Date: 17 November 2022 at 9:05:40 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Nov 17
Post of the Day
A clash over degrees: How hot should nations allow the earth to get?
The mantra has been: Limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or risk climate catastrophe. But at COP27, there are hints of backsliding.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
National Take a Hike Day – USA
Climate Change
Eleven-year-old climate activist confronts UK energy minister over protester arrests
Minister Zac Goldsmith was guided away by his staff, who blocked activist Licypriya Kangujam from asking any more questions.
UAE using role as Cop28 host to lobby on its climate reputation
Gulf petrostate hired PR firms to stress its part in next year’s climate summit before this year’s had begun
Pacific nations voice their frustration with world’s lack of progress on climate change – podcast
Pacific Island leaders have expressed their anger and frustration at the UN Climate Summit in Egypt, saying they’ve become props in environmental campaigns and richer nations don’t care about their communities. With global temperatures forecast to keep rising, the island nation of Tuvalu says it has no choice but to build a digital version of itself to preserve its culture amid rising sea levels.
Global heating to drive stronger La Niña and El Niño events by 2030, researchers say
New modelling suggests climate change-driven variability will be detectable decades earlier than previously expected
What next, petrol on a Picasso? Threatening art is no answer to the climate crisis
Jonathan Jones
It’s arrogant of the activists who attacked a Klimt to assume anyone who cares about art doesn’t also care about the planet
COP 27: Sleepwalking to global armageddon
Jeremy Webb
An article in the prestigious journal Nature shows a dramatic increase in the likelihood of tipping points causing a runway disruption to the globe’s environment. Australia and other governments participating in COP 27 are nevertheless sleepwalking along a path which wrongly assumes a predictable manageable rise in temperatures.
National
Tesla Australia recalls more than 1,000 cars over ‘serious’ fault
Electric vehicle maker Tesla is facing its second recall in Australia in two weeks, over an issue affecting Model S and Model X vehicles.
Offshore wind to power clean energy shift
Australia will join an offshore wind alliance to catch up on the technology and harness some of the best winds in the world.
New wind, solar and battery additions at lowest level for five years in Australia
Regulator says new additions to the grid at their lowest level for five years, but gets its data mixed up when comparing coal output with wind and solar.
Australia joins global coalition to end plastic pollution – podcast
Labor is increasingly keen to show its green credentials, despite its commitment to future new coal and gas projects. In the wake of the collapse of the country’s only recycling program for soft plastics, the federal government has now joined Australia up to a global coalition that aims to end plastic pollution by 2040.
Game on as BHP resumes its hunt for ‘future’ metals
Elizabeth Knight
The Big Australian isn’t backing down in its quest to scoop up as much of the critical ingredients – copper and nickel – that will power the green economies of the future.
Cannon-Brookes shakes up AGL: what now for Australia’s biggest carbon emitter
Mark Humphery-Jenner
Software billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes failed to take over AGL, but he has succeeded in getting a friendlier board of directors.
Australia hosting an environmental summit is a COP-out
Emily Rice
It’s getting harder to differentiate real news from satire these days, but headlines Australia is bidding for the honour of hosting the United Nations climate change conference COP31 take the cake.
Flood bill the cost of failure to act on climate change
Letters
“The Labor Party is approving new extraction licences, while they pretend to address climate change.”
REDcycle’s collapse is more proof that plastic recycling is a broken system
Anya Phelan
This week the federal government joined an international agreement to recycle or reuse 100% of plastic waste by 2040, putting an end to plastic pollution. But major obstacles stand in the way.
To stop new viruses jumping across to humans, we must protect and restore bat habitat. Here’s why
Alison Peel et al
Bats have lived with coronaviruses for millennia. Details are still hazy about how one of these viruses evolved into SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID in humans. Did it go directly from bats to humans or via another animal species? When? And why? If we can’t answer these questions for this now-infamous virus, we have little hope of preventing the next pandemic.
Chance to drought-proof our cities goes to waste [$]
Andrew Bolt
Global warming has become an excuse for not thinking and not doing the simple things that save lives and properties and keep our cities watered.
Victoria
Teals demand government scrap carve-out for native forest logging
“Having the government negotiating with the forestry industry on logging is akin to it negotiating with the tobacco industry on health,” MP Sophie Scamps said.
