Green energy exports could be triple the value of fossil fuels, says BZE
New report finds green export industries like renewable hydrogen, green aluminium, and critical minerals, could triple the value of existing fossil fuel exports by 2050.
Today’s Celebration
Simchat Torah – Judaism
Ecological Observance
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
Climate Change
EU lawmakers vote to prolong fossil fuel gas subsidies until 2027
Campaigners voice dismay after rule permitting gas pipelines where energy is mixed with hydrogen
What the fate of ancient cities can teach us about surviving climate change
Why did some ancient Khmer and Mesoamerican cities collapse between 900-1500CE, while their rural surrounds continued to prosper?
‘All we hear is blah blah blah’: Greta Thunberg takes aim at climate platitudes – video
The climate activist Greta Thunberg has taken world leaders to task about their promises to address the climate emergency. In a speech at the Youth4Climate summit, she asked for constructive dialogue and for the media to focus on what politicians do, rather than what they say they are going to do
Hope and courage in the climate crisis
John Wiseman
A new book is a guided tour of ideas to inspire and sustain radical hope and defiant courage in the long climate emergency which now lies before us
Governments still dilly-dallying on climate action [$]
Graham Richardson
Now that we have had a couple of decades to thoroughly debate the issue of climate change, we should have had an understanding around the world about what should be done to combat it.
Three billboards outside Glasgow, Scotland
Rachel Withers
Morrison will be shamed whether he goes to the Glasgow climate conference or not
National
What would a net zero emissions policy mean for agriculture?
As the Coalition debates the idea of a zero carbon emissions policy, what would it mean for a sector that feels let down by the climate debate?
Thinktank wants $259m in royalties directed to coalmining towns as renewables take over
Blueprint Institute report says ‘coal adaption authorities’ would provide income insurance and early retirement packages as fossil fuel demand wanes
‘Tide is shifting’ against Nationals on climate policy
Federal Liberal MPs say the tide is turning against their Nationals colleagues opposed to Scott Morrison’s push for net-zero emissions by 2050.
PM briefs MPs on net zero as Nationals raise new fears
Scott Morrison spoke to Coalition backbenchers on Tuesday ahead of a decision within weeks on whether to endorse the 2050 deadline.
Record thermal coal price adds to global energy crunch [$]
Already reeling from soaring gas and oil prices, buyers of Australian thermal coal are now paying record prices and signs suggest the rally has further to run.
Alex’s energy retailer cut his solar feed-in tariff. Three days later, he bought a $13,000 battery
Australians with rooftop solar are growing increasingly frustrated as energy retailers slash financial incentives. Some households are hitting back by installing batteries, potentially killing the retailer’s own market.
Green energy exports could be triple the value of fossil fuels, says BZE
New report finds green export industries like renewable hydrogen, green aluminium, and critical minerals, could triple the value of existing fossil fuel exports by 2050.
Coalition free-for-all over 2050 target – Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast
In this episode, politics + society Senior Deputy Editor Justin Bergman and Michelle canvass the internal brawling that’s happening – which has included Nationals minister Bridget McKenzie attacking treasurer Josh Frydenberg – as Scott Morrison seeks a deal with Barnaby Joyce for the government to endorse a target of net zero emissions by 2050 for the Glasgow climate conference.
No, the UK’s energy woes have not really been caused by net zero
Bevan Shields
Closed fuel pumps at a petrol station in London on Tuesday.
The crisis gripping Britain consists of three main problems, and two of them have absolutely nothing to do with climate policy.
Nerves of steel: BHP board waits for shareholder vote on emissions
Elizabeth Knight
Of the three large proxy firms that advise BHP’s shareholders, Glass Lewis is the first to have made a call.
Renewable opportunities lost to Coalition’s petty politics [$]
Anthony Albanese
Australia could be a true renewable energy powerhouse, creating jobs and pioneering new technologies as the world moves to a greener future. But the Coalition continue to keep their head in the sand.
Australia will have to go nuclear to keep nuclear subs running
Malcolm Turnbull
Safety and sovereignty dictate that we will need to develop nuclear facilities in Australia to maintain and support these submarines.
Nationals stab Liberals in the front on climate [$]
Jennifer Hewett
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie is deliberately undermining the Liberals’ claim its policies can deliver both emissions reductions and regional jobs.
