Post of the Day
Losing hectare of wetlands could cost upward of $8,000 in flood damages
A first-of-its-kind article coauthored by scholars at Resources for the Future (RFF) and Columbia University in the journal American Economic Review finds that the loss of a hectare of wetlands (roughly the size of two and a half football fields) costs society an average of $1,900 in flood damages per year. In developed areas, that figure jumps to more than $8,000.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
National Ferret Day – USA
Climate Change
Australian climate scientist on new UN panel probing business’ net zero claims
A 16-member panel including Australian climate scientist Bill Hare has been appointed by the United Nations to scrutinise firm’s efforts to curb emissions.
India: Frequent heat waves a reminder of climate change impacts
Climate scientists warn that South Asia is likely to experience more extreme weather brought on by heat waves in the coming decades. In March, wide swathes of northern India experienced more than dozen heat waves.
Facts haven’t spurred us to climate action. Can fiction?
Mark Johnson
The emerging genre of climate fiction is portraying — in ways that nonfiction can’t — the perils of a scorching planet.
‘Nuclear war is more of a threat than climate change’ [$]
Bjorn Lomborg
Weeks before thermobaric rockets hit Ukraine, the World Economic Forum declared ‘climate action failure’ our biggest global risk. This fixation has had three important consequences
National
Wondering when the wet weather soaking Australia’s east coast will end? The news isn’t good
A wetter than average April to June is likely for parts of eastern and northern Australia, meaning the risk of widespread flooding persists in many hard-hit areas, which already have full catchments and wet soils.
Rule change for Emissions Reduction Fund native forest regeneration projects
The Australian government has agreed on a new rule for native forest regeneration projects under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
ACF rejects Angus Taylor’s claim it eased off attacking Australia’s carbon credit scheme
Conservation group says it backs former government adviser who described the system as a fraud on the environment and taxpayers
‘Confusing’: Flooding event highlights need for national warning system
Back-to-back flooding events that have swept through the Northern Rivers region has highlighted the need to fast track the roll-out of a national consistency emergency warning system, almost 18 years after it was first flagged.
Native title body calls for future fund as PBCs get budget sugar hit
Concerns have been raised over funding allocated to the prescribed body corporates sector, as a key representative council questions its longevity and financial security.
Qantas says long-haul electric flight still “several decades away”
Qantas CEO says electric powered long-haul aircraft still “several decades” from becoming a reality, as the airline focuses on sustainable fuels and carbon offsets.
Taylor has third, last-gasp crack at regulations to redirect renewable energy funding
Undeterred by senate slap down, Angus Taylor has made yet another, last gasp attempt to change the investment remit of ARENA.
Albo links Solomons-China pact to climate change [$]
Anthony Albanese has been accused of ‘making things up’ after he blamed Australia’s lack of action on climate change for the Solomon Islands’ security pact with China.
Potential conflicts of interest abound in Australia’s carbon credits market
Stephen Long
Close links between clean energy regulators and many of the companies and markets they oversee — as well as personnel who crossover between the two — mean potential conflicts of interest abound.
Katter’s right, we need more dams, more mines and more gas [$]
Des Houghton
I hate agreeing with Bob Katter, but we Australians are living in a fool’s paradise when we let water that could be nourishing cattle and food crops flow wastefully into the ocean.
Court green-lights Sussan Ley’s climate duty of care appeal
Nicholas Bugeja
On 15 March, the Full Federal Court handed down its decision in the Sharma v Minister for the Environment case, delivering a blow to the hopes of young people and climate activists.
Environment: nobody wants to pay for climate action
Peter Sainsbury
The Commonwealth government continues to ignore climate action, while developing countries resist bearing the burden of the renewable energy transition. Scientists say ‘no’ to solar geoengineering.
Tracking the Coalition’s attacks on green energy infrastructure [$]
Mike Seccombe
For nearly a decade the Coalition has been attempting to dismantle the country’s green energy infrastructure – first trying to defund it, then hollowing it out, then using it to fund fossil fuel projects. Through all this, careful drafting has made it almost impossible for the government to fully implement its plans.
Victoria
Reef grief: Mornington locals wary of underwater installations at Point Nepean
The 16 large concrete structures that will make up Victoria’s largest artificial reef are about to be installed at Point Nepean, but the project has met with some opposition on the Mornington Peninsula.
End of the line for commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay
Sardine fisher Phil McAdam is winding up his business as the ban on commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay comes into effect.
$11m desal order despite near-full dams [$]
An extra 15 billion litres of desal water will flow into Melbourne storages already at 86 per cent capacity.
Apostles to attract eco-disciples [$]
Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is set to be transformed with work on the first resort development set to start early next year, attracting many more visitors to the iconic Twelve Apostles.
New South Wales
New laws pose $22,000 fines, two years in jail for protests that cause ‘economic chaos’
NSW’s Attorney-General says the laws will target “anarchist protesters”, but The Greens say they undermine the right to peaceful protest.
Liddell power station wind-down begins after 50 years of burning coal
AGL is closing the first of four units at its Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley today as it develops a low carbon energy hub on the site.
