Date: 5 November 2022 at 8:55:10 am AEDT
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Subject: Daily Links Nov 5
Post of the Day
VicForests logged ‘without knowing where gliders live’ and failed to protect them, court finds
A court has found the methods VicForests use to protect endangered gliders in Gippsland and Central Victoria are “inadequate” and ineffective, in a significant win for two small environmental groups.
On This Day
November 5
International Volunteer Managers Day
Ecological Observance
National Bison Day – USA
Climate Change
Protesters hurl pea soup at Van Gogh
Italian environmental protesters have thrown pea soup over a Vincent Van Gogh painting on display in Rome before gluing themselves to the wall of the gallery.
Countdown to high-stakes summit: King hosts officials, plants tree
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has praised King Charles for his far-sighted leadership on tackling climate change as the monarch hosted a reception for politicians and business leaders ahead of the United Nations COP27 summit.
Cop27 host accuses countries of making empty public pledges
Egypt has expressed frustration at leaders making positive statements that are abandoned in negotiations
As world leaders prepare to gather for this year’s climate summit, they will have to contend with a surge in new fossil fuel infrastructure prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Flood, fire, pestilence: Was this the year Mother Nature finally took her revenge?
Extreme weather events have ravaged every continent on Earth since world leaders last gathered to address the existential threat of climate change.
A warming Siberia, wracked by wildfires, nears a crucial threshold
Nearly 23 million acres burned from 1982 to 2020. But almost half of that occurred in 2019 and 2020, and the region may be near a threshold beyond which extreme fires become more common.
Extreme weather records are broken – showing the need for COP27 to take action – podcast
A new report shows records for extreme weather events have been broken on every continent in the last 12 months. The report’s authors say the findings show the need for drastic action to limit the impacts of global warming at the upcoming UN climate summit in Egypt.
Cop27 is here and the climate crisis is daunting but here’s the key to tackling it – cheer up
Isabel Losada
We environmentalists must avoid sending the message that the situation is hopeless. Let’s focus on solutions
The climate is already collapsing in Africa – but its nations have a plan
Emmanuel Macron et al
Africa is the continent most vulnerable to the climate crisis, but with the right support at Cop27 it can build a stronger, greener future
Nick O’Malley
The awkward issue of “loss and damage” is high on the agenda at this year’s annual climate talks in Africa. What do developing nations want?
‘Implementation COP’: what round 27 of the UN’s annual climate change conference has in store [$]
Julia Bergin
COP27 has its work cut out as it aims to ‘unite at the highest political levels to address climate change’. Here’s a primer on what to expect.
Will war, pandemic and the energy crisis curb ambition to go green? [$]
Frank Jotzo
The myriad crises of 2022 put climate action on the backburner, but they also offer a chance for lasting change.
Jacqueline Peel and Kathryn Bowen
The as-yet-unmet costs of climate change adaptation and escalating disaster recovery are likely to be the key issues at COP27
Australia is heavily reliant on carbon offsets. This is what it needs to bring to Egypt for COP27
Multiple global crises threaten to overshadow the crucial climate talks, but the task at COP27 over the next two weeks is more urgent than ever.
Labor has improved Australia’s emissions pledge on the one Scott Morrison took to Glasgow, but observers say it will still have questions to answer
Albanese to rejoin climate fund to bolster Pacific reset [$]
The Albanese government will go to next week’s COP27 climate talks prepared to reinvest in supporting developing nations’ climate costs as it seeks to reset relations with the Pacific.
Criticism over Albanese’s decision not to attend climate talks grows
Observers see the prime minister’s absence to the talks as a snub from a government that has been determined to improve the nation’s climate reputation.
Anti-Lib rants by agency frontman [$]
The Australian Energy Regulator’s new public spokesman’s anti-Coalition Facebook posts have prompted the opposition to question the agency’s impartiality.
Torres Strait climate change centre could put First Nations people in charge of nationwide mitigation efforts
A climate change beacon of hope will be established in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands) which could one day see First Nations people lead mitigation efforts across the nation.
