https://johnmenadue.com/is-it-too-late-for-australia-to-avoid-an-electricity-transition-catastrophe/
Date: 13 October 2022 at 6:06:12 am AWST
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Subject: Daily Links Oct 13
Half the world’s bird species are in decline – podcast
One in eight of the world’s bird species is threatened with extinction and many more are in decline, according to a new report issued by Birdlife International. Last month in the Hungarian capital Budapest, experts from Europe, Africa and Asia discussed what can be done – including ways to strengthen the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement, first signed in 1999
On This Day
Birth of Prophet Muhammad and of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq – Iran
Ecological Observance
Intentional Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Climate Change
France gave 150 ordinary citizens the task of formulating the nation’s climate policies. From bans on petrol-car ads and short-haul flights, here’s what happened when a diverse group of non-politicians were put in charge.
‘Advisory opinion on climate change needed’ from ICJ
The Vanuatu government is seeking an advisory opinion on climate change and human rights from the International Court of Justice (ICJ); if successful, the outcome could have significant legal implications for every United Nations country.
G7 finance leaders pledge to intensify climate efforts despite war challenges
Finance leaders from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies on Wednesday pledged to increase emissions reductions efforts and climate support for developing countries despite energy cost and security challenges prompted by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Four ways the planetary crisis is impacting mental health
As the world grapples with the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, there is a growing concern about the impact these crises have on mental health.
Where are our climate and weather scientists?
Terry Ryan
A massive volcano erupts in the Pacific Ocean and no one factors it into the weather despite the record of volcanoes of smaller size doing this in the past.
National
Could one of Australia’s largest environmental reforms be set for an extension?
Australia’s water minister has hinted major water-savings deadlines in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan could be extended beyond 2024, as New South Wales claims it has won a commitment for “greater flexibility” to deliver one of the country’s biggest environmental reforms.
Union lashes federal Labor over ‘infuriating’ gas deal as it warns thousands of jobs at stake
A major union takes aim at the federal government over its gas policy, accusing Labor of risking jobs through a “dud handshake agreement” with exporters.
Faith leaders demand no more coal and gas
Religious leaders from several faith communities are urging the federal government to stop approving new coal and gas projects.
Biden’s methane emissions vow a blow for farmers [$]
Australia will sign up to Joe Biden’s global pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent over the decade but farmers are likely to be spared measures similar to New Zealand’s ‘burp tax’.
‘Politically untenable’ energy prices heap pressure on Labor to improve gas deal
Power prices are set to keep rising to a point where market intervention against gas companies will become inevitable, an energy expert is warning, as one union official called the Labor government’s recent attempt to alleviate the gas crunch plaguing eastern Australia a “dud” deal.
Climate Council shows energy bill and emissions savings in each capital city for substituting hot water, cooktops and heating
Labor ramps up pressure on gas industry as energy prices rise but stops short of price caps
Unions accuse resource minister Madeline King of signing ‘dud deal’ with multinational gas companies
Frogs on the frontline: What is the mysterious disease killing amphibians?
The amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, or chytrid, is one of the most destructive wildlife diseases known to recorded history.
Greenpeace slams Toyota over EV delays
A war of words has erupted between environmental group Greenpeace and Australia’s leading car manufacturer after heated comments about electric vehicles at a Sydney event.
Soaring energy bills prove climate experts have lied to us [$]
Andrew Bolt
As our dams fill and energy prices soar it’s clear we’ve been conned by noisy climate experts, who don’t know the difference between up and down.
Electric vehicle push has not-so-hidden costs [$]
Clarissa Bye
While politicians are busy trying to force everyone into electric vehicles, no one is talking about the hidden expenses and degradation of our urban environment.
Nuclear-powered Australia should not be off the table [$]
AFR editorial
The option of dispatchable nuclear power for civilian purposes should not be ruled out because it is inconvenient for the quasi-religious faith for the Greens and the Midnight Oil wing of the Labor Left.
Too late to avoid an electricity transition catastrophe?
Gary Moorhead
About two years ago, I wrote an article for Pearls and Irritations (December 1, 2020) suggesting Australia was tracking to repeat and reap the mixed railway gauges folly of the Nineteenth Century in our handling of the transition from fossil fuel to renewable electricity generation.
Resources minister’s road trip — courtesy of the fossil fuel lobby [$]
Bernard Keane
Madeleine King’s latest entry in her register of interests shows mining and energy companies paying for her to tour their facilities.
Victoria
Residents in flood-prone areas of Central Victoria are sandbagging properties with the swollen Campaspe, Avoca and Loddon river catchments expected to be areas of deepest concern.
Explainer: What are your plans to deal with population pressures in Melbourne and the regions?
Services and infrastructure have not kept up with population growth and the cracks are starting to show. Age readers have told us they want answers from Victoria’s politicians.
Green and teal threats in Vic election
Andrew Gardiner
When it comes to “headline” environmental issues around the quest for net-zero, Victorians of a greenish hue could be excused, with an election looming, for thinking it’s all solar panels and wind farms.
New South Wales
Declare Wyangala Dam ‘critical infrastructure’ and raise the wall, flood-ravaged farmers say
Farmers frustrated by two years of flooding want Wyangala Dam in central west NSW to be declared critical infrastructure so a proposal to increase its capacity by 650 gigalitres is prioritised.
‘Integral part of democracy’: climate activists mount court challenge to NSW anti-protest laws
Laws that allow for fines and prison terms for non-violent protesters undermine fundamental rights, Environmental Defenders Office says
EnergyAustralia explores grid-scale battery at Mt Piper station [$]
EnergyAustralia is considering installing its biggest battery at the Mt Piper coal power station, as Australia worries about firming capacity.
