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Date: 16 February 2023 at 9:05:34 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Feb 16
Post of the Day
Rising seas threaten ‘mass exodus on a biblical scale’, UN chief warns
António Guterres calls for urgent action as climate-driven sea level rise brings a ‘torrent of trouble’ to almost a billion people,
On This Day
Feast of Saint Vartan – Armenia
Climate Change
Antarctica’s Thwaites glacier holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 65 centimetres. New research shows steep terraces and fissures in the glacier shelf are speeding up its melting.
Nikki Haley wants to address climate change not by reducing carbon, but capturing it
A look at the presidential contender’s climate record.
Beyond carbon taxes: even better climate solutions for government
BC’s groundbreaking carbon tax is working. But some less controversial measures were even more effective.
How climate change is spreading malaria in Africa
The mosquitoes that transmit the disease dramatically increased their range over the last century as temperatures warmed, scientists reported.
New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister calls for action amid Cyclone Gabrielle – video
New Zealand’s Climate Change minister has called out the impact of the ‘lost decades’ of inaction as Cyclone Gabrielle continues to devastate the country. At least three people have been killed, and tens of thousands have been displaced.
Wake up, America: Your economic citadel is driving you to oblivion
David Shearman
When President Biden’s term in the White House began two years ago, it seemed the U.S. had remerged to offer world leadership on climate despite resistance from the Republican Party.
Global leaders are dropping the ball on climate change
Greta Thunberg
We cannot just buy, invest or build our way out of the climate and environmental crisis. Nevertheless, money is still very much at the heart of the problem.
National
Carbon market confusion as offsets take another hit
Climate Council weighs in as debate intensifies over proposed safeguard mechanism reforms and the credibility of carbon offset schemes takes another big hit.
Albanese government rounds on Greens ‘sabotage’ of emissions reduction plan
Frontbenchers unleash on party for signalling they might vote with Coalition to stymie reform of safeguard mechanism
Greens feel the heat in threat backlash [$]
The party is facing backlash from Labor, big business and unions after threatening to kill the Prime Minister’s signature climate policy.
The cost of solar panels in Australia is declining. So should you wait to put on solar?
After an unprecedented period of increases, the wholesale price of solar panels is tipped to fall sharply. But don’t celebrate just yet. Here’s why.
EU ban on petrol cars will force Australian drivers to go electric
Australian motorists may have little choice but to buy an electric vehicle within 12 years after Europe effectively banned the sale of petrol cars by 2035.
Scientists back councils in push for stronger laws to keep pet cats contained across country
Containing cats to homes and “cat-free” suburbs could become common across Australia if local councils get their way as they unite with scientists to try stop almost 400 million native animals being killed a year.
Kangaroo fecal microbes could reduce methane from cows
Baby kangaroo feces might help provide an unlikely solution to the environmental problem of cow-produced methane.
Future home havens: Australians likely to use more energy to stay in and save money
Kari Dahlgren and Yolande Strengers
Soaring energy costs are a major factor in Australia’s cost-of-living crisis. The conventional wisdom is people will reduce their energy use in response to rising prices – and this may be the case for the most vulnerable households. However, our research published today suggests rising costs of living are more likely to increase household energy use as people economise by doing more at home.
Jessica Bineth
Climate justice demands that communities of privilege who have benefitted the most from using fossil fuels do the bulk of the heavy lifting to reduce emissions and to fund solutions tackling climate change
How to furnish your home and make new friends in one transaction
Maida Pineda
The gifting economy can save money, help the environment and build community.
Shove and shame now PM’s game [$]
Dennis Shanahan
Facing a dire risk of not being able to pass its climate change policies, Labor is trying to shove Peter Dutton and to shame Adam Bandt into submission.
ALP is trapped on climate by legislative target haste [$]
Australian editorial
Greens’ demands impractical, unreasonable, against national interest.
Dire climate crisis requires shift to “Make it 16” voting
David Shearman
Government action must lead the way by having 16 and 17 year olds vote at the next national election. Let us copy the “Make it 16” campaign in NZ.
Why do we keep falling for the idea that the rate of population growth in Australia is inevitable?
Ross Elliott
There is nothing inevitable about the rate of our population growth in Australia. So why does so much of our urban planning assume that the rates of growth are something ‘we can’t do anything about’?
Trees can be weeds too – here’s why that’s a problem
Gregory Moore
They can spread quickly, showering an area in seeds and pushing out other species. Even species native to Australia can be a problem when they’re introduced to other areas.
Victoria
Australia’s white paper industry is dead, leaving rural communities to pick through the pulp
Last remaining manufacturer Opal will cease production of Reflex at the Maryvale mill, with up to 200 jobs in doubt
Australian researchers develop low cost method to produce hydrogen from seawater
RMIT researchers say they have found low cost way of using seawater to make green hydrogen.
