Post of the Day
Australia’s $333b pot of gold beyond fossil fuel ‘valley of death’
Australia could reap $333 billion by 2050 from selling green energy overseas, according to a report pressing for rapid action to avoid a “valley of death” in the country’s exports.
Today’s Celebration
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
Higher price for CO2 lowers Europe’s CO2 emissions during the pandemic
Public life and economic activity was reduced to a minimum as part of measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, which changed the demand on the energy market. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions fell sharply to levels never seen before in times of peace. This reduction, however, was not constant in all regions, as CO2 emissions in Europe fell lower than those in other regions on the planet.
Xi’s carbon emission ambition causes massive blackouts in China
While China is attempting to lead the narrative of tackling climate change on the global stage, local manufacturers and residents are crying out on social media as various provinces across the country experience power shortages.
The ground is literally exploding due to climate change in Siberia, and it’s going to get worse
Huge gas explosions are erupting in the icy soils of Siberia, a recent phenomenon that is linked to climate change and has left gaping craters across the landscape.
Earth could be alien to humans by 2500
Unless greenhouse gas emissions drop significantly, warming by 2500 will make the Amazon barren, Iowa tropical and India too hot to live in.
China makes progress in fight against climate change
John Quiggin
The Chinese Government is making progress in achieving a reduction in carbon emissions through its technology and energy sectors.
Climate change is the new Dot-Com bubble
Paul Ford
The free market has plenty of grandiose ideas about how to fix our broken planet. There’s just one problem: We can’t afford another bust.
National
Torres Strait Islanders say: ‘Our Islands, Our Home’
Eight Torres Strait Islander Elders are taking the federal government to the United Nations Human Rights Committee over its inaction on climate change.
Cook up your old food and save the planet
Food waste charity OzHarvest is encouraging Aussies to use up their food to fight climate change
Turnbull challenges Morrison to go to Glasgow: “History is made by those who turn up”
Turnbull says Morrison’s absence from COP26 will send a message about his priorities, slamming the “nonsense of a gas led recovery.”
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.
‘From pit to port’: Will automation tear up the social contract in coal communities?
As coal industry jobs emerge as a defining issue in negotiations over a net zero emissions target, some companies are dreaming up a future of fully automated smart mines.
Aussie comedian receives deluge of donations for world climate conference billboards
Australian comedian Dan Ilic will display billboards in Glasgow during the COP26 climate conference, and after receiving a deluge of donations through his crowdfunding effort intends to do even more.
Australia needs plan to grow timber plantation estate
A landmark new report by Master Builders Australia (MBA) and the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) shows Australia is headed towards a major cliff in timber framing production, concluding we will be 250,000 house frames short by 2035 – the equivalent of the cities of Newcastle and Geelong combined.
Forestry in focus at meeting of ministers
The Morrison Government has welcomed a unified approach from state and territory forestry ministers to work together to grow the forest estate and secure the future of the Australian forestry industry.
Australia’s aid agencies demand more meaningful climate policy
A new paper launched today, ‘A COP fit for children’ – a collaboration by Save the Children, World Vision International, UNICEF, CERI, Plan International, and ChildFund Alliance – sets out the importance of child participation in decisions and summits on climate change, and how the organisers of the UN climate change conference (also known as COP26) and the countries involved in COP can make the climate summit inclusive for all children.
Emission pledges by states put extra pressure on Scott Morrison to lift national climate goals
Experts say state and territory commitments put net zero within reach whereas the federal target is nowhere near it
UK will be ‘very disappointed’ if Scott Morrison not at Cop26 climate talks
High commissioner to Australia calls on PM to give ‘firm commitment’ to net zero emissions by 2050, saying ‘the time is now’ to raise targets
$250m carbon capture boost to help slash emissions [$]
A new $250m Commonwealth government grants scheme aims to drive the development of commercial-scale carbon capture as part of a ‘technology not taxes’ approach to slashing emissions.