Country Road announces $1.5 million climate fund with First Nations involvement
Country Road has announced Australia’s first ever fashion industry climate fund and with a focus on First Nations-led innovations.
Fact check: Dutton muddles Labor’s energy promise timeline
The federal opposition leader gets his dates wrong on when Labor made its pre-election promise on energy bills.
As the demand for electric vehicles rises, car dealerships and mechanics are faced with new challenges, including high-powered batteries and lower-maintenance requirements.
Katharine Murphy
When it comes to industrial relations reform, there is no interest like self interest
Climate credits: With so much to do on the home front, PM can skip COP27
Michelle Grattan
While Anthony Albanese can afford to miss this week’s COP27 summit in Egypt in favour of other international commitments, at home the implementation of his energy and climate agenda looks increasingly problematic.
Albanese promotes ‘orderly change’ [$]
Paul Kelly
Soaring energy costs and a worsening economic outlook may limit the PM’s attempts at reform.
Intervention is OK for gas [$]
John Durie
The best solution to rapidly rising gas prices might be to break the usual economic rules.
Albanese’s COP27 no-show stirs old doubts on Australia’s resolve [$]
Jacob Greber
Australia wants to host a COP summit and become a magnet for global green capital. But kitchen-table politics is winning out instead.
This is what Australia needs to bring to Egypt for COP27
Wesley Morgan
Officials from nearly 200 nations are gathering in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, for the 27th United Nations climate change conference known as COP27. Multiple global crises threaten to overshadow the summit, but the task at COP27 over the next two weeks is more urgent than ever.
The truth about today’s gas prices [$]
Mike Seccombe
The surge in energy costs is pressuring the Labor government to find a way to stop gas producers gouging households and businesses and to claw back some of the windfall profits flowing to mostly foreign-owned corporations.
Victoria
VicForests logged ‘without knowing where gliders live’ and failed to protect them, court finds
A court has found the methods VicForests use to protect endangered gliders in Gippsland and Central Victoria are “inadequate” and ineffective, in a significant win for two small environmental groups.
Apostles landowners ‘fooled’ by state government [$]
The landowners of a 32ha site opposite the 12 Apostles claim they were “fooled” by the Andrews government over plans to develop a tourist centre.
Fancy a dip in the bay? Experts say Melburnians should head to the pool instead
Environmental experts are telling Victorians to head to the swimming pool over the weekend instead of the beach, with water quality across the state still poor after recent flooding.
New South Wales
NSW Traditional Owners slam ‘draconian’ fisheries change which could ‘criminalise’ cultural rights
Indigenous leaders in New South Wales have condemned “draconian” proposed changes to fisheries management which they say criminalise Aboriginal people’s cultural rights to fish.
NSW formally declares its third renewable zone as shift from coal accelerates
NSW declares the third of its planned five renewable energy zones as it accelerates plans to deal with shift from coal over coming decade.
The river will have its way: we await our fate on Wagga’s flood plain
Tim Kurylowicz
Along with my neighbours, I’ll find out today whether the Murrumbidgee River will inundate our homes
‘It’s not Blockade Australia’: NSW Police harass anti-mining protestors
Tom Tanuki
I think the NSW Police have trauma bonded with the word “Blockade”.
ACT
Lee sets out priorities, teases light rail announcement [$]
ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee has said the Canberra Liberals would announce a position on the light rail shortly as she sets out her priorities over the next two years
When Garrett Cotter first set foot on Australian soil, 200 years ago this week, he was a lowly Irish convict – prisoner #29. When a dispute with his employer some years later led to him being banished to beyond the Murrumbidgee, he was essentially cast into the wilderness to die.
Queensland
Trailblazing Indigenous ranger Larissa Hale stunned to be named a finalist in Prince William’s Earthshot Prize
Larissa Hale — who runs a trailblazing network of Indigenous women rangers in Queensland — has been announced as the only Australian finalist in Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, which aims to seek out cutting-edge solutions to save the planet.
