Post of the Day
The climate crisis solutions we need are already here
Steve Trent
The technologies required for a transition to a sustainable world are already known, and new, profit-making tech is not necessary. What is needed is a profound shift in political will and a framework of environmental justice.
On This Day
Ascension Day – Western Christianity
Eid al-Fitr – Islam
Climate Change
Climate emissions shrinking the stratosphere, scientists reveal
Thinning indicates profound impact of humans and could affect satellites and GPS
One in four cities cannot afford climate crisis protection measures – study
Survey of 800 cities around world finds almost 43% do not even have plan to adapt to impacts of global heating
The climate crisis solutions we need are already here
Steve Trent
The technologies required for a transition to a sustainable world are already known, and new, profit-making tech is not necessary. What is needed is a profound shift in political will and a framework of environmental justice.
National
After the destruction of Juukan Gorge, Indigenous heritage protection gets $500k in budget
The government’s federal budget commitment of $500,000 towards improving cultural heritage protection is likely to raise questions over whether it is sufficient to address the concerns raised by Indigenous groups.
“They’re going broke”, ESB chair says coal plant closures now unavoidable
ESB chair says not to worry about when coal plants might close, because they’re already going broke.
More solar price falls will lead to “insanely cheap” electricity by 2023
Solar photovoltaic pioneer Professor Martin Green says solar module prices will continue to plummet, reaching 10 US cents per watt by 2023.
Australia officially met renewable target in January, despite big project delays
Clean Energy Regulator officially declares that the RET is met, as new wind and solar delivered more than 33,000GWh in the 12 months to late January.
Turnbull dismisses fossil hydrogen as “delay tactic” by coal and gas industry
Turnbull dismisses fossil fuel hydrogen and carbon capture and storage and laments lack of any new major clean energy projects in Morrison budget.
‘Like fixing a bullet wound with a bandaid’: Environment left high and dry in budget
The environment has emerged as one of the biggest losers of this year’s budget
The Morrison government prefers a gas-fired recovery to a green one and has offered no new support for renewable energy or electric vehicles
Oil and gas industry fights Morrison government levy of up to $1bn to decommission rig
Federal budget revealed plans to levy industry to decommission Northern Endeavour in the Timor Sea and remediate associated oilfields
Turnbull says ‘right wing craziness’ drives the government on climate
Malcolm Turnbull joins a chorus of clean energy supporters disappointed in the federal government, saying only the “implausible” threat of Labor will shift it.
Cops eject green activists from Parli protest [$]
Extinction Rebellion activists have protested the 2021 budget in a peculiar way.
The don’t-mention-climate budget delivers on its goal
Ketan Joshi
The single most definitive driving force behind Scott Morrison’s climate policy has been avoiding talking about climate policy.
Pay dirt: $200 million plan for Australia’s degraded soil is a crucial turning point
Vanessa Wong and Luke Mosley
The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the air we breathe, the water we drink – it’s all underpinned by healthy and productive soils. Since Europeans arrived in Australia, the continent’s soil has steadily been degraded. Yet, until now, we’ve lacked an integrated national approach to managing this valuable and finite resource.
To power to our emissions target, we must double our energy research
Luke Heeney and Daniel D’Hotman
If Australia doesn’t increase its ambition on tackling climate change soon, we will feel the heat diplomatically, economically and physically.
Morrison government spends on adapting to climate change rather than taking action to fight it [$]
Bernard Keane
The government has all but ignored climate action in the budget, preferring to fund fossil fuel projects and peddle the idea of ‘adaptation’ to climate change.
To power to our emissions target, we must double our energy research
Luke Heeney and Daniel D’Hotman
If Australia doesn’t increase its ambition on tackling climate change soon, we will feel the heat diplomatically, economically and physically.
