Post of the Day
How the chemicals industry’s pollution slipped under the radar
The industry consumes more than 10% of fossil fuels produced globally and emits an estimated 3.3 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions a year, more than India’s annual emissions.
On This Day
St George’s Day – Georgia
Climate Change
Managing climate risks through nature-based solutions
During the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow in November, experts discussed actions to manage climate change risks, including those related to forests and grasslands as well as ocean and marine ecosystems.
Before geoengineering, some fundamental chemistry
According to a new study in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, a collaboration among Penn scientists and two groups in Spain, atmospheric conditions in the stratosphere pose a challenge to generating sulfuric acid, making its production less efficient than might have previously been expected.
The forgotten oil ads that told us climate change was nothing
Since the 1980s, fossil fuel firms have run ads touting climate denial messages – many of which they’d now like us to forget. Here’s our visual guide
Is 24/7 carbon-free energy the best goal?
A few ambitious companies and cities aim to get 100% clean electricity every hour of every day. But would it be better to focus on displacing the dirtiest power plants?
Ten ways to confront the climate crisis without losing hope
Rebecca Solnit
It’s easy to despair at the climate crisis, or to decide it’s already too late – but it’s not. Here’s how to keep the fight alive
Three simple, low cost actions that can accelerate transition to zero emissions
David Leitch
Here are three simple, low cost actions that could accelerate push to zero emissions, and some less easy policy moves that could lock it in.
Carbon dioxide, lifeblood of our planet
Ken Calvert
That’s carbon dioxide as we breathe out. In at 400ppm and out at 4000, CO2 is an essential part of our life.
Climate denial is waning on the right. What’s replacing it might be just as scary
Oliver Milman
The wrapping of ecological disaster with fears of rampant immigration is a narrative that has flourished in far-right fringe movements in Europe and the US
The seas are coming for us in Kiribati. Will Australia rehome us?
Akka Rimon and Anote Tong
Our atoll nation is barely two metres above sea level, and the waters are coming for us.
National
CSIRO fears new wave of extinctions in ‘sliding doors moment’ on invasive species
Australia is facing a brutal new wave of extinctions but there’s still time to limit how many native species are killed off by foreign invaders, the CSIRO has warned.
Time to phase out counterproductive diesel subsidy
The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s call for the phase out of the Fuel Tax Credit scheme, which gives massive diesel subsidies to some of Australia’s biggest mining companies, including BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.
Start croaking the news: Loudest frog in Australia is not one but three species
It may be only 4cm in length, but its mating call is described by Australian Museum’s frog expert Jodi Rowley as among the most “hideous” of the “hideous frog calls”.
Australia formally signs nuclear tech deal
Australia has taken the next step to acquire nuclear submarines as part of the controversial AUKUS security pact.
Have you purchased seeds online from overseas? That’s probably illegal
Online shopping company eBay has been working with Australia’s Agriculture Department to weed out unidentified seeds and live plants coming into the country in the mail.
Why are forestry industry figures after journalists’ emails? – Please Explain podcast
Today on Please Explain, climate and energy correspondent Mike Foley joins Bianca Hall to discuss the rocky relationship between one of Australia’s top climate scientists and sections of the timber industry.
At long last, Australia has a bioenergy roadmap – and its findings are startling
Bernadette McCabe and Ian O’Hara
Using organic waste to make energy – think sewage, animal and crop residues, and leftover wood – has finally been put under the spotlight with last week’s release of Australia’s first Bioenergy Roadmap.
If you vote for moderate Liberals, you will end up with Barnaby Joyce again
Zali Steggall
For all the moderate liberal MPs who say they’re committed to action on climate change, barely an inch of ground has been gained in the most significant issue of our time.
Climate change technology investment falls short
Letters
Government support for research and development needs to be increased to meet the climate change challenge.
Lost in a forest of contradictions [$]
Australian editorial
Fortescue is free not to claim the $300m rebate it now receives.
Microgrids can power transition to net zero [$]
James Colbert
The major barriers to accelerating Australia’s transition to net zero carbon emissions are inconsistent renewable power generation and an outdated power grid unable to cope with peaks in supply and demand – or enable the vast numbers of households and companies producing renewable power to sell it back to the grid.
If technology is the answer to everything, it had better work [$]
Ticky Fullerton
How great is technology! It is going to deliver us from the evils of climate change and bring about net zero at 2050 or before.
‘Can do capitalism’: An outdated, selfish narrative
Stuart Rees
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been promoting ‘can do capitalism’, when what Australia needs is policies that treat all citizens equally.
Victoria
The post-pandemic commute to become longer but less frequent
Victorians will find their commute takes longer, but they’ll have to do it less often, according to new modelling that shows how habits will change in the post-pandemic era.
New South Wales
Lithgow Council continues to battle the NSW Government’s decision to include Lithgow as one of just four areas in New South Wales where residue wastes can be incinerated.
