Daily Links Dec 6

On how many fronts can environmentalists take on the forces of darkness? When the corporate despoilers and their political enablers hold such sway, there’ll be campaigns to win for many years to come. If we are to chalk up wins, we’ll be thanking the activists for them.

Post of the Day

Addressing climate change will not “save the planet”

Christopher Ketcham

The dismal reality is that green energy will save not the complex web of life on Earth but the particular way of life of one domineering species.

 

On This Day

December 6

Saint Nicholas Day – Western Christianity

 

Climate Change

Mo Ibrahim on impact of climate change in Africa and global COP27 talks

Sudan-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim talks about the impact of “loss and damage” compensation and his foundation’s work in documenting the impact of climate change on the continent.

 

How Greenland’s ice streams could have major impact on sea level rise

New radar technology allowing scientists to examine the Greenland ice sheet has revealed that major flows of ice across the continent can change much more rapidly than was previously thought.

 

National

PM says he’s conscious states may demand compensation for coal price cap

Anthony Albanese says he understands the states’ concerns that introducing a price cap on coal may hurt their royalties, but something must be done to lower energy prices.

 

Albanese postpones energy market intervention meeting with states after testing positive for Covid

PM urges state and territory leaders to agree to cooperative intervention to halt climbing electricity prices

 

Could we see more Indigenous foods in our diet as the climate changes?

As climate changes, researchers are advising farmers to grow bush foods to improve drought resistance.


Nuclear off the table as states seek power fix

A state premier is preparing to make some powerful enemies over their “ill-founded” opposition to nuclear energy.

 

Many Australian businesses will scale back climate action when economy slows, survey finds

The 2022 Climate Check international survey also found support in Australia for a crackdown on ‘greenwashing’

 

Australians strongly support price caps on energy as states push back

Almost 80 per cent of voters back energy price caps to tackle soaring bills, polling has found, as the states push back against the plan over lost royalties.

 

Greenwashing crackdown continues

ASIC issues a second fine for alleged greenwashing, as a new report finds Australia is lagging behind in ESG transparency.

 

High energy costs drive surge in demand for EVs, solar panels: NAB

The country’s biggest business bank says business loans for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have ballooned by 900 per cent since 2020

 

Volvo is shipping over Australia’s first two electric prime movers, but driving them is illegal

The transport industry is the second-biggest polluter in Australia and its decarbonisation is critical to meet lagging climate change targets, but industry insiders say simple changes to regulation could be made now to charm the freight industry into making the switch. 

 

Exploitative gas pricing is causing debt and distress for many Australian households

Gerard Brody

It is not fair for people to be paying such wildly varied prices for the same level of gas consumption – equity must be central to any market intervention

 

Why energy price caps have set off another squabble between the states, Canberra and producers

Elizabeth Knight

There is violent agreement between all Australian governments about the need to curb runaway energy prices. But the debate around who foots the bill is less simple.

 

Power price hikes to be ‘extremely awful’ or ‘horrifying’

Nick O’Malley

Whatever Anthony Albanese achieves when national cabinet next meets, it is unlikely to result in lower energy prices for families.

 

Recycling failure leaves us drowning in plastic [$]

Peter Boyer

For a while there we thought we had banished a demon: someone wanted our plastic bags, those poster children of human excess and a trashed environment. Millions of Australians dutifully gathered together all their soft plastic detritus and every month or so delivered a bulging bagful to their local supermarket. 

 

Clashing laws need to be fixed if we want to live in bushfire-prone areas

Phillipa McCormack

It’s almost bushfire season. Yes, even though floods are still racing through parts of eastern Australia. Fire conditions are above average including in inland New South Wales and Queensland.

 

Change the government, or the reef gets it!

Graham Young

One lot of grifters has won their way into government, but a whole lot of others have to keep grifting, and that means the reef can never be allowed to be free.

 

Not acting on climate change has a lot to do with our supply chain and productivity issues now

Rob Lee

The cost of not acting on climate change 16 years ago when Sir Nicolas Stern and many others were arguing for strong action to reduce emissions is now very apparent in the central west of NSW, where I farm.


A gas price cap — tragically — won’t curb investment in fossil fuels [$]

Bernard Keane

Fossil fuel companies say they’ll stop investing if there are gas and coal price caps. They’re lying.

 

No cheap or easy fix for high energy prices [$]

Judith Sloan

There is no doubt that the best solution to higher prices always is more supply.

 

Economics 101 warns us against energy price caps [$]

AFR editorial

Federal Labor is rushing to ‘do something’ to bring down gas and electricity prices. But it could make the problem worse.


Long term fix to fossil fuel crisis is faster switch to renewables, not price caps

Rachel Williamson

Putting in motion already-proposed plans combined with targeted green energy policies is the route out of the current crisis.

 

Victoria

This filtered tap water is within the requirements of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

Moama residents are turning on their household taps only to find dirty, brown-coloured water. And it’s even getting into washing machines.

