Date: 20 September 2022 at 6:37:44 am AWST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Sep 20
Post of the Day
Climate change threatens up to 100% of trees in Australian cities, and most urban species worldwide
Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez et al
Our study published today in Nature Climate Change found climate change will put 90-100% of the trees and shrubs planted in Australian capital cities at risk by 2050. Without action, two-thirds of trees and shrubs in cities worldwide will be at potential risk from climate change.
On This Day
Climate Change
Carbon neutrality by 2050 is still achievable despite energy crisis, according to new UN report
Bold and sustained action must start now and maximize the use of all low- and zero-carbon technologies if we are to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, warns the Roadmap to carbon neutrality for Europe, North America, and Central Asia released today by UNECE in the lead up to critical climate talks at COP27.
Vulnerable countries demand global tax to pay for climate-led loss and damage
Poor nations exhort UN to consider ‘climate-related and justice-based’ tax on big fossil fuel users and air travel
World’s fossil fuel reserves could generate 3.5 trillion tons of greenhouse gases
Burning the world’s fossil fuel reserves could emit about 3.5 trillion tons of greenhouse gases, according to a new analysis.
Fossil fuel industry wants free speech for corporations but not citizens
As oil companies push to criminalize dissent, they’re also making the case that climate denialism is protected speech, not fraudulent advertising.
The wealthy pollutors inflict pain and death on the poor of Pakistan
Jeffrey Sachs
Even if we measure cumulative emissions just from the 1992-2020 period, the US share is 19.6%, the high-income group’s share is 46.9%, and Pakistan’s share is 0.4%.
Businesses no longer see climate action as driving job losses
Gina McCarthy
The private sector now sees climate as an opportunity for job creation and economic revitalization.
As world leaders gather for climate week, they are running out of time
Angela Churie Kallhauge
It’s Climate Week in New York City — happening alongside the UN General Assembly — and it comes on the heels of a record-smashing hot summer in the northern hemisphere and ahead of what could be a dangerously under-heated winter in Europe.
National
Can Australia really become hydrogen super power?
What are the real prospects for Australian green hydrogen? It will be a contest between two kinds of projects. One is the export project, the other a project for domestic use.
Labor urged to axe $1.9bn in ‘zombie’ fossil fuel subsidies promised by the Coalition
Morrison government announced support for coal and gas projects in ‘gas-fired recovery’ but didn’t formalise contracts, PBO analysis reveals
Safeguard Mechanism: What to make of the “industry-average” baseline scheme
Reputex
Is it possible to make an industry average scheme work? Yes, with enough gaffer tape. Is it the best pathway to take? Maybe not.
Three global renewables trends to watch for – and what they mean for Australia
David Leitch
Solar is doing well – and particularly associated home battery uptake; wind power is struggling; and China is rapidly becoming the main factor limiting global decarbonisation.
First Dog on the Moon
Why not dress all the swift parrots in salmon outfits? Then the Tassie government will jail anyone who goes within 50 metres of one!
Victoria
Central Gippsland parks and reserves well on road to recovery
One year on from the dramatic events of June 2021, and largely thanks to a treasury advance from the Victorian Government in November 2021, Parks Victoria has delivered $1.4 million of recovery projects across the Central Gippsland District in just seven months, from November 2021 to July 2022.
Protecting rural roadsides against weeds and pests
Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne today announced the Labor Government is investing $2.86 million to be shared across 56 councils through the Roadside Weeds and Pests Control Program.
Environment groups fear proposal to flood Hazelwood coal mine will create a toxic lake
Environment groups fear a proposal to flood a former Victorian coal mine will create a toxic lake that may contaminate other water sources unless more is done to clean up the site.
North Melbourne revamp will create ‘unlivable precinct’ [$]
Councillors with knowledge of the Andrews Government’s plans to revamp North Melbourne say it’s “not going to be a liveable precinct.”
New South Wales
Shooting of wild horses at national park halts amid review into management plan
Wild horse advocates raise concerns about the method of killing horses, but the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service says the cull was according to the “highest animal welfare standards”.
