Date: 15 September 2022 at 7:03:44 am AWST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Sep 15
Post of the Day
Australia is funding just one-tenth of its fair share of global climate action, study finds
Wealthy high-polluting countries to face growing calls from poorer nations to help cover cost of extreme weather and sea-level rises
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
How climate change is destroying the oases of Morocco
Oases are supposed to be among the most resilient ecosystems in the world. But a warming planet has put them at risk.
Cyprus will become a desert in 50 years warns MP
Speaking during the House environment committee, MP Christos Orphanides said desertification is a “mathematically proved scenario for Cyprus.”
Tyre Extinguishers claim more than 600 SUVs ‘disarmed’ in one night
The climate activist group the Tyre Extinguishers claimed its largest night of action yet against SUVs last week, with more than 600 vehicles “disarmed” across nine countries.
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s new climate theory is absurd. It’s also very smart.
The new Republican strategy on climate change is to admit it’s happening but argue that it’s good, actually. Voters may find that optimism compelling.
Climate change denial now a ‘mental condition’
A study of 390 people from psychologist Dr Rachael Sherman shows those who “suffer from this disorder” of not believing climate change are typically older, conservative, and have “lower environmental values”.
Why climate change sceptics must just accept what we’re told
Andrew Bolt
A psychologist claims climate change scepticism comes from “from a basic misunderstanding of climate projections”, so what explains all the dud predictions?
Climate change’s top five tipping points are out! Tag yourself! I’m Greenland’s melting ice cap – cartoon
First Dog on the Moon
According to another report we are well on our way to 1.5 degrees. Exciting stuff
National
Moon wobble may have played a role in mangrove dieback, study suggests
Changes in mangrove cover across Australia are driven by tidal shifts caused by the wobble of the Moon, a study suggests.
The former presidents of Kiribati and Palau are calling for deeper cuts to emissions and for new coal and gas projects to be cut down or stopped.
Albanese’s bid to host UN climate conference ‘hypocritical’: Pacific statesmen
The Albanese government would look hypocritical leading a Pacific nations bid to host a United Nations climate conference, according to regional statesmen, as Australia’s own emissions’ reduction target falls short of what is needed to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Companies to get new sustainability label
Australian companies will soon have access to a new labelling system that will quickly tell consumers how sustainable their products are.
Aust ute, SUV sales stall emission efforts
Increased sales of SUVs and utes are tempering Australia’s overall improvement in reducing carbon emissions, the National Transport Commission says.
Labor overhauls Climate Change Authority to counter concerns of excessive business influence
Albanese government appoints three women with environmental backgrounds to board
Regions in front line of Australia’s renewable ‘industrial revolution’
The transition to renewable energy is an “industrial revolution to a timetable” and regional Australia is on the front line of change, a national summit has been told.
Albanese unlikely to attend COP27 climate summit in Egypt [$]
Anthony Albanese’s commitment to action on climate change is unlikely to extend to his attendance at this year’s UN climate change summit in Egypt.
Emission ratings to hit real estate values, banks warn [$]
Australian Bankers Association chief executive Anna Bligh says investors will force banks to rebalance their mortgage books to favour low-emission housing.
No need for nuclear power to reach Australia’s climate goals: Finkel
Former chief scientist and current federal government advisor on low emissions technology says there is no need to include nuclear power in Australia’s future energy.
Australia will soon treat CO2 as a pollutant – Energy Insiders podcast
More than a decade after the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, carbon is about to be declared a pollutant in Australia. The EPA’s Tony Chappel explains why and what it means.
Real climate action will cement Australia’s reconnection with Pacific
Anote Tong and Thomas Esang Remengesau
Australia must immediately stop digging up, exporting and burning fossil fuels and become a global climate leader to help save its Pacific neighbours from catastrophe.
Victoria
Victoria’s power plans ‘don’t stack up’ [$]
The gas industry says the key figure in the Andrews government’s Gas Substitution Roadmap ‘doesn’t stack up’.
New South Wales
Eastern section of ‘energy super highway’ set to traverse three states gets NSW approval
Construction of a electricity transmission line through regional NSW is approved by the state government despite opposition from locals, but still requires a green light from the Commonwealth.
Hive cull around Coffs Harbour to put squeeze on berry growers
Berry growers in the region will be left without proper pollination services for at least six months, after confirmation around 1,000 beehives will be destroyed in the coming weeks.
NSW waves through critical transmission works and Waratah Super Battery
Three key power projects get the green light from the NSW government, including parts of the giant interstate Project EnergyConnect and the Waratah Super Battery.
Coal wastewater spill turns creek in NSW national park to black sludge – video
Footage shot near the confluence of the Hacking River and Camp Gully Creek in the Royal national park, south of Sydney, shows how a coal wastewater spill turned the creek’s water into thick, black sludge.
ACT
Thick plastic bags, takeaway containers could be banned next in ACT [$]
Thick plastic bags from supermarkets and department stores, along with plastic takeaway containers, could be among the next plastic items to be banned in the ACT.