Renewables tipped to overtake fossil fuels by 2030
Australia’s clean energy transition is expected to accelerate to the point of having the highest global penetration of renewable energy per-capita by 2030.
Taylor challenges leading economies for more transparency on climate targets
Australia’s Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister will press the world’s leading nations to improve their climate emissions reporting, arguing that all countries need to be held accountable for their targets.
Regional Australians don’t need to be ‘lectured’ on climate change, Nationals MP says
Regional Australia is leading the charge in tackling climate change, according to a Nationals backbencher who says he’s frustrated his party has been portrayed as a “bunch of rednecks” and “dinosaurs” amid the net-zero debate.
Antarctica protection back on agenda [$]
Australia has helped manoeuvre a push for vast marine protected areas in Antarctica back on to the international political agenda.
Coalition candidate in resources seat rejects net-zero emissions target [$]
The Liberal National Party candidate in the battleground rural Queensland electorate of Flynn has rejected the Coalition’s renewed push for a net-zero emissions target.
Increase 2030 emissions target and commit to net-zero: Kerry Schott urges Scott Morrison [$]
The head of the government’s energy advisory body has urged Scott Morrison to increase Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target and commit to net-zero by 2050 at the Glasgow conference in November, declaring more ambitious climate change policies would lower electricity prices and bolster the economy.
The push to run independents on issues of climate and integrity – Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast
With the 2022 election looming, local activists are mobilising in many government seats to sponsor independent candidates. The push – stronger and more organised since the 2019 election – is driven especially by concerns about climate change and integrity issues, as well as the general declining faith in the major parties
Nicole Hasham
As debate heats up in Australia about adopting a net-zero emissions target, Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and other key party figures have pointed to the UK energy crisis as a supposedly cautionary tale.
Government’s climate change web of lies
Sue Arnold
Our political leaders will do anything to stay in positions of power, including deceiving the voting public on urgent matters of climate change.
Red faces in Canberra as NSW embraces ambitious climate target [$]
Kishor Napier-Raman
As the Morrison government wrestles with a handful of bloody-minded Nationals over a climate policy, the state Coalition is in solidarity.
Scott Morrison’s marketing suggests Australia has a ‘strong track record’ on emissions
Graham Readfearn
With just weeks to go to the key climate conference in Glasgow, the government has announced no target or policy, but it does have an ad campaign
Is Australia’s nuclear submarine deal a distraction from international climate action?
David Shearman
Climate warming and environmental degradation are damaging humanity each and every day and all the decisions we make must be questioned for their human health and survival implications.
How subsidising household batteries would kill two birds with one stone
Nick Kilvert
Australia’s solar boom was driven by generous subsidies. Environment reporter Nick Kilvert questions whether batteries should be next.
Submarines that don’t need refuelling still require a nuclear industry [$]
Marcus Hellyer
What gives the government such confidence that this plan is going to work?
Nats must feel the pressure to back net zero
Canberra Times editorial
The federal Nationals are looking increasingly isolated, out of touch, and absurd as a result of the NSW government’s decision to commit to a 50 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030.
Wooing the hostile beast within
Niki Savva
The Prime Minister has little choice but to give the Nationals what they want to secure a net zero emissions target.
Who are the carbon price winners and losers? [$]
Chanticleer
On the long pathway to decarbonisation of the Australian economy, some will reap the rewards while others pay a high price.
Surging energy prices create perfect storm for PM [$]
Jennifer Hewett
Demand and prices for coal and gas are surging just as Australia is trying to finalise plans for decarbonising its economy. What’s the story?
After the farmyard din must come a credible net zero plan [$]
AFR editorial
After getting a majority of Nationals on board the net zero target, the Prime Minister must come up with a credible plan for decarbonising Australia’s fossil-fuel-based economy.
