Post of the Day
Pandemic and digitalization set stage for revival of a cast-off idea: Personal carbon allowances
Researchers say the time may be right for many industrialized nations to resurrect an idea once thought to be unfeasible: personal carbon allowances (PCAs). The concept, they report, has stronger possibilities due to a worsening climate crisis, changes in personal behavior due to the COVID-19 crisis and advances in artificial intelligence and information and communications technologies.
On This Day
Climate Change
COP26 President visits India ahead of landmark climate summit
COP26 President Alok Sharma has arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit (16 to 18 August) for discussions with senior Indian ministers and leaders from industry and civil society, on the vital role India has in helping to make sure the climate change summit is a success.
The ultimate shutdown: what if we could avoid climate crisis by sleeping for a year?
When playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer imagined a worldwide circuit breaker for the climate in 2019, he wasn’t expecting it to hit so close to home
‘Paralysis by analysis’: Financial sector focused on climate data instead of action, report says
Analysis finds focus on stress tests and modelling impact of most extreme scenarios leaves sector blind to real risks
Country that could vanish from the map as sea levels rise
Often the distance from one coast of Tuvalu to the other is just a few metres with the waves of the ocean always in earshot.
How to tell your child about the end of the world
We can still avoid total catastrophe. But eventually kids will realize that we’re not on course to do that.
A climate scientist offers us hope – 7am podcast
Australian scientist Joëlle Gergis was one of the lead authors on a landmark climate report by the IPCC. The report has been described as “code red” for humanity, a desperate attempt by the world’s best climate scientists to force political leaders to take action and stop runaway climate change. Today, Joëlle Gergis explains the science behind it, what it tells us about the future of our planet, and how we can all maintain some hope.
Parts of the US are getting dangerously hot. Yet Americans are moving the wrong way
David Sirota and Julia Rock
As the climate changes, census data shows that Americans are shifting from safer areas of the US to the regions most at risk of heating and flooding
There’s no end to the damage humans can wreak on the climate. This is how bad it’s likely to get
Andrew King et al
A major new report published last week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) contained grave warnings on where Earth’s climate is headed. So what happens if humanity doesn’t get its act together? How bad could climate change actually get?
National
Charity sector faces new advocacy threat
Charities are deeply concerned by a new government proposal that would force more community groups to register as political campaigners, amid fears this will restrict charitable advocacy at election times.
Steel giant snubs gas on road to net zero, focus on renewables and green hydrogen
Bluescope sets net zero target and says renewables and green hydrogen the key, not gas.
EU carbon border tax is a message to Australia to clean up emissions
Australian exporters are set to be hit with a carbon border tax, with Europe the first domino to fall. Analysis from the Australian Industry Group says producers who don’t clean up will be hit hardest.
Nats bush telegraph in Canavan meltdown
That climate sceptic rogue from Rockhampton, Queensland Liberal National senator Matt Canavan, fired up social media with an attention-grabbing post asking “Does anyone know whether the Taliban will sign up to net zero?”
Woodside-BHP deal would create a climate policy monster [$]
Bernard Keane
A possible tie-up between Woodside and BHP’s fossil fuel assets would create a massive fossil fuel giant with even greater power to dictate climate policy to both sides of politics.
After the IPCC report, some recalibrating
Peter Boyer
The prime minister and his deputy are now wrestling with the implications of an unfolding climate emergency. This is not going to be easy for them.
Resources industry must clean up its act or get out of the way [$]
Michael Allen
As someone who has worked in the resources industry for three decades, much of it as a chief financial officer for major mining companies, it has been frustrating over the past week to see how the oil and gas industry has tried to position itself as part of the solution to lowering emissions and tackling climate change – rather than acknowledging it is a large part of the problem.
BHP-Woodside petrol deal makes sense in the long term [$]
Glenda Korporaal
The potential $20bn deal for Australia’s largest oil and gas producer, Woodside, to buy BHP’s petroleum division makes sense for both companies over the long term.
Delicious Produce Awards: Seaweed solution to farting cattle [$]
John Lethlean
The belching and farting of ruminants – cattle, mostly – is no laughing matter. Their methane emissions are contributing significantly to global warming.
The day wind and solar nearly met 100 per cent of demand in Victoria
How urgent is the need to prepare Australia’s grids to accommodate 100 per cent renewables? Ask Victoria.
High-risk bushfire days in Victoria could triple by end of the century, CFA finds
New climate research by the CFA shows the grain-growing areas of north-west Victoria will experience the greatest increase in extreme-risk bushfire days by century’s end, with others seeing a tripling of risky days.
Coalition pushes for more scrutiny of Victoria’s major transport projects
Victoria’s major transport projects may soon be scrutinised by a powerful new committee that would be able to compel witnesses and the inspection of documents related to the government’s multibillion-dollar infrastructure pipeline.
New South Wales
New signage at Goonengerry to save koalas
There are speed zones in school areas and now there’s a koala zone on Mafeking Road at Goonengerry with the key message to drivers being to slow down.
NSW environment minister urges voters worried about climate crisis to ‘send a message’ at ballot box
In pointed reference to federal colleagues, Liberal Matt Kean says it’s a ‘cop-out’ for politicians to say it’s up to others to fix the problem
Back-to-back mouse plagues could hit NSW [$]
Fears are growing that NSW’s mouse plague – which caused havoc in the state’s regions earlier this year – could return worse than ever.
ACT
Canberra weather warms up as eastern brown snakes come out of brumation
On Thursday, the warmer weather led to the emergence of the first monitored brown snake in Canberra, who was observed basking outside her burrow.
