Post of the Day
We were first warned about C02 emissions in 1851. Why didn’t we listen?
Nawal Al-Hosany
Carbon dioxide levels are the highest ever in human history. As shocking as this moment is, it should arrive as no surprise. We have passed plenty of warning signs on the road that has led us here.
On This Day
Climate Change
G7 ‘climate club’ to tackle global warming amid criticism of fossil fuel ‘loophole’
An alliance of civil society organisations have condemned the G7 final communique provisions on fossil fuels, saying they’re disappointed a key pledge on ending fossil fuel financing abroad was watered down.
UK must act on carbon emissions from trade: new UKTPO report
A new report authored by the UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) and Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) of the University of Sussex Business School is published today, providing guidance on how the UK Government can address the issue of emissions within its trade policy.
NZ and EU free trade agreement opportunity to support climate friendly and equitable future
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and the European Greens have published a joint statement calling for the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement to support climate action, phase out fossil fuel subsidies, cut agriculture emissions, protect human rights, and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Angry showdowns and protests: Film that takes us inside Extinction Rebellion
Cut from three years of inside access, a new documentary reveals tensions inside the climate warrior group that made global headlines.
Can we beat climate change by geoengineering the oceans?
Chemically altering the seas through iron fertilisation or alkalinity enhancement could be our best hope to suck vast amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere – but questions remain on whether it is worth the risk
We were first warned about C02 emissions in 1851. Why didn’t we listen?
Nawal Al-Hosany
Carbon dioxide levels are the highest ever in human history. As shocking as this moment is, it should arrive as no surprise. We have passed plenty of warning signs on the road that has led us here.
To limit greenhouse gas emissions, improve the way we measure them
Marian Van Pelt
To measure climate action commitments across nations, the UN collects volumes of data from countries to calculate the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change.
National
Climate change poses ‘real and substantial’ threat to Torres Strait Islanders, Chris Bowen says
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen is travelling to the Torres Strait Islands to meet with elders and the community to hear their concerns about climate change.
Emissions talks with crossbenchers under way as Bowen leaves door open to change
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has signalled a more open-minded approach to negotiating the government’s policy, talking to independent MPs and suggesting the emissions-reduction target could go higher.
Bowen’s ‘simple yet powerful’ pledge on rapid climate action
The federal government will tackle climate change head on during the first week of the new parliament.
Chris Bowen to announce review of carbon credits system after expert labelled it a ‘fraud’
Climate change minister says inquiry needed as carbon offset scheme is integral to target of 43% emissions reduction by 2030
Aussies back stronger climate action: Lowy
Australians overwhelmingly support taxpayer-funded investment in renewable energy and bigger cuts to carbon emissions to combat climate change, a poll shows.
Australians open to using genetic technology to manage feral cats
New genetic technologies could help address the rise of invasives through a number of ways, one of which is called gene drive. Gene drive can determine the sex of offspring, reducing the number of animals able to reproduce, and therefore over time driving down populations.
AEMO calls for urgent investment in key projects to shore up electricity supply
More than $12 billion of investment in new transmission lines should begin “as urgently as possible” to ensure electricity supply is secure in the coming decade, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Prime minister will say food insecurity has become a significant challenge and Australia has a major role to play in meeting the challenge
Power retailer cops $17m fine after mistreating 90,000 customers
Origin has been hit with a $17 million fine by the Federal Court for failing to protect customers experiencing hardship and payment difficulties.
Rich nations must help poorer nations go green: Albanese
The PM will tell the OECD there are “new frontiers” of opportunity in green technologies as he emphasises his climate mission in Paris.
Vehicle emission mandate on cards [$]
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has left the door open to mandating vehicle emission standards to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles.
How ‘green gas’ could soothe the energy crisis [$]
A huge gas resource equal to 5 per cent of domestic consumption could be delivered by 2025 if the government adopts a target for turning organic waste into biogas.
Explainer: Why it will cost $320b to ditch coal (in three maps and a chart) [$]
The end of coal-fired power in Australia is inevitable. But the transition away from fossil fuels in our electricity grid, which will take several decades, requires careful planning now to maintain energy security, avoid rocketing electricity prices and ensure workers remain employed, while Australia also meets its emissions targets.
Police, governments, businesses track protesters. Here’s how to avoid being surveilled [$]
Cam Wilson
From leaving your phone at home to wearing a mask, there are simple ways to make it harder to track your attendance at a protest.
Renewables are cheap, reliable, clean. Hubris, hype or hope?
Geoff Carmody
The immediate Australian focus is reliability and price of energy. The political focus on reducing GHGs should highlight the net cost of reducing Australian emissions, too. It hasn’t. Why?
Australia can help ensure biggest mine in PNG’s history won’t leave a toxic legacy
Michael Main
The COVID pandemic slowed mining activity across the Pacific. But as economic activity returns, an Australia-based company is poised to pursue what would be the largest mine in Papua New Guinea’s history.
Why Chris Bowen is the weakest link [$]
Terry McCrann
Faced with the biggest energy crisis in Australia’s history, Chris Bowen has done a combination of absolutely nothing and doubling down on the lunacy that caused the mess in the first place.
Tripling the population by 2100 should be Australia’s ambition
AFR editorial
On census night in August last year, Australia’s population had swelled to 25.5 million. Tripling this over the next 70 years to 75 million will require political leadership.
