Post of the Day
How Australia’s expanding environmental movement is breaking the climate action deadlock in politics
Robyn Gulliver
The federal election saw voters’ growing concern about Australia’s laggardly response to climate change finally addressed, with teal independents garnering seats in Liberal heartland and record votes for Greens candidates.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
Alok Sharma in running to be UN’s global climate chief
UK cabinet minister who led Cop26 understood to have been approached and expressed interest in the role
Warned of ‘massive’ climate-led extinction, a US energy firm funded crisis denial ads
Southern Company spent $62.1m over the years to deny the impact of fossil fuel combustion on climate crisis
Solution or band-aid? Carbon capture projects are moving ahead
Long discussed but rarely used, carbon capture and storage projects — which bury waste CO2 underground — are on the rise globally. Some scientists see the technology as a necessary tool in reducing emissions, but others say it simply perpetuates the burning of fossil fuels.
Urging renewable transition, UN Chief says humanity set to ‘Incinerate our only home’
Andrea Germanos
“If we act together, the renewable energy transformation can be the peace project of the 21st century,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.
National
Not a ‘silver bullet’, but new plan will better the energy market, Bowen says
A plan agreed to by the nation’s energy ministers would see retailers required to pay power providers to maintain extra capacity, with the federal Minister for Energy pushing renewables.
Edict for gas storage amid energy crisis
Australia’s energy ministers have unanimously agreed to enhance the powers of energy regulators and give the market operator the capacity to procure and store gas supplies.
The OECD says the war in Ukraine is a humanitarian disaster, and the economic shock will make inflation higher and more persistent
Scientists ‘surprised and excited’ to find plastic litter at Australian beaches fell by 29 per cent
Plastic pollution along Australia’s beaches and coastline has decreased by 29 per cent, according to new CSIRO research that also investigated the most effective ways to reduce it.
Charities to lobby new Labor government to protect right to engage in political advocacy
Charities ‘relieved’ at change of government after complaints Coalition stifled political advocacy, but say reform is needed
Labor urged to add polystyrene tax to plastics plan [$]
A packaging disrupter has urged the Labor government to step up a plastic policy that will only this year ban the burger ‘clam shells’ axed by McDonalds in 1991.
Immediate gas phase-out is ‘cloud-cuckoo-land’: Schott [$]
Former Energy Security Board chairwoman Kerry Schott said gas would be ‘absolutely essential as a transition fuel for a while’.
The ‘energy crisis’ that’s pushing up Australia’s power bills – Full Story podcast
Laura Murphy-Oates speaks with economics correspondent,Peter Hannam, about what’s really behind this crisis and how we could prevent another one
Net-zero target is pure fantasy [$]
Adam Creighton
At least the Biden administration recognises that without a significant increase in nuclear power, the world’s emissions targets don’t have a hope.
Governments try to extricate themselves from energy mess [$]
Jennifer Hewett
Surging energy prices are forcing crisis meetings to discuss the failures of Australian policy and engineer an orderly transition to renewable energy. But there will be little relief for consumers this year.
All Australians should share in record profits from overseas gas sales
Tony Wood
If gas producers are making a windfall profit selling Australian gas overseas while Australians can’t afford to heat their homes, they should share the windfall so that those Australians don’t freeze this winter.
How Australia’s expanding environmental movement is breaking the climate action deadlock in politics
Robyn Gulliver
The federal election saw voters’ growing concern about Australia’s laggardly response to climate change finally addressed, with teal independents garnering seats in Liberal heartland and record votes for Greens candidates.
The problems with mandates – or lacking one
David Solomon
Within days of the election, the Greens were setting out the ‘mandates’ they claim to have won. In particular, according to their leader, Adam Bandt, his party had a mandate to stop new coal and gas mines. He said it would introduce legislation in the Senate to block any new mines.
It’s not easy, with the Greens
Russell Marks
In an era of declining support for the major parties, Labor must reconcile with the Greens
Bowen has to rule out CoalKeeper — and we need a windfall profits tax [$]
Bernard Keane
The proposal floated by the last government must be buried for good. And it’s time for a windfall profits tax on gas exporters.
