Date: 15 October 2021 at 9:05:27 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Oct 15
Post of the Day
Forget net zero – let’s have a ‘fossil freedom day’
Mark Lynas
Imagine if we knew that sometime in 2047 we would definitively move on from the industrial revolution
On This Day
Durga Puja – Hindism
Dussehra – Hinduism
Climate Change
UN human rights’ chief files intervention in Swiss seniors’ climate case
High level representatives of the United Nations (UN), including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, filed third party interventions before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the Senior Women for Climate Protection’s complaint against Switzerland.
A secret stash of good climate news
Have you been stressed out waiting to hear if a couple of moderate Democratic Senators will halt serious action on climate and sustainable infrastructure? That storyline’s been wearing on Canary Media’s David Roberts. But he planned ahead with some break-glass-in-case-of-emergency content. It’s an interview with the impeccably named Kingsmill Bond, a longtime market analyst for Deutsche Bank and Citibank who’s now an energy strategist at think tank Carbon Tracker.
More than 30 countries join U.S. pledge to slash methane emissions
The Biden administration has announced that 32 countries have joined the United States in a pledge to reduce methane emissions, part of an effort to set new targets to slow global warming ahead of a major United Nations climate summit in Glasgow next month.
Climate change favors the spread of West Nile Virus in Europe
Increases in temperatures as a result of climate change is favouring the transmission of the West Nile Virus (WNV) in parts of Europe, by creating more suitable conditions for the virus and its mosquito vectors to proliferate.
Earth could be alien to humans by 2500
Unless CO2 emissions drop significantly, global warming will make the Amazon barren, the American Midwest tropical, and India too hot to live in by 2500, according to a team of scientists.
What climate change and sea level rise will do to American cities
The space center in Houston surrounded by a moat; the famous beach in Santa Monica, Calif., completely submerged; a professional sports stadium in Washington, D.C., turned into a bathtub — these are just some of the of the startling images of the future in America’s largest cities without action to limit climate change.
Big tobacco got caught in a lie by Congress. Now it’s the oil industry’s turn
Mark Hertsgaard
The CEOs of Exxon, BP, Shell and Chevron face a Capitol Hill hearing on their climate crisis lies – will it mirror the downfall of big tobacco?
Forget net zero – let’s have a ‘fossil freedom day’
Mark Lynas
Imagine if we knew that sometime in 2047 we would definitively move on from the industrial revolution
Oliver Milman et al
Earth is already becoming unlivable. Will governments act to stop this disaster from getting worse?
What is COP26 and why does the fate of Earth, and Australia’s prosperity, depend on it?
Wesley Morgan
In just over two weeks, more than 100 world leaders will gather in the Scottish industrial city of Glasgow for United Nations climate change negotiations known as COP26. Their task, no less, is to decide the fate of our planet.
National
‘Rabble of a government’: Climate change policy flayed on Q+A
The federal government comes under attack on several fronts over emissions policy, accused of being held to ransom by the Nationals over getting to net zero by the year 2050.
Billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest says “people like him” need to change and lead the country away from coal, but that “fearmongering” Nationals politicians are scaring Australians to save their own jobs.
Net zero idea what’s going on with Australia’s climate targets? Here’s the breakdown
An internal debate in the federal Coalition is heating up over climate change ahead of the COP26 global climate conference, so expect to hear a lot about a net zero carbon emissions target over the coming weeks.
Global energy crisis has Australian gas producers raking in $200m for one shipment of gas
Energy crises in Europe and Asia are delivering windfall profits to Australian oil and gas producers, which are raking in up to $200 million for gas shipments.
These young Australians have an urgent message for Scott Morrison ahead of COP26
As the global climate conference nears, SBS News speaks to three Australian students who are skipping school on Friday to demand better climate policies from the federal government.
IEA warns energy crisis could threaten recovery
A global energy crunch is expected to boost oil demand by half a million barrels per day and could stoke inflation and slow the world’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says.
Australia’s net zero future with gas [$]
Some say natural gas is ultimately incompatible with net zero – and others say it will be absolutely essential. This is how it will play a role.