ACT
Fish boost for urban lakes in fight back against species decline [$]
Several ACT lakes will be stocked with Murray cod and golden perch at a cost of $25,000 a year, in an attempt to conserve native fish amid a decades-long species decline.
Queensland
Deal with auto giant drives green Townsville nickel project to new heights
Automotive giant General Motors has struck a major deal with Queensland Pacific Metals that will help underwrite a green nickel smelter in Townsville.
How much can a koala bear: Second M1’s $355 million price tag to protect local wildlife
The Palaszczuk Government plans to spend a whopping $355 million on protecting local wildlife as part of building the $2.16 billion Coomera Connector alternative route between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
How real cost of Qld’s landmark energy plan just blew out by $14bn
The State Government’s energy plan would need $76 billion in investment in real terms by 2040, not the $62 billion currently quoted by the Government, according to the latest EY reports and modelling.
Colwell’s $1 billion ‘green’ lithium plan starts coming together
Brisbane businessman Rod Colwell is on the hunt for capital as he announced a $US1 billion ($A1.57 billion) program to recover lithium from geothermal brine in the Hell’s Kitchen region of the US.
Endangered ‘bum breathing’ turtles at risk if Santos plan gets nod
The federal government is being urged to heed the advice of its experts and reject a bid to release coal seam gas wastewater into a Queensland river.
Coal miner Peabody and Coronado in merger talks
Peabody and the owners of the Curragh mine, Coronado, are in talks over a potential merger. Peabody owns a handful of significant coal mines in Queensland including the Coppabella and North Goonyella mines in the Bowen Basin.
Billions spent on public transport, but car is still king in Brisbane
New data lays bare the challenge of getting commuters out of their cars and into public transport.
South Australia
Hopes Murray Darling Basin Plan holds water for SA
State and federal water ministers at a national meeting in Canberra this morning made yet another commitment to delivering the Murray Darling Basin Plan and its 450GL of environmental water on time by 2024, according to state Water Minister Susan Close.
Tasmania
‘Inevitably we will see flooding’: Tasmanians warned coming rain could surpass 2016 levels
Tasmanians are being urged to prepare for a major rain event bearing down on the island, with concerns that measures put in place after the 2016 floods are incomplete and a hard-hit town is still vulnerable.
Oil spill prompts call to remove abandoned vessels from major urban waterway
There are calls for better management of Launceston’s Tamar River as the Environment Protection Authority works to contain an oil spill. It says the likely source is an abandoned tugboat, but that has been contested by the son of a former owner.
Multiple groups raise voice against Fingal coal
An alliance of groups formed to oppose the new coal mine at Fingal have said that they are appalled that the Tasmanian Government has, in addition, published a new coal mine lease, following the announcement of a new coal mine at Fingal.
Northern Territory
Oil and gas companies will be allowed to buy Commonwealth-approved international offsets as a way to keep producing emissions, a Northern Territory government policy has revealed.
Western Australia
Race against time to document ancient boab tree carvings
The “enormously significant” cultural artefacts were living sites and also document the songlines of the region. But they are destined to disappear.
City of Fremantle considers restrictions on fossil fuel advertising
The City of Fremantle weighs up restricting fossil fuel advertisements on council property as part of its effort to combat climate change.
Sustainability
Power restored to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after ‘worrying’ failure
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog says power is restored to a Ukrainian nuclear plant surrounded by Russian troops after it lost all external power needed for vital safety systems for the second time in five days. Meanwhile Moscow says it has arrested eight people over the Kerch Bridge explosion.
Greta Thunberg says Germany should keep nuclear power plants running
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg’s latest comments signal a reversal on her position on nuclear energy.
Brookfield’s nuclear push fuels bullish investors [$]
Coal prices have outpaced uranium’s returns in 2022, but a $US7.9 billion bid for US nuclear engineering group Westinghouse Electric is feeding uranium bulls.
Americans actually agree on something — they want products free of harmful chemicals
As we near midterm elections, a new poll has done the unthinkable: found an issue that doesn’t divide us.
It’s science over capitalism: Kim Stanley Robinson and the imperative of hope
“What can’t go on won’t go on. Capitalism is breaking the system, meaning people’s lives and the biosphere.”
Global risk of threats to what lies beneath
Claudio Bozzi
The reported sabotage of pipelines carrying Russian gas to Europe released a huge cloud of methane and exposes the vulnerabilities of the world’s essential undersea links.
Can celebrities please stop pretending to save the planet?
Genevieve Novak
Activism – like hypocrisy – is so hot right now among the world’s wealthiest celebrities. More than that, it’s a necessity.
Hit Putin where it’ll hurt by turning the tables on energy [$]
Adam Creighton
It might be heretical to say it, but the West needs to ramp up fossil fuel production to stifle the wealth behind Russia’s war machine.
600 million tons of plastic may fill oceans by 2036 if we don’t act now
Tina Casey
We’re running out of time to curb the fossil fuel industry’s production of environmentally destructive plastic.
Nature Conservation
Cities need more native bees—lots and lots of them
These pollinators can help urban gardens grow. That will be critical for cooling cities as the planet warms.
These stunning satellite images look like abstract art – and they reveal much about our planet
Emily Finch
In terrific news for remote sensing geologists, armchair geology enthusiasts and lovers of stunning landscapes, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has a vast collection of satellite images of the Earth’s surface, capturing breathtaking geological features from space.
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