Victoria
Daniel Andrews defends plan to cull feral horses as protesters rally outside state parliament
Parks Victoria intends to remove 500 horses from state’s eastern Alpine region this year as part of feral horse management plan
Victoria delays plan to phase out gas [$]
The Victorian government is expected to shelve a plan to wean consumers off gas until after the November election as it is accused of contributing to soaring energy prices.
Koalas grazing near Victorian aluminium smelter suffering bone, tooth defects from fluoride exposure
A study commissioned by American aluminium giant Alcoa shows koalas living in close proximity to a smelter in Victoria’s south-west are suffering from a condition caused by fluoride poisoning, with many needing to be euthanased.
Andrews government’s forestry bill puts logging over liberties
Daniel Cash
The Andrews government’s logging bill has nothing to do with forest worker safety and everything to do with preventing public scrutiny of VicForests’ activities while further criminalising legitimate community protest.
New South Wales
NSW Treasurer’s gas hypocrisy revealed [$]
The NSW government is under attack for a decade of dithering on crucial energy projects as Labor demands future gas projects prioritise local needs. See the timeline of failures.
Treasurer’s orders to energy operators [$]
Major manufacturers and Narrabri locals are crying out for more gas in the energy mix, while NSW Minister Matt Kean is urging power companies to switch coal-fired generators back on.
What happens to the pelicans in our inland lakes when there are no more fish?
Inland ecosystems have been thriving after a few wet years but there are signs the boom may be starting to bust as sightings of dead waterbirds become commonplace in NSW’s Central West.
ACT
Major ACT renewables project set to change hands [$]
A vote to decide the future of Mugga Lane Solar Park will take place on Thursday with the project expected to be up for sale in coming weeks.
Queensland
Living like Royalty: Govt to fill its pockets on the back of $6 billion resources windfall
Mining and resources companies would pay a record $6 billion in royalties this financial year as the State Government confirmed that changes to the system would be part of the upcoming Budget.
Coal sector slams state’s hollow words [$]
Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of having only ‘hollow support’ for the state’s mining industry, with her government expected to hike coal royalties in this month’s budget.
Reclaiming national parks ‘the way forward’ for First Nations peoples
New national park plan will see the revival of Waanyi culture and the protection of one of Queensland’s most iconic national parks.
‘Crocodiles are one thing’: Residents gunning to go full boar as hogs wreak havoc
North Queenslanders want authorities to prioritise eradication programs to combat an influx of feral pigs in suburban backyards.
New Reef conservation project blends Western science and Traditional Owner knowledge – podcast
The project hopes to use the best of millennias-old knowledge and modern science to address the increasing threats facing the Great Barrier Reef.
Be careful. Queensland Greens, buoyed by success, are marching on the ’burbs [$]
Guy Rundle
Their commitment to grassroots activism has paid off — but they remain a party of the knowledge class.
South Australia
Alice Clanachan chooses not to drive, recycles rigorously and has invested in solar panels, but her plan to get a home battery has suffered a significant setback.
Tasmania
Should Tasmania break up with Australia’s National Electricity Market?
In 2016, Tasmania was on the brink of being powerless when its undersea electricity cable broke and its dams were nearly empty. But these days it can produce more than enough power locally to supply homes and businesses. So, should the island unplug from the rest of Australia?
Liberal politician scores $150k grant for rowing club where daughter is a member
A taxpayer-funded grant promised by a Tasmanian Liberal candidate during the 2021 state election funnelled $150,000 into the rowing club where her daughter was a member.
Call for national clean air strategy gets local backing [$]
A Tasmanian academic has thrown his support behind the call for a national air pollution policy with health advocates saying the country is falling behind global standards.
Connecting people with nature [$]
A community nature conservation group improving the mental and physical well being of people from the North-East are providing them with employment opportunities by connecting them with nature.