Morrison needs to go to Glasgow climate summit
Age editorial
If Australia is to show an understanding that climate change is the first-order issue of our time, then Mr Morrison has to be in Glasgow
Labor’s alternative plan for Australia [$]
Anthony Albanese
Australians are sick of fighting. They want outcomes. The guiding principle under a new government is simple – no one held back, no one left behind.
Time to respond to the climate for investment [$]
Travers McLeod and Toby Phillips
While Scott Morrison met with Quad leaders at the White House last week in the wake of the AUKUS announcement, his Treasurer spoke to industry leaders in Australia about another “structural and systemic shift” – climate change.
Matt McDonald
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is reportedly developing a plan for Australia to adopt a target of net-zero emissions by 2050. Climate change was a central focus of the Quad talks in Washington which Morrison attended in recent days, and he is under significant international pressure to adopt a net-zero target ahead of climate talks in Glasgow in November.
National Party’s emission plan: No coal executive left behind
Andrew P Street
The National Party appear to be the only people who think the Morrison Government takes climate seriously and they are not happy.
What will the donors think? Liberal/Labor refuse to act without nod from Big Gas
| September 27, 2021
Labor claims it’s a safety issue, Liberals say it’s a drafting issue. The bigger issue is how both major political parties have capitulated to the oil and gas industry again, this time voting to keep offshore petroleum production data secret
Chinese industry facing power crisis — and Xi’s hostility to Australia is partly to blame [$]
Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane
Chinese industry faces a growing energy shortage, reflecting in part Xi Jinping’s decision to ban Australian coal imports.
Victoria
Authorities grant approval for testing to resume at Australia’s largest Tesla battery project this week, after investigations into a July blaze found the likely cause to be a coolant leak.
Two years after falling from the sky Wandi the dingo is changing attitudes to his species
An award-winning author has turned the tale of the world’s most famous dingo into a children’s book, in the hope of highlighting the plight of the species
New South Wales
NSW sets new 2030 emissions target as federal government remains in net zero deadlock
The NSW Coalition unites to set an ambitious emissions reduction target for 2030 as division grows within its federal counterpart over a target of net zero emissions by 2050.
Strong 2030 target is essential
The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed the NSW Liberal and National Parties’ commitment to cut emissions in half by 2030.
Court ruling to allow housing development will doom Sydney’s koalas, critics say
Environmentalists slam a decision to allow a 1,700-home development in a prime koala habitat.
Koalas, emus and more will be reintroduced to Sydney, thanks to a new national park
Sydney is getting a new national park aimed at recreating what the bush was like more than 200 years ago. The new reserve near Shanes Park in Western Sydney will see the reintroduction of up to 30 locally extinct species, including emus, koalas and eastern quolls.
‘Important UNESCO obligations’: Minister refuses to declare Warragamba wall-raising critical
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has refused to declare the Warragamba Dam wall-raising a critical state project, a classification that would give it effective immunity from legal and regulatory challenges, because it impacts a World Heritage area.
Scientists warn Western Harbour Tunnel could poison iconic Sydney Harbour
Opposition is growing to the New South Wales government’s Western Harbour Tunnel through one of the most toxic sedimentary deposits in Australia.
NSW shows Morrison how to sell net zero emissions to the Nationals
Mike Foley and Nick O’Malley
The NSW Coalition government is racing ahead with ambitious climate commitments, offering a $12 billion sweetener to the bush.
Energy issues the ultimate Rubik’s cube [$]
Telegraph editorial
The decision by the NSW government to halve emissions by 2030 is a big and important one
Queensland
Methane emissions higher than earlier estimates in CSG region
A world-first aerial survey of Queensland’s main coal seam gas region has found methane emissions considerably higher than some previous reports.
Indigenous traditional owners win back Daintree rainforest in historic deal
The world’s oldest rainforest will join landmarks like Uluru and Kakadu, where First Nations people are custodians of world heritage sites
South Australia
Long-running inquest into Aboriginal death in custody hears questions still unanswered
Closing submissions have been made in the coronial inquest into the death of Aboriginal man Wayne Fella Morrison. Despite the inquest spanning three years, questions still remain over Mr Morrison’s final moments.
