Post of the Day
World still ‘on brink of climate catastrophe’ after Cop27 deal
Experts say biggest economies must pledge more cuts to carbon emissions but hail agreement to set up loss and damage fund
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Arbor Day – British Virgin Islands
Climate Change
More than 30 climate activists behind bars in UK during Cop27
Just Stop Oil campaigners were held on remand after charges relating to M25 protests
There were fears COP27 would end in disaster. Here’s why it might have been a win instead
Adam Morton
As the 27th United Nations climate conference drew to a close on the weekend, there were fears it would end in total disaster. But with a key advance made, COP27 may have been a big win
COP27 failed to live up to expectations [$]
Canberra Times editorial
Greta Thunberg’s dismissal of COP27 as an exercise in “greenwashing” intended to make political leaders and other powerful figures look good on the world stage appears to have some merit given the disappointing outcome of the recent conference
Australian Climate Council’s weasel words demonstrates complete lack of understanding
Steve Posselt
It seems that the majority of participants in COP27, and indeed the directors of our own peak advisory body, have no comprehension that, if we want to avoid uncontrollable, runaway warming incompatible with life and society as we know it, our global carbon budget is already spent.
Climate obsession won’t feed a growing population [$]
John Williams
As the world’s population heads towards 10 billion, vast swaths of farm land are being locked up for national parks, solar panels or the sprawl of cities.
The good, the bad, and the ugly – a leave pass for fossil fuels at compromised COP27
Richie Merzian
COP27 made important advances on loss and damage, but the refusal to call out fossil fuels and backtracking on 1.5° target has left a bitter taste.
National
The battle for your kitchen: Why these experts want an end to gas cooking at home
For decades, “natural gas” has sold itself to families as the fastest and most efficient way to cook. But now there’s a battle for your kitchen stove, and a push to get you to embrace electric.
WTO head says Australia should focus more on green hydrogen, less on coal
The head of the World Trade Organisation says Australia should aim to reduce its reliance on coal exports and instead focus on green hydrogen.
Murray-Darling Basin’s new boss says need to incorporate Indigenous knowledge in water management
Murray-Darling Authority Basin boss to reveal “great unfinished business of water management” as Basin Plan reaches a 10-year milestone.
Murray River floodwater may not recede until 2023, residents warned
Residents who decide to stay in flood-affected towns along the river are warned they may be stuck for months and sewerage systems could back into homes.
Birds are back, crops are growing – but is the Murray Darling Basin plan working?
It is 10 years since the $13bn scheme was launched to restore the 1,500km system, and with it comes intensive debate about whether it is on track
Calls for inquiry after coal exporters accused of ‘widespread fraud’
Major Australian coal exporters have been accused of “widespread fraud” and exposed through explosive leaked documents.
Teals back Wilkie’s demand for federal inquiry into alleged coal scam
A spokesperson for federal Resources Minister Madeleine King says the government will look into Andrew Wilkie’s “concerning” claims.
Anglo, Peabody, Glencore targeted in fake-coal claims [$]
Some coal giants have rejected allegations of forcing labs to manipulate the results of tests on coal.
Anthony Albanese accuses Peter Dutton of ‘dog-whistling’ after attack on Cop27 climate damage fund
PM says opposition leader’s claim that climate aid is ‘giving away’ Australians’ money boosts re-election chances of independents and Greens over Liberals
Thousands of solar batteries at risk of catching fire, ACCC warns
Almost 5000 households will get a letter from the consumer watchdog warning them about the potential for their solar batteries to catch fire.
Energy prices to ‘hollow out’ manufacturing within two years: Chalmers
The federal treasurer says manufacturing will be crippled within years by soaring energy prices as he lays out justifications for market intervention.
New plan to take gas out of Aussie kitchens [$]
Like cooking with gas? Well, you may never want to move house again, as property developers announce plans to phase gas connections out of new buildings.
Adam Morton
Qualified victory was snatched from defeat at the climate summit with a genuine and surprising agreement on loss and damage. But there’s still no plan to get to 1.5C
The Murray Darling Basin Plan can be frustrating, but it’s working
Tanya Plibersek
Ten years ago, the Murray Darling Basin Plan was signed into federal law. It was, and still remains, the most important piece of water policy in Australian history.
Hope doesn’t come from nothing – we have to make it
Peter Boyer
The onset of human-induced climate change is now evident around the world, yet there remains a hard core of people who miss no opportunity to disparage efforts to fight it.]
When green power dream turns to nightmare [$]
Judith Sloan
As we hurtle towards renewables and emissions targets there is no certainty we will be able to keep the lights on. Surely there needs to be a backup plan?
What’s the price of a decent scare campaign? The mining industry ramps up its lies [$]
Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer
Lithium miners are now making massive profits. But mining lobbyists claim companies will just walk away from them.
COP results put squeeze on Albanese’s carbon cut plans [$]
Australian editorial
Delivering climate ambitions is more difficult than making promises.
The carbon challenge beyond CEO control [$]
Eric Johnston
This week, almost 50 of the nation’s top bosses will meet to tackle the hardest part of their efforts to slash carbon output.