Dick Smith eco-resort land on Tasman Peninsula put back up for sale
Half of the plot of land bought by electronics millionaire Dick Smith to develop an eco-resort that neighbours a national park on the Tasman Peninsula has gone back up for sale, reigniting concern from locals, conservationists and the Indigenous community.
Tasmanian business people join takayna protests
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation
Four Tasmanian small business people have blocked the road at the site of Chinese state-owned miner MMG’s proposed toxic, heavy metals tailings dam.
Parks EoI changes must go further
Media release – The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society has coolly welcomed proposed minor changes by the Tasmanian Government to its discredited ‘tourism expressions of interest’ process that lets commercial tourism developers into national parks.
National park near Crescent Bay
Media release – Tasmanian National Parks Association
The Tasmanian National Parks Association (TNPA) has called on the Tasmanian Government to extend Tasman National Park near Crescent Bay (pictured), close to Port Arthur, by acquiring a property recently offered for sale.
Consultation paper on land returns released
Department Of Natural Resources And Environment Tasmania
An improved model for returning land to Tasmania’s aboriginal people
Western Australia
Australia’s east coast is in the grip of an energy crisis but in WA prices are low and stable. Why?
Far removed from the turmoil unfolding in the eastern states, Western Australia is enjoying some of the cheapest and most stable energy prices in the developed world.
Will WA have to lose forests to fuel a renewable energy future?
More mining will be needed to build the infrastructure needed for a global energy transition, but there could be local environmental costs in the process.
Gnangara groundwater allocation plan
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA)
The Gnangara groundwater system is Perth’s largest and most important water resource. This plan sets out how the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA) will manage the system to continue adapting to climate change.
Sustainability
Electric cars could get cheaper as a crucial component in them drops in price
The cost of electric cars could start to fall, with the price of a core component in EV batteries expected to reduce, according to Credit Suisse analysts.
What would happen if we stopped using plastic?
Plastic has seeped into every aspect of our existence. Can we live without it? In hospitals alone, the loss of plastic would be devastating.
EU wants to ban combustion-engine cars by 2035
The European Parliament has approved a draft law that prohibits the sale of new carbon dioxide-emitting vehicles, set to take effect in 2035.
‘Plastitar’ is the unholy spawn of oil spills and microplastics
On the beautiful beaches of the Canary Islands, scientists discovered a noxious new pollutant: tar mixed with tiny bits of plastic.
Over 15% more waste being dumped in Delhi’s landfills in a year
Delhi has registered a jump of around 15 per cent in the quantity of waste being dumped into its three landfill sites as compared to last year, according to government data.
‘Chilean Chernobyl’: 75 people poisoned off the coast of Chile by sulphur dioxide
75 people, including around 50 school children, were poisoned on Tuesday by sulphur dioxide released in central-western Chile. An environmental emergency has been declared in the area as heavy industry is to blame for the toxic fumes.
This self-charging battery generates electricity from moisture in the air
New “self-charging batteries” can harvest enough energy from moisture to power small electronic devices. They sound too good to be true — so, how do they work?
Cow and sheep burps to be taxed by New Zealand in world first
Cow and sheep burps are to be taxed by New Zealand in a world-first draft plan to put a price on agricultural emissions in a bid to tackle one of the country’s biggest sources of greenhouse gases.
World Summit on Information Society puts technology at forefront of sustainable development
Leaders and decision-makers in the rapidly evolving digital sphere have affirmed their commitment to harness new and emerging technological solutions for the good of all of humanity.
Government failure to boost energy efficiency ‘inexplicable’, says IEA
Saving energy is ‘utterly essential’ to cut bills, end reliance on Russian oil and gas and slash emissions says agency
Can a startup make sustainable construction the next frontier in eco-business?
Nexii Building Solutions in Vancouver is having significant early success, though there are potential pitfalls.
Nature Conservation
US government to ban single-use plastic in national parks
Biden officials make announcement on World Oceans Day in effort to stem huge tide of pollution from plastic bottles and packaging
Queen Elizabeth owns most of the U.K. seabed. That’s slowing conservation work
The royal family is called on to help recover Britain’s biodiversity, starting with royal properties.
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