Watchdog calls for calm as poll rage mars early voting
The Victorian Electoral Commission has called on candidates and supporters to stay on the right side of electoral laws after early voting in the state election got off to an ugly start.
Premier under fire for jacket stunt [$]
By turning himself into a walking billboard for his plans to revive the State Electricity Commission, Dan Andrews has found himself in hot water.
New South Wales
Central NSW braced for more flooding as Lachlan River set to hit 70-year-high level
Forbes braced for second inundation in a fortnight as woman’s body found in Eugowra flood waters after ‘wall of water’ decimates NSW town
Wildlife rescue volunteers fear contaminated flood waters could be linked to kangaroo deaths
Environmental protection agency says E coli and other contaminants are within safe levels but warn residents not to enter or drink flood waters
NSW minister took just five days to agree to fast-track project to raise Warragamba Dam
Documents show Anthony Roberts made the call in less than a week, after predecessor rejected previous request
Commuters warned of grim future for Sydney train fleet
The NSW government has been warned that the state’s ageing fleet of passenger trains risks causing service disruptions and blowing out maintenance budgets as a drop in patronage due to the pandemic slashes fare revenue.
NSW plans massive solar and battery virtual power plant across 2,200 public schools
Plans to establish Australia’s largest school-based solar and battery virtual power plant are underway, with launch of EOI process by NSW government.
Dominic Perrottet blindsides Matt Kean with energy adviser appointment [$]
Anton Nilsson
NSW’s energy minister pointedly refused to back Paul Broad’s appointment after his boss failed to consult him on the move.
ACT
Wombats in trouble in Canberra floods
A mother and baby wombat escaped a flooded burrow in Canberra after a rainstorm on Sunday morning. Source: Wombat Rescue NSW/ACT
Queensland
Brisbane puts hand up to host UN climate change conference in 2026
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the federal government wants Australia and the Pacific Islands to jointly host a UN COP event and he has put his hand up to host the event “on behalf of Brisbane”.
The industrial city of Gladstone is hurtling towards a renewable future and an ambitious plan has been unveiled to help guide the change.
‘Give us parkland, not congestion’: Gabba business owners
Traders around Woolloongabba’s Cross River Rail site say they have largely been kept in the dark about sweeping changes to the area.
Land clearing, climate change directly linked to Hendra virus outbreaks
Researchers say there is a relatively simple solution to the issue of flying foxes infecting horses with the deadly Hendra virus, which can also be fatal in humans.
Future Brisbane Action Plan: Unlocking ‘spine of the southeast’ [$]
Unlocking the “spine of the southeast” will enshrine Queensland’s liveability into the future, according to industry experts.
Green with envy: Schrinner to spruik River City at COP27 [$]
Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the city’s green approach to carbon reduction can be adopted worldwide, as he gets set to spruik it to global leaders at COP27 in Egypt.
Stanwell inks its biggest PPA yet to supply 100 pct renewables to coal mining giant
Anglo American inks deal with Queensland coal utility to source 100 per cent renewables for the production of steelmaking coal.
No time to waste in planning for Brisbane 2032 legacy [$]
Chris Rogan
If we get transport right for the Brisbane 2032 Games, it will go mostly unnoticed. But if we get it wrong, it will be what everyone talks about and remembers.
South Australia
Rising River Murray to close key Riverland link within days
Thousands of commuters will be unable to use the main road connecting Loxton and Berri as early as this weekend as the River Murray floods and also threatens pumps vital to vineyards, citrus and almond crops.
Criticism over site works for SA nuclear waste dump
The Albanese Government has come under fire after it confirmed preliminary works will begin at the site of a proposed national nuclear waste facility on the Eyre Peninsula, despite a Federal Court challenge to the project still being underway.
‘We just have to keep going’: SA businesses count the mounting cost of blackout
SA businesses are counting the costs of the ongoing blackout due to Saturday’s storms, as authorities say power should be restored to everyone “before the weekend”.
Tasmania
So cute: Why so many birds need rescuing right now [$]
Tiny balls of fluff like these prompt many heart-eye emojis, but there’s a serious side behind such cuties.
