Daily Links May 25

That people of courage and bravery have been prepared to risk all, and in extreme cases it is all, shows the timescales which democracy works need speeding up on a range of fundamental issues. From tree-sitting, superglue binding hands to locks, sewing up lips and self-immolation, we should applaud activism. 

Post of the Day

UN says rich countries putting children around the world at risk

Rich countries are creating unsafe living conditions for children both at home and around the world, a UNICEF report released Tuesday said, calling on states to reduce waste and cut pollution.

 

On This Day

May 25

 

Ecological Observance

International Plastic Free Day

 

Climate Change

“Don’t work for climate wreckers:” UN chief warns young people off fossil fuels

UN Chief Antonio Guterres tells university graduates not to work in industries that are “killing the planet”, including fossil fuels.

 

Greenhouse gas pollution trapping almost 50 percent more heat than 30 years ago

Planet-warming gases are trapping more and more heat in the atmosphere, holding in significantly more heat than they were in previous decades, a new assessment has found.

 

Climate change: Radical activists benefit social movements – history shows why

Radical forms of protest have historically been deployed by social movements to cast a spotlight on desperate situations, when conventional legal and political responses have been deemed woefully inadequate.

 

Exxon must go to trial over alleged climate crimes, court rules

The ruling, and another crucial court decision this week, will force the company to face charges it lied about global heating

 

New measurements from Northern Sweden show less methane emissions than feared

It is widely understood that thawing permafrost can lead to significant amounts of methane being released. However, new research shows that in some areas, this release of methane could be a tenth of the amount predicted from a thaw. A crucial, yet an open question is how much precipitation the future will bring.

 

National

“We gave up:” Quinbrook’s back with big battery plans and withering critique of Taylor’s policy failure

Quinbrook ready to invest in Australia again, but gives withering critique of Angus Taylor’s policy failure.

Albanese commits Australia to stronger 2030 target, starts climate reset

Anthony Albanese hits reset on Australia’s international climate stance, formally committing Australia to a stronger 2030 emissions target.

 

Labor, Greens look set to push businesses to adopt tougher emission targets

The future of Australia’s biggest emitters looks uncertain under the new Labor government, with the Greens and climate change-focused independents set to have a loud voice in parliament.

 

A new ‘flushability’ logo will appear on products in a bid to stop monstrous ‘fatbergs’ forming

Every year, wastewater systems and networks around Australia are damaged by people flushing the wrong things.

 

Farmers say they are ‘in the box seat’ to address climate change with green and teal allies

Meet the Australian farmers who have battled for years for action on climate change, keen to work with Greens and Labor.

 

Labor’s solar banks and community batteries good start for cost of living and climate, but design and delivery critical

With Anthony Albanese elected as Australia’s new Prime Minister on the back of promises to address cost of living and climate change, the Community Power Agency is urging the incoming Labor Government to work with the community energy sector to comprehensively implement Labor’s plan for solar banks and community batteries to assist more Australians to access cheaper, cleaner power.

 

‘No excuses’: limited conservation efforts could save at least 47 Australian animals from extinction

Scientists hope Albanese government addresses extinction crisis as new research shows 63 vertebrates face annihilation by 2041

 

Albanese’s win a green light for free trade, climate: EU envoy

Australia looks set to avoid being slapped with European carbon tariffs on key export industries in the coming decade, following the election of a new government promising more ambitious climate targets.

 

Mega, giga, terafire: New language to capture monster blazes

The term ‘megafire’ has been around since 2005. Now, an Australian team has defined it, while coining new terms for the more extreme blazes of our changing climate.

 

Gas market on edge as major retailer collapses [$]

The sudden shut down of Weston Energy has hit over 400 companies, with the industry calling on the Albanese government to respond to soaring prices that could push more to collapse.

 

Albanese’s day one: change the climate [$]

Anthony Albanese has joined Joe Biden’s climate change crusade and unveiled Australia’s new international approach on global carbon emissions at the Quad meeting

 

Surging gas prices raise fears of energy crisis [$]

A doubling in wholesale gas prices after electricity prices that have risen five-fold have triggered fears of an energy price crisis similar to Europe’s and warnings the new government will fall short of targeted price reductions.

 

Australian rules needed to help finance energy transition [$]

RIAA says the government must put policy in place to unlock more sustainable finance to achieve its commitments on climate change, infrastructure projects and affordable housing.

 

Australia: Crucial need for ambitious climate action

The new Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, should make ambitious action on climate a priority of his new government, Human Rights Watch said today.

 

Australia can swiftly end the climate wars and become a renewable superpower. Here’s how

Nicky Ison

We can replace coal power with renewables and storage, electrify everything, create a renewable export industry and grow clean energy supply chains

 

Good timing and hard work: behind the election’s ‘Greenslide’

Kate Crowley

During Saturday’s election, 31.5% of the voters deserted the major parties, with a swag of female teal independents tipping Liberal MPs out of their heartland urban seats.

 

Quad praises Albanese government’s higher ambition on climate

Michelle Grattan

The Quad summit in Tokyo has praised Australia raising its ambition on climate change, after Anthony Albanese told fellow leaders his government would do more to assist Pacific countries address it.

