Daily Links Feb 13

Mike Cannon-Brooke’s four things to look for in election policies make great sense. His four? Reducing domestic fossil-fuel base energy, support for electric vehicles, Australian battery manufacturing and strengthening the power infrastructure to cope better with the increase in renewables that must happen. 

Post of the Day

Here’s how to demolish the most common excuses for climate crisis apathy

Elizabeth Cripps

Every one of us now has a duty to do something, if not for ourselves then for the survival of future generations

 

On This Day

February 13

Apology Anniversary

 

Climate Change

Closing in on the carbon costs of wildfires

Wildfire and post-fire recovery could lead to more carbon being stored than released in the long term in savannahs and grasslands, according to a new study. The findings suggest that there is far stronger potential for cycles of fire and recovery to increase soil carbon stocks in these areas than in forests.

 

Paris Climate Agreement goal still within reach, suggests new study

A new study suggests some cautiously optimistic good news: The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement goal is still within reach, while apocalyptic, worst-case scenarios are no longer plausible.

 

Extreme climate fluctuation drives South African domestic migration

As the climate crisis worsens, some South Africans are relocating to places with more stable climate conditions, according to a study led by Princeton University researchers.

 

Here’s how to demolish the most common excuses for climate crisis apathy

Elizabeth Cripps

Every one of us now has a duty to do something, if not for ourselves then for the survival of future generations

 

National

Barramundi industry hooks into fashion in effort to slash waste

The commercial barra industry is bringing to life some stylish options to increase sustainability and use every part of the fish.

 

Mike Cannon-Brookes on climate independents and his budget wishlist

The Atlassian co-founder is yet to financially back any political candidates for the 2022 federal election, but he has made his agenda clear.

 

Australian sport has been captured by carbon – but a sliver of light has emerged

Ben Abbatangelo

Tennis Australia axed Santos from the 2021 Australian Open sponsors list – who will follow their lead?

 

Victoria

Emerging seaweed industry could solve livestock’s big, gassy problem

At the depths of Port Phillip, a perhaps unlikely aquaculture project could hold the key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Australian cattle.

 

‘Stand in front of those plots’: Community gardeners rally before bulldozers roll in

Gardeners will chain themselves to the fences of their beloved veggie patches if necessary to stop the planned demolition of the Collingwood Children’s Farm community gardens starting Monday.

 

New South Wales

Natural processes responsible for Parramatta River fish deaths

Laboratory results confirm fish kills in Parramatta River were a result of natural processes.

 

‘Very high’ levels of microplastic waste at some of Sydney’s most popular beaches

There were more than 4000 microplastics per square metre on average at the most poorly rated of Sydney’s harbour beaches, data collected by citizen scientists shows. Use our interactive map to check your local waterways.

 

Queensland

Australia is spending billions on the Great Barrier Reef. Will it do any good?

Another $1bn has been committed, the latest of many funding pledges. But the reef’s biggest threat – global heating – overshadows everything

 

Brown: I know how Shorten could have won in spite of Qld voters [$]

Greens founder Bob Brown has sensationally proclaimed Bill Shorten would have won the 2019 federal election if he promised to kill off the Adani coal mine.

 

Tasmania

How cat food and genetic testing are being used to secure the future of endangered quolls

Tasmania is one of the last strongholds for the nationally endangered quoll. In the state’s central highlands, a pilot reintroduction program is underway in a bid to shore up the local population before it’s too late.

 

Questions raised over Cradle Mountain cable car ‘delay’ [$]

Six years after the project was first proposed, a development application for a planned cable car at Cradle Mountain is still yet to be presented to the local council for assessment.

 

Western Australia

Homes feared lost in Great Southern bushfires

 Lightning is believed to be the cause of more than 15 bushfires across the region since 2pm on Friday afternoon.

 

Sustainability

Strong and Elastic, Yet Degradable: Protein-Based Bioplastics

More than eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year — a serious danger for the environment and health. Biodegradable bioplastics could provide an alternative

 

A ‘fairly simple’ breakthrough makes accessing stored hydrogen more efficient

A new catalyst extracts hydrogen from hydrogen storage materials easily and efficiently. The process occurs at mild temperatures and under normal atmospheric conditions, without using metals or additives.

 

India hopes to replace diesel with green energy in its farms by 2024

India is hoping to cut diesel use by farms to zero and migrate the agriculture sector to renewable energy as early as 2024, the Power Ministry said.

 

Nature Conservation

How climate change can worsen impact of invasive plants

A study tested the effects of prescribed fire on long-leaf pines grown under different conditions: drought, invasive plants, and a combination of the two.

 

Endangered delicacy: Tropical sea cucumbers in trouble

Overharvest has put the Great Barrier Reef’s tropical sea cucumber populations in peril, researchers have revealed, with strong demand for this delicacy from East and Southeast Asia.

 

7 to 9 percent of all European vascular plants are globally threatened, study finds

Seven to nine percent of all vascular plant species occurring in Europe are globally threatened, according to a new study. Researchers combined Red Lists of endangered plant species in Europe with data on their global distribution.

 

European banks to sink $6.3 billion in protecting oceans from plastic

A group of European development banks plan to double its funding for global efforts to stop plastic waste from polluting the world’s oceans to €4 billion ($6.3 billion).

 



Maelor Himbury
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