Facts don’t count in ‘climate crisis’ religion [$]
Andrew Bolt
It is shocking that a Labor leader demands emissions cuts that will do no good but will cost billions and throw Australians out of work. Now he’s selling this con with a string of falsehoods.
Stephen Garnett
The federal government has proposed replacing almost 200 recovery plans to improve the plight of threatened species and habitat with “conservation advice”, which has less legal clout. While critics have lamented the move, in reality it’s no great loss.
Morrison Government aspires to net zero — on climate action
Michelle Pini
What to do when you want to exude an image of not being a dinosaur in the world of climate politics but your own party members won’t cooperate.
Anti-green backlash is brewing on energy squeeze [$]
Australian editorial
The Morrison government has allowed expectations to build ahead of the COP26 Glasgow climate summit in November that it will expand on the detail of Australia’s climate-change action in a meaningful way. An absence of detail about exactly what this may be is creating a vacuum for speculation and reigniting tensions between Coalition partners about what impact any changes may have, particularly on the Nationals’ rural constituents. With attention now focused on whether Scott Morrison will attend the much-hyped conference, it is time to take stock and have a reality check.
Bitter truth is we will likely never get any nuclear subs [$]
Greg Sheridan
As things stand, it is unlikely Australia will ever get a nuclear submarine. All that we have done so far is cancel the French submarine. My guess is this delays any submarine at all by at least 10 years.
Karen Karniol-Tambour: the millennial turning the world’s biggest hedge fund green [$]
Ticky Fullerton
Before she was 35, Karen Karniol-Tambour was already head of investment research at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund founded by the legendary Ray Dalio. In 2019, she cracked Fortune’s “40 Under 40” most influential leaders in business. In investor world, there is a clamouring for answers as to how to tackle climate change and energy transition. Karniol-Tambour is now co-chief investment officer for sustainability at the $US160bn ($220bn) fund.
Victoria
Green light for Greening Pipeline project
Wyndham City Council has awarded a tender for construction of the first stage of the Greening the Pipeline project inside Wyndham City.
Knox City Council has recognised the climate emergency and adopted its Climate Response Plan, which identifies 56 actions to achieve zero greenhouse emissions by 2040 and to support the community to adapt to climate change impacts.
New South Wales
WestConnex privatisation is ‘highway robbery on a massive scale’
The final 49% of WestConnex tollway has been sold to a Transurban-led consortium, which critics say is another multi-billion-dollar public subsidy to big business.
Iberdrola boosts renewable capacity with purchase of NSW solar project
Iberdrola to begin construction of 190MW solar farm in south-west NSW after sealing purchase from RES Australia.
Barnaby Joyce tight-lipped on NSW’s stronger climate targets
The leader of the federal Nationals is refusing to comment on a move by the New South Wales branch of the party to back stronger emissions targets, saying it is not his place to tell them how to do their job.
Have your say on Warragamba Dam
The community is being encouraged to have its say on a WaterNSW proposal that would future-proof the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley against flooding by raising the Warragamba Dam wall.
Flood of issues in raising Warragamba Dam wall [$]
The NSW government would be legislatively exposed, liable for billions of dollars for potential damage and reliant on a hostile Legislative Council if it raised the Warragamba Dam wall, leaked documents reveal.
Lithgow council opposes waste to energy
At its meeting on Monday night, Lithgow Council considered a plan by the NSW Government for the concept of energy from waste. The Council resolved to oppose the plan.
Labor MP tells NSW to ‘stick to knitting’ not emissions [$]
An ambitious commitment to slash NSW carbon emissions in half by 2030 has drawn criticism from pro-coal Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon, who has told the state to “stick to their knitting”.
New line to link NSW, SA power: NSW powers ahead with Energy Connect power line, promising savings
NSW’s and South Australia’s electricity grids will be connected for the first time after the Berejiklian government approved stage one of a new long-awaited $2.3bn transmission line that will create cheaper, more reliable power, saving consumers almost $200m year.
