Post of the Day
Are chemicals shrinking your penis and depleting your sperm? Here’s what the evidence really says
Tim Moss
A doomsday scenario of an end to human sperm production has been back in the news recently, now with the added threat of shrinking penises.
On This Day
Saint Florian Day – Austria
Ecological observance
Bird Day – USA
International Respect for Chickens Day
Climate Change
Receding glaciers causing rivers to suddenly disappear
Global phenomenon known as river piracy demands urgent adaptation from ecosystems and people who rely on their flow
Human behavior must be factored into climate change analyses
A new Cornell University-led study examines how temperature affects fishing behavior and catches among inland fisher households in Cambodia, with important implications for understanding climate change.
National
Morrison government confirms clash with AEMO over “gas recovery” assumptions
Morrison government confirms it clashed with AEMO over gas price assumptions.
Westpac takes ‘small first step’ towards oil and gas divestment
Westpac has told oil and gas producers it will no longer accept them as new customers unless they have clear strategies aligning them with the Paris goals.
Labor probes Snowy Hydro gas plant land deal with Liberal party donor
Officials deflect questions on land deal for proposed Snowy Hydro gas plant, with the Kurri Kurri block owned by Liberal party donor Jeff McCloy.
‘Tsunami’ of renewables to sweep gas and coal out of market, and drive prices lower
‘Tsunami’ of new renewables to supply majority of electricity in Australia’s main grid by 2030, as market share of coal and gas collapses, Reputex predicts.
PM announces $370m biosecurity boost at Beef Australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison uses a trip to Beef Australia 2021 to announce biosecurity funding ahead of the Budget.
Energy Ministers agree to gas pipeline reforms
A major package of reforms to natural gas pipeline regulation that are expected to reduce costs of transportation and delivered gas, improve access to pipelines, and facilitate more effective competition in the gas market has been agreed by Energy Ministers.
Frydenberg’s proposed crackdown on proxy advisers dismissed as ‘Trumpian brainfart’
Treasurer’s attack on sector comes after investor group said it would advise members to vote against directors who fail to tackle climate crisis
Population of Australia’s only unique seal has fallen by 60%, study finds
Chemicals, rising sea levels and fishing practices possible causes for decline in number of endangered Australian sea lions
State action alone could lead to nation hitting emissions targets
Even if the federal government takes no action, the states’ own efforts to reduce climate change would enable Australia to meet current emission reduction targets.
Frog ‘love songs’ reveal a sad tale of amphibian decline
Who cares about the fate of Australia’s 243 known frog species? It turns out that many thousands of us do.
ALDI wants zero food waste to landfill by 2023 followed by zero waste to landfill by 2025
ALDI executive Adrian Christie is confident the company’s four stores in Albury-Wodonga on the NSW-Victorian border will help it reach a shorter term goal of sending zero food waste sent to landfill by 2023.
Funding plan ready to build gas-fired power station [$]
Provision will be made in next week’s budget for the construction of the fossil-fuel plant in NSW, amid a growing view the project will go ahead.
Green-tinged miners say it’s too early to dump diesel rebate billions [$]
Experiments with hydrogen and battery-powered trucks are gathering pace, but big miners say it is too early to cancel their tax rebate on diesel consumption.
Coal miner warns Asian lenders won’t fill the void if local banks exit [$]
A major Australian coal miner has warned that Asian banks won’t bankroll the industry if Australian banks withdraw from coal lending entirely.
NSW and Qld won’t follow Victoria’s tougher emissions cuts [$]
Victoria will go it alone on its 45 to 50 per cent emissions reduction targets by 2030, with NSW and Queensland saying they won’t follow its lead.
Malcolm Turnbull ‘took climate policy off the table’, say Nationals [$]
Nationals MPs have declared that Malcolm Turnbull agreed to effectively put Coalition “climate change policies off the table” and had gripped on to coal when it was necessary for him to become prime minister and hold on to power.