Inquiry to question whether Australia needs nuclear industry to support submarine program
Rex Patrick says it’s ‘beyond comprehension’ Australia could build a nuclear-powered fleet without a domestic industry to support it
BHP shareholders strongly endorse climate plan as chief says ‘it’s a step forward’
BHP shareholders have offered a resounding endorsement of the Australian mining giant’s climate transition strategy, as chief executive officer Mike Henry doubles down on his doubts about so-called “green steel”.
Net zero: Littleproud says most colleagues back emissions-cut ‘aspiration’ [$]
Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud says it is “immature” to dismiss technology’s potential to allow Australia to slash emissions while protecting traditional industries, as he declared most of his colleagues were supportive of the “aspiration” of decarbonising the economy.
Net zero: The Coalition’s slow, tortured path to a climate compromise
In a speech to the Minerals Council of Australia’s annual Parliament House dinner on June 2, Prime Minister Scott Morrison invoked Frank Sinatra to explain his government’s approach to climate action.
Nationals could draw out net zero talks [$]
The junior Coalition partner is not guaranteeing a decision on emissions before the Glasgow conference.
Warning to Nationals on net zero failure [$]
The Reserve Bank’s warning that climate-conscious global investors will “significantly divest” from Australia has received backing from Josh Frydenberg, Labor and billionaire iron ore miner Andrew Forrest, as the economic case builds for the Nationals to accept a 2050 net-zero emissions target.
Australia wants transparency on carbon emissions [$]
Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor reveals what actions Australia will ask the world to take on climate change ahead of the Glasgow summit.
Another Coalition MP faces independent climate change candidate [$]
Nationals MP Damian Drum is the latest federal Coalition member to face a challenge from a high-profile independent.
Australia needs up to 74 pct emissions cut by 2030 to stay on track for 1.5°C
State and Territory emissions targets offer the Morrison government a free-kick to lift its 2030 target. Will it take it?
Ahead of COP26, Australia ranked among worst in G20 on climate action
Australia again ranked amongst the worst for climate action, lagging behind on renewables uptake, EV adoption and fossil fuel phase-out.
Snoring partners more likely to disturb sleep than wind farms, study finds
A new Australian sleep study finds residents living near a wind farm much more likely to blame road traffic, or snoring partners, for disturbed sleep.
Markets are moving: the economic costs of Australia’s climate inaction
Climate Council
The Australian Government has failed to recognise the costs of climate change, and similarly, the significant economic opportunities in acting swiftly and early on climate change. In contrast, carbon border tariffs are now inevitable with Australia in the firing line due to our slow and weak national progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate of the nation 2021: Tracking Australia’s attitudes towards climate change and energy
The Australia Institute
The Australia Institute’s annual Climate of the Nation report provides a comprehensive account of changing Australian beliefs and attitudes towards climate change, and its causes, impacts and solutions.
Business Council boss: ‘It’s time to come together’ [$]
Jennifer Westacott
As the world transitions to a cleaner, green future we need to remember we’re all in this together.
News Corp climate campaign pledged ‘positive stories’ only. Also excluded, any mea culpas
Graham Readfearn
From attacking people who are anti-nuclear to blaming Greens for lack of climate action, what was that about no partisan sniping or politicising?
Jobs, trade to benefit if Australia acts on wealth of clean energy resources
Michele O’Neil and Jennifer Westacott
Without collective action we will miss out on a stampede of investment into new technologies.
Govt should negotiate with Labor on net zero
Letters
If the federal Liberal Party cannot negotiate with its junior Coalition partner, the Nationals, on climate change it should do so with the Labor Party with whom it, and the general Australian population, have more in common.
Shame on politicians who ignore the climate science
Letters
Our democracy is broken. A clear majority of Australians want urgent action on climate change, and it appears most of our parliamentarians also support that. Yet Parliament cannot agree on the net-zero-by-2050 target to which much of the world has committed
Morrison must not outsource climate policy to the Nationals
SMH editorial
The Prime Minister has a duty to take back control of the climate change debate and set out a long-term course.
Blue or green, our future with hydrogen is bright
Alan Finkel
The former chief scientist argues we need to cut emissions as quickly as possible – and hydrogen from both sources will deliver the result.
Australian business talks big on climate, but who’s walking the talk?
Andrew Charlton
New research attempts to sort the PR spin and “greenwashing” from the businesses that are taking concerted action to drive down emissions.