Waverley young people and seniors unite to create local climate change solutions
Waverley Council is inviting residents ages 10 to 15 and 60 and over to join a new intergenerational program aimed at reducing future climate change.
‘Grossly under-playing’: Dam’s impact to UNESCO area differs from leaked report
A major report into the environmental impact of raising the wall of the Warragamba Dam has significantly reduced the expected toll on World Heritage bushland cited in a leaked consultant’s paper, prompting concerns over the accuracy of the study underpinning the controversial project.
NSW will halve emissions in a decade, by doing the things Morrison refuses to do
Michael Mazengarb
NSW’s success in embracing a clean energy future comes by doing the things the Morrison government refuses to do.
The climate crisis has sparked an economic arms race – and Australia cannot afford to stay idle
Matt Kean
Australia should not be a climate laggard at Glasgow. We should be leading the world and encouraging every other country to increase their climate ambitions
Cheaper renewables make Narrabri gas project obsolete [$]
Greg Bourne
Thursday marks a year since the NSW Independent Planning Commission approved Santos’s Narrabri gas project, despite significant opposition from the community and experts.
ACT
A $150 million interest-free loans scheme for eligible households to pay for energy efficiency upgrades, including solar panels and battery storage units, will open for applications on Wednesday.
Queensland
Call for commercial fishing ban in Queensland Gulf angers fishers
Concerns over unsustainable fishing in Queensland’s Gulf waters are dismissed by trawler operators who say axing commercial practices will kill livelihoods.
Pigs encroach on residential areas as feral population booms
Experts say a boom in the population of Queensland’s feral pigs is driving them into more densely populated areas.
Fund lights way to new energy economy
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to encourage new investment in Queensland’s critical minerals sector through a $2 billion loan facility.
Landfill fire shows wrong waste can put people at risk
On Saturday night it took three fire trucks, two water trucks, and an excavator to put out a fire at the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility (LCRMF).
Premier’s pitch: Get ready for hydrogen and Olympics to supercharge economy
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has made it clear she believes the state’s nascent hydrogen industry and the 2032 Olympics will be the major economic drivers of Queensland’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Go green or miss out on Olympics windfall, business group warns
Queensland businesses have been urged to go green or miss out on lucrative deals, especially in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.
Daintree National Park handed back to traditional custodians
The world’s oldest living rainforest has been returned to its custodians in a historic handback ceremony in Far North Queensland.
South Australia
More than 100 homes near a major road upgrade and tunnel project in Adelaide’s south will be bulldozed, prompting a warning that property valuations might not be keeping pace with the booming COVID housing market. Adelaide house prices rose 17.9 per cent in the past year, and 5.3 per cent in the past quarter.
Banana waste proving to be complete package
An Adelaide company that has spent more than 15 years perfecting its system of turning banana plantation waste into food packaging has completed a factory-scale trial to demonstrate the commercial viability of producing pizza boxes, burger clamshells, meal containers and dishes.
Bold plan: Remove cars from one lane to fix freeway woes [$]
A daring new plan to ease congestion on the freeway includes banning traffic from an entire lane during peak hour. Ludicrous? Or genius?
Can Adelaide’s shipyard build a nuclear sub? The questions pile up
Kevin Naughton
In part two of his deep dive into the many uncertainties facing an Australian nuclear submarine program, Kevin Naughton pulls apart the enormous costs of converting Australia’s shipbuilding infrastructure to build American nuclear subs and other potential barriers to local construction.
Tasmania
How a burnt-down house became the centre of a fight about developers in national parks
The views are wild, walks are stunning and wildlife is abundant, but there’s little accommodation on Tasmania’s Maria Island. As its popularity grows, the national park finds itself embroiled in debate over tourism developments in protected areas.
Tassal chairman Allan McCallum leaving, James Fazzino next chair
The long-serving chairman who oversaw fish farming giant Tassal’s growth will retire from the board in October.
