Post of the Day
Douglas Fischer
It is hard to think about the environment when lives are being torn asunder by war.
On This Day
Climate Change
Climate change pushed out of spotlight amid conflict, economic trouble
A message drowned out by the sounds of artillery shells exploding in the heart of Europe.
Latin American states develop action portfolios to deliver their decarbonisation pathways
Amazonas has prioritised seven mitigation actions as part of its decarbonisation pathway. They primarily target the forest and land use sector, focusing on forest expansion and protection, and sustainable forest management. Actions to increase land use efficiency and sustainable agriculture will provide many co-benefits for farmers and the land.
National
Humpback whales no longer listed as endangered after major recovery
Humpback whales are being removed from Australia’s threatened species list, with the government celebrating their surging population — but scientists warn the mammals face more challenges.
Rio Tinto: “technology-led” climate policies not enough to keep global warming within safe levels
Rio Tinto says “society-led” rather than “technology-led” approach needed to keep global warming within safer levels. That means a high carbon price.
Energy minister in rare position of being linked to case opposing his own government’s decision on Jam Land, part-owned by Taylor and brother
Stop trying to play God: Twiggy on the attack over green future
Mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy”” Forrest has attacked Energy Minister Angus Taylor for standing in the road of Australia’s energy future and for being deluded enough to think he was God.
Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes banks on turning Australia green
Mike Cannon-Brookes is one of the 100 richest people globally, and he wants to speed up Australia’s transition to renewables. But is big money the answer?
Why Cannon-Brookes won’t back down on his renewable energy crusade [$]
Mike Cannon-Brookes’ audacious plan to take over AGL Energy came as a big surprise, but with hindsight it was totally in character.
Dramatic week puts both parties’ climate policies on notice [$]
This week marked an important moment in the end of coal-fired power, and managing that transition will be one of the most important jobs for whoever wins the election.
Green is good: How the AGL bid could set off a wave of climate themed takeovers
Charlotte Grieve
Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes is not the first person to mount an unexpected takeover bid for AGL.
Questioning a cool, green billionaire gets you black-listed [$]
Steve Price
Magnate Mike Cannon-Brookes, who owns some of Australia’s most costly property, wants to shut down Latrobe Valley coal. But question him at your own risk.
Real risk lies in not planning renewables transition [$]
Claire Ibrahim and Pradeep Philip
When you hear people say energy prices will rise because the energy market is choosing to decarbonise, just remember that such statements aren’t good economics.
Saul Griffith
Energy is on everyone’s lips. First, Australia’s two biggest energy companies announce they will retire coal-fired power stations early. Great news: this is what climate science requires. Then Brookfield Asset Management and Mike Cannon-Brookes make a stunning play to buy AGL and rapidly replace coal with clean energy. Also good.
Victoria
Predator-proof fence to turn Wilsons Prom into climate ‘refuge’
Ten-kilometre barrier will stop burrowing wombats, extend into the marine environments and have a folded over “lip” at the top to stop foxes and cats from climbing over.
New South Wales
NSW looks to quadruple size of first renewable energy zone after Eraring closure
NSW proposes new route for transmission line that could allow it to quadruple the capacity in the first of five planned renewable energy zones.
Iberdrola revives central west wind farm, with works to begin within weeks
The construction of a long-delayed wind farm in central-west NSW is set to go ahead, with Iberdrola to begin work on the project next month.
The station buy-ups by NSW National Parks are a waste of money and will further damage Western NSW
Brendan O’Reilly
Many observers regard the purchases as an expensive stunt, that buys lots of acres for a low cost per acre (often under $100) but due to the large acreages, still cost tens of millions of dollars plus ongoing running costs.
Queensland
Brisbane’s rapidly rising Wivenhoe Dam releases water amid deluge
The massive rain band that has drenched the region in recent days sees the dam’s water level jump by about 10 per cent in a day.
Fortescue strikes deal with Queensland for green hydrogen transmission link
The Queensland government has struck a deal with FFI to connect two proposed hydrogen projects to the grid and supplies of renewable electricity.
Greens target Queensland as new battleground in balance of power bid
Adam Bandt is optimistic about the 2022 election despite the challenge of climate-focused independents and a resurgent Labor
Dozens of SEQ towns inundated as ‘very dangerous’ storms fuel deadly deluge
Southeast Queensland residents are facing very dangerous thunderstorm activity and potentially life-threatening flash floods as a deadly low-pressure trough pummels the region.
Meet the Octocoral: Sunshine Coast rock pool creatures ‘the only ones on Earth’
Bright blue “octocorals” that have long delighted visitors to tidal rock pools at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast have been proven to be globally unique – and officially garnered the new name “Opalia” after the vivid Australian gems.
South Australia
The old quarry set to become SA’s ‘jewel in the crown’ [$]
The government has promised to build a 350-ha adventure tourism destination, suitable for cycling, swimming, diving, kayaking and running, if it is re-elected.
Tasmania
Nature’s delights are slipping away [$]
Charles Wooley
High on the Central Plateau no one is sure why the fishing experience is not what it was. Is it overfishing? Or is it attributed in part to rising temperatures?
Northern Territory
‘Massive seas of grass’ close popular Larapinta Trail
The Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service is worried about hikers getting lost on the remote 230km walking track because long grass has grown over the trail.
Cyclone warning issued for Northern Territory
A cyclone warning has been issued for the Northern Territory from south of Dundee through to the WA border, including Wadeye.
Western Australia
Soaring transport costs crippling WA motorists [$]
Transport costs are crippling West Australians, with the average Perth household now spending more than $400 a week on transport.
Forrest’s green hydrogen plans grow murkier [$]
Nick Evans
Andrew Forrest and Fortescue Future Industries are in quiet retreat from Moscow, revealing the risk from his green hydrogen strategy.
Sustainability
Virtual Peaker’s platform taps home devices to help utilities balance the grid
The scrappy Kentucky-based startup has landed $16.6M and a slew of big contracts.
Why is Chernobyl so important to the Russians as they invade Ukraine?
Ukraine’s government, anonymous Russian military sources and experts have all posited different explanations for why Russia captured the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power plant as part of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour.
After years of pollution violations, Tesla is fined $275,000 by the EPA
After years of “high priority violations” of air pollution regulations at its Fremont assembly plant, Tesla has been penalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Douglas Fischer
It is hard to think about the environment when lives are being torn asunder by war.
Ellie Martus
With the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has overstepped an important line. The west sat by and did little when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and annexed Crimea in 2014. But the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that is currently underway is impossible to ignore.
Philip Williams
At the core of the West’s reluctance to take a military stand in Ukraine is the fear that Vladimir Putin may just be unhinged enough to use weapons that threaten the existence of civilisations
Replace the Nord Stream 2 pipeline with renewables
Kate Aronoff
American oil and gas companies want to use the conflict in Ukraine to keep Europe dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come.
Plastic pollution is a global problem – here’s how to design an effective treaty to curb it
Sarah J. Morath
Public, government and corporate support for a world treaty to curb plastic waste is growing. Treaties addressing mercury pollution, long-range air pollution and ozone depletion offer some lessons.
Why scientists are ‘weeding’ coral reefs
Climate change is threatening the world’s corals, but removing seaweed—like weeding a garden—can give some reefs a boost.
Under the new approach, the EPA recently banned certain pesticides in more than a 100 U.S. counties.
Darren Koppel
This week the federal government announced A$804.4 million over ten years to bolster Australia’s scientific and strategic presence in Antarctica. Of this, $14.3 million is for cleaning up legacy waste from the continent – the abandoned waste and contamination accumulated from over a century of human visitors.
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