Post of the Day
5 takeaways from the U.N. report on limiting global warming
Current pledges to cut emissions, even if nations follow through on them, won’t stop temperatures from rising to risky new levels.
On This Day
Climate Change
Helping humanity limit global warming can enable adaptation too, urges King’s College IPCC expert
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report outlines what the world can do to mitigate climate change – that is, what we can do between now and 2030 to limit global warming.
IPCC: We can tackle climate change if big oil gets out of the way
Experts say criticism of oil and gas’s ‘climate-blocking activities’ cut from final draft, reflective of industry’s power and influence
5 takeaways from the U.N. report on limiting global warming
Current pledges to cut emissions, even if nations follow through on them, won’t stop temperatures from rising to risky new levels.
Technology can fix the climate mess—but not without help
Another damning IPCC report insists that to reduce emissions, humanity will need more political willpower and help from nature’s carbon-sequestering powers.
Simulating Earth’s changing climate: why some models exaggerate future warming
Olaf Morgenstern
The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released overnight, shows a viable path to cutting global emissions by half by the end of this decade.
The world is on fire. Why is Canada considering massive new oil drilling?
Conor Curtis and Tzeporah Berman
A Norwegian oil company wants to drill 73m barrels a year off the coast of Newfoundland – the equivalent of adding 7m gas cars to the road
Despite grim truths, not all the news in the climate report is bad
Nick O’Malley
The crucial goal of keeping warming to 1.5 degrees may be slipping out of reach, but every tenth of a degree matters.
Why net zero gives Russia a helping hand [$]
Warren Mundine
The West’s move away from our own power sources is helping bankroll Moscow’s war crimes in Ukraine.
Hubris over our ability to control the climate limits real solutions [$]
Graham Lloyd
The urgency of rushing to implement 20th-century renewable technologies risks wasting resources on an inadequate energy infrastructure and increasing our vulnerability to weather extremes.
Carbon removal isn’t the solution to climate change
Genevieve Guenther
Climate models that assume we can deploy large-scale carbon capture are leading us into a trap, distracting from the urgent need to reduce fossil fuels.
Gas-led recovery is a “dog”, world must stop burning fossil fuels, Turnbull says
Malcolm Turnbull says the Coalition’s gas led recovery is a “dog”, and says the world must stop burning fossil fuels and put gas “out of business.”
New data shows big jump in toxic coal plant pollution, even as output falls
Analysis shows big increase in amount of toxic air pollutants emitted by Australia’s ageing fleet of coal-fired power plants, even while generation output of some has decreased.
How Officeworks is integrating sustainability into all its decision-making
We caught up with Ryan Swenson, head of ESG and corporate affairs for Officeworks, to talk about ESG strategy and the business plan behind protecting both people and planet.
Poll positions for electric car campaign
Locally made electric cars and up to $15,000 cash back for buyers are part of the pitch as the Australian Greens launch their federal election campaign.
Coalition accused of sitting on environment report to avoid delivering ‘more bad news’
Calls for report to be released before election so voters know ‘official state’ of environment under Morrison government
‘Clear message’: Labor promises to bid to host global climate change summit if elected
As part of its climate change commitment, a Labor government would seek to co-host a United Nations COP meeting with Pacific Island nations.
‘Follow our lead’: federal government calls for world to follow its climate policy
The United Nations has released yet another report calling for drastic climate action amid rising global greenhouse emissions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia has reduced emissions by around 20 per cent, and that this is a better record than the US, NZ, Canada, Japan and many European countries. Is that correct?
The way Australia consumes plastic is about to enter a new stage
If Australians haven’t noticed the changes being made to how, when, and where they recycle plastic, they will in the coming months.
As Australia’s renewable energy revolution bypasses Canberra, big business leads the charge
Industry experts say business, not government, is increasingly driving Australia’s net-zero push as miner BHP inks a deal to bankroll a major wind farm in WA.
Electric trucks ‘can be done right here and now’ [$]
Electric batteries that can be swapped over as trucks drive up and down Australia’s coast can shift heavy vehicles to zero carbon emissions faster and cheaper than hydrogen fuel cells, the co-founder of a battery maker claims.
It’s astounding Australia has no policy framework to drive urgent clean energy transition
Ariel Liebman
It is astounding that there is no nationally agreed policy-making framework to guide Australia through a once in a century technological transition.
You have no idea who Australia’s biggest digital publisher is [$]
Cam Wilson
If you had to guess, who would you say is Australia’s biggest digital publisher? The ABC? One of the commercial TV networks? Perhaps a major publication from Nine or News Corp? Whoever you guessed, it’s probably wrong — sorry — because this Australian publisher is not that widely known, despite being bigger than all of the aforementioned names combined.
