Post of the Day
Gas Lies: as super profits ramp up so too does the fossil fuel propaganda war
Michael West
As fossil fuel corporations reap fabulous profits at the expense of Australian gas and electricity customers, the gas lobby is running a propaganda campaign calling for Australia to power the world, help Ukraine, let “the market” do its thing. The reality is there is no market
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
Climate change impacts babies in utero
A new study has found that climate change can impact babies while they are still in the womb.
Africa insurers urged to focus more on climate change
Despite contributing the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions, Africa is most exposed to climate change impact. Africa’s insurance industry has been challenged to play a proactive role in addressing the climate change agenda.
National
There’s a growing buzz around blowflies’ pollination credentials
You might think blowflies are just a pesky insect, but they could be the back-up plan for farmers who rely on bees for crop pollination.
Research reveals fire is pushing 88% of Australia’s threatened land mammals closer to extinction
About 100 of Australia’s unique land mammals face extinction. Of the many threats contributing to the crisis, certain fire regimes are among the most pervasive.
‘Industrial revolution’: Australia’s decarbonisation needs rigorous management, thinktank warns
Grattan Institute paper recommends allowing trading of carbon credits and a firm limit on emissions for country’s largest polluters
Europe looks to Australia for green hydrogen amid energy crisis
Australia’s cheap renewable energy sources mean the country could supply green hydrogen to Europe at a competitive price, even after adding the cost of shipping.
Australia’s resources exports break records amid global energy crisis
Australia’s mining and energy exports are expected to have hit a record high of more than $400 billion as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine lifts fossil fuel prices.
‘Floor not a ceiling’: Pocock backs 43 per cent 2030 emissions reduction target
The ACT senator has outlined in-principle support for the 2030 target but hopes it can go further, putting pressure on the Greens to support legislating the target.
‘Carnage’: Businesses face energy nightmare [$]
The perfect storm hitting Australia’s energy system could force the mass shutdown of businesses if action isn’t taken now, experts say.
Power giants feel heat on coal closures, green energy plans
Coal plant owners including AGL will face shareholder pressure to set earlier closure dates, spend more on renewables and support their affected communities.
Why electricity prices matter to your morning coffee
If you are worried about food prices, make sure farmers have access to affordable electricity.
If you think traffic jams are inconvenient wait until you hear about the climate crisis
Dave Milner
Essentially: to solve the climate crisis, we must also tackle the Murdoch crisis. Because it is from these rotten seeds that complacency and carbon continues to spew into the atmosphere.
We need to speed up the shift to renewables. But there are risks
Andrew Bray
Our current energy crisis has laid bare the risks we all face from our over-reliance on expensive and polluting fossil fuels like gas and coal.
Time to speak up: water apartheid is Australia’s dirty secret
Erin O’Donnell, Kirsty Howey
Imagine, in Australia, having to buy bottled water just so you can have clean water to drink. Imagine in 2022, in Australia, Aboriginal communities still have to do that, because they don’t have access to safe drinking water supplies.
Recognising Indigenous knowledges is not just culturally sound, it’s good science
Maryanne Macdonald et al
Floods, fires and droughts in Australia devastate lives, destroy wildlife and damage property. These disasters also cost billions of dollars through loss of agricultural and economic productivity, environmental vitality and costs to mental health. People are looking for long-term solutions from politicians and researchers.
Esther Suckling and Alison Reeve
Australia’s mining and heavy industry sectors are on the cusp of a revolution as the world shifts to net-zero. Demand for traditional industrial commodities – coal, oil, and gas – is set to slide.
Gas Lies: as super profits ramp up so too does the fossil fuel propaganda war
Michael West
As fossil fuel corporations reap fabulous profits at the expense of Australian gas and electricity customers, the gas lobby is running a propaganda campaign calling for Australia to power the world, help Ukraine, let “the market” do its thing. The reality is there is no market
How Australia can be a clean energy industrial success [$]
Tony Wood
European countries have de-industrialised to cut emissions. Our competitive advantage means we can follow a different path in a net zero global economy.
Victoria
Big hurdle facing gas phase-out plan [$]
The Andrews government is pushing ahead with its plan to phase out fossil fuels, but nearly half of Victorians aren’t entirely on board.
Geelong gas port plan can ease Victoria’s energy crunch, Viva boss Scott Wyatt says
An LNG import terminal in Victoria could be an important lifeline for households and gas-reliant manufacturing firms, but environmentalists and community groups have concerns about the project.