The 50 beautiful Australian plants at greatest risk of extinction — and how to save them
Jennifer Silcock et al
As far as odds go, things don’t look promising for the slender-nerved acacia (Acacia leptoneura), a spiky plant with classic yellow-ball wattle flowers. With most of its habitat in Western Australia’s wheat belt cleared for agriculture, it was considered extinct for more than 160 years.
New South Wales
Footage shows the full extent of the mice plague crisis
A disturbing video posted online shows hundreds of mice apparently raining from the sky in central west NSW as farmers plead for more government support to battle their escalating mouse plague.
NSW green hydrogen industry could surpass value of coal industry, Kean says
NSW energy minister Matt Kean says the state has no option but to produce green hydrogen, but it will lead to a more prosperous economy.
‘Water thieves’ face multimillion-dollar fine for taking 1200 megalitres
The case includes 43 charges, which each attract maximum penalties of $1-2 million, making it the biggest prosecution issued by the national resources watchdog since it was established three years ago.
Coalition’s EV power plays amp up ahead of crucial vote
As the Nationals try to cling on to a marginal electorate where coal is king, there’s frustration with their Coalition partners for focusing on “city-centric” issues like electric vehicles.
Councils left begging for funding to protect their coasts
The NSW government has handed out just over half of a $73 million grants program for coastline protection over the past five years despite mounting concerns about beach erosion.
NSW gas power station in $3.8bn Budget war chest [$]
A new gas power station in the Hunter Valley would be funded by the federal government through a $3.8 billion war chest side aside in the Budget.
The NSW tips full of junked solar panels [$]
Junked home solar panels are creating a massive waste problem, with decommissioned pieces in NSW this year alone accounting for up to 3000 tonnes of rubbish.
Snowflake’s Chance in Hell: prospects slim at best for PEP11 gas rig off the coast of Sydney
Luke Stacey
It is embarrassing enough that the government is even considering PEP11, the proposal to drill for gas directly off the coast of Australia’s most populous beaches and wealthiest economic zone. The final decision rests with Resources Minister Keith Pitt.
ACT
Gungahlin land sales drama highlights gap between Labor and Greens [$]
When ACT Greens backbencher Andrew Braddock agreed to support a push from the Gungahlin community to halt land sales in the town centre it set off sirens among Labor members.
Queensland
‘Held to ransom’ over $1.6b roads, rail promise [$]
Just 1 per cent of the promised $1.6 billion spend on Queensland roads and rail will be spent before the next federal election, with the Morrison Government accused of holding the state’s voters to ransom.
South Australia
Whyalla’s cuttlefish win protection from fishers
A fishing ban to be trialled off Point Lowly at Whyalla follows calls from thousands of locals who wanted better protection for the species’ world-renowned breeding aggregation.
Tasmania
Plan for Tamar Valley’s future needed before river is fixed
David Adams
For decades now the main focus on kanamaluka/Tamar river has been how best to clean up the river that is actually an estuary.
Northern Territory
Road to nowhere? Federal budget’s NT spending trick [$]
Not a single cent of over $300m in infrastructure spending in the NT will be spent for at least the next three years, according to Labor.
Please explain: NT Labor slams budget for Kakadu’s missing $216m
Despite promising $216m would be spent on new infrastructure at Kakadu, NT Labor claim the federal government have spent barely any and are demanding to know why.
Western Australia
Commonwealth gifts WA $1 billion for unwanted bypass
A controversial bypass that would bulldoze sensitive wetlands is still attracting funding from the federal government, despite WA re-introducing legislation that will effectively bury plans to build it forever.
First full-scale rare earth refinery proposed for WA
The ASX-listed miner’s proposal to build the nation’s first full-scale rare-earths refinery has gained the support of senior Morrison government ministers.
Shark drumline trial scrapped after just two white pointers caught in two years
A trial of non-lethal drum lines off WA’s south-west coast will come to an end after catching just two white sharks in two years, with the state’s chief scientist saying it did not reduce the risk of attack.
World surfing greats to converge on Rottnest, but could the contest damage the pristine environment?