Expansion of ‘most gassy’ coal mine given conditional approval by planning authorities
Despite coming under fire for its level of greenhouse gas emissions, Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri Underground mine extension has been given the green light. It comes a day after the company was fined for polluting a creek near another mine.
Back from the brink: Tiny bush carnivore gets a new lease on life
Not quite back from the brink but getting there, the red-tailed phascogale is making a comeback.
Ancient rock art site returned to Aboriginal owners — and they’re keen to share it, on their own terms
Stories of the ancient Anaiwan people etched into granite outcrops high in northern New South Wales are set to become more accessible to the public.
Queensland
Landholders say $1m fine for CSG company ‘petty cash’
Arrow Energy drilled 48 “deviated” wells under properties without the knowledge of the landholders. The Queensland government says the penalty sends a message, but those affected disagree.
Trash talk: Why these new dumping grounds have our farmers filthy
From mountains of old tyres to truckloads of live crocodiles, Queensland farmers are fed up with the rubbish turning up on their properties.
Qld flood recovery expert on how updated model can work in NSW
Jamie Simmonds was the planning engineer who helped the community of Grantham move out of the floods of 2011. He is frustrated the Grantham model is being dismissed as “shifting an entire town”.
Noxious weed to become ‘green coal’ at new plant in outback Queensland
For years, prickly acacia has been the bane of many a farmer’s existence. Now it is set to become a valuable renewable energy source.
South Australia
‘Absolutely amazing’: Lake Eyre dances with colour thanks to unprecedented rain
Rainfall not seen over South Australia’s vast desert lake since the 80s has brought it to spectacular life
Northern Territory
Hundreds of millions of dollars awarded to an Australian world heritage site has been left sitting in the bank as tourism operators scream out for new facilities.
Western Australia
Armed with mozzie-killing chemicals, Perth council launches drone attack over wetlands
For 17 years a Perth council has been fighting a losing battle against hordes of mosquitoes breeding in urban wetlands. Now it’s turning to high-tech drones to win the war.
Experts say the disruption to supply chains caused by recent natural disasters shows it is “absolutely essential” for the federal government to deliver the millions of dollars allocated to upgrade outback roads.
Government denies fire boss power to veto ‘undefendable’ property developments
Should the DFES Commissioner be given the power to veto new property subdivisions in high bushfire risk areas? One group opposed to the development of a new subdivision in the Perth Hills by property developer Nigel Satterly says yes.
WA Traditional Owners push Fed govt to reassess bridge project
The floodplain is considered the mythological site of the Wagyl, the Noongar creation spirit. There are fears any disturbance will cause irreversible damage to its heritage and value.
WA green hydrogen player buys solar farm to power new electrolyser plans
Infinite Blue Energy reveals plans to produce up to 4 tonnes a day of zero-emissions renewable hydrogen in the WA wheatbelt town of Northam.
Conservationists in bid to kill WA’s last uranium project
While investors cheered the merger of uranium hopefuls Vimy Resources and Deep Yellow this week, conservationists began steeling themselves for the fight of their lives against its flagship Mulga Rock project.
As WA coral bleaches, the warning signs can no longer be ignored
Paul Gamblin
What may have seemed hypothetical and far away is here, now, in our backyard. You can wade into the water near Exmouth or off the Pilbara and see what hot water is doing to our reefs.
Sustainability
Today’s energy crisis will reshape tomorrow’s world
The current energy crisis will have as profound an impact on the world as those of the ’70s, say experts, but the results will be very different.
Can my electric car power my house? Not yet for most drivers, but vehicle-to-home-charging is coming
So far, only a few electric vehicles can charge a house, and they require special equipment. Here are some of the obstacles to this technology going mainstream.
Nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine illustrates perils of war
At a major plant in northwestern Ukraine, officials fear that “an international disaster is just one mistake away.”
Why is Biden boasting about drilling for oil? Our planet demands we stop now
Peter Kalmus
Tragically, the Biden administration is choosing to expand the fossil fuel industry at this critical moment
Nature Conservation
Losing hectare of wetlands could cost upward of $8,000 in flood damages
A first-of-its-kind article coauthored by scholars at Resources for the Future (RFF) and Columbia University in the journal American Economic Review finds that the loss of a hectare of wetlands (roughly the size of two and a half football fields) costs society an average of $1,900 in flood damages per year. In developed areas, that figure jumps to more than $8,000.
Adriana Hoffmann, botanist who fought for Chile’s forests, dies at 82
The U.N. recognized her as one of the top 25 environmental leaders of the 1990s, championing her nation’s natural resources in the face of corporate power.
Wild sounds: The loss of sonic diversity and why it matters
From birdsong in the rainforest to whale calls in the oceans, the world is losing the variety of sounds that enriches life. Habitat loss, species extinctions, and industrial noise all contribute to this sonic loss, which cuts off a vital human connection to the Earth.
Traditional knowledge guides protection of planetary health in Finland
Traditional and Indigenous peoples in the Arctic are joining with scientists to successfully rewild mining-degraded peatlands and other sites.
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