Post of the Day
There are no real climate leaders yet – who will step up at Cop26?
Greta Thunberg
Like other rich nations, the UK is more talk than action on the climate crisis. Something needs to change in Glasgow
On This Day
Ecological Observance
International Snow Leopard Day
Climate Change
Pacific Island climate groups demand world leaders halt support for fossil fuel
The Pacific Island Climate Action Network says world leaders must take action at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, capping global warming at 1.5C and helping developing nations cope with the impact of climate change.
Young people fear for climate’s future, study finds
A UK study into the mental-health impact of climate change concerns has revealed around 75 per cent of young people consider the future “frightening”.
Schoolchildren in Glasgow have this message for world leaders ahead of COP26
Schoolchildren in the host city of the United Nations’ upcoming climate conference urged world leaders to ‘do their best’ at COP26 to halt climate change.
A warming earth: Natural disasters from 2020 to now
In the past two years, new records have been set for natural disasters across the world. And the IPCC warns this may only be the beginning.
From Paris to Glasgow: a world on the move
Climate Council
The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time. Culminating at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November (COP26), 2021 is a decisive year in the global response to this challenge. The latest science is abundantly clear – global emissions must plummet this decade to avoid climate catastrophe.
The climate crisis is global, but councils can offer local solutions
Stephen Smellie
With government support, councils can lead the way in generating clean energy, insulating housing and reskilling staff
There are no real climate leaders yet – who will step up at Cop26?
Greta Thunberg
Like other rich nations, the UK is more talk than action on the climate crisis. Something needs to change in Glasgow
Biden and Xi talks could change COP26 course [$]
Will Glasgow
A motley crew of 20,000-odd world leaders, diplomats and Swedish teenage activists will soon assemble in Glasgow for United Nations-backed COP26 talks.
National
Australia rejects leaked claims it lobbied to change major UN climate report
Australia had asked the UN to play down the need to phase out fossil fuels, according to leaked documents obtained by Greenpeace and reported by the BBC.
Patricia Karvelas grills Barnaby Joyce on climate as Nationals disagree on net zero
ABC host Patricia Karvelas has grilled Barnaby Joyce on climate change in a fiery interview, as the Nationals continue to clash on net zero.
Former PMs apologise to Pacific leaders for Australia’s apathy on climate crisis
Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull lash out at Morrison government’s ‘cynical indifference’ and assure Pacific leaders ‘a majority’ of Australians ‘are in your corner’
How the environmental offsets scheme is failing the Australian wildlife it is meant to protect
A parliamentary inquiry is set to begin, triggered by a Guardian Australia investigation that exposed multiple, serious flaws
Inquiry questions News Corp’s climate change about face
News Corp’s global head has defended the editorial independence of the company’s Australian newspapers.
Aurizon changes track, steps away from coal in $2.35b deal
Rail and logistics company Aurizon has announced a $2.35 billion takeover of One Rail Australia, which operates bulk rail haulage and freight in South Australia, the NT, NSW and Queensland.
Nationals ministers may quit cabinet if net zero policy doesn’t meet their demands
Nationals ministers may quit the federal cabinet if the Prime Minister doesn’t agree to their requests in the policy that would sign Australia up to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
News Corp global boss discussed Glasgow climate summit with Morrison
News Corp’s global chief executive Robert Thomson says he did not know about his Australian newspapers’ climate campaign ahead of time, but he did discuss the upcoming UN Glasgow climate talks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison when they met in New York last month.
Australia could save nearly $500 billion with big switch to electric vehicles
Stronger policies to drive the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia could deliver huge savings for Australian drivers, reaching almost $500 billion out to 2035.
Millennials would buy an electric car for right price [$]
As costs come down to be competitive with petrol vehicles, more and more car owners are turning to electric vehicles.
Angus Taylor to rebuff UK and US demands to phase out coal-fired power stations [$]
Energy Minister Angus Taylor will reject calls by Britain and the US to phase out all coal-fired power generation by 2030, declaring he would not sign up to Glasgow climate change agreements and targets that negatively impact miners, manufacturers and farmers.
Koalas, quokkas make 100 threatened species list but hundreds more miss out
A list of 100 threatened species of native wildlife, including koalas and quokkas, will be prioritised for protection under a 10-year federal government strategy that experts warn needs more funding and puts about 1700 plants and animals that didn’t make the cut at risk.
Michelle Grattan on the Nationals’ climate conundrum and the integrity deficit in federal politics – video
Michelle Grattan
University of Canberra Professional Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics.
Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme amendments: have your say
Australia. Department of Industry
We are seeking feedback on an exposure draft of amendments to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001.
Laura Tingle
Australia was dubbed the “new Hermit Kingdom” earlier this year by Washington-based Australian journalist Amelia Lester in Foreign Policy magazine, and it’s a term that’s been used a fair bit ever since as Australia’s international borders have remained firmly closed as the rest of the world opened up.