Push to remove lanes from Victoria Road after last part of WestConnex opens
The NSW government is considering a cut to the number of traffic lanes on a busy arterial route in Sydney’s inner west after the final stage of the multibillion-dollar WestConnex toll road is completed late next year.
Bernard Keane
A Czech company sees a business model in keeping ancient coal-fired power plants going. And it’s just bought one of Australia’s worst.
Queensland
Council puts brakes on North Straddie rezoning plan, demands transparency from Government
Redland City Council will issue a pause notice on a plan to rezone residential land on North Stradbroke Island amid fears of erosion and bushfire risks.
Ian and Annika pick up more than a tonne of rubbish each day flushed into the Brisbane River
Seven months on from February’s flood disaster, conservation group Ocean Crusaders is still cleaning up tonnes of debris from south-east Queensland riverbanks and says greater investment is needed from all levels of government.
Dugongs and turtles are starving to death in Queensland seas – and La Niña’s floods are to blame
Kathy Ann Townsend
To rescue a turtle, University of the Sunshine Coast PhD candidate Caitlin Smith half-swam, half-crawled across mud on an inner tube.
Origin announces exit from gas exploration, starting with Beetaloo Basin
Origin Energy says it is getting out of the gas exploration business, starting with its share in the controversial Beetaloo Basin project, as it shifts its focus to the energy transition.
Origin quitting fracking project an ‘indicator’ of gas industry’s future, analyst says
Origin Energy’s decision to back out of plans to frack for gas in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin could be an early indicator of “fossil fuels falling away”, according to an energy analyst.
Bumping Beetaloo: Origin’s move to ditch gas exploration makes sense
Elizabeth Knight
The ASX heavyweight’s move to sell its interest in Beetaloo speaks volumes about the diminishing returns on investment in nascent oil and gas projects.
Western Australia
Revival of Kimberley coal mining ambitions not on the table, WA Environment Minister says
WA’s Environment Minister has poured cold water on the prospect of reviving coal mining ambitions in the Kimberley’s Fitzroy Valley.
Origin Energy withdrawal – Massive Vote of No Confidence in Kimberley fracking
Broome-based conservation group Environs Kimberley has hailed gas giant Origin Energy’s withdrawal from the Kimberley as a major win in the 10-year struggle to keep fracking and conventional gas production out of the world-famous tourism region.
Chemical-laced cane toad corpses fed to freshwater crocs in bid to bolster reptile population
As Australia’s cane toad invasion inches closer to conquering the Kimberley, innovative research using their corpses could protect populations of freshwater crocodiles in their path.
Sustainability
Ukrainian forces cross river key to ‘de-occupation’, as blast rocks nuclear power plant
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says there will be “no lull” as Ukraine prepares for a fresh offensive into occupied territory and accuses Russia of bombing an area near a nuclear power plant.
Why the rush to mine lithium could dry up the high Andes
The demand for lithium for EV batteries is driving a mining boom in an arid Andes region of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, home to half the world’s reserves. Hydrologists are warning the mines could drain vital ecosystems and deprive Indigenous communities of precious water.
A key to controlling emissions: More buildings in a city’s unused spaces
Constructing more condensed communities in existing neighborhoods has been found to go a long way toward fighting climate change.
First public global database of fossil fuels launches
A first-of-its-kind database for tracking the world’s fossil fuel production, reserves and emissions launches on Monday to coincide with climate talks taking place at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Why isn’t weed killer working anymore? – video
Farmers used to worry about weeds. Then, herbicides solved that problem. At least for a while.
As emissions targets ramp up, one mineral is becoming the new oil
Michael Huggins
Moves to acquire copper mines and mining companies by industry giants Rio Tinto and BHP are just the beginning of a looming global supply war for copper resources.
What exactly is ‘climate-smart agriculture’?
Michael Grunwald
The new climate law will direct big bucks toward regenerative farming practices. But is that good climate policy?
Nature Conservation
An international research team has published the first global risk assessment for tree species planted in cities in the current context of increasing temperatures and decreasing annual precipitation due to climate change: 56–65% of these species are already at risk today, and this figure could rise to 68–76% by 2050.
Mark Wong et al
We conservatively estimate our planet harbours about 20 quadrillion ants.
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