Surely not all recycling is a scam?! Here are some handy tips to reduce, reuse and recycle – cartoon
First Dog on the Moon
Firstly reduce your reliance on packaging by consuming all your groceries AT the supermarket
Victoria
Metro 2 rail tunnel in Coalition sights, but parties cut back on ]transport spending
An analysis by the independent Grattan Institute shows Labor, the Coalition and the Greens pledging tiny fractions of what they committed during the 2018 election.
Timber rally “Save our jobs” [$]
Two convoys of timber trucks rolled into Morwell, in a funeral procession marking the death of an industry.
An election campaign can sometimes feel like Groundhog Day, but this Victorian election is genuinely different. While the major parties are still making plenty of transport promises, they’ve dialled them way down from the dizzy heights of 2018.
Crikey’s cheat-sheet guide to the Victorian election. Today: transport infrastructure [$]
Maeve McGregor
Daniel Andrews has bet the farm on the massive Suburban Rail Loop project, despite questions over its viability and cost. Meanwhile the opposition is offering… nothing much.
Wind and solar delivered one third of grid demand in last month, but fossil fuels set the price
David Leitch
Rooftop solar overtakes both hydro and gas, but despite record levels of renewables the market price is still being set by fossil fuels.
New South Wales
Receding NSW floods reveal destruction
While some towns in central NSW have begun the difficult process of cleaning up after devastating floods, others are still yet to be hit by the record-breaking peak.
Simon Holmes à Court considering support for up to 10 teals to shake up NSW election
Climate 200 is looking at ‘seven to 10’ seats in the state, and have had discussions with groups in ‘most’ of them
ACT
Greens minister told to ‘get their act together’ on developer licensing [$]
Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson has put a Greens minister on notice, threatening to introduce his own bill for a property developer licensing scheme if the minister doesn’t “get their act together”.
Jennifer and Ian Cameron thought they were having rockwool insulation installed in their Melba home. Instead, it would turn out to be the dangerous Mr Fluffy asbestos.
Wind farms deliver another big bonus to consumers under ACT’s 100 pct renewables deal
ACT reaps benefit of locking in prices for its net 100 per cent renewable supply, receiving bonus payment of $32 million in last quarter as prices surge in rest of country.
Queensland
Feral horses once roamed freely on this island. Their removal has seen native species boom
While striking to see roaming the streets, wild horses are part of a feral animal problem on this Great Barrier Reef island and rangers say their removal has had incredible impacts on native wildlife.
How a measly $2 sparked a “whatever it takes” war between big coal and Labor
Another bruising encounter of the coal wars kicks off this week over what the State Government claims is all for the sake of a claimed hike of $2.
Habitat destruction lacks oversight in Qld
The Queensland pastoral industry has destroyed vast areas of threatened-species habitat protected under federal law without consequence, a report says.
Wind farm rejected over threat to koalas gets green light for new design
The central Queensland wind farm sent back to the drawing board for posing a “clearly unacceptable” threat to koalas has been approved for construction.
Queensland’s high-tech plan to make the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games smarter and greener
Davina Jackson
With Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympic Games, Queensland is accelerating “smart” and “green” infrastructure projects right across the coast from Coolangatta to Coolum.
South Australia
Our 8km line of defence against surging floodwaters [$]
Thousands of metres of military-style flood barriers will be erected across the River Murray region in a bid to stop damage from surging flows now creeping into SA.
Tasmania
Barramundi, kingfish on the Tassal menu [$]
Tasmania’s Tassal is looking beyond salmon and prawns as it enters new ownership under Canadian seafood giant Cooke Aquaculture.
What planting tomatoes shows us about climate change
Edward Doddridge
There’s a piece of gardening lore in my hometown which has been passed down for generations: never plant your tomatoes before Show Day, which, in Tasmania, is the fourth Saturday in October. If you’re foolhardy enough to plant them earlier, your tomato seedlings will suffer during the cold nights and won’t grow.
Northern Territory
‘Very large volumes’: Empire records positive gas testing [$]
Empire Energy has reported a significant milestone in its bid to detect gas at one of the Territory’s most promising resources.
Through hell and high water: Torres Strait Islanders fight for their home
James F Sice
Torres Strait Islanders may soon be forced to leave if nothing is done to stop catastrophic weather events and rising sea levels.
Sustainability
Watch this dynamic map of renewable energy growth around the world
Renewable energy is gaining ground around the world. See which countries are shifting most quickly.
How electric vehicles will change cities [$]
Underground charging stations for electric cars, more public parks on top of them and libraries, restaurants and vegetable patches populating what used to be petrol stations.
Major airlines are teaming up to tackle planet-warming plane contrails
American, Southwest and United are joining with Airbus, Boeing, RMI and researchers in an effort to mitigate heat-trapping condensation trails.
It’s too late to solve overpopulation, time to focus our energy elsewhere
Ellie Mitchell
The United Nations (UN) says the globe cracked eight billion people this month. It begs the question of if we should be trying to reverse population growth. After all, we’re hurtling towards environmental collapse because of man-made climate change and more people only puts poor old Mother Earth under further strain.
First U.S. coral insurance marks the rise of the reef brigades
Conservation group The Nature Conservancy’s vision for the future of coral protection involves speed boats, and a global army of snorkellers and divers deployed when tropical storms and hurricanes damage reefs.
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