Australia surfs the wave of war with spike in fossil fuel prices [$]
Bernard Keane and Glenn Dter
Australia is enjoying massive fossil fuel revenues as the international situation causes spikes in the prices of key exports like gas and coal.
‘Now or never’: Australia’s responses to decades of damning IPCC climate reports [$]
Josefine Ganko
The latest report is the most damning yet so we’ve charted three decades of Australia’s climate policy to gauge our progress, or lack of it.
International mission to decide on Morrison Government’s climate and reef policies
Imogen Zethoven
So, is the Morrison Government doing enough to secure the protection of the Great Barrier Reef? The question is almost absurd. The answer is a deafening no.
Politicians are leading us head-first into climate disaster
Letters
The UN is saying we are on a catastrophic path of global warming because of global leaders, but the polls on federal voting show voters are intending to back the parties that are getting us into this disaster.
Victoria
Gippsland to get priority assessment for first offshore wind projects
Australia’s first offshore wind project a step closer with the federal government declaring the Bass Strait-Gippsland region as the first priority region.
New South Wales
Blue Mountains National Park to close after fatal landslide
Roaring waterfalls and a rare day of sunshine had drawn flocks of tourists to the Blue Mountains on Monday, but what seemed like an ideal moment for traversing trails turned to tragedy when part of a sodden cliff face dislodged below Wentworth Falls.
Minor to moderate flooding in New South Wales expected over next four days
Sydney’s seed bank moves to new premises seemingly from a James Bond movie
The temperature-controlled vaults house plants that can be used to solve crimes, track climate change and paint a picture of what Australia looked like decades ago.
‘Transformative’ plans for inner city hub [$]
Sydney Park is set for a major facelift with plans for green public space, cycleways and new al fresco dining outlets all set to be introduced.
ACT
Fortnightly rubbish collection could come with reusable nappy incentive, mum says
A fortnightly rubbish collection has become a help not a hindrance for one Macquarie family, which has used the organic-waste trial to switch to reusable nappies.
Scrap public transport fares for six weeks to ease cost of living, Libs say
Fares should be scrapped on public transport in Canberra for six weeks and the regular timetable reinstated, the Canberra Liberals have said, in a move to help residents with the cost of living and help the environment by reducing transport emissions.
Energy providers move to reduce electric vehicles demand on grid
The homes of 22 Canberra electric vehicle owners have been fitted with fast-charges as part of a federally-funded study aimed at reducing pressure on the grid.
Heritage buildings must be allowed to adapt to climate change: minister
Heritage controls will need to strike a balance between preserving buildings in Canberra and allowing changes to make them climate resilient, the ACT’s Heritage Minister has said.
Queensland
Labor underestimated coal and cattle country last election, but this time it says it’s listening
A candidate in a “classic marginal seat” in central Queensland says coal is the word, but his opponent doubts voters will buy it.
‘Reckless public spending’: Coalition’s extra $126m for Queensland dam draws fire
Money pledged without explanation for cost blowout as some investors withdraw, believing Emu Swamp Dam project now unviable
Broker raises coal concerns as public backlash kills off Bundaberg project
Booming coal prices may not flow through to Queensland producers because of capacity constraints on a crucial rail network.
Queensland braces for second energy shock as coal price pushes up power costs
Queensland consumers are in for another energy shock with electricity prices likely to follow the same path as petrol and spike significantly higher in coming months.
Game-changing rail project could miss Olympics deadline [$]
New detail surrounding the construction of a Sunshine Coast rail extension shows construction will still be under way just prior to the 2032 Olympic Games, with a funding tit-for-tat continuing between the state and federal governments.
South Australia
SA Polls: Boothby, Sturt contests heat up as voters back protecting Great Australian Bight
Post-Budget surveys in the South Australian federal electorates of Boothby and Sturt have shown both seats could be in play at the upcoming election, with a mixed reaction to the Budget and a strong desire for protecting the Great Australian Bight recorded by voters.
Blister packs placed in council’s ‘too hard to recycle’ basket
An Adelaide City Council report has found pre-formed plastic packaging for medication is “unsuitable” for the organisation to recycle “at this time”, leaving one pharmacist footing a $277 weekly bill to divert the waste from landfill and questioning the council’s commitment to the circular economy.
What’s happened to the Torrens? [$]
The River Torrens has gone green – but = Adelaide City Council says it is nothing to be concerned about.
Tasmania
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation
Bob Brown Foundation is holding protests across Tasmania this week to call for a halt to logging which it believes to be illegal. Now that Premier Gutwein has resigned, the Minister responsible for destroying Tasmania’s forests needs to halt the logging and tell the public the truth.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory government insists taxpayers will see a return on a $56 million investment on remote roads supporting a massive prawn farm that is now in dire straits.