Fire warnings as three-day Victorian heatwave looms
Victoria is forecast to sweat through a three-day heatwave, with temperatures as high as 42 degrees in some parts of the state, prompting fears of increased fire danger.
Greens-led council blasted for ‘lazy’ bin tax [$]
The City of Yarra is set to introduce a new levy to cover the cost of emptying public bins in a move described as “cowardly” and “lazy”.
Huge grassfire under control after locals told to leave [$]
A grassfire threat has been reduced after Beveridge residents were urged to evacuate their homes on Melbourne’s northern fringe.
Melbourne’s CBD is dead. But what’s emerging might be even better
Cara Waters
Ding-dong, Melbourne’s CBD is dead, but there’s no need to panic, the city is busy reinventing itself as a destination for entertainment and a place to live in the aftermath of the pandemic.
New South Wales
Libs have no plans to raise dam wall for 4 years [$]
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the Coalition has no plans to raise the Warragamba Dam wall in the next four years despite Premier Dominic Perrottet previously saying it was a commitment of his government.
Calls for more trees, transparency for light rail’s next stage [$]
Calls have been made for the community not to ‘be left in the dark’ about Parramatta light rail’s second stage amid growing pressure for the project not to be delayed.
ACT
Why the smokers of Canberra need to clean up their act
Steve Evans
Canberra is the worst part of Australia for discarded cigarette butts, according to the volunteers who have to clean them up.
Queensland
The rising number of wild horses in these state forests is posing a threat to drivers
A booming population of feral horses is being relocated from a Queensland forest, with authorities saying car strikes are posing a grave danger to horses and humans.
South Australia
This tiny caterpillar is devastating one of South Australia’s most precious landscapes
An insect expert is warning of a “mass emergence of moths” this spring as a native caterpillar destroys the landscape around it.
Tasmania
Terri Irwin weighs in on speed limit [$]
Celebrity conservationist Terri Irwin has made an appeal to a Tasmanian council ahead of another vote on behalf of the region’s devils.
Whaleback Ridge should remain protected
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation
A renewed push by proponents of the proposed 427 turbine Whaleback Ridge wind farm project in the Meredith Ranges Regional Reserve would compromise the natural values underpinning the reserve status.
No business case for Cradle cableway
Media release – Rebecca White MP, Labor Leader, Shadow Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure
Liberal Senator Jono Duniam has highlighted the state Liberal government’s incompetence in senate estimates by pointing out after five years, it still hasn’t produced a business case for the Federal Government to consider for a cable way at Cradle Mountain.
Northern Territory
“Brazenly co-opted”: experts confront CSIRO for gas industry infiltration, greenwashing fossil fuels
Callum Foote
The CSIRO’s recent report detailing carbon credits required to offset fracking in the Beetaloo Basin is based on faulty assumptions to suit the gas industry.
Western Australia
Fortescue commissions first two big batteries, starts work on 100MW solar farm
Fortescue Metals commissions its first two big batteries at Pilbara iron ore operations, and begins construction of first 100MW solar farm.
Fortescue reveals “major” green metals breakthrough in Western Australia
FFI says it has produced “sizable volumes” of zero-carbon metallics from its iron ore, just this week. Just don’t ask about the technology.
Andrew Forrest claims signing Yindjibarndi royalty agreement will create ‘alcohol disasters’
Fortescue Metals executive chairman Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has defended the failure to sign a mining compensation agreement with Yindjibarndi traditional owners in WA’s north.
Eye-watering cost of owning a car in WA revealed
The staggering cost of owning a car in WA has been revealed, with a surprising regional city coming in as the most expensive in the State to keep the engine running.
Sustainability
Wind-powered cargo ships are the future: Debunking four myths that stand in their way
Not everyone is convince wind assisted shipping is making a comeback. But most objections are based on four myths that can be easily debunked.
Foam panels can turn old abodes into energy-efficient homes of the future
A research team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is using machine learning and AR headsets to speed up energy retrofits for residences.
Are everyday chemicals contributing to global obesity?
Research in animal models suggests the simple ‘energy in, energy out’ model doesn’t tell the whole story. Common chemicals could be contributing to the obesity epidemic.
How heat pumps of the 1800s are becoming the technology of the future
Innovative thinking has done away with problems that long dogged heat pumps — and both scientists and environmentalists are excited about the possibilities.
Delhi’s unfair treatment towards cyclists
Cycling is a clean mode of transport and avid cyclists note that the government should incentivise and make tailor-made policies for cyclists.
Supersize electric cars are pushing road safety to the limit
The immense weight of the electric Hummer prompted a crash test expert to stage a bizarre experiment—and wonder if EVs will make roads more dangerous.
Nature Conservation
A third of companies linked to deforestation have no policy to end it
Research by Global Canopy also finds many companies are not monitoring set commitments
Fewer Florida manatees are dying of starvation this winter
Florida wildlife officials are seeing manatee fatalities dwindle this winter after bringing back a feeding program
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