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Date: 19 January 2023 at 9:02:41 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Jan 19
Post of the Day
Humanitarian experts report ‘cascading crises’ as climate, health emergencies soar
Globally, humanitarian aid workers are facing complex climate and health crises that require urgent adaptations within a shrinking humanitarian space, according to a recent piece in the Lancet.
On This Day
Epiphany – Eastern Christianity
Climate Change
Extinction Rebellion activists pour black paint outside Gove’s office
Protest held over levelling up secretary’s decision to approve new coalmine in Cumbria
Fact check: Climate ‘facts’ post is a meltdown of misinformation
A widely shared social media post reels off a string of false climate change claims as “facts”.
Sharing the burden of carbon dioxide removal
Carbon dioxide removal is key to meeting the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. A new study analyzes what fair and equitable burden-sharing means for nature-based carbon dioxide removal in developing countries.
Global warming reaches central Greenland
A temperature reconstruction from ice cores of the past 1,000 years reveals that today’s warming in central-north Greenland is surprisingly pronounced.
Increased atmospheric dust is masking greenhouse gases’ warming effect
Researchers say climate change could accelerate slightly if dust levels stop climbing
Seeds developed over thousands of years may help farmers adapt to climate change
A seed bank in rural Lebanon is proving important for food production in regions all over the world adapting to warming temperatures.
Davos: The Arctic as ‘ground zero’ for climate change
Rising water levels and a change in sea currents — the melting of the arctic ice has dramatic consequences for the planet’s climate. Scientist Johan Rockstrom warns in Davos that it is high time to change course if we still want to avoid a climate catastrophe.
Our future climate depends partly on soil microbes — but how are they affected by climate change?
In a surprising twist, food, not temperature, is the most important factor driving microbial release of CO2
Bill McKibben published his first book over 20 years before Xiye Bastida was born. But as climate leaders, they agree that “for an activist to have hope is the most important thing.”
Deadly cold spells grip the planet as climate crisis worsens
Jane Marsh
The climate crisis ravaging the planet, escalated by the burning of fossil fuels, is causing devastating cold weather in various regions with deadly consequences.
Heatwaves and floods hit cities worldwide but some have learned to adapt. Here’s how
Thami Croeser
Countries are welcoming greenery into their concrete jungles to cope with climate change challenges.
National
Gas price cap rules a ‘minefield of uncertainty’ for producers
New rules to enforce the government’s price caps are confusing and could lead to unintended breaches, gas producers say.
How do echidnas stay cool in the blistering heat? They blow snot bubbles and perform belly flops
The furry and spiky pointy-beaked critters perform some out-of-the-ordinary behaviours to avoid overheating, researchers from Curtin University find.
‘We are fooling ourselves on the timeline’: Rio CEO’s warning on solar [$]
Rio Tinto’s Jakob Stausholm tells Davos that people are underestimating how long it will take to build large-scale solar and wind farms, even in Australia.
EnergyAustralia’s problems mount as trading team leaves en masse [$]
The departures of four traders is seen as a blow to EnergyAustralia, which must navigate market volatility and Australia’s energy transition.
‘Australia’s energy sector is undergoing momentous legal change’: Part 1
The energy sector is reportedly set to be one of the biggest areas of growth in 2023. Here, three energy lawyers discuss what’s in store for the legal profession as the space continues to boom within the Australian economy.
Why community batteries could be the next step in the solar power revolution
This year the federal government will begin rolling out 400 community batteries to store excess energy produced by households — an initiative that is expected to prompt an uptick in solar panel purchases.
Solar farm output cut by half as renewables cop brunt of grid congestion
Some solar farms are losing half of their output due to grid congestion, as renewable cop the brunt of curtailment and markets fail to provide correct signals to storage.
From floods to fire? A climate scientist on the chances El Niño will hit Australia this year
Andrew King
After three soggy years of La Niña in a row, Australia has endured record-breaking floods, the latest of which has inundated the Kimberley in Western Australia and across north and central Queensland.
Are the climate wars really over? The response to a big new policy last week provides some clues
Tom Lowrey
Attempts to land climate policy have spelled the doom of several former prime ministers, but cautious agreement from energy, business and environment groups last week on the Albanese government’s plan to bring down emissions suggests the climate wars might be over.
Gas mess will get worse and wider [$]
Terry McCrann
The federal government’s Soviet-style attempt to control both the price and supply of gas will have seriously damaging impacts way beyond the immediate pain imposed on consumers and businesses.
How to maximise savings from your home solar system and slash your power bills
Wasim Saman
Soaring electricity prices have made 15% of Aussies think about installing solar panels, a recent survey found. Another 6% were already weighing up the move, on top of the 28% who had panels.
Fossil fuel crisis prompts biggest ever switch to renewables and storage in 2022
Giles Parkinson
The fossil-fuel induced energy crisis of 2022 has sparked the biggest ever jump in new construction starts for wind, solar and storage projects.
Victoria
Nationally endangered butterfly ten times more abundant in the Wimmera than elsewhere
A wildlife trust has found Wimmera reserves, in Victoria’s west, is home to Australia’s largest population of Eltham copper butterflies.
Whopping $1000 gas bill jump for Victorians [$]
Price notices, which have gone out to many of Victorians, are warning of annual gas costs soaring by as much as $1100.
The five values driving eco-friendly pet bedding
A Melbourne-based pet bedding company challenges throwaway culture in pet care.
New South Wales
Loggerhead turtle nest discovered on NSW beach the southernmost on record in Australia
Surprised beach walkers have found an endangered loggerhead turtle and its nest on a popular NSW Central Coast beach, which conservationists say could be a sign of climate change impacting the species.