 

New South Wales

This region’s housing crisis is a ‘disaster of epic proportions’, but there’s nowhere to build more homes without a fight

The South Coast has a huge housing problem, but if locals are reluctant to have new houses built on much-loved bushland, where are the new houses going to go?

 

Kosciuszko mountain bike trail completed ahead of summer season [$]

The final stage of an ambitious mountain bike project in Kosciuszko National Park is now complete.


Collapse of contractor puts more question marks over giant Snowy 2.0 project

Snowy 2.0 project – already steeped in controversy – faces further question marks after collapse of one of its two main contractors.

 

Why was climate activist Violet Coco given a jail sentence and what are the laws against protesting?

Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco will spend at least eight months in jail for her role in a Sydney protest. Her supporters have labelled her sentence “outrageous”, but the NSW premier said it was “pleasing to see”.

 

Documents reveal ‘scramble’ to rubber-stamp NSW bill targeting climate protests

Emails show how NSW premier Dominic Perrottet’s advisers, along with several other ministers, sought to fast-track bill after media furore

 

Last week, a NSW court jailed me for 15 months for a peaceful climate protest. Hear my story

Violet Coco

If you are reading this, then I have been sentenced to prison for peaceful environmental protest. I do not want to break the law. But when regular political procedure has proven incapable of enacting justice, it falls to ordinary people taking a stand to bring about change.

 

It’s not just Albanese who’s stuck in an energy price mess [$]

Jennifer Hewett

Divisions between NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and his treasurer and energy minister also demonstrate the contradictions in Australia’s energy ambitions.

 

ACT

‘The economics do not add up’: Why the Canberra Liberals plan to dump light rail to Woden if elected

The Canberra Liberals say stage two of light rail is likely to cost more than $3 billion and the money should instead be spent on hospitals, schools and roads. 

 

Queensland

This farming technique could help Australia feed the world in uncertain times

Mangoes ripening year round, indoor flowers and lettuce crops immune to weather and pests — unpredictable weather is pushing more producers to high-tech solutions.

 

Outback town says ‘police have lost control of the streets’ as property crime spikes

Cars were seen driving dangerously through a rural community after a spate of vehicle thefts over the weekend. 

 

This island is defying the odds and showing all is not lost amid a sea turtle ‘man drought’

An island where 80 per cent of turtle hatchlings are born female is more of a level playing field when it comes to breeding than researchers initially feared.

 

Brisbane Metro ‘is no Metro’: rail lobby says name must change

Brisbane’s coming Metro needs to be renamed because it’s a not a rail service like Metros in other capital cities and confuses people, a Queensland rail lobby group says.

 

Labor out of touch with loud and proud heritage

Courier Mail editorial

Kneejerk reactions from the Premier and Speaker to a harmless protest in parliament appear to be incongruous for two people who owe their livelihoods to the Labor movement, writes the editor.

 

South Australia

Single bin photo stuns Australians

An Adelaide woman has shocked hundreds of Australians with one simple photo of her bin – the reason why will surprise you.

 

Flood warning for Renmark residents after levee breach

A levee breach on a private property has prompted a flood warning for parts of Renmark, as authorities monitor rising River Murray flows that appear higher than forecasts.

 

More water to come down river daily than SA consumes in a year [$]

Emergency access routes for residents of river communities will be created as the Mid Murray Council looks to minimise the impact on day to day lives as peak flows approach.


Tasmania

Lost remains of last-known Tasmanian tiger found at museum, solving ‘zoological mystery’

The remains of the last-known thylacine — thought lost for more than 85 years — were kept in a cupboard in a Tasmanian museum for decades, with their significance only recently being realised.

 

Northern Territory

NT government reveals details of plan to keep at-risk children off Alice Springs streets

The Alice Springs community is waiting to see whether a new NT government plan to keep at-risk children off the streets of Alice Springs will be effective.

 

Western Australia

‘A complete disregard for authority’: Former WA MP admits to obstructing corruption probe, tipping off others

Phil Edman is handed a suspended jail term and fined $12,000 for obstructing a secret corruption investigation into his misuse of his taxpayer-funded electoral allowance for travel and sex, as well as tipping off others about it.

 

Hydrogen to Perth homes a pointless distraction on the road to net-zero

Peter Milne

Putting a sliver of hydrogen into a tiny fraction of Perth’s gas network has no practical benefit but allows its owner to appear acceptably green, just don’t look too close.

 

Sustainability

The world’s insurance bill from natural disasters this year: $115 billion

That’s 42 percent higher than the 10-year average according to Swiss Re, the Zurich-based reinsurance giant.

 

Nature Conservation

The COP15 UN conference in Montreal will be a massive moment for nature

One of the most important events for life on Earth, ever, is about to begin. This week and next, delegates from more than 190 countries will come together in Montreal, Canada, for a conference known as COP15, or the UN Biodiversity Conference, to hash out a plan to halt the decline of ecosystems, wildlife, and the life-supporting services they provide.

 



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