Scooter provider to offer discounted passes to reduce transport costs [$]
Concession card holders can now use electronic scooters for cheaper, part of an initiative from Neuron to get more people riding.
Queensland
Queensland is getting ready for a third La Niña event. Here’s how you can prepare
The devastation of February’s floods is still fresh in the minds of Queenslanders, but with the weather bureau’s declaration of a third La Niña event, here’s how you can be better prepared this summer.
Search is on for 100 new spider species to help weave web of knowledge
A Queensland Museum arachnologist is on a mission to find and name the new spiders to highlight Australia’s huge biodiversity.
Queensland energy minister says renewable generation capacity must be tripled by 2035
Mick de Brenni flags investment in ‘mega pumped-hydroelectric dams in the mountain ranges’, distribution networks and green hydrogen
Wind energy hits record peak of 146 per cent of state demand in South Australia
Wind output sets a new record peak of 146 per cent of state demand in South Australia.
Tasmania
‘No transparency’: EPA slammed over salmon rules [$]
Thousands of salmon escaped into the Huon River this month, but if it weren’t for the keen eyes of Tasmanian anglers, the public would’ve been none the wiser. One group is tired of being kept in the dark.
Community groups ‘sick of waiting’ for feral cat control take charge on trapping
Tasmanian Landcare and other environmental groups acquire the skills and knowledge they need to take on feral cats in their patch.
Western Australia
Is industry destroying ancient Aboriginal rock art in WA? An expert is set to investigate
One of Australia’s key industrial areas is set to go under the spotlight, after the government appointed a reporter to look into traditional owners’ claims significant Aboriginal sites are being threatened by continued development.
Marine ‘trauma’ ravages huge sections of Coral Bay’s famed reef
Experts say a spawning event in March that killed thousands of fish has left the Gascoyne town’s famous coral reefs pale and lifeless.
Federal action urged as gas shortage fear spreads west
WA’s largest gas user Alcoa is part of a push to force exporters to offer more gas to local buyers before a predicted shortage mid-decade.
Plibersek review to protect Burrup rock art [$]
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has commissioned a sweeping review of the wave of industrial developments under way on WA’s rock art-rich Burrup Peninsula.
Memories of Wittenoom, a once-thriving town whose legacy is more than 1,000 deaths
A place where children played in asbestos sand pits and mine workers were covered daily in deadly dust is somewhere that former residents remember fondly as a beautiful place and community. Conflicting emotions are central to Wittenoom’s story.
Neoen unveils massive new plans for a giga-scale big battery in WA coal hub
Neoen unveils proposal to build an up to 1000MW/4000MWh battery facility near the WA town of Collie, where the coal plant is scheduled to retire in 2027.
Sustainability
Pacific countries remain divided as a deep-sea mining company prepares to test a system to extract minerals and metals from the ocean floor.
Green hydrogen could counter energy crisis, says British firm
ITM Power, which makes electrolyser machines, says splitting water using renewable energy has become more cost-effective than gas
Europe’s energy crisis sparks a shutdown in fertiliser production
Europe’s fertiliser industry association says more than 70 per cent of the continent’s fertiliser production has been curtailed or shutdown.
Global wind turbine orders head for a record year, led by China and EU
Wood Mackenzie says global wind turbine orders are on track to hit a new record high by the end of the year, after the highest half-year ever recorded
Fast transition to renewables will save the world $18 trillion, says Oxford study
New study says rapid switch to renewables and storage will save the the world at least $US12 trillion ($A18 trillion) if reached by 2050.
Keeping sulphur dioxide in check with climate action, pollution control
The concentration of sulphur dioxide, an atmospheric pollutant with health and climate impacts, shows a decreasing trend in India in the past decade compared to previous decades, according to a trend analysis.
Cheap transit = lower emissions
In Germany, a three-month pilot program offering ultra-cheap transit tickets saved about 1.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions, according to a new analysis.
Improving public transport has helped Jakarta tackle climate change
In improving the public transport system in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, its leaders have also sought to address climate change by encouraging residents to ditch their vehicles.
EU limits subsidies for burning trees under renewable energy directive
The European parliament has called to end public subsidies for the environmentally destructive practice of burning trees for fuel, but campaigners warned the plans risked being “too little, too late”.
Increase in LED lighting ‘risks harming human and animal health’
Transition to blue light radiation across Europe increases suppression of sleep hormone melatonin, say scientists
For the billions UK is spending on power bill subsidies, we could decarbonise our entire grid
Bruce Mountain
The strategic and economic importance of ridding our electricity system of fossil fuels is suddenly plain to see.
Pivoting towards green buildings to secure a liveable future for all
Bent Jensen
While preparing our cities against the unpredictable nature of extreme weather events is essential, we also need to recognize that managing our carbon footprint is imperative in ensuring a liveable future for the next generation.
Nature Conservation
Scientists can now train coral to spawn on demand
Climate change has ravaged coral reefs on a massive scale. This breakthrough could revolutionize efforts to rebuild them.
Light pollution disrupts bird navigation
We’re approaching the time of year where birds begin to fly south for the winter. However, there is growing concern that birds may not be able to get there these days.
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