Post of the Day
National parks – islands in desert?
Effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in national parks is associated with socioeconomic conditions
On This Day
Climate Change
Across Ontario, Canadians are feeling the impacts of climate change in their communities and on their livelihoods. That is why today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced the release of the Ontario Chapter of the Canada in a Changing Climate: Regional Perspectives Report to help inform and support adaptation to climate change in Ontario.
Another La Niña? The US says it’s still here, and it’s causing havoc around the world
Australia could see more floods and America and Africa may experience ongoing drought for months to come, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For 110 years, climate change has been in the news. Are we finally ready to listen?
Linden Ashcroft
On August 14 1912, a small New Zealand newspaper published a short article announcing global coal usage was affecting our planet’s temperature.
Why net zero is just the beginning of decarbonising the planet [$]
Craig Emerson
Governments are largely focused on adding no further pollutants to the atmosphere. But we need to think about removing the carbon that’s already up there.
National
BlueScope records 135pc profit increase as it plans to invest in emission reduction projects
Australia’s largest steelmaker BlueScope signals its intention to reinvest into capital works including extensive carbon abatement programs after posting its best-ever profit result.
Government to “drill down” on possible ESG legislation in early 2023
Federal Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones tells Pro Bono News greenwashing is “definitely an issue”.
Pass climate legislation and ‘name and fame’ transition leaders
Australia’s climate change legislation should be passed with an added commitment to ‘name and fame’ sectors leading the charge to reduce emissions, the peak body for Australia’s 90,000 scientists and technologists has urged.
Recycling robo-bin among innovations to solve circular economy gap
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is unveiling the latest innovations in recycling this National Science Week to inspire the next generation of leaders who will lead our circular economy-focused future.
Woolies fast-tracks plastic bag ban
Woolies’ phase-out of its 15c plastic bags is set to sweep across the nation.
Scott Morrison accused of ‘bias’ in blocking Pep11 gas permit using extraordinary ministerial powers
PM alleged to have ‘predetermined’ application after permit renewal was blocked despite recommendation to the contrary by national petroleum administrator
Beach Energy savaged by investors
Oil and gas company Beach Energy is preparing to be the latest global LNG player, but investors savaged the stock after the annual result missed the mark.
BlackRock to spend $1b on batteries in Australia as coal closures loom
The world’s biggest fund manager, BlackRock, has selected Australia for the rollout of its largest investment in grid-scale batteries.
Green steel technology is good news for emissions, bad news for Australia’s coal exports
Simon Nicholas
As BHP seeks to open a new metallurgical and thermal coal mine, the long-term outlook for Australian coal exports is looking increasingly clouded.
Winds of change in new energy deal
Madeline Taylor
Australia’s energy ministers have agreed to a major change in national energy policy which sends a clear message to operators.
Doubling down on renewables [$]
Australian editorial
Government is now heavily exposed to the market’s ability to deliver.
Australia’s energy transition moving in right direction [$]
AFR editorial
Our climate and energy conflicts are now about the journey not the low-carbon destination. But it’s unwise to be dogmatic about this or that technological pathway.
New South Wales
Climate change could lead to larger algal blooms
Griffith-led research has revealed that both the decreases in wind and the higher temperatures predicted with climate change can cause bigger algal blooms in the future.
Western Sydney residents continue fight against incinerator proposals
Next Generation has been trying to build a huge incinerator in Western Sydney for several years, but has hit a determined community campaign.
NSW deputy premier stops short of backing BHP’s early coal closure [$]
Paul Toole would not clarify whether the NSW government planned to support or scupper BHP’s plan to shut the Mount Arthur mine with decades of coal left in the ground
ACT
Coppins Crossing to remain shut as dam water release drives debris downriver [$]
The low-level Coppins Crossing on the Molonglo River could be closed for two more weeks, causing major commuter inconvenience, as a result of heavy rain causing debris to wash onto the concrete causeway and peel away the guard rail.
