Date: 2 November 2022 at 8:48:40 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Nov 2
Post of the Day
Many countries’ pledges to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions depend partly on removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by relying on projects such as planting trees and restoring degraded ecosystems, but a new report has found the promises are unrealistic.
On This Day
All Souls’ Day – Western Christianity
Day of the Dead – Mexico
Climate Change
Scientists have mapped what they believe is the world’s biggest seagrass meadow in the Bahamas, capturing the underwater world from the view of tiger sharks.
Greta Thunberg, Coca-Cola and COP27: Why greenwashing is overshadowing the UN climate summit
Coca-Cola is a major sponsor of the climate change-tackling event, despite being labelled as the world’s worst plastic polluter.
Turning CO2 solid could allow underground burial
Understanding more about processes that turn carbon dioxide into a solid could lead to its safe burial beneath the Earth’s surface.
Scientists in Germany turn up heat on seagrass in climate change fight
Scientists in Germany are working on ways to restore seagrass fields in the Baltic Sea, vast natural sinks that store millions of tonnes of carbon but which are shrinking fast in the face of falling water quality, global warming and disease.
National
All eyes on Murray River, with flooding to continue
The twin cities of Albury and Wodonga are days away from reaching or exceeding major flood levels.
Fact check: Geologist misleads with climate change ‘proof’ claim
A climate sceptic says he’s spent two decades waiting for proof from scientists on human-induced climate change.
Hundreds of thousands may be missing out on energy bill concessions worth up to $372 a year
New report finds ACT has biggest shortfall in rebate claims, while research centre says concession system is far too complex to navigate
Soaring power bills being used as cover for more lies about renewable energy, Labor claims
Climate minister Chris Bowen says opponents of climate action have seized on cost-of-living crisis to resume campaign against clean energy transition
Brisbane Lord Mayor to speak at UN climate summit, PM to stay home
Adrian Schrinner could rub shoulders with the US president in Egypt next week, but not the Australian prime minister.
Energy crisis, labour shortage to keep miners on their toes: BHP
Australia’s largest miner expects a labour shortage and global energy crisis to continue driving up the costs of extracting commodities well into next year.
A 42-year study shows wind and solar droughts in 100% renewable grid not as bad as thought
New study analysing 42 years of data shows that wind and solar droughts are relatively short and shallow, and 100 per cent renewables is very doable.
Mike Cannon-Brookes in scathing attack on AGL board over nominees
The billionaire investor has hit back at claims his four nominees for the AGL board are not independent, and defended his agitation towards the company.
Power to the people: it’s not an alternate universe, Australia can make energy a shared commodity
Peter Lewis
Voters want energy networks that support the public good and governments to be accountable for power supply
Time for two sensible gas market interventions
Rod Sims
Diverting LNG exports for domestic supply and taxing windfall profits would cut power prices and help with the structural budget deficit.
Rohan Best
Australia is in the midst of a spiralling energy crisis. Prices have risen rapidly and are forecast to increase by another 56% in the next two years.
Networks find smarter ways to shift more renewables around the grid
Giles Parkinson
Every week it appears there is another major step forward in discovering how to shift more renewables around Australia’s main grid.
Victoria speeds up neighbourhood battery installations to maximise rooftop solar
Victoria accelerates neighbourhood batteries program to maximising uptake and storage of rooftop solar, and deliver it back to the communities that supply it.
Why a protester dumped 1,000 litres of oily sludge on Flemington Racecourse
Victoria police are investigating the incident, which received support from the climate activism group Extinction Rebellion.
Fascinators and flood walls: The race that divided Maribyrnong
The Melbourne Cup may have stopped the nation, but down the road, the flood clean-up continued.
Aussie car lover is making electric vehicles a thing of the past
An Australian start-up adding modern technology to classic Land Rovers will become part of one of the biggest electric vehicle conversion companies in the world this week after merging with an English firm.
Coalition’s $2 fares would cost state twice as much as claimed, says government
The Victorian opposition’s flagship election policy of slashing Melbourne public transport fares to $2 a day has been estimated by the state’s transport department to cost twice as much as the Coalition claimed.
Labor plans $15m truck trade-in scheme to lift inner west’s air quality
Truck owners would get up to $20,000 to upgrade their vehicle to a model that produces less pollution under a $20 million Labor election promise to improve air quality on the streets in Melbourne’s inner west.
