Post of the Day
I never thought I could face arrest and imprisonment campaigning for climate action
Greg Rolles
Fire, floods and other natural disasters are increasing, but the people trying to prevent the climate crisis face jail and fines simply for sitting on roads
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Arbor Day – Philippines
National Catfish Day – USA
Climate Change
Energy treaty update fails to address climate crisis, activists say
1994 agreement allows investors to sue governments for changes in energy policy that harm their profits
‘We beg God for water’: Chilean lake turns to desert, sounding climate change alarm
The Peñuelas reservoir in Chile once held enough water for 38,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. But after a decade-long drought that turned the lake into a desert, animals are dying and farmers are worried.
The Supreme Court case that could doom U.S. climate goals
The government’s power to tackle pollution is not the only question at stake in a potentially far-reaching lawsuit.
Power poverty the deadly cost of climate zealotry [$]
Bjorn Lomborg
For three decades, climate campaigners have fought to make fossil fuels so expensive that people would be forced to abandon them. Their dream is becoming reality.
There’s a simple way to unite everyone behind climate justice – and it’s within our power
George Monbiot
Cancelling poor nations’ historic debts would allow their governments to channel money into climate adaptation
National
Researchers are digitising plants in a bid to examine how the natural world is changing
A new high-resolution camera at the CSIRO is set to photograph one million plant specimens in nine months, as researchers look into how the natural world is changing.
We’re part of global solutions: Albanese [$]
Anthony Albanese will tell NATO leaders that his government won’t be ‘an impediment’ to global problems, and will emphasise Australia’s decisive shift in climate change policy.
Farmers turn to soil science technology as soaring fertiliser prices take hit out of bumper crop
Farmers forced to improve efficiency, with reliance on practices such as soil testing, grid sampling and variable mapping
Orange roughy: campaigners call for limit to trawling of species after breeding age of 73 revealed
Australian fisheries management says there are regional differences and new data only applies to population in New Zealand
End-of-life plan urged for wind turbines
Tens of thousands of wind turbine blades could be destined for landfill by the end of the decade unless end-of-life programs are established.
Electricity grid chaos to charge up power bills
Extra price pain is coming to households and businesses after weeks of chaos in the electricity grid, with special payments to prop up power companies set to flow into electricity bills.
Methane target: Food supply must come before gas export industry
Farmers for Climate Action
Farmers are already leading the way on methane reduction and it’s time the gas and coal industries did the same, Farmers for Climate Action said today.
I never thought I could face arrest and imprisonment campaigning for climate action
Greg Rolles
Fire, floods and other natural disasters are increasing, but the people trying to prevent the climate crisis face jail and fines simply for sitting on roads
Labor walked into a gas-fired catastrophe. They needn’t look far for a solution [$]
Ebony Bennett
The poor Labor government. It got the keys to a brand new federal government, opened the doors ready for a fresh start, but inside the place was a mess. Barely had Prime Minister Anthony Albanese turned the lights on and the gas-fired recovery had turned into a gas-fired catastrophe and an electricity market failure.
Sally Thompson et al
Protecting people from floods requires many technical professionals to make good predictions and decisions.
Energy crisis: The truth behind the price surge [$]
Mike Seccombe
The near collapse of the east coast energy market has its roots in decades of political appeasement directed at fossil fuel interests.
Why using a capacity mechanism to prop up coal and gas generators is a really bad idea
Johanna Bowyer
Paying generators for available capacity could lock in higher emissions, deter new entrants and add substantially to already high household power bills.
Victoria
Peter the penguin protector finishes up at Phillip Island
Peter Dann has worked with Phillip Island’s penguins for more than 40 years. With the colony in good shape, it’s time for him to retire.
Tractors join anti-wind farm rally in southwest Vic [$]
More than 100 protesters — with some arriving in tractors — descended on the Ecklin community hall in protest over plans for 10 turbines nearby.
Regulator issues warning after extra fridges dumped at businesses under efficiency scheme
Frustrated business owners are reporting having more fridges than they asked for delivered under a state government energy-saving scheme, with the regulator warning it was cracking down on the “completely unacceptable” conduct by private operators.
Andrews Government defends anti-protest logging law [$]
Nicholas Bugeja
The Victorian Government is attempting to pass a bill broadly criminalising the protest of native forest logging activities, opposed by environmental and human rights groups.
New South Wales
Mine extension could cause ‘cracks’ in dam, WaterNSW says
WaterNSW has opposed a proposal to extend a coal mine under the Sydney water catchment claiming it could damage one of the largest dams in the region.
From caravans to kids toys, waste removal continues in flood-affected waterways
Collecting tonnes of rubbish from rivers in the far north of NSW has been an emotional experience at times, as workers come across personal items like children’s school bags with the books still inside.
Bee-crippling virus detected in one state
The honeybee industry is preparing to lose its buzz, with a debilitating virus detected on Australian shores.
Saturday paper editorial
According to protesters, the two men were armed and dressed in full camouflage. They did not identify themselves as police. When confronted near a camp in the Colo Valley outside Sydney, the only words they said were: ‘We’ve been compromised.’
