Daily Links Apr 20

It’s not only us in our ‘cafes, dinner parties and wine bars of our inner cities’ that urge net zero emissions (and we’ll before 2050 incidentally), it’s our scientists, big business, investors and everyone apart from the fossil fools, the LNP donors and those who do their bidding. 

Post of the Day

Environment protest being criminalised around world, say experts

More than 400 climate scientists sign letter that says activists are being targeted at pivotal time in fight against global heating

 

On This Day

April 20

Ridvan – Baha’i

 

Climate Change

‘Relentless’ climate crisis intensified in 2020, says UN report

Pandemic had no effect on emissions but made impacts of global heating even worse for millions of people, report says

 

‘I’ll continue to fight’: the prosecuted Extinction Rebellion protesters

Some of the more than 2,000 taken to court after UK demonstrations tell why they felt impelled to act

 

Joe Biden to reveal US emissions pledge in key climate crisis moment

President will also call on major economies to join him in bold action at virtual summit of 40 world leaders


The science of climate change explained

The science of climate change is more solid and widely agreed upon than you might think. But the scope of the topic, as well as rampant disinformation, can make it hard to separate fact from fiction.

 

A climate change guide for kids

The future could be bad, or it could be better. You can help decide.

 

Listen to climate change podcasts

Understanding the climate crisis is tough. Let these audio storytellers help you understand the problems, and potential solutions.

 

Israel looks to reduce gas emissions by 80% by 2050

Israel will look to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 80% by 2050 as part of its long-term plan to reduce pollution, the Energy Ministry says

 

Greta Thunberg to testify in Congress on Earth Day

The testimony will occur as President Joe Biden hosts a climate change summit with 40 world leaders.

 

If push comes to shove with China, Biden meeting may be marked as the moment Tokyo chose sides

Peter Hartcher

The first leader Joe Biden welcomed to a face-to-face meeting at the White House was Japan’s Prime Minister.

 

National

‘No action on anything’: Australia increasingly isolated as US and others ramp up climate ambition

Ex-diplomat Dean Bialek says as other countries take ‘massive steps forward’ from Paris any attempt by Canberra to ‘fly under the radar’ will fail

 

Australia must stop wasting time and shift to renewable energy to spark job creation, Albanese says

Labor leader in lead-up to US-organised summit says domestic clean-energy debate can no longer be ‘bogged down by negative partisan politics’

 

Marine conservationists welcome national approach of killer plastics phase out

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has welcomed the announcement by state and territory environment ministers to phase out killer single-use plastics in Australia by 2025.

 

Nationals senator’s logging bill chops down Environment Minister’s powers

Bridget McKenzie has made the unusual move of lodging a private members bill that would limit her colleague’s power to protect the environment from logging.

 

A change of climate at Atlassian

After years of criticism of the Business Council of Australia’s climate change policies, software giant Atlassian is now a member of the peak industry body.

 

Missile tech and microbats, using thermal imagery in wildlife rescue

What do you do when the subject you’re trying to count is both tiny and elusive? Answer: call in the military, or at least its technology.

 

‘Don’t call it climate change’: Former defence official says she was under political pressure to downplay climate concerns

A former Australian defence official speaks out about the political pressure she says she faced during her analysis of climate threats for the Department of Defence.

 

Australians want electric vehicles, but car makers won’t ship them here. Here’s why

Surveys show Australians want to buy electric vehicles, but they continue to languish at less than 1 per cent of new car sales. What’s going on?

 

PM’s road map for zero emissions by 2050 [$]

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has all but promised to meet a zero net emissions target by 2050, ahead of a virtual summit on climate change with US President Joe Biden.

 

Labor ‘needs to seize the day’ on energy use [$]

Anthony Albanese will back the future of coal exports and outline Labor’s vision for a clean energy “jobs revolution”, as he attempts to pivot the party and win seats in the mining states of Queensland and Western Australia.

 

Rainforest giants with rare autumn displays: there’s a lot more to Australia’s red cedar than timber

Gregory Moore

Native deciduous trees are rare in Australia, which means many of the red, yellow and brown leaves we associate with autumn come from introduced species.

 

Japan’s pivot to renewables will kick Australian exports right in the thermals

David Leitch

Japan accounts for about one third of Australia’s thermal coal and LNG exports, so if it goes green then Australia better have a plan.

 

Net zero won’t be achieved in inner city wine bars: Morrison

Michelle Grattan

As Scott Morrison gradually pivots his climate policy towards embracing a target of net zero emissions by 2050, he is seeking to distinguish the government from “inner city” types and political opponents who’ve been marching down that road for a long time.

 

A US ban on kangaroo leather would be an animal welfare disaster – and a missed farming opportunity

George Wilson and John Read

The US Congress is considering a proposed law to ban the import and sale of kangaroo parts. Backed by a campaign called Kangaroos Are Not Shoes, the bill is aimed at stopping Nike, Adidas and other big brands from using kangaroo leather in their products.