Plastic-eating enzyme start-up banks $54m to build its first facility [$]
Samsara Eco has banked $54 million to build its first commercial 20,000 tonne facility in Melbourne, where early investor Woolworths has already signed up for 5000 tonnes of its polyester to be broken down.
New South Wales
Calls for better composting regulations in NSW as plastic bans take effect
A small business owner in NSW says the ban on some single-use plastic items enforces the need for better regulations around compostable packaging alternatives after they were banned from the green FOGO bin by the EPA recently.
Infrastructure Australia warns cost outweighs benefits for Great Western Highway upgrade
Infrastructure Australia has found it will be more detrimental than beneficial for taxpayers if the first stage of the proposed Great Western Highway upgrade goes ahead.
Climate groups condemn police intimidation tactics
An alliance of climate action and environment groups have condemned the stepping up of police intimidation against activists in the lead up to IMARC.
‘Blackfellas and western science’ come together to save vulnerable cockatoo
Aboriginal custodians take a leading role as they work with the NSW government to rehabilitate crucial habitat for the glossy black cockatoo.
ACT
Proposed changes to ACT’s planning system open for community consultation
In announcing the new Territory Plan and District Planning Strategies, the ACT government said the changes sought to balance community expectations about maintaining the character of some areas while meeting the demand for densification in town and group centres.
Queensland
There’s a reason mozzies and midges are making life in Brisbane unbearable right now
Wet conditions during the year and a recent spike in temperature means mosquitoes and midgies are out in force across the south-east as the region’s councils band together on an ambitious spraying program.
South Australia
Power cuts to hit SA Riverland
South Australian Riverland properties will be hit with power cuts as floodwaters continue to surge down the Murray River.
Heavy rains prompt flood warnings across SA
The State Emergency Service has warned of the risk of flooding from numerous creeks and rivers as heavy spring rains continue to fill local catchments.
Tasmania
Breakthrough to save wombats from horrible suffering
Tasmanian researchers have played a key role in bringing a breakthrough treatment to save wombats from a devastating disease.
The silence around sea level is telling
Peter Boyer
About a dozen years ago, after a talk I’d given about climate change, a young couple approached me about their recent first home purchase, a waterfront property on Hobart’s Eastern Shore. They wanted to know if they’d done the right thing.
Northern Territory
Mining company URO has lodged an application to explore for uranium, lithium, rare earths and precious metals in Litchfield National Park, concerning some residents and tourism operators.
Western Australia
Elder tells Andrew Forrest it’s time for Indigenous people to mine their own land
Doris Mitchell-Eaton told a conference hosted by the mining magnate that her people were “dying” as a result of the royalties system and that it was time for them to be involved in the industry as players.
Mark McGowan says it is likely Western Australia will be forced to import coal from New South Wales to power the electricity grid over the coming years.
More Labor MPs come clean on WA mining junket, but questions remain [$]
Anton Nilsson
Labor MPs were treated by the mining lobby to a three-day tour of WA last month, including sunset drinks with FIFO workers and a briefing on the Juukan Gorge destruction.
Sustainability
Ghana’s illegal mining continues because the rules and reality are disconnected
Artisanal and small-scale mining is responsible for complex environmental challenges: destruction of land and vegetation and chemical contamination of water.
At least 30 Belgian firms can discharge PFAS into the Westerschelde
At least 30 Belgian companies are still legally allowed to pump chemical waste, including PFAS, into the Westerschelde estuary which separates the Netherlands from Flanders.
More than 20% of yearly deaths linked to air pollution: Study
About 20% of the total annual deaths in Bangladesh are associated with air pollution, which is increasing gradually, according to a recent study.
Plastic pollution robs fish of nutrients
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee have discovered that plastic pollution makes yellow perch less nutritious.
Nature Conservation
Brazil’s ‘tropical Trump’ has been ousted, but is it too late to save the Amazon rainforest?
Described as an “environmental despot”, Jair Bolsonaro’s election defeat has been welcomed by climate change scientists and activists.
Whales ingest millions of microplastic particles a day, study finds
Blue whales consume up to 1bn particles over a feeding season with as-yet-unknown impacts on health
How do we mourn an island? Where do we mark its grave?
Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner
Ellekan, an islet in Marshall Islands, has been reduced to a pile of sand in the middle of the reef. Those who loved it have already held its funeral
—
return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.