Daily Links Jul 24

In an argument between the sandy beach-loving human owners of coastal real-estate and the mudflat-needing international migratory shorebirds, we can guess who gets the ear of decision-makers. But if the shorebirds can survive the short-term attempts to treat coasts as stable they will get the last laugh, coasts are anything but! And let’s send cheers to the 4 O’clock Club, I’ve enjoyed their birdwatching advice on a number of occasions. 

Post of the Day

Following the dire State of Environment report, greater investment in Landcare is needed

Doug Humann

I’ve been around long enough to see dozens of State of the Environment reports, but this report is different.

 

On This Day

July 24

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus – Armenia

 

Climate Change

There are three ways a heatwave can kill you and be forewarned, they are all pretty nasty

As Europe’s record-breaking hot weather eases, the extent of its deadly toll is starting to surface. What can we do to protect ourselves in times of extreme heat and cold?  

 

It’s so hot in China, melting glaciers threaten to cause  dams to collapse

Some coastal cities are already on their highest alert level, and the forecast is for 40-degree heatwaves for the next 10 days.

 

Fact check: NZ carbon footprint claim sidesteps reality

Despite its small population and size, New Zealand does not have the world’s lowest emissions total.

 

National

Corporate sustainability skills gap on road to net zero

Over half (52%) of Australian business leaders believe that a sustainability skills shortage is holding back their organisation’s energy transition, according to new research.

 

Greens promise to fight Labor on future coal and gas projects

Greens leader Adam Bandt wants a block on federal funding for coal and gas projects and has flagged amendments to Labor’s first budget.

 

SPA’s letter to federal politicians: resist pressure for sky-high population growth

Federal parliament is set to resume, and with a change of government. The business lobby is pushing hard to ramp up immigration to unprecedented levels, spruiking permanent migration targets of 220,000.  Now is the time to send a strong message to our federal MPs and Senators: please do not return us to the old days (pre-Covid) of having one of the highest population growth rates in the OECD.

 

Climate change agenda the first big test, hopefully the Greens play ball [$]

Launceston Examiner editorial

The Albanese-led government will face its first major test with the introduction of its Climate Change Bill when Federal Parliament resumes on Tuesday.

 

Scott Morrison’s religious reemergence and the moral edge of Australia’s climate politics

Mark Kenny

Rather pointedly last week, Malcolm Turnbull warned against using faith as political leverage.

 

Following the dire State of Environment report, greater investment in Landcare is needed

Doug Humann

I’ve been around long enough to see dozens of State of the Environment reports, but this report is different.

 

Victoria

State and federal governments team up to save critically endangered eastern bristlebird

A select group of VIPs was treated to an overnight, first-class trip from NSW to southern Victoria, where they get to enjoy … grass.

 

Better bus networks for fairer suburbs can cut emissions

John Stone

Greenhouse gas emissions from transport have grown faster than any other sector of the economy – it is time to finally put the brakes on.

 

Libs’ attempt to counter teals is desperate, reckless [$]

Tim Smith

I’m disgusted by this cowardly policy, it has not been developed to reduce the world’s temperature — it is purely to appease a “teal” assault at the upcoming state election.

 

New South Wales

‘A theme park-type situation’: National parks are getting a makeover, and many aren’t happy

Rescuers had to chainsaw through trees to rescue hiker Bailey Seamer from a public campground. It’s got some questioning whether National Parks services are more focused on tourism than managing land.

 

Perrottet takes tips from Japan, but high-speed rail just a ‘dream’ for now

The best route for fast rail in NSW is Newcastle to Badgerys Creek via Parramatta, an expert told the premier, but Japanese-style bullet trains are some way off.

 

$225m to protect the west from flooding

Evacuation roads and a series of property-protecting levees will be built across Western Sydney as part of a $225 million flood plan to be adopted if NSW Labor wins government.

 

Crackdown on environmental crimes as prosecutions up threefold in five years

NSW Environment Minister James Griffin has called for an urgent meeting of the nation’s environment ministers given the “sobering reading” in the State of the Environment report.

 

Queensland

March of the mudflats: Why two popular Cairns beaches could be doomed to disappear

A leading geoscientist says two popular Cairns beaches will become mudflats over the coming decades, a revelation that would affect the beaches’ waterfront home owners.

 

Toothbrushes, thongs and bleach bottles: Pristine Qld beach buried under plastic [$]

A remote Queensland beach has been described as ground zero for a growing environmental disaster washing up on our shores, with thousands of pieces of plastic collected in one small area.


Tasmania

Community campaign calling for change to salmon industry

A community-driven effort to restore the waters around one of Tasmania’s World Heritage sites to their pristine condition launched this weekend.

 

McConaughey-approved nature retreats make Tasmanian debut [$]

A startup firm founded to plonk beautiful, architecturally designed cabins in wild places, and which has collaborated with Matthew McConaughey, has come to Tasmania.

 

Statement – Coalition Against Anti-Protest Laws

We met on 12 July 2022 and discussed our shared concerns about anti-protest laws that are currently before the Tasmania parliament.

 

10 things to know about ‘clean’ hydrogen

Tasmanian Times editorial

I’ve spent the last one and a half years researching the climate benefits of ‘clean’ hydrogen. Here are 10 things I’ve learned

 

Sustainability

Global 2021 coal-fired electricity generation surges to record high

John Kemp

Global coal-fired electricity generators are producing more power than ever before in response to booming electricity demand and the surging price of gas.

 

Nature Conservation

DRC to auction oil and gas permits in endangered gorilla habitat

Sale calls into question protection deal signed at Cop26 as expert warns Congo auction could be a catastrophe for wildlife, health and climate

 

US authorities take emergency action to save sequoias from wildfires

The US Forest Service says it is taking emergency action to save giant sequoias to protect the world’s largest trees from the increasing threat of wildfires, but some critics say it is a “well-orchestrated PR campaign” for commercial logging.


Venomous! New pit viper discovered in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, China

 A new species of venomous pit viper was described from Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site in China



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