The juggernaut that is the World Surfing League tour is about to land on WA’s Rottnest Island. But authorities have a challenge: How to hold a major sporting event without harming the A-class nature reserve.
WA’s trying to ensure Juukan Gorge doesn’t happen again but these Aboriginal leaders say they’ve got it wrong
Hannah McGlade
This month marks one year since Rio Tinto blew up 46,000-year-old rock shelters at Juukan Gorge. Now more than ever we should listen to Aboriginal people who want to protect land and culture
Sustainability
For the sake of the planet, it’s time to rethink business travel
Despite its outsize carbon footprint, business travel has been seen as a socially acceptable form of pollution. The pandemic has forced a reckoning.
The business case for car-free streets
Yelp data shows greater consumer interest at restaurants on pedestrian-friendly “slow streets” that limited vehicle traffic during the pandemic.
Bill to give financial break to Texas nuclear waste company blocked
Opponents said the legislation wasn’t strong enough to stop highly radioactive materials from coming to Texas and instead amounted to a financial giveaway to a West Texas nuclear waste company.
IEA upgrades wind and solar forecasts again, as record 2020 becomes new normal
A new report from the IEA shows that for 2020 renewable energy saw its largest growth since 1999, and is set to hold that growth for at least two years.
Dartmouth engineering study shows renewable energy will enhance power grid’s resilience
A new Dartmouth Engineering study shows that integrating renewable energy into the American Electric Power System (AEPS) would enhance the grid’s resilience, meaning a highly resilient and decarbonized energy system is possible. The researchers’ analysis is based upon the incremental incorporation of architectural changes that would be required to integrate renewable energy into AEPS.
Tanzanian farmers boost diets with sustainable methods
Diversity of children’s diets and food security improved for households after Tanzanian farmers learned about sustainable crop-growing methods, gender equity, nutrition and climate change from peer mentors.
Defining climate-smart pathways towards tree crop yield intensification
A global team of researchers recently released the results of a ‘data-rich’ modeling approach designed to illustrate a range of what-if scenarios for future oil palm plantation development in Indonesia. The study provides new insight into crop production strategies available to an industry facing increasing scrutiny.
Chemical giants hid dangers of ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging
DuPont and Daikin, manufacturers of ‘short chain’ PFAS, did not inform regulator about the FDA negative results of tests on animals
Hantavirus study shows restoring forests can reduce zoonotic disease risk
Hantavirus, spresd by contact with infected rodents, can become more prevalent across a landscape when forests are cleared and rodent populations increase.
Coral reef restorations can be optimized to reduce flood risk
A new study sets out guidelines to maximize the benefits of reef restoration, not only for the coral ecosystem, but also to protect local communities from coastal flooding. Researchers simulated waves travelling over different reef profiles at various stages of restoration and found that to reduce the risk of flooding, the upper fore reef and middle reef flat, typically characterized by physically-robust coral species, should be targeted for restoration.
Huge marine parks off Christmas and Cocos islands targets illegal foreign fishing
Morrison government will spend $5.4m creating parks in an area more than twice the size of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Study examining biodiversity loss calls for urgent global economy ‘rethink’
New research examining the major causes of the world’s biodiversity loss calls for an urgent and profound re-organisation of the global post-pandemic economy to prevent further planetary harm. Existing trade rules, economic policies, debt loads, subsidies, and tax loopholes, as well as a long-standing failure by rich countries to meet spending commitments, are not only undermining efforts to conserve biodiversity, but are fundamental drivers of ecological damage, the report outlines.
‘Love our bogs’: UK should harness all its landscapes in fight for climate – report
First complete assessment of how UK nature-based solutions can combat the climate and biodiversity crises released ahead of crucial environment summits
Isabel Castro
Like many endangered species, Aotearoa’s flightless and nocturnal kiwi survive only in small, fragmented and isolated populations. This leads to inbreeding and, eventually, inbreeding depression — reduced survival and fertility of offspring.
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