Post of the Day
Global warming risks most cataclysmic extinction of marine life in 250m years
Global heating is causing such a drastic change to the world’s oceans that it risks a mass extinction event of marine species that rivals anything that’s happened in the Earth’s history over tens of millions of years, new research has warned.
On This Day
Laylat al-Qadr – Islam
Ecological Observance
National Arbor Day – USA
Arbor Day – Colombia
Climate Change
New study could help reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
A team of researchers led by the University of Minnesota has significantly improved the performance of numerical predictions for agricultural nitrous oxide emissions.
Youth leading on climate: Interview with Elizabeth Gulugulu
Youth play an important role in meeting the climate challenge. Young people are among the least responsible for climate change and are often among the loudest calling for action.
“We must halve energy use to avoid climate catastrophe:” UNSW
New study finds that without a significant reduction in global energy consumption, renewables are chasing a target that keeps getting further away.
India’s extreme heat is expected to worsen
The Indian subcontinent has recorded above-average temperatures for weeks. Heat-related weather watches or alerts are now in effect for hundreds of millions of people.
Climate change is pushing toxic chemicals into drinking wells
Drought can increase the concentration of pathogens and other contaminants in well water.
Droughts to increase human migration at least 200%
Human migration due to droughts will increase by at least 200% as we move through the 21st century, research indicates.
Elevated sea-level rise in Dublin higher than predicted due to climate change, study finds
An analysis of trends in Dublin Bay over eight decades has confirmed the sea-level is rising faster than expected – at approximately double the rate of global sea-level rise.
“Two party system is broken:” Key climate independents back away from major parties
Key independent candidates decline to endorse either major party to form government, saying the ‘two party system is broken’.
Soaring wholesale electricity costs could push household power bills 40pc higher, analyst says
Households battling rocketing living costs are facing energy bill hikes of 40 per cent across the coming two years, with the electricity market operator saying prices already surged 141 per cent year on year.
Reason for power price hike revealed
A major surge in the price of electricity in Australia has been blamed largely on a global spike in the cost of coal.
Lack of transmission elevated wholesale electricity prices: AEMO [$]
Australia’s Energy Market Operator says states dependent on coal endured higher wholesale electricity prices than southern states.
Surging power bills to fire up poll debate
Scott Morrison says power bills have fallen under his government, but new figures show prices are marching higher.
Climate change, the environment and the cost of living top the #SetTheAgenda poll
Misha Ketchel
When the 2022 federal election was called three weeks ago, we at The Conversation made a decision to let our readers, not politicians, decide the most important issues facing our nation.
‘Don’t Look Up‘ Election further ignores climate crisis
David Ritter
The major parties, abetted by large swathes of the media, are avoiding serious engagement with the reality of the climate emergency.
Greens climate policy matches urgency of climate crisis
Climate Council media release
The Australian Greens’ ‘Powering Past Coal and Gas’ climate and energy plan is the first policy that matches the scale and pace of action the climate science demands.
Our report card on government’s handling of Australia’s extinction crisis
Sarah Bekessy and Brendan Wintle
Australia is losing more biodiversity than any other developed nation. Already this year the charismatic and once abundant gang gang cockatoo has been added to our national threatened species list, the koala has been listed as endangered and the Great Barrier Reef suffered another mass bleaching event.
Adam Morton
Scott Morrison is criticising the Coalition’s own climate policy – it’s just one that has barely been used
Dear politicians, young climate activists are not abuse victims, we are children who read news
Anjali Sharma
We have only to turn on the TV or look at social media to see the suffering climate change already causes
Lies, damned lies … and political ads on climate policy
Nick O’Malley
When it comes to carbon emissions, the federal government is sending different – and contradictory – messages to the city and the bush.
Climate ‘independents’ are privileged pretenders [$]
Rita Panahi
The homogenous group of women that make up the fake independents love preaching about diversity but they are not very good at practising it.
Victoria
Domestic Wastewater Management Plan for public review
Colac Otway Shire Council’s Draft Domestic Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP) is open for public exhibition from 29 April to 24 June 2022, following Council’s endorsement at this evening’s Council meeting.
Unions to announce green ban in bid to protect Melbourne’s John Curtin hotel
Group of unions step up campaign to protect historic pub popular with leaders of Australia’s labour movement
Federation buys NSW big battery projects in landmark deal
Infrastructure investor buys NSW battery storage assets in first of its type deal in Australia.