Coal may exit Australia’s grid a lot quicker than most people think
Giles Parkinson
AEMO roadmap still assumes all brown coal generation gone by 2032, but future roadmaps may point to black coal generators closing around the same time.
How Labor might transform Abbott’s climate policy and actually cut industrial emissions
Michael Mazengarb
Labor will rely on Abbott-era climate policy to deliver the bulk of emissions cuts to hit its 2030 target. It must avoid making the same policy mistakes.
Victoria
Locals seethe over ‘monument of stupidity’
A coastal resident has built a wind turbine towering almost 11 metres on his property, but his project has won few fans.
Andrews govt cans bungled net zero scheme [$]
Labor’s free fridges scheme has been suspended after it was revealed the system was being rorted and appliances were being dumped outside Melbourne businesses.
Coal-fired power stations to close earlier than expected [$]
The market operator warns power bills will rise and the reliability of our electricity will be at risk if the phase-out of coal-fired power stations is not handled properly.
New South Wales
NSW government backs down in bid to end rail chaos, pledging $264m to fix ‘safe’ trains
Transport Minister David Elliott pledges $264 million to fix a fleet of trains that has been at the centre of a years-long dispute with the rail union.
600 hives destroyed as varroa mite red zones are added, plans to target feral bee populations
As more NSW apiarists prepare to have their bees euthanised and hives burnt, authorities work on a plan to release a chemical “in certain parts of those eradication zones” to target feral bees.
Mountains of cultural pressure over dam [$]
The Australian Heritage Council heaped pressure on Matt Kean to assess ‘all potential impacts’ of the proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam wall.
Patrick O’Connor
A tiny parasitic mite that lives on the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) has breached Australia’s border quarantine and been detected in managed bee hives in New South Wales.
Queensland
Reality check as Qld coal-fired power assets to close sooner [$]
Coal-fired power stations are set to close sooner, and Queensland will need hydro-electric capacity 30 times that of one of its biggest stations before they do.
More than 90 per cent of coral surveyed on the Great Barrier Reef suffered some form of bleaching over the past summer. While action on climate change is slow, researchers are racing to find ways to restore reefs.
Queensland left to do heavy lifting on energy [$]
Cameron Milner
Expecting the Sunshine State to break faith with business by accepting a gas reservation policy is unfair while NSW and Victoria sit on their hands.
South Australia
SA Power Networks embroiled in $19m lawsuit [$]
SA’s electricity provider has launched legal action over $19m worth of allegedly faulty parts it says rusted, melted and failed.
As the cost of living soars, Melissa’s sustainable lifestyle is now paying dividends
It cost Melissa Weckert and her family a lot of money to build sustainability into their house and lifestyle, but now it’s paying dividends.
Tasmania
Do Marinus Link and do it as soon as possible: AEMO [$]
Marinus Link should go ahead as quickly as possible, the Australian Energy Market Operator says.
Hotel bets big on Tassie sunshine to boost energy security [$]
A prominent Launceston hotel has made a big bet on solar energy – but it may be just phase one of the company’s push to boost energy security and cut carbon emissions
Stagnant estuary: Tamar report shows no improvement in Launceston zone
Launceston’s section of the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary has not improved its ecosystem health in 14 years, the latest scientific report card has revealed.
Northern Territory
Landmark NT treaty report recommends First Nations government system
A landmark report outlines the path to multiple treaty agreements between the Northern Territory government and Indigenous people across the territory.
Western Australia
Ford Motor Company backs new $545m lithium mine in WA
ASX-listed Liontown Resources signs a deal with US motoring giant Ford to develop a $545 million lithium mine to supply the metal used in electric vehicle batteries.
Gas plants expand while ancient Murujuga art waits on modern science
The creation of the engravings on Murujuga – known today as the Burrup Peninsula – was art, but their survival is a question of commerce and science.
The case of the 200 doomed Baldivis kangaroos – and what happens next
The rapid expansion of Baldivis penned in 206 kangaroos in 2019. Public outcry over their proposed culling forced the developer to relocate them. Nearly all died anyway.
Sustainability
Two years after Austria’s last coal plant was shut down, the government has decided to reopen it, fearing a shortage of gas deliveries from Russia as the war in Ukraine shows no signs of abating.
EU agrees to phase out fossil fuel cars
EU countries have clinched deals on proposed laws to combat climate change, backing a 2035 phase-out of new fossil fuel car sales and a multi-billion-euro fund to shield poorer citizens from CO2 costs.
UK to lift import restrictions on food from Fukushima
Remaining curbs on food imports imposed after 2011 nuclear disaster to be scrapped
Why Nepal, rich in water resources, is facing water stress today
A visit to Bagmati earlier this month (June) shows that the life-giving brook has been reduced to stagnant, murky brown water, chock-full of chunks of litter like plastic waste and bits of cloth.
I knew the men murdered in the Amazon—and their alleged killer
The slayings of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira mark a new escalation in the battle for the Amazon, its resources, and its Indigenous defenders.
Jennifer Roberts on nature as medicine – podcast
Dr. Jennifer D. Roberts joins the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast to discuss nature as medicine for our physical and mental health.
Nature Conservation
Inside the race to save West Africa’s endangered lions
It’s crucial to learn as much about these rare cats as fast as possible to save them from local extinction, conservationists say.
Sugars secreted by seagrass roots sweeten habitat: Study
The finding could increase the understanding of what’s going on in the sediment below and around seagrass root systems and improve seagrass conservation approaches.
—
return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.