Post of the Day
What happens if the climate and ecological crisis is framed as a national threat?
Liz Boulton
For 30 years, the risk of dangerous climate change, which would render the Earth uninhabitable for most species, has been treated as a scientific and economic governance issue. Partly due to historic norms, but also due to legitimate concerns about securitisation, these have been strictly civil matters.
On This Day
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Catholicism
Climate Change
Climate change puts availability of vital renewable energy source at risk, research reveals
The study has found that as temperatures rise, the window of opportunity to maximise the use of biomass from plants, wood and waste as a renewable energy source and an alternative to petrochemicals is closing.
ETRI developed international standards about microgrid for achieving carbon net zero
A research team of ETRI(Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) has developed international standards for microgrid technology that maximizes energy usage efficiency through the convergence of electrical technology and information and communication technology(ICT). The establishment of a stable and efficient energy utilization system is expected to serve as a solid foundation for the realization of carbon net zero.
Fact check: Cold, hard facts missing from Antarctic cooling post
Scientists pour cold water over a claim that Antarctica has been getting colder over the past 40 years.
Maurice Huguenin et al
Over the last 50 years, the oceans have been working in overdrive to slow global warming, absorbing about 40% of our carbon dioxide emissions, and over 90% of the excess heat trapped in the atmosphere.
Give Africa’s youth a voice in shaping the climate agenda. It is their future at stake
Graça Machel
By 2050, Africa’s 1bn children will bear the brunt of the climate crisis, yet they have no say in decisions largely made by old men
National
Albanese government’s electric vehicle policy faces bumpy road through parliament
The Coalition, Greens and some members of the crossbench urge the government to change plans to reduce the cost of low-emissions vehicles.
New research shows every Australian pays for extreme weather
Commissioned from leading think tank the McKell Institute by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), The Cost of Extreme Weather also shows that over the last 10 years the average annual household cost of extreme weather has been $888, but that this figure is expected to jump to more than $2,500 a year by 2050.
Innovation makes Australian mining safer, more productive and sustainable
Australian mining has invested $30 billion in research and development since 2005 to become a critical driver of broader global industry innovation, according to a report released today by the MCA.
4-day working week may benefit the climate
Reducing working hours to a four-day week could have a potentially significant impact on the environment and, more broadly, on society, say lawyers.
D’oh, what a feeling: Greenpeace pans Toyota
The environment watchdog reports a rise in sales of zero-emissions vehicles, but warns adoption is too slow and that Toyota is last on the leaderboard for decarbonisation.
Minderoo executive calls for mandatory climate risk disclosure
Climate risk reporting should be mandatory for businesses to ensure transparency for investors, says Andrew Turner, head of the Minderoo Foundation’s fire and flood resilience project.
Greens’ support for climate change policy not a given [$]
Greens leader Adam Bandt is concerned Labor is planning to reform the safeguard mechanism in a way that the ‘coal and gas industry would support’.
How to help save endangered species living in your backyard
Yahoo News Australia spoke to Jess Abrahams from Australian Conservation Foundation, sharing five simple tips.
‘No coal or gas’: Greens hijack Canberra’s big party [$]
One senator marched in shouting ‘This is a hall of fossil fuels’ while others had anti-gas and coal messages emblazoned on their dresses
Terracom secures partial win in PwC ‘fake coal’ report [$]
The coal miner had appealed a Federal Court decision that found it had lost privilege over a forensic report into alleged wrongdoing.
Green hydrogen industry is sick of feasibility studies, wants backing for showcase projects
Australia’s green hydrogen hopefuls are tired of feasibility studies, and want support for a large scale project to show path to global dominance.
Labor’s climate change bill is set to become law – but 3 important measures are omitted
Frank Jotzo
As of Wednesday night, Labor’s climate change bill was poised to pass the Senate after the government agreed to amendments proposed by independent senator David Pocock to improve accountability and transparency.
With better standards, we could make plastics endlessly useful – and slash waste
Qamar Schuyler
If you flip over a plastic food container, you’ll see tiny writing on it – something like “AS 2070”. This means the product meets the Australian standard for plastics safe to use for food.
Why net zero won’t stop the extreme weather already upon us [$]
Andrew Hall
A new era of extreme weather is already upon us, one with more severe events devastating communities.
British investors could sue Australia over climate action if UK joins trans-Pacific trade pact
Patricia Ranald
British oil and gas miner Rockhopper Explorations last month won £210 million plus interest (about A$360 million) in compensation over Italy’s 2015 ban on oil and gas drilling within its territorial seas.
Let’s pretend we have the tech for stable power supply
Stephen Anthony
If we don’t want to push working-class and middle-income Australians into second world living standards, and fast, we need a realistic back-up power strategy.
With cheap SMRs, we can’t afford not to go nuclear [$]
Tony Grey
It’s time to speak truth to politics and bust a few of the myths being used to dismiss nuclear energy.
Australia is sitting on a potential clean energy bonanza [$]
Adair Turner
Australia has the perfect answer for the twin perils of rising electricity prices in the short term and the danger from climate change in the long term.