Queensland
Native bee ‘foster parents’ are helping farmers with a pollination backup plan
Members of the public who welcome native beehives into their gardens in the off-season have helped a Queensland macadamia nut farmer bolster his defences against the threat of an invasive pest.
Wetlands and fisheries on the brink of ‘major disaster’ as coastal erosion takes hold
Queensland’s chief scientist is being asked to intervene in the worsening coastal erosion ‘disaster’ near Townsville, which is threatening wetlands that provide a habitat to diverse fish and bird species.
‘I’d drink it’: Premier backs recycled water amid Opposition challenge
MPs from both sides of politics have sidestepped the issue of whether they would drink recycled wastewater.
Qld government’s dangerous coal gamble has Japan seething
Peter Gleeson
Queensland’s coal royalty regime is a dangerous gamble that has put considerable strain on the Australia-Japan relationship.
Queensland needs an ambitious 10 year energy plan to catch the green wave
Simon Currie
If Queensland acts strongly now, it can become a dominant player renewable energy exports and secure its future energy independence.
“World’s biggest” solar and storage project on track for state approval
Plans to build a 300MW solar plant with 3.6GWh of storage capacity get Crown Sponsorship from the SA government for development approval.
Tasmania
John Powell
In 2012 I crafted the story below for Tasmanian Times relating to the proposed logging of Coupe BA388D adjacent to my then property Myrtlebank.
Western Australia
Farmers battle US chemical giant over plans for vast workers’ village near sleepy coastal town
US chemical giant Albemarle wants to build a 500-bed village for lithium refinery workers on coastal farmland south of Perth, despite opposition from the local shire and residents.
Perth council’s black roof ban a start, but it won’t win battle against climate change: architect
Dark roofs have been banned by a Perth council in a bid ensure new houses built are more energy-efficient and climate-resilient.
Sustainability
Risk of disaster at Europe’s largest nuclear plant ‘increasing every day’, Ukrainian mayor warns
The Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine has been occupied by Russian forces since March. The facility has come under fire repeatedly in the past week.
Mining projects get new tax break under US climate bill
Environmentalists heralded the package for its large tax breaks for wind, solar and battery developers. But tucked inside the bill’s roughly 700 pages is a new incentive for an industry that greens often oppose.
No-till farming study shows benefit to midwestern land values
Analysis quantifies monetary land value benefits of environmentally friendly practice.
Irreversible declines in freshwater storage projected in parts of Asia by 2060
A comprehensive study on water storage in Tibetan Plateau projects near-total loss of freshwater storage in parts of Asia by mid-century under modest climate policy scenario. The Tibetan Plateau, known as the ‘water tower’ of Asia, supplies freshwater for nearly two billion people who live downstream.
Catching up with quicksilver: MXene material can counter mercury contamination
A team of researchers might have found just the right material to efficiently remove mercury — even at low levels — from contaminated bodies of water.
Why we need to combine disease surveillance and climate modelling to preempt future pandemics
Arindam Basu
Within less than three years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared two public health emergencies of international concern: COVID-19 in February 2020 and monkeypox in July 2022.
Even a ‘limited’ nuclear war would starve millions of people, new study reveals
Ryan Heneghan
Even a relatively small nuclear war would create a worldwide food crisis lasting at least a decade in which hundreds of millions would starve, according to our new modelling published in Nature Food.
Nuclear plant meltdown risk [$]
Australian editorial
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s concern is well founded.
Nature Conservation
Humans have totally altered small mammal communities in just few centuries
Researchers have found that small mammal communities today are fundamentally different from even a few centuries ago, during North America’s pre-colonial past.
New Zealand’s endangered kakapo parrot is making a comeback — with a bit of assistance
The population of New Zealand’s endangered flightless parrot kakapo has increased by 25 per cent in the past year, bringing the number up to 252 birds.
National parks – islands in desert?
Effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in national parks is associated with socioeconomic conditions
—
return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.