Daily Links May 18

Post of the Day

6 books about the climate crisis that offer hope, recommended by experts

We asked six environmental experts to each nominate a book about the climate crisis that offers hope.

 

On This Day

May 18

 

Climate Change

Climate geoengineering must be regulated, says former WTO head

Pascal Lamy to lead commission exploring how methods to tackle global heating could be governed

 

Food insecurity haunts the debates at the COP15 on desertification

In Africa, where agriculture employs about 60% of the working population according to the World Bank, the risks of food insecurity are increasingly worrying.

 

From victims to claimants: Mobilizing the IPCC Assessment for climate justice

Poor and marginalized communities worldwide, and island nations especially, have contributed the least to the climate crisis, but are nonetheless impacted the most by it.

 

Shut down fossil fuel production sites early to avoid climate chaos, says study

Nearly half existing facilities will need to close prematurely to limit heating to 1.5C, scientists say

 

Pakistan’s water woes to worsen with climate change

Highlighting that the Himalayan glaciers have lost more mass since 2000 than in the entire twentieth century, a report by a Washington-based institute said that water scarcity in Pakistan is projected to worsen with climate change.

 

6 books about the climate crisis that offer hope, recommended by experts

We asked six environmental experts to each nominate a book about the climate crisis that offers hope.

 

Climate change affecting deepest parts of the ocean

Climate change is leading to a rise in temperatures in the deepest parts of the ocean, scientists from the University of Exeter have warned. New research indicates that much of the “excess heat” stored in the subtropical North Atlantic is in the deep ocean, below 700 metres.

 

National

‘It’s really hard to leave your country’: Tiibea is already preparing for climate-induced migration

Tiibea Baure moved to Australia from Kiribati so her family would have options if they had to leave the Pacific Island nation due to climate change. But if her family were forced out, it would raise questions over statelessness and nationality.

 

Do you live in one of Australia’s most polluted towns?

Air pollution kills 3,000 people every year, according to the Australian Conservation Foundation which has revealed the most polluted regions in the country.

 

The Coalition says Labor has a plan to introduce a ‘sneaky carbon tax’. Is there any evidence?

The Coalition has been running a campaign to convince you that Labor plans to introduce a “sneaky carbon tax”. But is there any evidence to their claims, or is it just a scare campaign?


Cannon-Brookes questions solvency of AGL’s coal spinoff

Software billionaire questions future solvency of AGL Energy’s proposed coal spin-off Accel Energy, in hard-hitting letter to shareholders.

 

‘Referendum needed to fix broken system’ as eligibility in question for dozens of candidates

The ABC has examined the qualification checklist forms of all lower house candidates and found dozens failed to acknowledge they may have inherited foreign citizenship from their parents.

 

Government infighting over climate change made giving honest policy advice harder, tribunal told

Internal conflict within the Morrison government on climate change policy made it harder for public servants to give frank advice about how to prepare for worsening climate extremes, according to the sworn testimony of a senior bureaucrat.

 

How $11 billion in promised taxes from the gas sector has gone missing

More than $11 billion in promised corporate taxes has gone missing after 10 years of the coal seam gas to LNG industry, according to the Australia Institute.

 

Industry demands clarity on climate [$]

Australia’s largest energy producer, Woodside Petroleum, said it was open to Labor’s proposed changes to the safeguard mechanism.

 

Australian election could end country’s climate change inaction

Flood and drought-stricken Australia votes on Saturday. As a major exporter of coal and one of the world’s worst CO2 emitters per capita, the result will be decisive for global climate goals.

 

Is there a future for ultra long-haul flights in a net zero carbon world?

Susanne Becken and Paresh Pant

This year, Qantas announced two plans in direct conflict.

 

We must end our command-and-control relationship with the environment if we are to arrest its destruction

Euan Ritchie

Despite the magnitude of Australia’s environmental decline, we still have the opportunity and ability to turn things around

 

What fossil fuel companies do matters far more than electing ‘teals’ [$]

Jennifer Hewett

The APPEA conference in Brisbane argues the oil and gas industry offers a solution to climate change rather than being the problem. Whether it’s proved right will matter more than the number of teal independents elected on Saturday.

 

Roundabouts and car parks? The major parties are promising much on transport, but they should stick to their jobs

Marion Terrill

In the seat-by-seat slugfest that is the federal election, transport infrastructure is once again at the forefront. Small, hyper-local projects are a favourite of both major parties this time around. That’s even though small local projects, such as roundabouts and carparks, simply aren’t the job of the federal government, and in practice often go badly.

 

Victoria

Floating wetland along Yarra River among City of Melbourne’s budget pledges

Projects such as the transformation of the Yarra and the next stage of the Queen Victoria Market renewal are factored into the city’s draft budget.

 

Dead end for ‘defeated’ East West Link [$]

Premier Dan Andrews has ruled out ever building the controversial East West Link, despite federal Labor’s $4b infrastructure power play.

 

New South Wales

New cycleway linking eastern suburbs to Sydney’s CBD [$]

A newly constructed cycleway linking the eastern suburbs to Sydney’s CBD will be completed next month, with the project to cater to the post-pandemic cycling boom.