New South Wales
Birds thriving in the wet — but drought ‘like death and taxes’
Heavy rainfall across NSW has spurred record breeding of wetland birds but researchers warn that better strategies for water management are needed to ensure future success.
Greater Sydney braces for worst of ‘life-threatening emergency’ as thousands told to evacuate
Hundreds of people have been rescued and NSW residents have been warned to avoid travel, with areas stretching from Newcastle to the South Coast — and as far inland as Oberon — at risk.
Aboriginal joint management of NSW parks to expand
Consultation has commenced on the development of a groundbreaking new model for Aboriginal joint management of NSW national parks, which could see title to the entire estate transferred to Aboriginal owners over time.
‘Slow-burning problem’: residual ill will about chemical spray drift
Farmers in NSW’s central west fear chemical exposure is becoming a threat to food production and authorities are slow to respond
‘Life threatening’: Warragamba Dam spills as flood warning issued
Residents across Sydney’s south, north and west have been told to leave their homes, while thousands more have been warned they might need to evacuate due to floods.
What’s causing Sydney’s monster flood crisis – and 3 ways to stop it from happening again
Dale Dominey-Howes
Again, thousands of residents in Western Sydney face a life-threatening flood disaster. At the time of writing, evacuation orders spanned southwest and northwest Sydney and residents of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley were being warned the crisis was escalating.
Climate militants reveal anarchist true colours [$]
Jennifer Oriel
There is a vigilante mindset among more messianic activists who feel their purpose is to save the planet by whatever means necessary.
ACT
Canberra’s population has grown faster than expected. Here’s why [$]
Steve Evans
Migration agent Ben Watt is clear and blunt about one of the reasons for Canberra’s growing population: migration policy means that people who are going to contribute to the city get to stay – and those who won’t don’t.
ACT’s endless and unsustainable growth can’t go on forever [$]
Letters
It is right and proper that Andrew Barr seeks the ACT’s proper share of GST for housing, health care and education. Good on him for standing up for Canberra. However he also talks about housing, health care and education “that will support the growth of the nation’s capital into the future”.
Queensland
‘Go off and multiply’: Bilbies board interstate flight with a very important job to do
Under the cover of darkness in remote outback Queensland, one of Australia’s most critically endangered marsupials has taken a small leap back from the brink.
$34m for 12,000 tonnes: Terrible toll of state’s illegal dumping
There has been a shock surge in the volume of waste generated by Queenslanders, and it is costing ratepayers dearly.
Time’s up for Palaszczuk govt’s contempt for Qld coal [$]
Peter Gleeson
The Queensland Government is trapped between contempt for coalmining and the massive royalties it brings.
Tasmania
Meander Valley mayor has say on Aboriginal national park proposal
A mayor in the state’s North says he is unsure why he wasn’t consulted about works that could change the ownership and function of one of his municipality’s largest tourist attractions.
‘WomBots’ burrow in for important Tassie spy mission [$]
Custom-built robots are being dispatched to explore the “hidden underground world” of wombats, with researchers hoping the devices can help solve a major problem for the state’s marsupials.
Northern Territory
Bushfires spreading in Top End [$]
Fireys are trying to contain multiple bushfires in the Top End.
Western Australia
Researchers excited as world’s rarest marsupial is photographed with joey on island off Esperance
Gilbert’s Potoroo, the rarest marsupial on earth, is having babies in its brand new home on Middle Island and researchers are celebrating.
Sustainability
Huge market for clean energy technologies emerging in India: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said a huge market for clean energy technologies is emerging in India, calling G-7 countries to invest in research, innovation, and manufacturing in this field.
Nature Conservation
Planting mangroves has improved lives and possibly the air in this Kenyan village
In the small village of Gazi Bay on Kenya’s coast, a conservation project operating quietly for 10 years gains traction as a model for restoring and tending carbon-sucking mangrove trees.
Humpback whales may steer clear of Hawaiʻi due to climate change
Humpback whales may one day avoid Hawaiian waters due to climate change and rising greenhouse gasses, according the findings of a new paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science.
Colombia is first in Western Hemisphere to protect 30% of ocean
Colombia’s outgoing President Iván Duque has announced that the country became the first in the Western Hemisphere to make 30% of its ocean territory a protected area, banning fishing and oil exploration.
Climate change is wrecking havoc on microbial diversity
Protecting biodiversity must extend to even the tiniest living things to safeguard people, plants, and animals in changing climate.
Swamps can protect against climate change, if we only let them
Wetlands absorb carbon dioxide and buffer the excesses of drought and flood, yet we’ve drained much of this land. Can we learn to love our swamps?
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