Sink or swim: why Barnaby Joyce has to accept net zero
David Crowe
Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has to keep his Nationals party room happy. But he also has to keep the Coalition in government. Otherwise he’s just a rebel with a lost cause.
PM won’t entertain a ‘big Australia’ on cusp of net zero [$]
Phillip Coorey
Scott Morrison is not about to inflame the anti-immigration right while wrangling the Nationals to achieve the meaningful climate policy no Liberal leader has.
Morrison forced to fight the last war on climate change [$]
Jennifer Hewett
Rebel Nationals are complicating Scott Morrison’s ability to sell a climate change policy that will keep the lights on, costs down and jobs and investment up just in time for Glasgow.
CBA’s climate pushback follows the science on energy transition [$]
AFR editorial
Activists exploiting shareholder democracy have, correctly, changed the conversation on climate. But Catherine Livingstone has helped stop them from disastrously taking it over.
Dithering on net zero leaves nation with nothing [$]
Chris Bowen
As climate change has moved over decades from theory to prediction to fact, straight-out denial has become untenable for the sceptics and laggards who have held Australia back for years. They’ve now moved to delay.
Joyce confirms the Nationals’ latest rort: net zero to include a $3 billion coal subsidy [$]
Bernard Keane
The Morrison government’s net zero by 2050 package will include billions in taxpayer money to subsidise an increase in Australia’s coal exports.
Rachel Withers
The Nationals are worried about a net-zero backlash of their own making
Scotty from marketing on climate negotiations – cartoon
David Pope
Victoria
This degraded river is Victoria’s ‘most stressed’. Now there’s a plan to help its recovery
The Moorabool, which runs from the Central Highlands near Ballarat to join the Barwon River in Geelong, experiences regular fish kills and algal blooms. Now there are plans in place to turn the degraded system into a healthy waterway.
Cash for cyclists, new motorist fees to calm post-pandemic traffic
Cash incentives for cyclists, higher kerbside parking fares and new charges for motorists could pave the road to recovery for the CBD, after suffering the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
New South Wales
Green space for Penrith’s City Centre gets green light
Penrith City Council’s ongoing revitalisation of the Penrith City Centre has been given another boost with the Development Application (DA) to build a new $12 million park in Penrith now approved.
Whitehaven sees coal’s rally lasting longer as buyers race for cargoes
Australian coal miner Whitehaven is anticipating prices of the fossil fuel in key Asian markets to remain strong for at least the next two years, as economies re-emerge from pandemic lockdowns and a global supply crunch persists.
Whitehaven buys partner’s stake in coal royalty [$]
The deal shows how Whitehaven can increase its coal exposure without spending billions on new mines
Anger at bid to gag Warragamba Dam wall-raise criticism [$]
A senior WaterNSW employee mulled over how local Aboriginal opponents to the raising of the Warragamba Dam wall could be gagged, leaked emails reveal.
Canadian energy giant advances 2,600MWh pumped hydro project near Bathurst
Canadian energy giant ATCO says it is making progress with a 2,600MWh pumped hydro project near Bathurst, which it hopes to gain a spot in the first renewable energy zone in NSW to go to tender.
Queensland
Coal killer? Rio Tinto discovers low-carbon process for making steel
Rio Tinto believes it has found a way to produce steel without coal in a process that could have severe impacts on Queensland’s mining sector and economy.
On the fringe of the Simpson Desert, an important nature refuge is renamed
The Wangkamadla people are celebrating the renaming of the 233,000-hectare Queensland reserve Cravens Peak as Pilungah in honour of a culturally significant spring on the land.
Welcome to the new age of activism where business is the model – and the target
John McCarthy
When Extinction Rebellion produces stunts like Wednesday’s fishy assault on Queensland Parliament, it’s more than moral outrage or youthful rebellion. It’s really quite clever.
South Australia
Ombudsman calling fresh air a ‘human right’ led to changes in SA medi-hotel system, report reveals
Complaints about a lack of fresh air prompted an overhaul of South Australia’s hotel quarantine system, the state’s ombudsman reveals in his annual report.
BHP signs landmark renewable energy deal for huge Olympic Dam mine
BHP signs deal with Australia’s largest hybrid wind and solar project to supply much of the power needs of its giant Olympic Dam mine.