Australia has the resources to be a renewable energy superpower, now it needs a plan

Simon Corbell

The last federal government has left a considerable mess in the electricity sector for the incoming Labor government to clean up.

 

Election shows conservative culture war on climate change could be nearing its end

Matthew Hornsey et al

Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s shock loss to an independent running on a climate action platform wasn’t a fluke event. “Teal” independents have ousted five of Frydenberg’s colleagues, all harvesting votes from conservative heartland and all calling for more action on climate change.

 

Lights out for Australia if Albo follows US [$]

James Morrow

Australia is heading for an American-style energy crisis with the potential for mass blackouts and much higher prices if Albo plays ‘keep up with the teals’ on carbon.

 

Rush to join just as global going gets tough [$]

Graham Lloyd

Anthony Albanese has rushed to put his climate change credentials on the world stage in Japan but this was no Bali ­moment.

 

Severe weather amped up climate ‘doomism’ vote [$]

Graham Lloyd

Of all the weapons picked up in the fight against climate change, catastrophisation of the weather has been the most potent. And it showed in the election result.

 

Green factors are shaping where people want to own homes [$]

Ticky Fullerton

Some of the nation’s major developers say they are looking for positive action on climate change – and may just get it under an incoming Labor government.

 

Climate policy must not be blown off course once again [$]

AFR editorial

Both political and economic integrity demand that Labor sticks to its climate mandate. But the government must start detailing how it will get there.

 

Nationals should realise climate wars need to end

Age editorial

Party leader Barnaby Joyce did little to hide his disdain for the Coalition’s pre-election pledge of net zero emissions by 2050. His position is unsustainable in more ways than one.

 

This teal independent wants tax reform [$]

Allegra Spender

The Labor government needs to come up with a package of reforms and a clear time frame to address the twin challenges of productivity and sustainability.

 

If Labor won’t shut offshore gas down, it must tax it — and heavily [$]

Bernard Keane

The party promised stronger action on climate change, so allowing the offshore gas industry to continue on its merry way is not a good look.

 

Green light

Rachel Withers

The Labor Party has a clear directive from the electorate to go further on climate

 

Victoria

‘It’s not a crime to play golf’: Park move triggers turf war at Northcote course

The City of Darebin voted on Monday to open up 5.72 hectares of space at Northcote golf course, but golfers say it could spell the beginning of the end for public fairways across the city.

 

Why you may be banned from buying rat poison [$]

Victoria could soon be the first state to outlaw the sale of some rat poisons in a bid to protect native birds, animals and pets.

 

New South Wales

Timber industry in flood-ravaged NSW receives lifeline for wet winter

Timber mills in Northern NSW have had to look further and further afield for wood in the wake of flooding – they’re hopeful a state government subsidy will keep them afloat through the winter.   

 

NSW’s world class climate science research expands to WA

NSW’s gold standard climate projection modelling has been adopted interstate, ensuring a consistent approach to climate science and information.

 

Upgrading waste to renewable energy source

Work is under way on a vital component for Jemena’s Malabar Biomethane project – the upgrader package – the first of its kind to be fabricated in Australia. Biomethane upgraders remove water, carbon dioxide, other gases and contaminants from wastewater to produce renewable biomethane.

 

Is climate positive activewear the future? This Byron Bay designer says yes

Nagnata founder Laura May Gibbs has found success and controversy but remains focused on creating her version of a better fashion business.

 

ACT

Aranda named leafiest suburb while new developments fall behind [$]

All Canberra suburbs have increased tree canopy coverage since the introduction of the ACT’s Urban Forest Strategy, with Aranda surging ahead as the capital’s leafiest suburb.

 

Queensland

Tropical rainforests dying at twice the rate from drier, hotter conditions, study finds

A 50-year study shows trees in Australia’s tropical rainforests are experiencing chronic stress, and mortality rates began climbing in the 1970s.

 

Rats on the rampage in outback Mount Isa as authorities scamper to prevent a ‘plague’

Local authorities are cracking down on hospitality businesses in Mount Isa, with poor food waste and oil disposal identified as a major cause of a thriving rat population.

 

Scientists hope artificial dens could save marsupial that mates itself to death

Ecologists are trying to secure the future of the endangered northern quoll, known for mating itself to death, by building them more homes.

 

The man who carried Greens from his living-room floor to floor of Parliament House

Activist, environmentalist and Greens co-founder Drew Hutton, now 75, was feeling pretty good about life and his role in upending Australian politics when In Queensland found him.

 

Don’t mention the cane toad: the rooftop lab protecting Australia’s biosecurity

A nondescript rooftop lab in Brisbane is the front line of Australia’s fight against invasive species.

 

‘Only credible path’: LNP push for nuclear talks [$]

The Opposition is looking to rebuild in the wake of the election, with Queensland LNP MPs now pushing for nuclear power to be considered as part of its energy policy.

 

Plan to save homes on light rail route [$]

Dozens of property owners along the Gold Coast light rail route could be spared resumptions under a radical new plan aimed at limiting the tram corridor through the southern Glitter Strip.