ACT
Is your green garden waste bin filling up really quickly this year? You’re not alone [$]
Have you noticed more autumn leaves falling this season? And some that are still yet to fall, valiantly hanging on the branch well into winter? And that your green waste bin is filling up really fast? You’re not alone.
ANU modelling to power climate change predictions [$]
As the climate warms, making accurate predictions of how the weather and other earth systems are changing is essential for humanity to prepare and adapt for the future.
Queensland
An environmental lawyer says the Qld government succumbed to “bullying” by failing to prosecute over alleged illegal mining activity in the state’s south, as the company involved awaits approvals for its third stage expansion.
Adani drops $600m claim against Queensland activist and seeks $17m instead
Mining giant claims Ben Pennings sought to disrupt operations of the Carmichael coalmine, its suppliers and contractors
Arrow bows to pressure, withdraws from two Scenic Rim gas leases
Arrow Energy has formally withdrawn from two coal-seam gas leases in Queensland’s Scenic Rim region after a decade-long campaign by locals against its plans.
‘The next big project’ after Cross River Rail: Is it time to dust off the Brisbane Subway?
It was meant to be the next big thing after Cross River Rail, but the planned Biggest battery unveiled in Queensland as part of post Callide battery blitz
east-west Brisbane Subway has been largely forgotten. Until now.
Biggest battery unveiled in Queensland as part of post Callide battery blitz
CS Energy to build 400MWh big battery near Brisbane as part of the state’s “battery blitz” following the explosion at the Callide coal plant.
South Australia
New protection scheme for endangered daisy only found in ‘tiny little pocket’ of Australia
Efforts are underway to ensure the survival of an endangered outback flower discovered 20 years ago.
Tasmania
After several tries and a high court challenge, Tasmania looks to be getting new anti-protest laws
Tasmania’s upper house effectively passes legislation to impose harsher penalties for protesters and organisations that obstruct workers or cause a “serious risk”. Here’s what it means for a state with environmental protest woven into its identity.
’Iconic’ Tasmanian species killed among millions of native animals [$]
Data has revealed millions of native animals – including wombats, swans and Kangaroos – were killed in the name of crop protection in the last three years.
Site secured for Tasmanian green hydrogen facility, aiming to fuel hydrogen bus trial
ASX-listed ReNu Energy says it has secured a site for a green hydrogen production facility, just outside of Hobart.
On Marinus Link cost and benefit …
Media release – Hydro Tasmania
Tasmania’s rich hydropower history puts our state in a great place to support the rapidly changing electricity market. Our state can provide cost-effective, dispatchable, highly flexible renewable energy, backed by long duration hydropower storage capacity.
Explainer: Anti-protest laws: how they work, and will they work? [$]
Adam Holmes
Protests targeting mining operations on the West Coast and native forestry coupes throughout Tasmania have been ongoing for years, so what impact will new anti-protest laws have on these?
Sustainability
A new type of biofilm reactor adapted to Brazilian conditions and using polyurethane foam to lower costs can reduce the amount of nitrogen compounds in wastewater by as much as 70%, according to an article in Environmental Technology.
US to proceed with production of biofuels despite global food crisis
Campaigners call to prioritise grain for human consumption over its use as a fuel
Fact check: Was most of Germany’s power recently generated by brown coal?
A graph purporting to show that Germany was briefly powered by more than two-thirds brown coal has spread widely online. But there’s a devil in the detail.
How a household favourite sank from clean and green to public enemy No. 1
As the world struggles to access enough natural gas to keep prices down, scientists are turning on the energy source once embraced as safe and clean.
E-bike sales and sharing are booming. But can they help take cars off the road?
E-bikes, already taking off during the pandemic, are getting a big boost from states that hope they will reduce driving, energy consumption and emissions.
Indonesian palm oil audit a chance to clean up ‘very dirty’ industry
The Indonesian government plans to audit all palm oil companies operating in the country, in a bid to tackle an ongoing shortage and high prices of cooking oil.
Pharmaceutical pollution found in large portion of world’s rivers
Pollution in the world’s waterways is not a new problem, but first-of-its-kind research details the extent to which pharmaceutical pollutants have infiltrated rivers around the world.
What we know about PFAS in our food
After a much-publicized study this year found high levels of a toxic chemical class in food wrappings, many of us are eyeing that pizza or to-go salad in a new light.
Our global food supply is at risk when high gas prices limit the creation of fertiliser
Andrew Whitelaw
We need synthetic fertilisers to produce enough food for the world’s population – there are no other alternatives yet
A planet in peril and our embrace of Big Brother: George Orwell would have been shocked
Rebecca Solnit
A planet in peril and our embrace of Big Brother: George Orwell would have been shocked
Environment: Can capitalism deliver the future we want?
Peter Sainsbury
We need to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions, not just CO2. Solar and wind slowly replacing coal as Australia’s source of electricity. Sydney and Canberra middle of the pack for sustainability.
Nature Conservation
East Africa must reject its colonial model of conserving wildlife
Gatu wa Mbaria
‘Fortress’ game reserves displaced the Maasai but ignore the pastoralists’ role in maintaining wildlife and biodiversity
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