 

Not fit for purpose: Australia needs independent Climate Change Authority

Graeme McLeay

The Climate Change Authority (CCA) has demonstrated so little authority since the Coalition tried and failed to destroy it in 2013.

 

I call bullshit: Labor’s climate straw man rhetoric spews out both sides of its mouth [$]

Tory Shepherd

Labor’s spruiker on resources Madeleine King is pulling a fast one. No one is calling for the coal industry to shut down overnight.

 

Australia has coped fairly well with the pandemic. With climate change? It’s a different story

Greg Jericho

Our economy remains one of the most highly dependent upon greenhouse gases

 

We’d all like a Tesla, but should taxpayers fork out $5000 to seal the deal?

Robert MacDonald

The Electric Vehicle Council reminds us that lobby groups love spending other people’s money, especially in the name of the greater good.

 

The world running out of patience with our excuses on climate change

Michele O’Neil

Australia will come under unprecedented pressure to join global efforts to stop global warming at US President Joe Biden’s Climate Leaders Summit.

 

Climate pledge by US and China turns up heat close to home

Age editorial

The agreement by the world’s two biggest polluters to work together to tackle climate change highlights the need for Australia to also do more.

 

Ready for a boom in green manufacturing [$]

Anthony Albanese

Labor will spend $35 billion turning Australia into a renewable energy superpower with a modernised grid powering new industries.

 

Victoria

The tale of two (cash for cans) models

Recycling advocates say charities in Victoria shouldn’t have to sub-contract through a private company when the state launches its first container deposit scheme

 

Anti-logging protesters’ ‘dangerous’ tactic [$]

Anti-logging protesters have been slammed for their tactics after a toddler was photographed wandering alone near heavy forestry machinery.

 

Victorian Auditor General report scores state’s delivery of key transport projects ‘a fail’ [$]

The Andrews government has a “tendency to underestimate costs and over-estimate benefits” when conceptualising and approving major projects, Victoria’s Auditor-General has found.

 

Melbourne’s drinking water and catchment areas put at risk by ‘systemic’ illegal logging on steep slopes, experts say

Victoria’s state-owned logging company VicForests has put Melbourne’s drinking supply at risk by illegally logging on steep slopes in an important water catchment area, according to the government regulator.

 

New South Wales

Delta flagged early closure of Vales Point coal plant when it rejected federal grant

Delta cancelled coal plant upgrades after being short-changed by Morrison government, and flagged an early closure of Vales Point, documents obtained under FOI show.

 

NSW coal region councils join forces for huge renewable energy mandate

As the state by-election for Upper Hunter focuses on coal, seven local councils and Hunter Water join forces for huge renewable energy order.

 

AGL advances plan to convert Hunter Valley coal mine into huge pumped hydro facility

AGL Energy will progress early works on a plan to convert an upper Hunter coal mine to pumped hydro energy storage, after promising preliminary studies.

 

Concerns for Aboriginal heritage in area for possible coal exploration

Upper Hunter landholders discover a proposal to open up a corner of the electorate to coal mining, as debate over the future of coal remains front and centre of the local by-election.

 

Shenhua set to walk away from Watermark coal mine with taxpayer payout

The Berejiklian government plans to buy out the remaining licence for a proposed coal mine planned for rich farmland on the Liverpool Plains, ending a 13-year-long saga.

 

Call for pantomime of coal politics to end in Upper Hunter

There is much at stake at the Upper Hunter May 22 byelection with locals wanting “real talk” about what to do once coal is no longer king.

 

Government sticks with option to build Hunter gas-fired plant [$]

The federal government could still build a gas-fired power station in NSW’s Hunter Valley, even if the private sector also agrees to do so.

 

Queensland

QIC’s renewables fund pushed towards a higher bid for Tilt

The QIC-led PowAR has lifted its bid for Tilt Renewables to $NZ8.10 a share ($A7.48).

 

No port access and still no land, either, for $15b rail project

The Queensland Government will not allow land to be resumed for the $15 billion Inland Rail project until it has received certain assurances.

 

Queensland company swallows rival to create $4b lithium producer

Brisbane-based Orocobre will buy all the shares in Perth’s $1.8 billion Galaxy Resources to become a top-five global lithium producer with a market value of $4 billion.

 

Qld mining jobs won’t go under Labor, says Albanese

In a bid to win back Queensland blue-collar workers, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese is making big promises when it comes to local mining jobs.

 

South Australia

SA hydrogen device aiming to reduce truck emissions

An Adelaide council’s garbage truck is among a small fleet of rubbish and recycling vehicles across the country to be fitted with a South Australian hydrogen device designed to save fuel and reduce emissions.