Concerns over fish farm expansion plans in North West Tasmania [$]
A coastal council is seeking the support of neighbouring municipalities in a call for a moratorium on the expansion of fish farming.
Northern Territory
Native NT plant species kills horses on remote cattle station
A number of horses across the Northern Territory are falling victim to the toxic native legume Indigofera.
Western Australia
Iron ore price plunge darkens future for new mine in Mid West
The falling iron price may claim another victim with Mount Gibson considering the future of its newly opened Shine mine.
New battle looms over big copper find, alleged unlawful clearing and an iconic natural attraction
A copper explorer says he has made the biggest find since World War II near WA’s Horizontal Falls tourism attraction, as conservationists allege illegal land clearing has occurred.
Sustainability
Simple thermoset plastic recycling using a peptide solution
Epoxy resin is a type of thermoset resin commonly used in glue, paint and composite materials. NIMS and ISMA have developed a new thermoset plastic recycling system capable of easily decomposing epoxy resins in an aqueous solution of a naturally derived peptide. The use of this system may promote the reuse and recycling of plastics, including carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP)—carbon fibers combined with an epoxy resin matrix—by a wide range of industries.
This UK football team was declared the world’s greenest. How did they get there?
A changing climate will affect everyone who plays sport so high-profile players like former Wallabies star David Pocock and those behind this rising UK football club are speaking up.
Countries commit to climate resilient, low carbon health systems ahead of COP26
Several Countries, including Cabo Verde, Madagascar, Malawi, and São Tomé and Príncipe, have submitted formal commitments to the COP26 Presidency to strengthen the climate resilience and sustainability of their health systems.
Scourge of food loss and waste needs to be urgently tackled to achieve world’s 2030 target
29 September 2021, Rome – Transforming agri-food systems to make them more efficient, inclusive and sustainable is key to prevent food loss and waste from continuing to undermine efforts to eradicate hunger, improve nutrition and reduce the strain on natural resources and the environment.
China has clear pathway to build more sustainable, secure and inclusive energy future
China’s remarkable economic growth over the past four decades has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, turning the country into a leader in many industries but also the world’s largest carbon emitter, accounting for one-third of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Genetically modified food a step closer in England as laws relaxed
Government removes costs and red tape in go-ahead for more trials of gene edited crops
Yixian Sun
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced at the UN General Assembly that China “will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad”.
Want to reduce your food waste at home? Here are the 6 best evidence-based ways to do it
Mark Boulet
From the farm to the plate, the modern day food system has a waste problem. Each year, a third of all food produced around the world, or 1.3 billion tonnes, ends up as rubbish. Imagine that for a moment – it’s like buying three bags of groceries at the supermarket then throwing one away as you leave.
Nuclear power’s long decline in shadow of wind and solar
Jim Green
Nuclear power has been stagnant for three decades. There is one big difference with the situation 30 years ago: the reactor fleet was young then, now it is old.
Europe’s renewables generated energy crisis [$]
Matthew Warren
The Continent’s gas shortages and skyrocketing prices are a warning about taking a politics-over-engineering approach to climate change.
Nature Conservation
US to declare ivory-billed woodpecker and 22 more species extinct
Fish and Wildlife Service proposes removing species from endangered list because they have not been spotted in the wild
Canada: win for anti-logging protesters as judge denies firm’s injunction bid
Judge blocks Teal Cedar Products’ extension request and says police conduct on Vancouver Island has put court at risk
Record $5bn donation to protect nature could herald new green era of giving
Philanthropists pledge to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, as the planet’s health climbs the charity agenda
Scoping out the Gulf of Mexico’s secret submerged forest
Understanding what happened to this ancient forest can help us know what is coming as the sea rises again.
American bumblebee populations plummet 90 per cent
The American bumblebee population has plummeted by almost 90 per cent and is edging its way towards Endangered Species Act protection, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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