States of disarray: Australia needs a national climate plan
Tony Wood
States are forging ahead on climate action, but Australia needs a national strategy to reduce emissions at lowest cost over coming decades.
There’s a key element missing from the debate about Australia’s journey to net-zero emissions
Lynne Gallagher
Everyday Australians are being left out of the conversation.
Why ‘McMansion’ is no longer a derogatory term [$]
Jennifer Hewett
Lifestyle tastes have changed. Now no house in Australia can be considered too large no matter how many bedrooms on whatever size block it is.
Counting cost of renewable power [$]
Australian editorial
Anybody who doubts the scale and pace of efforts to decarbonise Australia’s electricity sector to act on climate change need look no further than the Energy Security Board’s latest report on reforming the national grid
Victoria
Running the numbers on Victoria’s climate plan – the leader in state climate action
Victoria has raised its climate ambition – but has it raised it far enough? There seems to be plenty of low hanging fruit left strangely unpicked.
Pressure on Victoria’s coal power is both economic and policy-driven, analysts say
Analysts say more coal-fired power plant closures are likely after the Victorian Government announced its plan to halve emissions by the end of the decade.
Australian Retailers Association welcomes Victorian Government’s pledge on greenhouse gas emissions
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement that it aims to cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45-50% by the end of the decade.
Victoria’s carbon target sparks war of words [$]
The state’s emissions target has sparked fears for jobs and power costs, triggering a war of words with the Morrison government.
New climate change strategy for Victoria
Victorian Government media release
The Victorian Government has unveiled its Climate Change Strategy and interim targets, to keep Victoria on track to meet the target of net zero emissions by 2050, while also seizing the opportunities of climate action – advancing technology, investing in new industries and creating Victorian jobs.
New South Wales
Wahluu women’s site to be protected, says federal environment minister
The sacred women’s site was under threat from a proposed expansion of a neighbouring go-kart track.
‘Ambitious’ plan to build Australia’s longest road tunnel revealed
The Blue Mountains could become home to Australia’s longest road tunnel, as part of an “ambitious” proposal for the Great Western Highway upgrade. But some locals fear the plan will make traffic worse.
It has been years since anyone spotted this Australian butterfly. Now scientists fear no-one will
Australian fritillary butterflies are very secretive things. But that may not be the only reason why these relatively large and eye-catching invertebrates have not been seen for many years.
‘Dizzy’: Sydney Harbour bike plans mocked
Several proposals have been drawn up for an addition to the Harbour Bridge, but one of the plans has been slammed on social media.
Bill shock avoided as NSW gets new gas plant [$]
A new gas power plant will be built in NSW with $83 million of public money, the state’s first in more than a decade.
Taps to be replaced as lead limit in water slashed [$]
Lead, which is terrible for adults and worse for kids, is finally about to be reduced in tap water we drink, in a move said to be worth $2 billion.
Port of Newcastle loan tied to green targets [$]
The Port of Newcastle will be required to meet world-first social and green targets — including lowering emissions and screening suppliers for slavery — to ensure its long-term viability under a $666m loan facility.
Harbour Bridge ramps are a short-term fix for a long-term problem, time for a bolder plan
Jilly Gibson
The proposed ramp designs will connect to the existing Bridge cycleway that is substandard now and unfit for any real growth.
ACT
Could making public transport free get more Canberrans on board?
The ACT government wants more Canberrans back on public transport. But what’s the best way to encourage users to make the switch from car to bus or light rail?
Canberra Tree Week: National Arboretum shows Our Forest in Focus exhibition
From suburban streets to national parks, the region’s most magnificent maples, prized pines and glorious gums have been captured in a photography exhibition on show at the Arboretum.
Liberals blast ACT government transport plan as ‘ludicrous’ [$]
The ACT opposition has blasted the territory government’s plans to encourage employers to adopt more flexible working hours in order to help ease peak-hour demands on the public transport system.