Harnessing Hunter’s hydrogen future
The Morrison Government is backing the future clean hydrogen industry in the Hunter in New South Wales, which will utilise the region’s strong resources and export capabilities to produce clean hydrogen for use both here at home and across the world, and create highly skilled jobs.
Lowering Lake Mulwala at Yarrawonga to begin next
The gradual lowering of Lake Mulwala to control an invasive waterweed and undertake necessary infrastructure maintenance will begin in the week commencing 3 May, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) confirmed today.
State’s bold plan to bust traffic jams
NSW councils will trial an “affordable and convenient” way of getting around from July in a bid to ease congestion on our roads.
Koalas to get new habitat in northern NSW
The Koala Friendly Carbon project is offering carbon credit incentives to private landholders in the NSW Northern Rivers to create koala habitats on their land.
Plans unveiled for ‘strategic cycle corridors’ across eastern Sydney
A network of strategic cycle paths across eastern parts of Sydney has been revealed in a state government plan to complete missing connections and link suburban centres to encourage more people to ride.
Climate candidate is on an emission
The Climate 200-backed independent candidate for North Sydney Kylea Tink says she will seek the introduction of vehicle and emission standards in exchange for her support in parliament.
Queensland
The First Nations group fighting Clive Palmer’s mining project
The challenge will focus on the human rights of First Nations communities, who say these are at risk of breaches if the proposed mine is executed.
New treatment plant secures Clifton’s water future
Clifton’s short-term water supply issue is resolved with Toowoomba Regional Council turning the tap on a brand-new packaged water treatment plant for the town.
RES reveals plans for huge Queensland wind farm and battery
UK renewables giant unveils new plans for a potentially huge wind farm and big battery in Australia, this time in Queensland.
Greens hot on the heels of the LNP in Brisbane seat as Canavan’s misstep could prove costly
The LNP’s Trevor Evans campaigned hard on climate change at a town hall debate in the seat of Brisbane last night after Labor and the Greens doubled their vote last election in what is the “youngest” electorate in the country.
Morrison ‘loose with truth’ on coal project [$]
Shine Energy CEO has accused Scott Morrison of being ‘loose with the truth’ in claiming the government has fulfilled its obligations to facilitate the construction of a coal-fired power station in Collinsville.
Scott Morrison, the coal convoy and black art of winning Qld voters
Madonna King
He might have learned to “play” Queensland at the last federal election, but the Prime Minister has no Bob Brown to galvanise the country’s north this time around.
South Australia
Coalition promises $218m for energy and cement projects in South Australia’s north
The federal government is tipping Port Bonython, near Whyalla, as the site of a so-called “hydrogen hub” and promises money for solar and carbon capture technology as well as cement projects in the safe Liberal seat of Grey.
More burn-offs but all under control, CFS says [$]
Residents have been worried by thick smoke around the Hills, but the CFS says large, planned burnoffs are under control.
Tasmania
Coalition promises $70 million for Bell Bay green hydrogen hub [$]
The coalition has promised $70 million to help establish a green hydrogen production hub at Bell Bay which would include upgrades to water infrastructure, transmission networks and port works.
‘Rotting smell of animal decay’: Demands for environmental action [$]
“The odour is foul. You can taste it, you can smell it, you can’t hang your clothes out on the washing line”: Rural Tasmanian residents demand action over environmental concerns.
Protecting iconic landmarks from oil/gas drilling
Ben & Jerry’s and Surfrider Foundation Australia have just wrapped up a series of community conversations in Tasmania, speaking to local communities all along the northern Tasmanian coastline to spread awareness about the devastating impacts of seismic blasting due to potential oil & gas projects across the state and Australia.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation
Today’s shocking reports show that smoke from logging burns has made the air quality in parts of Hobart and southern Tasmania worse and less healthy than in Beijing. This is the defining moment for Premier Rockliff to call off these appalling logging practices once and for all.
Media release – North West Tas for Clean Oceans (NWTAS)
The fight to save Bass Strait has been elevated to another level with the revelations about JBS exposed on 4 Corners last night
Northern Territory
NT plastic ban will help territory wildlife
An alliance of leading environmental groups have welcomed the release of the Northern Territory Government’s NT Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2027, describing it as an important step towards cleaning up the Territory’s rivers and coasts.
Landmark partnership to enhance conservation across six million hectares
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and North Australian Pastoral Company (NAPCo) are proud to announce a landmark partnership that will include an additional six million hectares to conservation land management in Australia.