 

This dam’s expansion is tipped to cost more than triple original estimates, but it lacks a funding commitment

The federal government has refused to say whether it will commit the extra funding needed for one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects taking place in central western New South Wales. 

 

ACT

ACT Supreme Court refuses Bernard Collaery’s application for government agency documents

The latest twist in the saga of the government’s pursuit of Bernard Collaery sees the ACT Supreme Court refuse his application for piles of documents from agencies, including the overseas spy group ASIS.

 

Queensland

‘An awful mess’: Environmental concerns after sunken luxury yacht left on beach

A 27-metre-long yacht that sank off the Capricorn Coast nearly a week ago remains on a Queensland beach, leaving locals to pick up rubbish that is washing ashore.

 

Gold Coast MP Karen Andrews says her light rail opposition not motivated by investment property

McPherson MP Karen Andrews says community concerns about light rail stage 4, not an investment property she owns along the proposed route, are behind her opposition to the controversial project.

 

‘Groundbreaking’: First Nations cultural evidence heard in legal first

The Queensland Land Court has heard a landmark testimony from traditional owner Jiritju Fourmile in Gimuy (Cairns) as part of the historic case against Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal.

 

‘Community’ group linked to mining company New Hope presses ALP candidate on coalmine support

Group previously accused of being part of ‘astroturfing’ campaign says ‘community deserves clarity’ on position of Labor candidate in Queensland seat of Groom

 

Spray and wipe: Qld breakthrough may rid world of destructive pest

Queensland researchers have applied RNA technology, integral in the development of Covid vaccines, to the global war against one of the world’s most damaging agricultural pests.

 

Noosa gets even greener as plantation forest becomes national park

Up to 2400 hectares of former plantation land will be added to the Tewantin National Park north of Brisbane to protect native wildlife and rehabilitation under native management.

 

Cottee’s State Gas snaps up huge joint venture with Santos

Shares in Richard Cottee’s State Gas jumped 12 per cent today after it and Santos landed a highly prospective exploration area in central Queensland stretching over 1000 sq km.

Greens pledge $7.8b to raise 480k flood-affected homes on stumps [$]

The Greens have launched a last campaign push to secure inner-city seats, pledging $7.8 billion for residents in climate change-affected areas to lift their homes above flood levels.

 

$1b hold up: Qld spending half as much on roads and rail as southern states [$]

Coalition MPs have bit back at claims by Anthony Albanese and Annastacia Palaszczuk that Queensland was “not getting its fair share” with figures that they say show the State Government was spending half as much on road and rail as NSW and Victoria.

 

Controversial Straddie project beached – for now [$]

A controversial plan by North Stradbroke Island’s Traditional Owners for a picturesque tourist hotspot has been temporarily put on ice.

 

Lead danger: ‘mine emissions to blame’ [$]

Emissions from Mount Isa’s mine and smelting operations is the major contributor to the high lead levels detected among children, a scientist told a Brisbane court.

 

Idealism versus opportunism: Greens walk a fine line

Mark Sawyer

The Greens are a chance to go big this election. The party is determined to put a ‘’terrible government’’ to the sword. But in their 2022 hunting ground of Brisbane, they are aiming to knock out the woman who would be Labor’s environment minister.


Tasmania

Why shares in this Tassie mine just bounced by 50 per cent [$]

The owner of a previously decommissioned mine, which is in the process of being rebuilt ahead of production commencing early next year, has received an unexpected fillip.

 

Forest lock-ups ‘absolutely right’: Albanese [$]

Anthony Albanese backed Mark Latham’s ill-fated Tasmanian forest protection policy as ‘absolutely right’ even after it was rejected by voters.

 

Prescribed burning and risk in Tasmania

Jenny Styger and Phillipa McCormack

Prescribed burning is important because it helps us to mitigate bushfire risk, and care for and maintain the rich diversity of species and ecosystems across this state. Prescribed burning is also a deeply important and spiritual practice for Aboriginal people as they connect with country and work to keep country healthy.

 

Western Australia

Silicon manufacturer may be forced to import coal as jarrah supply, a key input, dwindles

Australia’s only silicon manufacturer may be forced to import coal as it struggles to secure a consistent supply of local timber to make its product.

 

Miner abandons plan to explore near pristine WA tourism town

Environmental campaigners in Denmark now want legislation to exclude high-value areas of WA from future mining.

 

Sustainability

‘It’s a bribe’: the coastal areas that could become the UK’s nuclear dump

Promises of jobs and investment are doing little to convince a remote Lincolnshire community to agree to hosting the country’s nuclear waste

 

Light pollution falling amid soaring energy prices, star survey finds

Reasons behind drop include people being more conscious of energy use during cost of living crisis, says CPRE

 

Nature Conservation

Zimbabwe says it needs help to manage its ‘dangerous’ elephant population

Zimbabwe is home to an estimated 100,000 elephants, double the carrying capacity of its national parks. Rangers now need help to manage the populations.

 



Maelor Himbury
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