TasWater releases 2021-22 Annual Report
Following its ninth year of operations, TasWater has released its Annual Report for 2021-22, outlining significant achievements over the past 12 months, as well as identifying challenges and opportunities
STT backs down on TWS request for logging plan
Media release – The Wilderness Society
Rather than defending itself in the Supreme Court, Tasmanian Government-owned forest logging agency, Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT), yesterday offered to settle and provide the requested logging plan—less than a day before the Supreme Court hearing was due to take place.
Ordinary legislation for extraordinary times
Peter Boyer
A week ago, as Tasmania’s parliament determined our new climate laws, the head of the United Nations was performing what has become an annual ritual, a coach venting his frustration on a failing, ragtag team.
Andrew S. Flies et al
Tasmanian devils are tough little creatures with a ferocious reputation. Tragically, each year thousands of Tasmanian devils suffer and die from contagious cancers – devil facial tumours.
Northern Territory
Santos’ $4.7 billion Barossa gas project remains in limbo while Federal Court considers appeal to landmark ruling
A Federal Court justice has questioned Santos’ argument that it was “unworkable” to try and consult a specific clan of traditional owners over the gas giant’s plans to drill in the Barossa gas field.
Western Australia
Fears radical redesign of Perth road will create ‘toxic concrete river’ as council opposes project
The City of Vincent puts up an early red light towards the proposed upgrade and widening of Charles Street in North Perth, a project that would see up to 100 homes and businesses bulldozed.
Warning for WA government to intervene before embattled coal miners drag power system down
An Australian state government is facing calls to launch a major intervention in the energy market to keep the lights on, amid a crisis affecting local coal miners.
Freo mall DITCHES parking for more pedestrian space
The City of Fremantle has removed public parking spaces from the mall as part of plans to pedestrianise the space.
Sustainability
Inside this lab, they’re working hard to build a better burger … minus the beef
A new generation of plant-based meat alternatives are flooding into Australia’s shops, supermarkets and takeaway joints. But do they have what it takes to lure meat lovers away from meat?
As the world’s population passes 8 billion, UN officials say it’s ‘not a doomsday scenario’
United Nations leaders are calling for a “rapid” move away from fossil fuels and emissions in order for the global population to thrive in coming years.
California’s climate plan calls for no new gas power plants
California regulators announced plans on Wednesday to speed up the state’s clean-energy transition by cutting demand for fossil fuels by the end of the decade, including ending the construction of new gas-burning power plants — moves that would help combat climate change but could put the state at higher risk of power blackouts.
Prolonged exposure to air pollution can significantly increase the risk to teenagers of developing high blood pressure in later life – with obese adolescents particularly vulnerable, a study has found.
Lurion De Mello
The rain comes as coal demand surges and pressure mounts for the industry to wind back production to help tackle climate change.
Pumping loud music is putting more than 1 billion young people at risk of hearing loss
Robert Cowan
Music is an integral part of human life. It’s all around us, just like sunshine, lifting our mood. We enjoy it so much that many of us take it with us everywhere on our phones or we spend weekends hitting the club scene, live-music venues or concerts.
John Quiggin
Amid the chaos of the world, a few global developments have given us hope for a better political, financial and environmental future.
Hyung Min Kim and Kyoung Seok Jang
Our natural environments must be prioritised and understood when designing infrastructure for modern cities. The 2022 flooding in Seoul is a devastating example
Nature Conservation
Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia formally launch a trilateral alliance to co-operate on forest preservation after a decade of on-off talks.
Jaguar cubs released into national park after successful breeding program in Argentina
The two cubs will join a population of just 12 jaguars living in the park near Argentina’s border.
Lula vows to undo environmental degradation and halt deforestation
President-elect says he will work to save Amazon rainforest and key ecosystems in rousing Cop27 speech
‘Paris agreement’ for nature imperative at Cop15, architects of climate deal say
Leaders say December biodiversity summit in Montreal is ‘unprecedented’ chance to turn tide on nature loss
Frogs vs. climate change: How long can they stand the heat?
New research compiles the “heat tolerance” of 616 amphibian species — and reveals how much more we need to know.
This city in Iraq is coming together to save its date palms
Local groups in Karbala are showing how a community can work together to weather rising temperatures.
—
return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.