French nuclear giant EDF unveils first wind and battery project in Australia
French nuclear giant EDF buys 280MW wind project in central Queensland, the first of a major pipeline of wind, solar and storage projects in Australia.
Raw sewage at the Lake Placid Tourist Park [$]
Father of 3 Chris Barry claims he was evicted from the Lake Placid Tourist Park after notifying management of raw sewage flowing up from the …
South Australia
Deadline looms on $2.33bn power interconnector [$]
After years of talking about it, a deadline looms on the decision to build a $2.33bn interconnector between SA and NSW.
Takeover bid lobbed for Kangaroo Island timber company [$]
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber has received a takeover bid for the company, just weeks after an offer was made to buy its land.
Why don’t we make more of the Torrens? [$]
Caleb Bond.
We needs to turn the boring River Torrens into a destination. If Melbourne can do it with the dirty old Yarra, it can be done here.
Have the Greens taken over the progressive mantle from Labor?
Peter Boyer
Peter Gutwein’s win on Saturday is only part of the story of a fascinating election.
Tasmania
Little bird flies back from the brink [$]
Five years ago, biologists were left watching as a critically endangered parrot was “going extinct right in front of us”, but now those same scientists are grinning from ear to ear.
Sustainability
US EPA moves to restrict powerful planet-heating gases in air conditioners and fridges
Environmental Protection Agency proposes rule to cut production and import of HFCs in the US by 85% over the next 15 years
Air pollution spikes may impair older men’s thinking, study finds
Even short, temporary increases in airborne particles can damage brain health, research suggests
GM grass cleanses soil of toxic pollutants left by military explosives, new study shows
Genetically modified grass cleanses soil of toxic pollutants left by military explosives, new research shows
Equipping crop plants for climate change
Biologists have significantly enhanced the tolerance of blue-green algae to high light levels — with the aid of artificial evolution in the laboratory.
Will your future clothes be made of algae?
For the first time, researchers have used 3D printers and a novel bioprinting technique to print algae into living, photosynthetic materials that are tough and resilient.
Applying UV light to common disinfectants makes them safer to use, study finds
Over 400 common disinfectants currently in use could be made safer for people and the environment and could better fight the COVID-19 virus with the simple application of UVC light, a new study shows.
Are chemicals shrinking your penis and depleting your sperm? Here’s what the evidence really says
Tim Moss
A doomsday scenario of an end to human sperm production has been back in the news recently, now with the added threat of shrinking penises.
What next for parklets? It doesn’t have to be a permanent switch back to parking
Kim Dovey et al
Outdoor dining on former parking spaces – generally known as parklets – has proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Bank and Republic of Congo sign agreement to reduce carbon emissions and preserve forests
The US$41.8 million agreement will help diversify economic growth while reducing pressures on forests
New research shows long-term recovery possible for areas impacted by seagrass die-off
A new study finds nearly 10,000 acres of lush seagrass vanished from Florida Bay over 20 years, leading to massive ecological changes in the region near the Florida Keys.
Limited fishing zones support reef conservation
Green (no-take) and yellow (limited take) fishing zones within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park equally support a great diversity of fish species. The new research on yellow zones is crucial for future marine park management.
Bornean rajah scops owl rediscovered after 125 years
First-ever photographs of what may be a distinct species
Less precipitation means less plant diversity
Climate change might lead to changes in plant diversity, especially in the world’s drylands
Reduction in wetland areas will affect Afrotropical migratory waterbirds
Study points to need for an integrated approach to fighting impacts of climate change
‘Reconnect with nature’ by all means – but don’t forget its lethal power
Julian Sheather
The natural world is a place of both bluebells and deadly viruses. Over-sentimentalising it is dangerous
Humans weren’t to blame for the extinction of prehistoric island-dwelling animals
Julien Louys and Sue O’Connor
From the moas of New Zealand to the dodos of Mauritius, humans have hunted many island-dwelling species to extinction in the relatively recent past. But our research reveals humans haven’t always necessarily been agents of ecosystem destruction.
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