Darwin Council demands Govt deliver on underground power promises
Darwin Council’s Acting Lord Mayor has called for the Territory Government to deliver on its long-awaited promise to underground Top End power.
Gas company could be fined for receiving millions in handouts but failing to front Senate committee
Sweetpea Petroleum, a company awarded $7.5 million of taxpayer money under a Coalition government program subsidising exploration wells in the Beetaloo Basin, could be found in contempt of the Senate for failing to appear at a federal Senate inquiry into the grants program.
Fortescue says regenerative “Infinity Train” may be on tracks in two years
Fortescue says its regenerative Infinity Train could be on its iron ore rail network tracks within two years.
Letter of warning to Chinese company over Kimberley illegal clearing ‘sends wrong message’
Nyikina Mangala traditional owners say the decision to send a letter of warning to a Chinese company that cleared 120 hectares of bush without a permit is disrespectful.
‘The river, it’s like life to us’: Traditional owners celebrate new national park
Traditional owners in WA’s Kimberley hope the creation of Warlibirri National Park will deliver jobs and opportunities on Gooniyandi country.
Carbon Capture’s Epic Fail: giant Gorgon gas plant goes ‘phut’
Callum Foote
Australia’s largest Carbon Capture and Storage project has failed on all fronts. Is CCS, or “clean coal” as it has been branded, simply a fraud, a sneaky way for the Coalition to subsidise its large fossil fuel donors with public money? Callum Foote reports on the Gorgon failure and the global failure of CCS.
Sustainability
Indonesia introduces sweeping ban on palm oil exports
Ships are seized and international buyers are left in the lurch as Indonesia makes a last-minute change to a refined palm oil export ban to include other popular forms too.
What drives rechargeable battery decay? Depends on how many times you’ve charged it
How quickly a battery electrode decays depends on properties of individual particles in the battery – at first. Later on, the network of particles matters more.
Need for advanced chemistry cell energy storage in India
Battery energy storage plays a critical role in accelerating electricity and transportation decarbonization in India. The recently finalized $2.5 billion Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme on advanced cell chemistry (ACC) battery storage has signalled India’s intent to meet the need for batteries through domestic manufacturing. With the announcement of the bid winners for the scheme, the momentum has finally shifted from planning to actions on the ground.
Lawsuits seek to stop Postal Service from buying gas-guzzling trucks
Environmental groups and state attorneys general have sued to block the U.S. Postal Service from spending billions on new gas-powered delivery vehicles.
Food, fertiliser and the future in the firing line as the world becomes more dangerous
Paul Krugman
As the world becomes a more dangerous place, things we take for granted, like global trade in food, may be far more vulnerable than anyone realised.
World War III is far more likely than anyone is prepared to admit
Allister Heath
We are playing with genetic engineering, space travel and even enhancing the virulence of some pathogens, but have yet to deliberately use any of these technologies for mass warfare.
Chinese resort developer Freesoul fined $650,000 for damaging Fijian mangroves and reef
In a landmark judgment, Fiji’s High Court fines a Chinese company that dug a channel through mangroves and a coral reef so it could provide access to an island resort and casino development.
Climate change has decimated this once popular Iraq lake
Iraq’s Lake Sawa is no longer. The lake, which was located west of Samawa in Iraq’s Muthana Province, has disappeared due to climate change-induced drought and groundwater harvesting for agricultural and industrial purposes.
Climate change will force new animal encounters – and boost viral outbreaks
Over the next 50 years, climate change could drive over 15,000 new cases of mammals transmitting viruses to other mammals, according to a study published in Nature.
Global warming risks most cataclysmic extinction of marine life in 250m years
Global heating is causing such a drastic change to the world’s oceans that it risks a mass extinction event of marine species that rivals anything that’s happened in the Earth’s history over tens of millions of years, new research has warned.
Wildlife don’t recognize borders, nor does climate change. Conservation should keep up
A set of studies focused on the China-Vietnam border demonstrates that the impacts of climate change will make transboundary conservation even more important for endangered species like the Cao-Vit gibbon and tiger geckos.
Protecting the planet against desertification
Desertification is threatening the livelihoods of about a billion people worldwide. It’s fueled by human-driven global warming. But its effects can be reversed with regenerative farming and regreening practices.
Efforts to revitalise and restore dry land in Jordan – podcast
In Jordan, efforts are being made to revitalise and restore dry land, relied on by farmers and communities.
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