 

Morrison’s $1 billion energy deal with South Australia points to futility of gas recovery

Giles Parkinson

Morrison’s latest energy deal will deliver gas that South Australia doesn’t need any more, but could hasten shift to renewables in that state.

 

Tasmania

Fight over four-wheel-drive tracks in the Tarkine wages on

The government will ignore a call from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre to keep four-wheel-drive tracks in the Tarkine region closed.

 

Wilderness guides call for overhaul of tourism EOI process

Media release – Tasmanian Wilderness Guides Association

As the backbone of Tasmania’s nature tourism industry, the Tasmanian Wilderness Guides Association is calling for an overhaul of the assessment and approval process for tourism developments in national parks and reserves.

 

Into the wilds of the Huon Valley to track and trap the mysterious Tasmanian devil

First Dog on the Moon

You may think devils will go to great lengths to kill you but put one in a sack and in all seriousness, it will wait patiently for you to poke at it

 

Northern Territory

Record $44m mining plan: NT Govt wants five key projects up and running in five years

The NT government wants to get at least five major mining projects up and running in the Territory over the next five years and is expected to announce record funding today to make it happen.

 

Western Australia

French giant Total Eren signs on to massive 8GW green hydrogen project in WA

Total Eren to collaborate with ASX listed Province Resources on the development of a huge wind, solar and green hydrogen project in Western Australia.

 

Sustainability

Environment protest being criminalised around world, say experts

More than 400 climate scientists sign letter that says activists are being targeted at pivotal time in fight against global heating

 

Coal financing costs surge as investors opt for renewable energy

Study finds returns must repay four times the payoff from clean energy investment to justify escalating risk

 

Poland nationalises coalmines as climate pressure rises [$]

Investor aversion, a doubling in the cost of EU carbon permits and Joe Biden’s imminent environment summit have forced fossil fuel-dependent Poland into action.

 

Gas is the new coal, with risk of $135b in stranded assets [$]

Natural gas is falling out of favour with emissions-wary investors and utilities at a quicker pace than coal did, catching some power generators unaware and potentially leaving them stuck with billions of dollars of assets they cannot sell.

 

Chemours says it will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for net zero by 2050

U.S.-based multinational chemical company Chemours says it will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years on a path to effectively eliminating all emissions by mid-century.

 

How often do you really need to clean your house?

Shirin Lakhani, a cleaning expert with Fantastic Services Group, is here to give us the cold, hard truth: probably more often than you think.

 

Earth Day: Amidst the greenwashing, it’s still a good thing

When corporations tout their greenness and journalists get beaten senseless by lame ideas.

 

China must wean itself off coal to meet climate goal [$]

Michael Smith

A US-China co-operation pledge on the environment has reaffirmed faith in Xi Jinping’s 2060 carbon neutrality target, but reducing the country’s reliance on coal remains a hurdle.

 

COVID-19 cost more in 2020 than the world’s combined natural disasters in any of the past 20 years

Ilan Noy, Nguyen Doan

What have we lost because of the pandemic? According to our calculations, a lot — and many of the worst hit countries and regions are far from world media attention.

 

As scientists move closer to making part human, part animal organisms, what are the concerns?

Megan Munsie and Julian Koplin

The recent announcement that scientists have made human-monkey embryos and cultured them in the lab for two weeks made international headlines.

 

Oil companies don’t deserve reparations for fossil fuel bans. They’ll still want them

Nicolás M Perrone

Energy conglomerates have recourse to special courts and legal regimes that they helped design – and they won’t go down without a fight

 

Nature Conservation

There’s a booming business in America’s forests. Some aren’t happy about it

The fuel pellet industry is thriving. Supporters see it as a climate-friendly source of rural jobs. For others, it’s a polluter and destroyer of nature.

 

Ecotourism could help the ‘Amazon of North America’ recover. Here’s how.

Louisiana’s wetlands are being lost to sea level rise, leaving eerie “ghost forests.” Where does ecotourism fit into the recovery plan?

 

Human land-use and climate change will have significant impact on animal genetic diversity

Researchers have made the first ever global assessment map of how future climate and land-use change impacts genetic diversity in mammals. The researchers hope the map will assist policy makers in prioritizing which areas should be preserved first.

 

Mountain high: Andean forests have high potential to store carbon under climate change

The Andes Mountains in South America are the world’s longest mountain range and a hotspot of biodiversity. But the forest that climbs up this mountain range provides another important service to humanity. Andean forests are helping to protect the planet by acting as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide and keeping some of this climate-altering gas out of circulation, according to new research.

 

Northern Red Sea corals live close to the threshold of resistance to cold temperatures

Though these corals can tolerate very high temperatures, a new study reveals that even a slight cold spell can cause bleaching

 

Who is selling and trafficking Africa’s wild meat?

A new study classifies different types of wildlife traffickers and sellers in two of Central Africa’s growing urban centers, providing new insight into the poorly understood urban illegal wildlife trade.



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