There are three approaches to climate change, Australia is choosing the wrong one
Zoe Daniel
There are three ways to approach climate change – one, do nothing and hope; two, dig in, and go slow, because it’s ‘the economy, stupid’; or three, step into the change and maximise the opportunities it presents.
Exposed: Morrison’s plan to lift emissions under the cover of net zero [$]
Bernard Keane
The government’s 2050 net zero ‘debate’ isn’t about a lack of climate ambition. It’s cover for a plan to increase coal exports that will continue to drive global warming.
‘The best job for a coal miner is another mining job’: Adam Bandt looks beyond Melbourne [$]
Kishor Napier-Raman
The Greens leader wants to become a kingmaker at the next election, with an ambitious strategy to form a minority government that drags Labor to the left on climate change.
Rachel Withers
The PM is looking to the finish line, in more ways than one
Things are a bit ragged for Morrison, and not only because of the Coalition’s climate bullfight
Katharine Murphy
With Glasgow around the corner and an election in sight, the prime minister could’ve done without this week’s privileges committee fracas
Menzies would be turning in his grave, Chris Kenny rails – as News Corp turns against him on climate
Amanda Meade
Old guard of conservative commentators distraught at Scott Morrison’s push for net zero
Getting burnt: The Nationals worry about voters with long memories
Mike Foley
Earlier this month, when Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie was asked why the party wasn’t moving with the rest of the nation on the need to reach net zero emissions by 2050, her answer wasn’t about climate.
Morrison could have done the deal of the century on climate, but opted for tribalism
George Megalogenis
If the PM had reached across the political aisle, he would have secured a spot at the top table at Glasgow.
Natural contrarian to ‘facilitator-in-chief’, but Barnaby Joyce is stronger on the attack
Michelle Grattan
Barnaby Joyce is politically stronger when he’s on the attack. Now, he has found himself needing to deliver to Scott Morrison for Glasgow.
Net zero without nuclear a disaster in the making [$]
Vikki Campion
The only way Australia can sign up to net zero, without economy-crippling blackouts that will force First World Australia onto back-up diesel generators, is small modular nuclear reactors.
If we’re serious about net zero, nuclear energy ban must end [$]
Chris Kenny
The test for those who are eager to sign up to a net-zero by 2050 carbon emissions target is whether they are open to discuss an increased role for nuclear energy.
Deal or no deal, we’ve been grappling with net zero for centuries [$]
Rowan Dean
It means the same in 2050 as it did in 200,050 BC. A big net nothing.
Coalition, ALP jockey for a point of electoral difference [$]
Dennis Shanahan
Amid the great uncertainties of pandemic politics, Coalition division over a climate change commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and speculation about the next election, here are a few certainties: unfortunately, all that we don’t know.
Climate of dissent has divided the world ahead of Glasgow climate summit [$]
Paul Kelly
The future is on display – ambitious assurances about a global clean-energy revolution in collision with entrenched and alarmed domestic politics. As the Glasgow conference looms, forget any notion that Australia is unique as the Coalition parties struggle to finalise their new stance
One green reform really stacks up [$]
John Durie
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has strangely stopped short of shouting his carbon initiatives from the rooftop but he has taken a huge step forward on listing project stacking as one of his key regulatory priorities for 2022.
Simon Holmes à Court’s Q+A takeover [$]
Gerard Henderson
On Thursday night, ABC TV’s Q+A program (presenter David Speers), was depicted as being about “Australia’s Climate Future”. But it quickly turned into a taxpayer-funded television show starring Simon Holmes à Court – the Cleantech financial investor and founder of the political activist group Climate 200 – which is opposed to the Scott Morrison led Coalition Government and, to a lesser extent, the Anthony Albanese led Labor Opposition.
The three-point plan Morrison needs to halve 2030 emissions [$]
Mike Seccombe
For all the noise surrounding Scott Morrison’s supposed shift on climate targets, his changes are actually insignificant. But there is a straightforward, three-point path to cut Australia’s emissions by 2030 – if only there were the political will.
If you are like me and get excited about rodents you will love this adorable mouse
First Dog on the Moon
It has been years and years of searching – all of it using the gold standard Australian furry animal bait
Victoria
Twelve Apostles drilling plan turns spotlight on Victoria’s gas strategy
Victorian government consent over a proposal to extract gas near the Twelve Apostles raises questions about its long-term plans for the future of gas in the state.
Safer roads for cyclists, pedestrians would get us back on public transport
Marion Terrill
Post-lockdown is the time to look at ways to ensure we don’t emerge from this pandemic more car-dependent than we went in.
