https://reneweconomy.com.au/climate-change-nothing-to-see-here-says-esb/
Date: 14 January 2021 at 8:44:26 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Jan 14
Post of the Day
Worried about Earth’s future? Well, the outlook is worse than even scientists can grasp
Corey J. A. Bradshaw et al
Anyone with even a passing interest in the global environment knows all is not well. But just how bad is the situation? Our new paper shows the outlook for life on Earth is more dire than is generally understood.
On This Day
Feast of the Divina Pastora in Barquisimeto – Venezuela
Old New Year – Julian Calendar
Pongal – Hinduism
National Forest Conservation Day – Thailand
Climate Change
IEA to focus on net zero by 2050 for energy
A major global energy agency has announced a focus on climate action for 2020, cautiously welcomed by climate groups
Climate crisis: record ocean heat in 2020 supercharged extreme weather
Scientists say temperatures likely to be increasing faster than at any time in past 2,000 years
Earth to reach temperature tipping point in next 20 to 30 years, new study finds
An international team looked at 20 years of data from throughout the world and found that record-breaking temperatures are contributing to a significant decrease in plants’ ability to absorb human-caused carbon emissions.
Kerry climate team begins to take shape
The former Secretary of State is drawing heavily on Obama administration alumni and Foggy Bottom personnel to fill out his staff.
Extreme droughts may hit 2X as many people by century’s end
Global land area and the number of people suffering from the effects of extreme drought could more than double by the late 21st century, experts warn.
Net-zero, carbon-neutral, carbon-negative … confused by all the carbon jargon? Then read this
Jessica Allen
Countries around the world are taking steps to tackle climate change and become net-zero emitters of carbon dioxide (CO₂) by 2050. Most recently, Joe Biden’s presidential election win means the US is the latest nation to adopt the goal.
National
Increased CO2 levels could be risk to young lungs, Australian scientists find
Australian researchers, in a world first study, find predicted future levels of CO2 concentrations could harm the development of young lungs.
Energy Security Board outlines plan for fast renewable transition in two major new reports
New reports from the Energy Security Board highlight priority focus areas for a grid destined for a high renewable future.
Climate Change? Nothing to see here, says ESB
If you assume climate change is playing a significant role in the Energy Security Board’s deliberations over the optimum design of the future market, you would be wrong.
Australia’s carbon prices dip, but traders expect more pressure to strengthen emissions targets
Australia’s carbon prices fell throughout 2020, but 2021 could be a turning point for international climate policy, Reputex analysis suggests.
Australia the only developed nation on world list of deforestation hotspots
WWF report finds area six times the size of Tasmania has been cleared globally since 2004
Cicada ‘super year’: the familiar sound of Australian summer is louder than usual
More of the insects have emerged this year in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. One reason is rainfall
Move to build grid-scale solar on industrial rooftops nation-wide
A joint venture aims to build giant solar farms on the roofs of factories and industrial estates across Australia, creating energy where it is most needed.
We won’t take your coal, says Beijing [$]
Beijing has instructed the owners of more than $1bn of banned Australian coal to find new buyers outside China, as President Xi Jinping’s administration scuttles the $14bn export trade and ramps up pressure on the Morrison government.
Fact check: Craig Kelly’s ‘year of global cooling’ claim is a load of hot air
While scientists predict 2020 will be one of the hottest years on record, Australian politician Craig Kelly has posted data he claims show temperatures have in fact been falling during what he dubbed “the year of global cooling”.
Enjoy them while you can? The ecotourism challenge facing Australia’s favourite islands
Freya Higgins-Desbiolles
I fell for Kangaroo Island from my first visit. I recall standing on a headland on the island’s southern coast, near Remarkable Rocks (a popular tourist site), and being awestruck by the Southern Ocean.
Delving into the dna of our iconic platypus and echidna
Marilyn Renfree and Jane Fenelon
The genomes of the platypus and echidna have now been published, providing a valuable resource for research, as well as for their conservation and health
Every Australian is now putting Rio Tinto on notice [$]
Dean Smith
It’s harder to make the case for more efficient mining regulation after Rio Tinto destroyed public trust the way that it did.
Victoria
Southern rock lobster fishermen fear plans to use seismic testing to look for oil and gas reserves in the Bass Strait could threaten crayfish populations.
Victorians urged to help scientists count ‘vulnerable’ platypuses
By the end of the millennium drought, the creeks in Victoria’s Wimmera region had dried out and contracted so much that parched river beds and isolated muddy pools were all that remained.
Fire sends smoke billowing over Melbourne’s west [$]
Smoke blanketed the city’s west this evening after a fire broke out at a waste management plant in Laverton North.
New South Wales
How ‘heat refuges’ could help people like Ian escape sweltering days in Western Sydney
Last summer, Western Sydney residents endured 37 days of over 35 degrees Celsius. As the mercury in the region continues to climb, a Sydney council is trying to convince organisations to create “heat refuges”.
‘Dinosaur trees’ survived Black Summer, but they haven’t recovered enough for the next bushfire
The first look at the damage to the famous “dinosaur tree” from last summer’s fires raises concerns about their longer term prospects as the climate warms.