Whitehaven, Woodside and Palmer-backed coal projects to be reassessed after legal bid
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will reassess 18 major coal and gas project proposals following a legal application submitted by a Queensland conservation group.
Blackout fear, Callide’s high-wire act as string of failures shut down power station
The entire Callide power station in central Queensland was offline briefly Friday, adding to a string of problems for the facility and raising concerns about electricity supply.
Is it time to re-visit the gas to Queensland project? [$]
Jeffrey Wall
We hear from the federal government daily that we face a critical shortage of gas – with prices for industry and households to rise by up to 50 per cent. At the same time power prices will rise by even more.
South Australia
Single-use plastic plates and bowls, cotton buds to join SA’s banned list
A wide range of single-use plastic products will be banned in South Australia over the next three years, the state government says.
River Murray laps at shacks as water keeps rising
Jodie Reynolds will soon pack up and move to higher ground as the rising River Murray impacts her houseboat business and home in Morgan – but the stress isn’t stopping her regular river video updates.
Mystery as controversial West Lakes coastal path to go ahead [$]
After years of public consultation, a stretch of an Adelaide coastal path has been approved – but what about the rest?
Public asset now a free land bank for government
Chris Sumner
The Malinauskas Government has reversed pre-election commitments and will build a new hospital on park lands. Former Labor minister Chris Sumner says politicians are back to a help-yourself-to-free-land stage and it’s time for the community to decide what it wants for its open space.
Tasmania
‘Head in the sand’: Tourism boss sees red over cable car decision [$]
The CEO of a key tourism body is calling for the government to intervene after plans to build a cable car on kunanyi were knocked back, as the decision continues to divide.
Milestone project to help clean up Tamar River begins [$]
The first phase of major upgrades to reduce sewerage and stormwater flows into the kanamaluka/Tamar River have begun.
Plibersek’s plans for West Coast visit [$]
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has declined a one-on-one meeting with conservation group Bob Brown Foundation ahead of her visit to the West Coast this week.
Northern Territory
Document governing Australia’s largest water licence under fire from group tasked with developing it
A leaked letter accuses the Northern Territory government of “water mining” and failing to protect both the environment and sacred sites.
Why enviro centre’s new ad is polluting its own message [$]
Matt Cunningham
Black smoke from chimney stacks, sick kids in oxygen masks, dead fish on beaches. Territory Environment Centre’s commercial will do more to harm its cause than to help it.
Western Australia
Abalone diver wants chumming ban at white shark hot spot
A former abalone diver is urging the architects of a new marine park to ban fishing at Salisbury Island to stop filmmakers using bait to rile up white sharks.
Climate impacts could block Woodside’s WA gas project bid
The federal government will now accept public submissions on the climate change impacts of 18 contentious coal and gas projects.
Activists claim win in legal bid to stop WA gas project [$]
Environmental activists in Queensland have claimed a major win in their legal bid to stop a proposal to extend the life of WA’s North West Shelf gas project for another 50 years.
WA “orchestrates” hundreds of home solar and storage assets, as coal shortage continues
WA switches on Project Symphony, a VPP harnessing customer resources from rooftop solar and battery storage to hot water systems and electric vehicles.
Sustainability
Potting soil has a dirty secret
The rapid demand for potting soil has increased the need for its key ingredients, which are risky for environmental and human health, though greater awareness of those risks is encouraging more sustainable solutions.
Nature Conservation
More than 200 elephants among over 1,000 wild animals killed during Kenyan drought
Much of East Africa is enduring the worst drought in 40 years causes mass fatalities of wildlife including endangered species.
This loophole allows pesticide-coated seeds to kill birds. It’s time to close it.
Pesticides kill almost 100 million birds every year in the United States — and a federal loophole ensures this crisis will continue.
Can a nation replace its oil wealth with trees?
Gabon knows its oil won’t last forever, so officials are turning to the Central African nation’s rainforest for revenue — while also promising to preserve it.
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