Tasmania
Youth forum wants better, safer transport
Report highlights safety concerns for young Tasmanians using public transport
Northern Territory
Row erupts over Santos fracking plan [$]
Santos has secured final approvals for a controversial fracking project in the Northern Territory, angering one of the country’s biggest landowners.
Western Australia
Red tape or native title? Forrest, WA minister at odds over hydrogen project decision
A war of words has broken out between Andrew Forrest and the WA Government over why the state’s missing out on his hydrogen cash splash.
WA government rejects ‘blunt instrument’ to net zero, but Greens fear we will be left behind
Western Australian Greens MP Brad Pettitt will today introduce a bill into state parliament that would cut WA’s net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent of 2005 levels by mid-2030.
Asbestos contamination concern at Curtin Uni and Perth building sites
Perth sites are being tested for possible asbestos contamination amid union calls for Border Force to keep the banned fibres out of the country.
Net-zero emissions and Woodside’s Scarborough LNG a mismatch: IEA
Peter Milne
Woodside’s $16.4 billion Scarborough LNG may be too expensive for its aim to “prosper in a low-carbon world”, according to International Energy Agency’s analysis.
Sustainability
The five biggest threats to our natural world … and how we can stop them
From destructive land use to invasive species, scientists have identified the main drivers of biodiversity loss – so that countries can collectively act to tackle them
One in five of Europe’s bird species slipping towards extinction
Exclusive: ‘Red list’ report finds 30% of native species in decline due to loss of habitat, intensive farming and climate crisis
Spain plans ‘additions’ to controversial power bill claw-back law
Spain plans to introduce “additional measures” to a newly approved bill, opposed by some firms and investors, which reclaims some power company profits in a bid to protect consumers from sky-high energy prices, Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday.
The energy crunch, in six paragraphs
Governments and companies have built the global energy system around natural gas almost without a second thought. Now it’s costing them.
Smoke from nuclear war would devastate ozone layer, alter climate
Atmospheric impacts of global nuclear war would be more severe than previously thought
Chemicals found in popular products contribute to 100,000 early deaths
A newly release study found that a chemical found in popular consumer products may cause the premature deaths of an estimated 91,000 to 107,000 people aged 55-64 each year in the US.
Electric sheep: Grazing in solar arrays supports economy, climate
A new project backed by Cornell University and the USDA will explore the economic benefits of grazing sheep under industrial-scale solar arrays.
Plant-based jet fuel could reduce emissions by 68%
Replacing petroleum-based aviation fuel with sustainable aviation fuel derived from a type of mustard plant can reduce carbon emissions by up to 68%, according to new research.
Prince William: great minds should focus on saving Earth not space travel – video
The Duke of Cambridge has criticised the space race and space tourism, saying the world’s greatest minds need to focus on fixing the Earth instead.
‘Swiss army knife of energy’: the pros and cons of green hydrogen – Please Explain podcast
Hydrogen has re-entered the public discourse this week as a sustainable option to power the world.
Energy crisis puzzle: why fossil fuel prices are surging
Stephen Bartholomeusz
The prices of oil, gas and coal have skyrocketed through this year to levels not seen for years. The reasons why are complex.
The need for chemical simplification as a logical consequence of ever-increasing chemical pollution
Kathrin Fenner and Martin Scheringer
The sheer number of synthetic chemicals in the environment, including humans, exceeds our capacity to regulate them in a meaningful way. We must find a way to simplify the output of the chemical enterprise.
Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is affecting all of us – what can we do about it?
Illegal or unsustainable wildlife trade affects biodiversity, ecosystem services, people’s livelihood, and economies all over the world.
Want to regain young people’s trust? Start treating the earth, and life, as sacred
Norman Wirzba
Our government and business leaders are failing young people by not acting out of the conviction that this world and all its life are sacred and, thus, worthy of our protection and care.
To fight climate crisis, we need our forests standing
Diego Gonzaga
The clock is ticking. The world has already warmed 1.2ºC since pre-industrial times. Yet, countries and companies continue making empty promises and pledges that don’t meet the urgency of the climate crisis. 2050 this, 2030 that. To avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis, world leaders cannot waste any more time.
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