 

The small town aiming to become Queensland’s top electric car destination

When it comes to capitalising on environmentally conscious daytrippers, one Queensland town is pulling out all stops.

 

How Queensland’s political colours were changing before our eyes, and no-one noticed

Dennis Atkins

The Greens’ march in Inner Brisbane was happening in plain sight. A chastened Dennis Atkins explains why he missed seeing its full extent.

 

South Australia

Greens target Chapman’s seat amid surge in support [$]

A burgeoning Green vote in Adelaide’s well-heeled east has raised hopes the party can win retiring former Liberal deputy premier Vickie Chapman’s seat.


Tasmania

The salmon industry is big business in Tasmania, but a new report says changes must be made

An inquiry into Tasmania’s salmon industry makes dozens of recommendations and highlights issues with environmental regulation and transparency under a state government that has pushed and promoted the industry’s expansion.

 

Northern Territory

Alice Springs tests potential for remote control of home solar and batteries

A team at Charles Darwin University will test the ability for solar and battery inverters to provide “essential support services” to the Alice Springs grid.

 

Pastoralist company to join forces with Beetaloo Basin traditional owners to resist gas exploration

Rallen has steadfastly opposes fracking on its land amid fossil fuel firm’s ‘unprecedented’ legal action to force access

 

Govt backs ‘critically important’ Beetaloo

The Territory Labor Government says Beetaloo will go ahead despite resistence from The Greens.

 

The tap water in this remote Indigenous community is tainted by uranium, but this is legal in the NT

Since 2018, residents in the remote community of Laramba, 200 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, fork out for bottled water instead because they know the tap water contains triple the recommended levels of uranium. 

 

Sustainability

ILO welcomes G7 call to make just transition to green economy happen

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has welcomed the G7 Labour and Employment Ministers commitment to take concrete action in support of a just transition and the creation of decent work for a green economy, as outlined in the Ministerial Declaration issued at the end of their meeting in Wolfsburg, Germany.


Huge artificial “green hydrogen island” proposed for North Sea

CIP proposes “hydrogen island” in the North Sea to produce up to one million tonnes of green hydrogen a year.

 

New tech aims to drive down costs of hydrogen fuel

Researchers have developed a new technique for extracting hydrogen gas from liquid carriers which is faster, less expensive and more energy efficient than previous approaches.

 

Monitoring the ‘journey’ of microplastics through the intestine of a living organism

A UAB research team has managed to track the behaviour of microplastics during their ‘journey’ through the intestinal tract of a living organism and illustrate what happens along the way. 

 

Small adaptations, major effect: Researchers study potential of future public transportation

Sharing and pooling options can facilitate public transportation and reduce car traffic

 

Low-cost gel film can pluck drinking water from desert air

Researchers developed a low-cost gel film made of abundant materials that can pull drinkable water from the air in even the driest climates.

 

Scientists make plastic more degradable under UV light

Scientists found that incorporating sugar units into polymers makes them more degradable when exposed to UV light.

 

Secret to treating ‘Achilles’ heel’ of alternatives to silicon solar panels revealed

A team of researchers has found that the tiny defects which limit the efficiency of perovskites — cheaper alternative materials for solar cells — are also responsible for structural changes in the material that lead to degradation.

 

Experts forecast the wind plant of the future to be taller and more economical

Anticipating key features of wind plants a decade or more ahead of their installation can inform today’s investment, research, and energy system planning decisions. Researchers elicited opinions from more than 140 of the world’s leading experts about their expectations of future wind plant design in 2035.

 

Highest efficiency 1-sun solar cell

Researchers have created a solar cell with a record 39.5% efficiency under 1-sun global illumination. This is believed to be the highest efficiency solar cell of any type, measured using standard 1-sun conditions.

 

UN says rich countries putting children around the world at risk

Rich countries are creating unsafe living conditions for children both at home and around the world, a UNICEF report released Tuesday said, calling on states to reduce waste and cut pollution.

 

Ethiopia’s ‘false banana’ could solve climate change induced food shortages: Study

A fruit often referred to as the “false banana”, found in Africa, has the potential to solve food shortages that could be induced by climate change and drought, said a new study.

 

Don’t believe the backlash – the benefits of NZ investing more in cycling will far outweigh the costs

Simon Kingham

Transport planners estimate money spent on high-quality cycling infrastructure yields benefits between ten and 25 times the costs.

 

Nature Conservation

Drone-based technology remotely assesses health of trees impacted by climate change

Canada has nearly 362 million hectares of forest, but climate change is negatively impacting tree health and productivity. Trees planted today need to withstand future climate instability.

 

Stress among wildlife

It is not only humans, but also animals who experience and transmit stress. This is the research focus of collective behaviour researcher Dr Hanja Brandl from the Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour” at the University of Konstanz.

 

The wetlands are drowning

A long-term study of a marsh was meant to ask whether rising levels of CO2 could help wetlands thrive despite rising seas. The plants aren’t keeping up.

 

Biden’s executive order on forests fails on climate and environmental justice

Danna Smith

Through greater protection of forests from industrial logging, we can make the world greener, cleaner and safer. And we can help restore healthy air, flood protection and other benefits to rural communities of color.

 



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