Five years have passed since the power went out in SA — here’s a look at what’s changed
SA’s infamous statewide blackout triggered recriminations, as well as sweeping and ongoing reforms to the state’s — and the nation’s — approach to energy security. Here’s a look at what has changed.
Five years after blackout, South Australia now only state with zero supply shortfalls
Five years after its blackout, South Australia has the highest share of wind and solar, is the only state without supply shortfalls, and has reduced bills.
Parklands grab begins: Council rejects new WCH carpark [$]
SA Health wants to build the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital carpark on the parklands – but it’s been sent straight back to the drawing board.
The giant question mark over SA’s role in nuclear submarine push
Kevin Naughton
Australia’s nuclear submarine ambition has few knowns and many unknowns – and one of these casts a giant shadow over South Australia’s role. Kevin Naughton analyses the uncertainties and responsibilities that come with owning a set of submarine-encased nuclear reactors and more than 220 tonnes of nuclear waste per boat.
Tasmania
Raising awareness of Tasmania’s unique marine life
A group of passionate Tasmanians are calling for more protection and awareness of the state’s marine environment amid National Biodiversity Month.
New Tasmanian salmon industry plan to be in place by 2023
Government releases timeline for new 10-year salmon industry plan
The government has announced it will release the state’s new 10-year salmon plan near the end of 2022 for commencement the year after.
‘Sooner the better’: Offshore push for Tassie’s fish farms [$]
Tassie’s salmon industry has welcomed plans to help it move into deeper waters, but opponents say it comes too late.
Western Australia
WA power shock from solar surge delayed – for now
The energy sector had previously warned that without urgent action, WA’s power grid could face widespread blackouts from rooftop solar panels forcing the grid to switch off.
Sustainability
Air pollution likely cause of up to 6m premature births, study finds
Global analysis of indoor and outdoor pollution also finds link to low birth weight
Steelmakers forge ahead on cleaning up their notoriously dirty industry
From miners to automakers, steel industry players are starting to come together to make “green steel” the new norm.
Uber and Lyft are hurting, not helping, the climate and society
If you care about livable cities and a livable climate, ride-hailing is not the answer, according to a new study.
Desalination can make saltwater drinkable – but it won’t solve the U.S. water crisis
There’s a water shortage in the Western United States. Right next door, there’s the Pacific Ocean. Why can’t we take some of that big, blue body of water and move it into the increasingly parched territory that borders it?
Five of Europe’s airports are ’emitting more CO2 combined than Sweden’
A tracker documenting the CO2 emissions of airports around the world shows the annual emissions, which are largely tax free, of five of Europe’s biggest airports, amount to more than the annual emissions of Sweden.
Drones may help replant forests—if enough seeds take root
A handful of companies are pursuing airborne seeding, but there’s little evidence so far that the tactic will succeed.
Half of young, American kids have lead in their blood, study finds
More than 50% of the 1.1 million kids younger than 6 that were tested had some level of lead in their blood, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.
Story behind an Italian single-use plastic bottle
Giuseppe Ungherese
While walking on one of the beaches in Brindisi, in Southern Italy, I witnessed a huge amount of plastic waste spread all over the beach: drinking bottles, fishing gear and lots of single-use packaging items.
The energy crisis wreaking havoc across the globe
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Panic buying of petrol in the UK, industry closures and energy subsidies in Europe and street lights being switched off in China are being driven by a global shortfall in gas supply.
Four Pillars: Capital flight from coal [$]
Richard Gluyas
The flight of global capital from the coal industry is accelerating, with the Bank of China faithfully enacting President Xi Jinping’s pledge to the United Nations that China would stop funding coal-fired power plants offshore.
Nature Conservation
New research links tree health to how birds respond to climate change
New research has revealed that shifts in the timing of egg laying by great tits in response to climate change vary markedly between breeding sites within the same woodland and that this variation is linked to the health of nearby oak trees.
Industrial plastic is spilling into Great Lakes, and no one’s regulating it, experts warn
About 10,000 tons of plastic waste are getting into the Great Lakes every year, threatening one of the largest reservoirs of freshwater on the planet that supports nearly 50 million people in Canada and the U.S.
Oregon is burning trees in order to save them
Sudden oak death, rampant in California, is spreading to the north, leaving the forest service with a tough option: Send them up in smoke.
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