Beetaloo Basin fracking inquiry gives gas industry more headaches
People travelled hundreds of kilometres by road from across the Northern Territory to put their opposition on the record for a Senate inquiry into shale gas fracking in the Beetaloo Basin
Western Australia
‘We’re not going to give up’: Traditional owners to keep fighting against urea plant near Pilbara rock art
An application to halt construction of a multi-billion-dollar urea plant is rejected by the federal government despite its location near the world’s largest collection of ancient rock art.
Former Rio Tinto executive in Juukan Gorge destruction named likely leader of WA’s first uranium mine
Chris Salisbury was one of three senior executives who stepped down after the destruction of a 46,000-year-old sacred site at Juukan Gorge. He has been named as the proposed chair of a $658m merger with the company developing WA’s first uranium mine.
BHP signs up WA wind farm for greener nickel
BHP has bought the entire output of the first wind farm in WA’s South West farmlands to cut emissions from processing nickel for electric vehicle batteries.
Sustainability
European Union proposes Russian coal ban in further tightening of sanctions
The European Commission has proposed new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including a ban on buying Russian coal and on Russian ships entering EU ports, and said it was working on banning oil imports too.
Will all ships have to travel 30% slower in accordance with carbon emissions regulations set by the United Nations starting on January 1, 2023? No, that’s not true
Huge swells have once again battered beaches. Here’s how to protect your house from damage
Buying a home involves a lot of research and checks — but when it comes to the effects of sea level rise, buyers have largely been left to go it alone.
New research shows what it takes to make society change for the better
New research suggests that social change may depend on the relationship between beneficial behaviors and policies.
Do you toss biodegradable plastics in compost bin?
Over one-fifth of all plastic produced worldwide is tossed into uncontrolled dumpsites, burned in open pits or leaked into the environment. In Australia, 1.1 million tonnes of plastic is placed in the market, yet just 16% (179,000 tonnes) is recovered.
A new international report on climate change finds rapid changes could cut emissions from transportation by 80% to 90%. Three behavior change trends could bring big improvements.
World’s fossil fuel assets risk evaporating in climate fight
Oil platforms, pipelines, coal power plants and other fossil fuel assets could lose trillions of dollars in the battle against climate change.
A bright future: Seeking a third generation of better performing solar cells
In typical solar cells, nearly half the solar energy absorbed by charged particles is often lost as heat to the device material. This makes the solar cells inefficient. With a type of solar cell called the hot carrier solar cell (HCSC), this loss can be avoided by extracting the heat and storing it elsewhere in the material’s structure. Scientists now examine various barriers and approaches to achieving an operational HCSC.
Solar cell keeps working long after sun sets
In Applied Physics Letters, researchers constructed a photovoltaic cell that harvests energy from the environment during the day and night, making use of the heat leaking from Earth back into space. At night, solar cells radiate and lose heat to the sky, reaching temperatures a few degrees below the ambient air. The device under development uses a thermoelectric module to generate voltage and current from the temperature gradient between the cell and the air. The setup is inexpensive and, in principle, could be incorporated within existing solar cells.
Treated plastic waste good at grabbing carbon dioxide
Rice University chemists treat waste plastic to absorb carbon dioxide from flue gas streams more efficiently than current processes.
All coked up: The global environmental impacts of cocaine
The planetwide cocaine supply chain — its production, trafficking and consumption — causes deforestation and pollution, and impacts biodiversity, as do other criminal activities associated with illegal drugs.
Chernobyl was a wildlife haven. Then Russian troops arrived
The area around the defunct power plant has been an unexpected rewilding success story. Now attempts to monitor progress are hampered by the war.
Ask these 10 questions if you want to get rooftop solar
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Jeff St. John Solar panels are the symbol of clean energy for many. But actually getting them onto your rooftop requires grappling with all sorts of complexity. |
Spotted Hyenas Adjust Their Foraging Behavior in Response to Climate Change
Spotted hyenas adjust to a decreased presence of migratory prey in their territories induced by climate change.
Delicate balance of coral reef processes creates management challenges
An international team of researchers has quantified five critical ecological processes on more than 500 coral reefs worldwide to understand how these processes relate to each other, what may distinguish the most functional reefs, and what that means for our management of reef functioning.
Can sunflowers help defeat the ‘insect apocalypse’?
An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, led by Lynn Adler, professor of biology, has been awarded $2.4 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to trace how food affects the ability of pathogens to attack plant pollinators. The research will be the first conducted across a wide range of scales, from the molecular to the community-wide, and has immediate implications for ecosystems, including agricultural efforts, worldwide.
Dolphins, turtles and birds don’t have to die in fishing gear – skilled fishers can avoid it
Leslie Roberson and Chris Wilcox
In 1987, a biologist went undercover on a commercial tuna fishing vessel. One video he took made headlines around the world: hundreds of dolphins encircled in purse seine nets, drowning in distress.
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