-starts Kidston wind project, securing partnership with J-Power
Genex secures $1.5m development deal with Japanese utility J-Power to commence development works for Kidston wind project.
REP to fast track 500MW wind component of “battery of the north” renewables hub
REP brings forward 500MW wind component of Bowen renewable energy hub, as state authorities kick off environmental review of “battery of the north”.
South Australia
A new study by the University of South Australia has found less than 10 per cent of mining companies in Australia have publicly stated their position on engagement with Aboriginal communities, including in relation to key issues such as land rights and preservation of culturally significant sites.
Tasmania
Applicant’s appeal on Invermay waste processing centre to be heard next week
An appeal against the City of Launceston council’s rejection of plans to build a waste processing centre at Invermay will be heard next week.
Northern Territory
$1.5bn NT mine the Ammaroo Phosphate Project wins Federal Govt major project status [$]
A $1.5bn Northern Territory mine project that will create more than 1000 jobs and export opportunities for the Top End has been given Major Project Status by the Morrison government.
PFAS clean up could take decades, parliamentary committee hears [$]
There will be no quick fix to contamination from chemicals in firefighting foam leaked from the Tindal Air Force Base, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.
‘Long-overdue’: Traditional Owners in the Barkly finally get their land back
The Wampaya Traditional Owners in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory have finally had their land returned, nearly four decades after they first lodged their Land Rights claim.
More bang for taxpayer buck if Traditional Owners involved earlier in development
A first-of-its-kind report has found greater consultation with Traditional Owners could be the key to unlocking the economic, social and environmental potential of swathes of the northern end of Australia.
Northern Territory experienced its hottest November in more than 100 years
The Bureau of Meteorology says the Northern Territory has sweltered though its hottest November since records began, recording daytime temperatures 3.1 degrees Celsius above average.
Western Australia
One of the world’s longest continuous electric car networks planned for WA
Western Australia plans to build one of the longest continuous electric vehicle networks in the world, enabling motorists to drive from Perth down to Esperance, across to Kalgoorlie or up to Kununurra.
WA won’t ‘close down oil and gas’ to meet climate goal [$]
Premier Mark McGowan is expected to announce changes to WA’s border restrictions ‘within days’.
Western Australia names Future Battery taskforce members
Western Australia’s Labor-led McGowan Government announces members of its Future Battery Industry taskforce which will seek to grow the state’s battery industry.
Sustainability
Scottish homes to be first in world to use 100% green hydrogen
Some 300 homes in Fife to be fitted with free boilers, heaters and cooking appliances
A ‘zero waste’ life starts with your groceries
From meal prepping to ‘reductionism’, it is possible to turn your home into a sustainable haven with these small tweaks.
The 6 winners of the ‘Green Nobels’ for environmental activism show that change is possible
The Goldman Environmental Prize announced its 2020 winners, including an activist who used shareholder meetings to push back against financing coal mines and a beekeeper who took on Monsanto.
Forest fires, cars, power plants join list of risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease
Airborne pollution implicated in amyloid plaques, UCSF-led study shows
Discoveries highlight new possibilities for magnesium batteries
Researchers from the University of Houston and the Toyota Research Institute of North America have reported a breakthrough in the development of magnesium batteries, allowing them to operate at room temperature and deliver a power density comparable to that of lithium-ion batteries.
Peace in the age of chaos – Finding a new approach
Steve Killelea
Peace is a prerequisite for the survival of society as we know it in the 21st century, writes Steve Killelea AM, in this extract from his new book, Peace in the age of chaos: The best solution for a sustainable future.
Environment to benefit from ‘biggest farming shake-up in 50 years’
£1.6bn subsidies for farming land in England to end, with funds going to improve nature
Amid tensions in Myanmar, an Indigenous park of peace is born
The Karen people of Myanmar have long fought for autonomy over their lands. In a bold move, they have turned a war zone into a protected area that respects their cultural traditions and looks to save one of the world’s last free-flowing international rivers.
Endangered Vancouver Island marmots are making a comeback
Vancouver Island marmots may just be the antidote required for the dystopian times we are living in.
Plastic contaminants harm sea urchins
Plastics in the ocean can release chemicals that cause deformities in sea urchin larvae, new research shows.
Caribbean coral reefs under siege from aggressive algae
Human activity endangers coral health around the world. A new algal threat is taking advantage of coral’s already precarious situation in the Caribbean and making it even harder for reef ecosystems to grow.
Report assesses promises and pitfalls of private investment in conservation
Scientists, lawyers, investors and economists explore how privately financed conservation projects can generate both financial returns and positive conservation outcomes.
It’s not too late to save 102 species at risk of extinction
Co-governance model for implementing conservation management plan gives species their best chances of survival
Jaguars robust to climate extremes but lack of food threatens species
Researchers track climate change scenarios for Amazonian wild cats
Daryl McPhee
As summer descends, sharks may be at the forefront of the minds of many beach goers and reef adventurers.
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