Queensland
Rare marsupial survives fire devastation
Scientists have discovered a surviving population of one of Australia’s rarest mammals, the silver-headed antechinus, in a burnt forest south of Gladstone following fires in 2019.
‘Seven-year witch hunt’: Linc Energy case sensationally dropped [$]
The Crown has dropped its case against four former Linc Energy directors accused of serious environmental breaches.
South Australia
Park lands supporters urge UK body to reject Adelaide ‘National Park City’ bid
City park lands advocates have written to a UK selection body to accuse the State Government of “hyprocrisy”, saying its bid for Adelaide to be globally recognised as a National Park City “cannot be taken seriously” due to ongoing “attacks” on Adelaide’s own surrounding green belt.
Hundreds of trees at playgrounds, ovals are ‘unsafe’ [$]
Hundreds of trees around ovals, sport courts and playgrounds in the Adelaide Hills are dangerous, and must be pruned or come down.
Tasmania
Planning tribunal hearings start on rail trail development in North-East Tasmania
Contamination from old materials raised at rail trail tribunal hearing
The issue of leeching from contaminated materials to be used in the construction of a planned section of the North-East rail trail has been raised at a planning tribunal hearing over the project.
Circular Head Council must act as planning authority first, says Mayor
Wind farm development concerns remain on the minds of Circular Head residents ahead of the upcoming council meeting this Thursday, withopposition groups submitting questions on the developments at Robbins Island and Stanley for consideration.
‘JBS will struggle’ to take control of Huon Aquaculture claims Tassal buyer
A Melbourne banker who bought Tassal out of receivership nearly two decades ago says JBS ‘will struggle’ to take control of Huon Aquaculture as the international meat giant faces questions in the US over its business buy up and market tactics.
Call for Federal scrutiny of cable car
Media release – BirdLife Tasmania
BirdLife Tasmania today called on the kunanyi/Mount Wellington Cable Car proponents to submit their proposal to the Federal Government for assessment under the EPBC Act – as they have promised.
Northern Territory
Fire crews bring Lake Bennett blaze under control as bushfire conditions threaten across NT
Northern Territory firefighters have managed to contain a bushfire that has been burning at Lake Bennett amid ‘unpredictable’ conditions — with the watch and act alert now downgraded to advice.
Western Australia
WA’s electric vehicle future taking shape [$]
Australia’s longest ‘electric highway’ will be fully operational in WA by 2024, with the location of 45 electric vehicle charging stations unveiled.
Bendy, lightweight organic solar cells could be fast-tracked by new research
A breakthrough in the development of organic solar cells could deliver a much-needed boost in efficiency and get them further along the road to commercialisation.
Study finds blue hydrogen worse for climate than burning coal or gas
Blue hydrogen is often touted as a low-carbon fuel, but new report by Cornell and Stanford researchers shows it is likely much worse for the climate.
Pollution turns Paraguayan waters pink
Paraguay’s Environment Minister has blocked the operations of a tannery in the city of Paraguari after waste from the facility allegedly turned local waters an illuminous pink colour, causing consternation among locals.
Solar high rollers: Reasons to be cheerful
Cheer up. Here are 10 examples of how solar power can move us closer to achieving global net-zero goals.
Your compostable plastic cups aren’t a cure-all
Compostable ‘plastic’ cups can seem too good to be true, and in many instances they are. But it’s probably not for the reasons you think.
Firms line up ‘green’ ammonia for fertilizer and future fuel
A number of firms are attempting to reduce the environmental effects of ammonia production, which is responsible approximately 1.8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Covid-19 temporarily upended how people use city streets. Courtney Cobbs says climate change and environmental justice demand more permanent changes to our transportation infrastructure.
Hawaiians look to tradition to cope with climate change
Environmentalists say reviving traditional values can reduce the damage by limiting coastal erosion, reversing the rising acidity of coastal waters and lessening flooding from intense storms.
Ban all plastic cutlery by 2025, green groups urge, calling for Hong Kong to speed up legislation
3h
An investigation by 10 environmental organisations shows that only 48 per cent of 500 million pieces of disposable plastic tableware from Hong Kong’s four major fast-food chains is covered by the plastics ban.
Toxic metals are seeping into our bones, and modern tech may be making it worse
Researchers in Israel have discovered lead contamination in the bones of humans as far back as 12,000 years ago. They warn that modern technology may only make the problem worse.
Pandemic and digitalization set stage for revival of a cast-off idea: Personal carbon allowances
Researchers say the time may be right for many industrialized nations to resurrect an idea once thought to be unfeasible: personal carbon allowances (PCAs). The concept, they report, has stronger possibilities due to a worsening climate crisis, changes in personal behavior due to the COVID-19 crisis and advances in artificial intelligence and information and communications technologies.
Cities are making mammals bigger
While climate change is causing some animals to shrink, a new study shows urbanization is causing many mammal species to grow both bigger and longer, possibly because of readily available food in places packed with people.
Pollinators: First global risk index for species declines and effects on humanity
Disappearing habitats and use of pesticides are driving the loss of pollinator species around the world, posing a threat to ‘ecosystem services’ that provide food and wellbeing to many millions – particularly in the Global South – as well as billions of dollars in crop productivity.
Forget massive seawalls, coastal wetlands offer the best storm protection money can buy
Robert Costanza
Coastal communities around the world are facing increasing threats from tropical cyclones. Climate change is causing rising sea levels and bigger, more frequent storms.
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