Designing homes for extreme weather
The devastating effects of extreme weather mean we must design homes to protect human life and buildings. Failure to do so risks some areas becoming ‘uninsurable’
Chris Jensen
Victoria
‘Fast-forward obsolescence’: Fate of Melbourne’s old CBD office towers in the balance
Melbourne’s office occupancy rate remains stubbornly low, prompting grim predictions for downmarket CBD towers that few people want to work in.
New South Wales
Detection of exotic pest in Victoria rings alarm bells in NSW
A border closure is preventing all beehives from being allowed to enter New South Wales from Victoria, after the braula fly was found on two new properties.
Big logging company Pentarch pinged for shifty forestry practices
In a win for conservationists, Pentarch Forestry, the biggest native forest logger in NSW and one of the biggest in Australia, has had its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainability certification suspended. What was the scam?
Protesters demand species protection
Protesters rallied in Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie on National Threatened Species Day on September 7.
Queensland
Historic land handover as 360,000 hectares returned to traditional owners
A parcel of land bigger than some European countries has been handed back to traditional owners in far north Queensland after generations of campaigning.
‘Walkable’ footpaths not so great when you have to use wheels
Broken and cracked paths, a lack of detours and the odd wheelie bin make footpaths more like obstacle courses, particularly for people who roll through their community.
Super boss calls for a debate on nuclear as council gets anxious about net zero
The head of a $30 billion superannuation fund has called for more debate about the use of nuclear energy in Queensland to help in the transition to net zero.
State targets renewables overhaul [$]
Queensland may increase its 50 per cent by 2030 renewable energy target, despite meeting less than half its existing target.
Roo shooters struggle to keep up with demand despite more hunters joining ranks
A roo harvester says profits in the industry are getting so large “you can put your kids through school” as shooters struggle to come even close to reaching state-set cull quotas.
Tasmania
Climate bills represent an ‘economic opportunity’ for Tasmania [$]
As the federal government looks set to pass their climate bill, and the state government pushes their own through the lower house, Tasmania is poised to take advantage of a boost in new renewable investments.
Brenda Hean’s fight to save Lake Pedder would ultimately lead to her mysterious disappearance — five decades later, the push to restore the lake to its former glory remains alive.
Time ticking for threatened species – Tasmanian Premier must act to protect wildlife
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation
Today, peaceful protesters will demonstrate outside Parliament House in nipaluna / Hobart to draw attention to National Threatened Species Day. On this day, 7 September, in 1936, the last known Tasmanian Tiger died in captivity and the species was declared extinct.
Northern Territory
NT Labor members at odds with government after call to ban fracking in Beetaloo Basin
Northern Territory party conference passes string of motions urging a ban on fracking and an end to gas industry subsidies
Western Australia
Bold plan to find ‘Goldilocks’ wetlands for Western Swamp Tortoise
On National Threatened Species Day, one of the world’s rarest reptiles is taking the spotlight as researchers from The University of Western Australia and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions work to bring it back from the brink.
The looming demise of a loss-making coal mine in Western Australia is a microcosm of the industry’s “dire” prospects as a fuel for electricity amid the rampant rise of renewable energy, an analyst says.
Sustainability
‘We are playing with fire’ – nuclear chief [$]
The UN is calling for an immediate demilitarisation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, following the release of the inspection report, which identified damage to the site, and called for an end to fighting to prevent a catastrophic incident.
Understanding effect of wildfires on air quality
While wildfires are considered ecologically beneficial, there have been rising concerns over the negative effects, namely degradation of air quality from the smoke and pollutants released.
Darker shade of green: Understanding ecofascism
A UConn expert explains how environmentalist ideas can be weaponized in pursuit of a fascist political agenda
Out of thin air: new solar-powered invention creates hydrogen fuel from the atmosphere
Researchers say their prototype produces hydrogen with greater than 99% purity and works in air as dry as 4% relative humidity
Will Liz Truss’s government adopt or weaken green policies?
Environmentalists assess cabinet appointments and say it is ‘a mixed bag’ and there is no clear direction
Turning carbon dioxide into valuable products
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major contributor to climate change and a significant product of many human activities, notably industrial manufacturing. A major goal in the energy field has been to chemically convert emitted CO2 into valuable chemicals or fuels. But while CO2 is available in abundance, it has not yet been widely used to generate value-added products. Why not?
When environmentalist John Francis realised he was spending more time arguing with people than listening to them, he decided to stop talking — for 17 years.
Heat pumps can cut your energy costs by up to 90%
Alan Pears
Heat pumps are becoming all the rage around a world that has to slash carbon emissions rapidly while cutting energy costs. In buildings, they replace space heating and water heating – and provide cooling as a bonus.
Nature Conservation
Two gibbon species declared extinct in China due to excessive ‘human activities’
Chinese researchers say white-handed gibbons and northern white-cheeked gibbons are extinct in the wild, with no sightings for over a decade.
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