New South Wales
$330m pumped into Murray-Darling projects ‘that support thriving agriculture and communities’
NSW and the Commonwealth have thrown $330 million to ensure the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is met on time and “in a way that doesn’t impact irrigators”.
NSW environmental offsets failing to halt wildlife decline, inquiry told
Professional and environment groups tell parliamentary hearing scheme needs reform to manage conflicts of interest
Environment groups decry plan to use site regeneration years after operations end at Glencore’s Mangoola mine as offsets
ACT
E-scooter scheme to be rolled out across all of Canberra [$]
Soon it will be possible to traverse most of Canberra on a rented e-scooter, with the ACT government set to act on the recommendations of a review which suggested rolling the transport option out city wide.
Air taxis and drones will fill Canberra’s skies sooner than you think [$]
News that Google’s on-demand drone delivery business Wing has passed the 100,000 drop-offs mark, partly thanks to the patronage of Canberrans, underlines the profound changes that low-level autonomous air traffic is about to make to our lives.
Queensland
Queensland’s future as an energy superpower – and how it could be squandered
John McCarthy
As Queensland stands on the verge of a clean energy revolution, the billions squandered and the communities sent into turmoil by the $70 billion LNG development a decade ago should have been a cautionary tale.
Shelley Marshall et al
In a shift from their usual conduct, Queensland police have recognised the cultural rights of Wangan and Jagalingou cultural custodians to conduct ceremony under provisions of the 2019 Queensland Human Rights Act.
South Australia
No safety assessment for nuclear subs in Adelaide
The federal government has not undertaken a safety assessment or planning study for the prospect of docking nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide, according to documents obtained by independent senator Rex Patrick.
Warning over foreign sale of SA Power Networks
The federal government is being urged to reject a foreign private equity firm’s joint takeover bid for minority ownership of SA Power Networks, with claims the investment company’s “chequered history” of asset-stripping poses a risk to South Australian electricity consumers.
Heat is on tinderbox yards in fire season blitz [$]
Thousands of Hills properties are in the sights of council inspectors as locals are told to get ready for fire season. And some are already copping stern orders.
Tasmania
Westbury Primary School Fair focusing on being eco friendly
Sustainability and the importance of recycling, reuse and repurposing was the theme of this year’s Westbury Primary School Fair held on Friday.
‘Ticking bomb waiting to go up in flames’ [$]
The tyres that went up in smoke in Queenstown last week have burned for days, with fears not enough is being done to reduce much larger tyre stockpiles across the state.
Environmentalists embark on 7-day hunger strike [$]
Extinction Rebellion activists embark on a 7-day hunger strike to protest a lack of climate change action from the government.
More reasons to reject cable car to be considered by tribunal [$]
With an appeal against the Hobart council’s decision to reject the cable car DA set to get underway next year, the Mt Wellington Cableway Company will now need to address additional concerns.
Western Australia
Noel Pearson pushes for ‘truth’ behind Juukan destruction [$]
Indigenous leader Noel Pearson has added his voice to calls for a full judicial inquiry into Rio Tinto’s destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters.
New powers for traditional owners to safeguard heritage sites desperately needed
Age editorial
A federal inquiry investigating the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters was right to call this week for better protection of Indigenous heritage.
No perspective on Juukan Gorge [$]
Noel Pearson
The vandals who oversaw the destruction of the Juukan Gorge – chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques, head of iron ore Chris Salisbury and head of corporate affairs Simone Niven – left the company with golden handshakes worth tens of millions of dollars and this week their company, London-based Rio Tinto, got a “get out of jail free” card.
How the fight to save WA’s native forests was finally won [$]
Jesse Noakes
The battle to save WA’s remaining old-growth forests required activists to mobilise public opinion and pressure the government to see the financial, climate and biodiversity benefits of leaving those forests intact.
Sustainability
Pollutionwatch: the solvable problem of home wood burners
Wood burning is causing dirty air from the UK to Australia, but a study shows incentives to switch can work
The car that could power your home [$]
A car that can power your home – and cut your electricity bills – is edging closer to reality.
Farmers don’t have to contribute to the environmental crisis – we can solve it
Jyoti Fernandes
As a farmer I produce meat and cheese from animals that graze in my orchard on diverse, carbon-sequestering grasslands
Pablo Escobar’s hippos recognised as ‘legal persons’ in US court
In a first, the US Federal Court recognises animals as legal persons — specifically, the descendants of Pablo Escobar’s hippopotamuses who have thrived in Colombia since the notorious drug lord was killed almost 30 years ago.
Syria’s justice ministry says 24 people have been executed for setting forest fires that devastated the coastal province of Latakia.
How can lizards adapt to changing climate?
A common wall lizard at a sun bath (Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann/Unsplash)
Researchers at the University of Toronto and Ohio Wesleyan University are collaborating in a quest to find out how lizards can adapt to the world’s changing climate.
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