Major supermarkets in spotlight as ‘crazy’ cosmetic standards send ‘perfectly good’ food to landfill
A NSW parliamentary committee has recommended restrictions be put on the major supermarkets to stop wasteful standards forcing “perfectly good” fresh fruit and vegetables into waste.
Traditional owners file Federal Court appeal against ‘gutwrenching’ gas project
A month after the Gomeroi people lost a legal battle to stop the Narrabri Gas Project, they’re taking it to the Federal Court with fresh hopes they can block it.
Coalminers told to keep the lights on [$]
NSW will introduce a coal reservation scheme in a bid to keep the lights on and avoid a supply crisis
New 7.5km WestConnex tunnels set to open under inner west [$]
Almost four years after tunnelling began deep beneath Sydney’s inner west, a major 7.5-kilometre section of the mammoth WestConnex motorway is set to open to motorists.
ACT
How a bushfire tragedy reshaped Canberra’s suburbs
A lot can change in 20 years, but as Canberrans look back on the disaster that was the 2003 bushfires, the differences in the affected suburbs over the years can be linked back to the unprecedented power of the event.
Queensland
Scientists hail AI ‘gamechanger’ as they track down bird feared lost since black summer bushfires
Queensland researchers train artificial intelligence to trawl recordings and help confirm presence of elusive eastern bristlebird
Queensland bus-makers urged to get on board electric revolution
The state government wants all new Translink buses in SEQ to be electric by 2025 – and it wants them built locally
‘My boss is pretty keen’: Minister says Canberra happy to discuss Brisbane rail funding
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King is “happy to talk” with the Queensland government about helping to fund a future rail line for Brisbane’s northside.
South Australia
Council meeting halted after protesters tried to enter the chamber, police called
Police were called to the City of Onkaparinga meeting in Adelaide’s south, where a proposed declaration of a climate emergency was to be discussed, with councillors and staff moved to another area for safety.
Don’t end urban infill in Adelaide – do it better [$]
James Atkinson
Urban infill in Adelaide isn’t a problem in itself – the real issue is the lack of accompanying investment in public transport and open space, argues.
Tasmania
Critically endangered species in good hands [$]
A program to bring the orange bellied parrot back from the brink of extinction has seen success, but not all birds have survived. Find out why 97 have died over five years.
Duck debate fires up with 50K birds in the firing line [$]
Bird lovers and conservationists have increased pressure on the government to ban duck hunting in Tasmania with between 40,000-50,000 native birds in the firing line from March 11.
Northern Territory
Sun Cable: How Australia’s biggest renewable energy project hit a snag
The company behind a visionary solar project backed by two of Australia’s richest men entered voluntary administration last week. We explain what that means.
Western Australia
Woodside’s toxic risk oil tower slowly sinking near Ningaloo Reef
A steel tower likely containing toxic chemicals could sink to the seabed after its removal was delayed for four years by Woodside’s lack of maintenance.
Iconic WA beaches at extreme risk of erosion
Locations along WA’s coast including Mettam’s Pool are at ‘extreme risk’ of coastal erosion, prompting urgent calls for government funding.
McGowan to spruik WA’s green hydrogen during Asian junket [$]
Premier Mark McGowan will spruik WA’s burgeoning green hydrogen and battery mineral capabilities in Japan and South Korea during a trip designed to strengthen relations with two of WA’s biggest trade partners.
Sustainability
Pacific Islands urge Japan to delay release of Fukushima waste over contamination fears
The Japanese government said last week that contaminated water from the destroyed nuclear power plant could be released into the sea “around this spring or summer”.
Environmental justice targets needed to cut global inequality, say researchers
Plan unveiled at Davos to find fair limits on impact of climate and other crises, which most affect poorer countries
Net zero: Zverev’s bid to serve the planet
The German tennis star has used an injury lay-off to conceive an environmental makeover for him and his entourage.
Single-use coffee pods have surprising environmental benefits over other brewing methods
Coffee pods might not be as terrible for the planet as you think.
Wind energy CEO says turbines are big enough for now
CEO of one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers believes that turbines are big enough and that the main challenge is to increase output.
Save the planet, starve the people [$]
Andrew Bolt
Terror-mongering global warmists are demanding less food is made in a world where 30 million children still suffer malnutrition.
Nature Conservation
Extreme heat could put 40% of land vertebrates in peril by end of century
Study shows ‘disastrous consequences for wildlife’ if human-caused emissions push global temperatures up 4.4C
Investigation into Verra carbon standard finds most are ‘phantom credits’ and may worsen global heating
How your holiday can help save a northern white rhino [$]
A luxurious bush camp in Kenya is on a conservancy that is at the forefront of saving endangered species.
Biodiversity safeguards bird communities under a changing climate
A new study shows that North American bird communities containing functionally diverse species have changed less under climate change during the past 50 years than functionally simple communities.
Science of sediment transport key to river conservation and protection
Researchers have devised a better way to measure how fast sediment flows in rivers — information that can help scientists and planners better prepare for flooding and weather-related events, understand salmon activity and even restore rivers.
Can we put a price tag on nature?
Oil is lucrative, protecting the Amazon is not. We visited a community that has to live with the consequences.
Climate change threatens songbird breeding
Spring is normally the sweet spot for breeding songbirds in California’s Central Valley—not too hot, not too wet. But climate change models indicate the region will experience more rainfall during the breeding season, and days of extreme heat are expected to increase. Both changes are bad for songbird breeding.
Scott Shackelford et al
As companies race to expand renewable energy and the batteries to store it, finding sufficient amounts of rare earth metals to build the technology is no easy feat. That’s leading mining companies to take a closer look at a largely unexplored frontier – the deep ocean seabed.
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