Brumbies are destroying Kosciuszko National Park and must be removed
SMH editorial
Wild horse numbers are still far too high despite the bushfires.
ACT
Light rail stage 2 costs to ACT budget need to be transparent, ACTCOSS [$]
The ACT government needs to explain whether Canberra is missing out on community housing or health services in favour of expanding light rail, the ACT Council of Social Services says.
Brumby population report slammed by ACT Minister Mick Gentleman
The ACT’s Land Management Minister has criticised a NSW government report indicating wild horse numbers in the Kosciuszko National Park had declined in the past year.
Eastern Australia is undergoing its most intense La Niña in a decade, but the event is probably already at its peak and will likely fade away in a few months.
Queensland
Exotic-looking fungi spring to the surface after summer rain
Heavy rain in parts of Queensland is waking up a hidden kingdom of fungi, and with it a passionate community of amateur mycologists.
Origin seeks fossil fuel leases in ‘incredibly fragile’ Queensland channel country
Applications to explore Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre basin submitted by energy company last July but previously unreported
What a difference a decade makes: Wivenhoe Dam then and now
Brisbane’s main water storage dam is at less than 40 per cent this week. A decade ago during the flood, it was vastly different.
South Australia
Thousands of baby snapper to revive fish stocks
Thousands of baby snapper are about to be released to revive the decimated Gulf St Vincent fishery after a fingerling-raising effort went swimmingly.
Tasmania
A new toolkit has been launched to help monitor little penguins
A new toolkit announced on Wednesday aims to look out for the little guy.
Or more specifically, the little penguin.
Mars joins flight to save our swift parrot
John Hawkins
Mars, one of the worlds largest family-owned companies, is leading the world in its support for the Tasmanian swift parrot.
Northern Territory
Rising sea levels are visibly changing some parts of the Top End
Freshwater floodplains around Australia’s largest national park are being visibly transformed as rising sea levels push further from the coast into their river systems.
Western Australia
Sand clogs up Australia’s only operating carbon capture project
Carbon storage at Chevron’s massive Gorgon LNG plant hampered by sand contamination which may result in increased greenhouse gas emissions.
BHP and Toyota to partner on light electric vehicle trial
BHP to partner with Toyota Australia on trial of new light electric vehicle (LEV) at its Nickel West operations in Western Australia.
The 2020 lockdown saw us create our worst fatbergs in three years
In a year when people spent more time at home than ever before, massive “fatbergs” full of sopping wet junk were pulled from household pipes.
Secret emails expose Government’s role in approving uranium mine a month before 2019 election
Secret documents accessed by the ABC show a massive uranium mine planned for a remote part of WA — which experts say will cause the extinction of a species — was approved just days before the 2019 election after relentless pressure from the foreign mining company.
Sustainability
Oxford researchers predict Africa may struggle to go green this decade
While electricity use throughout Africa is expected to surge, Oxford University researchers predict renewables may struggle to gain market share.
Prince Charles launches new natural capital Alliance to mobilise $US10 billion
Prince Charles brings together US$10 billion sustainable investment alliance, targeting climate and biodiversity crises.
Sunlight powers portable, inexpensive systems to produce drinking water
Two thirds of the global population will have problems accessing fresh water by 2025, and removing salt and contaminants from the oceans and groundwater is one way to slake humanity’s thirst.
Need to reduce work-related stress? It’s a walk in the park
Research examined the relationship between ‘sense of coherence’ (a quality indicative of stress-coping ability) and frequency of walking in forests or greenspaces. The aim was to find easy coping devices for workplace stress. Forest/greenspace walking at least once a week was found to correlate with those with a stronger sense of coherence. The findings suggest the benefits of walking in urban greenspaces or in forests to help with stress management.
The plan to build a global network of floating power stations
A lot of thermal energy is trapped in the ocean. An ex-NASA researcher has figured out how it might generate unlimited clean power for aquatic robots.
Worried about Earth’s future? Well, the outlook is worse than even scientists can grasp
Corey J. A. Bradshaw et al
Anyone with even a passing interest in the global environment knows all is not well. But just how bad is the situation? Our new paper shows the outlook for life on Earth is more dire than is generally understood.
Wanted: UK bison rangers, no previous experience expected
Project using large beasts to help restore woodland offers unprecedented job opportunity
Native Americans seek to stop Rio Tinto, BHP copper mine plan
Australia’s two biggest miners are facing opposition from Native American groups to their plan to build a giant copper mine in Arizona.
Ocean pollutants ‘have negative effect on male fertility’
Harbour porpoises exposed to PCBs had shrunken testicles, suggesting sperm and fertility effects. The effects are likely to be found in other cetaceans, including killer whales.
CRISPR and the splice to survive
New gene-editing technology could be used to save species from extinction—or to eliminate them.
How far does wildlife roam? Ask the ‘internet of animals’
An ambitious new system will track scores of species from space — shedding light, scientists hope, on the lingering mysteries of animal movement.
Brazil environmental fines fall 20% as deforestation soars
Brazil’s main environmental enforcement agency, Ibama, handed out 20% fewer fines in 2020, a Brazilian non-profit factchecking initiative says, as the government rolls back conservation efforts and Amazon deforestation skyrockets.
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