Post of the Day
Third of global food production at risk from climate crisis
Food-growing areas will see drastic changes to rainfall and temperatures if global heating continues at current rate
On This Day
Feast of Saint Isidore – Madrid
Climate Change
AI shows ExxonMobil downplayed its role in climate change
According to a new paper, the company’s own research showed that human activity was a contributor, but public statements suggested otherwise.
The hot debate over solar geoengineering and its impact on climate
In addition to cutting carbon emissions, is it time to study methods for altering the atmosphere? Three experts square off.
Facebook must do more to fight climate change denial, campaigners say
A 40-page study alleges that climate change misinformation is being systemically spread by Facebook. The social media giant denies the claims.
U.S. has entered unprecedented climate territory, EPA warns
On Wednesday, the EPA released a detailed and disturbing account of the startling changes that Earth’s warming had on parts of the United States during Trump’s presidency.
Third of global food production at risk from climate crisis
Food-growing areas will see drastic changes to rainfall and temperatures if global heating continues at current rate
Crying about hamburgers is dead-end on climate crisis, Republicans warned
Congressman Peter Meijer, 33, warns that false claims of a burger ban or blaming immigrants risk losing the young generation
Abandon coal: Britain raises stakes for climate summit [$]
Britain’s call comes as PM Boris Johnson phones Scott Morrison to gee him up for a 2050 net-zero target ahead of a G7 meeting next month.
Ignoring climate change hasn’t made it go away
Eugene Robinson
The facts are terrifying, but acting starts with being honest about what’s happening.
Why the low carbon transition may be much cheaper than models predict
To achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century, global energy systems must undergo a wholesale switch to low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies.
Time to stop flirting with ‘blue’ hydrogen and go green, experts say
Research shows that ‘blue’ hydrogen made from fossil fuels doesn’t always mean low emissions, and experts say it’s time to go green.
Australia can’t just “muddle its way through” to 100 per cent renewable energy
An update of the 100 per cent renewable energy scenario, and some “gap analysis” is urgently needed for Australia’s energy transition.
“Only tougher market is the Moon:” Australia’s big battery connection problem
Battery storage is proving difficult for many developers in Australia, so much so that some are saying the only tougher market is the Moon.
After conquering brekkie TV and foodie culture, the Kates’ latest target is climate change
Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney needed a break after Get Krack!n, so they started a soothing new project – a podcast sitcom about Antarctica and the threat of climate change.
Australia’s fossil fuel industry admits it is harder to finance projects as climate concerns grow
Parliamentary inquiry told more than 40 underwriters refused to insure a rail line for the Adani coalmine
Australia’s mouse plague: six months ago it was war, now whole towns have accepted their presence
Farmers and residents in NSW and Queensland are still battling surging rodent numbers but they fear the ordeal will stretch on for months
Council pushes Canberra to get serious about electric vehicles
Australia’s largest local council is pushing the Morrison Government to ensure all new buildings are equipped with electric vehicle charging stations as part of the transition away from petrol-driven transport.
As the US and EU get on with green recovery, Australia has missed a huge opportunity
Bill Hare
The volume of funds being put forward in the federal budget is staggeringly low and can only be seen as window dressing
Banks’ climate push is more than just hot air
Clancy Yeates
Australia’s banks were slow off the mark in responding to climate risk, but recent trends on fossil fuel lending are heading in the right direction.
Budget deficit [$]
Saturday Paper editorial
Josh Frydenberg mentioned climate change once in his budget speech. “Australia is playing its part on climate change, having met our 2020 commitments and on track to meet and beat our 2030 target,” he said, echoing the prime minister’s tired slogan. But the treasurer offered nothing to support this statement.
Victoria
New prisons or looser bail laws? Labor’s unpalatable choice
Confidential high-level government documents forecast that under existing policies the prison system would be over-capacity by 2024.
Toxic soil dump site approved [$]
All three dump sites have been ticked off by the EPA in a win for the stalled project. But are the constant delays over?
Potato farmers face off with energy giant [$]
Why Victorian farmers and food giant McCain fear Ausnet’s proposed mega powerline will jeopardise their crops.
New South Wales
NSW irrigators face fines totalling millions over alleged water theft
The NSW water regulator alleges “willful and reckless” water theft by irrigators.
‘All about evolution’: Here’s what to do with a dead power station
Wallerawang near Lithgow on the western edge of the Blue Mountains is home to a defunct power plant that may have lessons for the fleet of shutdowns yet to come.
Hotly contested NSW byelection comes amid growing doubts about the economic viability of the industry and the future of the region
ACT
Evoenergy price rise approved by regulator [$]
Canberra electricity prices will rise by almost $250 a year from July 1, after the Australian Energy Regulator formally approved a proposed price hike by Evoenergy.