Glencore launches public attack on Indigenous pair opposing NSW mining project
In community newspaper ad, mining giant name Aboriginal men who are seeking to protect massacre site
ACT
The ACT government hopes a trial service for home owners to send their food scraps to a compost heap instead of landfill will prove a model to significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to the tip in Canberra
Queensland
Pop superstar Billie Eilish steps in to save Great Barrier Reef
She is one of the world’s biggest singers, but this popstar is now joining reef conservation efforts thanks to a little Australian.
Sustainable business practises earn top ranking for Griffith’s MBA
Griffith Business School’s MBA program has been ranked number one globally in the Corporate Knights 19th annual Better World MBA Ranking, for the second consecutive year.
Calls for cats to be indoor-only rise in Queensland’s north
Queensland wildlife carers and pet rehoming services are in one voice when it comes to restricting cats to be indoor-only, so will councils follow those in Victoria, SA, and the ACT?
South Australia
Beach bungle: Weeds planted to save SA dunes causing enormous damage [$]
Weeds planted to stabilise dunes along vast stretches of SA’s coast are causing massive sand erosion and killing birds – and will cost millions to fix.
Tasmania
Killiecrankie Farm helps people go carbon-free this Christmas [$]
With Christmas fast approaching many people are taking the opportunity to wind down, but not Killiecrankie Farm owner Lee Adamson-Ringk. As the owner of Tasmania’s first “pick-your-own” Christmas tree operation, Mrs Adamson-Ringk is hard at work preparing trees for the farm’s first open day of the festive season this weekend.
Claim key groups blocked from container refund debate [$]
One of the state’s major brewers says it has been “gagged” in the container refund scheme debate as the government pressures the Upper House to quickly pass the legislation.
More support for TasNetworks’ Marinus Link proposal
TasNetworks’ Marinus Link proposal has formally won the support of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce.
Tasmanian Government makes submission to the Commonwealth Government for hydrogen hub funding
The Tasmanian government on Monday lodged a funding submission with the federal government for a proposed green hydrogen hub at Bell Bay.
Greens urge George Town Council to play devil’s advocate
The Greens are calling on George Town councillors to vote against plans to approve a Low Head development after discovering necessary federal environmental approvals have not been lodged.
EPA approves move of Port Cygnet effluent discharge
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by the Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Corporation Pty Ltd (TasWater) for relocation of Cygnet Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) outfall (discharge) in Port Cygnet in the Huon Valley.
BBF protests continue at Takayna mine
Bob Brown Foundation is calling for urgent protection of takayna / Tarkine and immediate removal of Venture Minerals drill rig and cancellation of their mining leases.
Guy Barnett
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is progressing with its plan to maximise the opportunity for Bell Bay to be a national renewable hydrogen hub as part of the Australian Government’s expanded $464 million regional program.
Western Australia
Investor push to strengthen laws that protect cultural sites
Investors are up in arms over a draft law in Western Australia which they say won’t prevent another Juukan Gorge.
Woodside’s $16b Scarborough gas project gets green light
The final go-ahead to build the biggest oil and gas development in Australia in a decade has been given by Woodside and BHP, after reaching a final investment decision on the $16.5 billion Scarborough project off north-west Western Australia. But green groups vow to keep fighting the plan.
Evelyn Manfield
Woodside is set to make a final investment decision on a major LNG project in Western Australia’s north within weeks, but opponents vow to push on with their attempts to stop it.
Sustainability
What is sustainable when it comes to fashion? Europe’s new laws rate synthetics over natural fibre
Tackling “greenwashing” in the fashion industry, Australian wool and cotton growers have joined forces to take on Europe’s new textile labelling laws over the very definition of sustainable.
All new buildings in England to have electric car charge points from 2022
Boris Johnson to announce plans at CBI conference, telling business leaders the UK is at a pivotal moment
How the chemicals industry’s pollution slipped under the radar
The industry consumes more than 10% of fossil fuels produced globally and emits an estimated 3.3 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions a year, more than India’s annual emissions.
Energy crunch drives carbon to record as Europe burns coal [$]
Power plants in the UK are burning the most coal since the beginning of March to keep the lights on amid cooler-than-normal weather.
How sugar-loving microbes could help power future cars
In a new study, genetically engineered E. coli eat glucose, then help turn it into molecules found in gasoline
Shaping a sustainable future for a common plastic
Broad-based scientific team from government, academia and industry joins forces to identify new opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of polyurethane — one of the most widely used but little recycled plastic materials.
‘We need your criticism’, Pope tells young people – video
Speaking at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Pope Francis encourages young people in their efforts to protect the environment, telling them to be ‘the critical conscience of society’
New initiative aims to save curlew from extinction in Wales
Conservation groups, farming community and government to work together on 10-year project
Climate uncertainty colors flood risk assessment
Understanding how climate change will affect the flooding of rivers may become easier with a new framework for assessing flood risk that’s been developed by an interdisciplinary team.
Why it’s time to reconsider ecological contribution of introduced species — even in New Zealand
Sebastian Leuzinger
Growing evidence that humans have triggered a sixth global mass extinction means the protection of remaining species is a priority beyond dispute to secure ecological services such carbon cycling, clean water and air, and healthy oceans.
—
return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.