Plans for big solar thermal micro-grid at Mt Isa gain momentum
Plans to power to remote Queensland mining hub with a mix of concentrated solar thermal, solar PV, gas and battery storage advance with call for contractors.
Dingo-proof fence plan to reduce Fraser attacks [$]
Almost seven kilometres of fencing will be installed at a key location on Fraser Island, at a cost of millions, in a bid to reduce interactions between the dingoes and tourists.
Bulldozers, resorts and hunting: Secret Stradbroke Island deal bombshell [$]
A sensational secret agreement that triggered decade of division and anger has revealed clearing and development of protected bushland was approved on Stradbroke Island.
Look, no gas! South Australia to build country’s first all-electric hospital
South Australia says new women’s and children’s hospital in Adelaide will not be connected to the gas network and won’t use fossil fuels.
Southern Ocean Lodge approved for rebuild, but major hurdles remain
An application to rebuild the Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island is given the green light by the SA government more than a year after the luxury resort was destroyed — but the project still faces major hurdles.
Tropic wonder: The garden that wouldn’t die [$]
Ten years ago, heating was switched off in Adelaide’s Bicentennial Conservatory. Many tropical plants weren’t expected to live – but this weekend the survivors will be shown off.
Tasmania
Bob Brown Foundation decries MMG Rosebery’s ‘insane plan’ for 140ha expansion into nearby wilderness
A West Coast mine is looking to shore up its output well into a second century with a proposal to build a new tailings dam with a 140 hectare footprint.
New short film reveals myth of ‘sustainable logging’ in Tarkine
The question of so-called sustainable logging in Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest is set to have global attention as a new short film is released.
Western Australia
Perth is home to Australia’s first ‘holistic’ emergency hospital for native wildlife
The new trauma centre has already saved dozens of critically injured animals that would have otherwise been euthanased.
Sustainability
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.
Driving cars out of our cities
Great cities set the tone for modern living and a new campaign for Car Free Megacities is aiming to improve the music of our urban streets as well as clear their air.
Red meat production has a big impact on air pollution
Feeding the world is a necessity, but the process doesn’t come without health risks – even in the form of air pollution.
Asia is home to 99 of world’s 100 most vulnerable cities
Of the 100 cities worldwide most vulnerable to environmental hazards all but one are in Asia, and 80% are in India or China, according to a risk assessment.
Scientists say this E. coli won’t make you sick and could be good for the planet
Scientists say they have created a possible alternative to plastic using a bacteria better known for turning stomachs. They call it “aquaplastic.”
3 ways to quickly and inexpensively reduce your company’s carbon footprint
Any company can eliminate some carbon emissions in a meaningful and measurable way—and it doesn’t need to be expensive. But you’re going to need to stop air shipping.
176,000,000,000,000,000,000 per second: The reason Elon Musk is moving away from Bitcoin
Elon Musk says Bitcoin is bad for the environment, and some very big numbers are behind it.
New Paris car ban will target through traffic
Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s latest effort to rein in car use and fight pollution would prevent non-residents from driving across the French capital’s historic heart in 2022.
Water firms are main source of microplastics in UK rivers, study says
Water companies are causing high levels of microplastic contamination in UK rivers by discharging untreated sewage and wastewater into the water system, new research reveals.
Canada officially tosses plastic in the ‘toxic’ bin
Plastic is now considered toxic under Canada’s primary environmental law — the Canadian Environmental Protection Act — the Trudeau government announced Wednesday.
The Great Plains prairie needs fire to survive. These ranchers are bringing it back
Regular fires are essential for protecting what remains of the grasslands from a stealthy invader: trees.
Why can’t politicians ride bikes?
Eben Weiss
When it comes to public image for our elected officials, being seen on a bicycle is as fraught as a first dinner with the in-laws.
The future of footwear is circular
Saskia Van Gendt
Rothy’s is working on making its shoes fully circular, but to really effect change, Saskia van Gendt, Rothy’s head of sustainability, writes, the entire footwear industry needs to get on board.
Green mortgages – homes need to catch up to climate change
Adam Tooze
a huge part of the climate problem is generated by us, simply living our daily lives, at home or at work.
Bill McKibben
And do it as quickly as possible.
Nature Conservation
How to poison a feral pig?It’s not easy.
Wild hogs are a scourge, but designing a system targeted to kill only them is a vastly complicated undertaking.
Keeping our lakes clean can help slow climate change
Clean water obviously has its benefits: from providing drinking water, to allowing swimming and fishing recreation and water sport activities. Early studies showed that the cost that it took to preserve and maintain the quality of bodies of water were far more costly than the benefits.
Glyphosate doesn’t just kill plants. It harms beetles, too.
The key ingredient in RoundUp is supposed to only kill plants, but new research suggests it also interrupts a symbiotic relationship in beetles.
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