Daily Links Mar 10

Post of the Day

How PR and the fog of corporate disinformation has governments paying to burn the planet

Grant Ennis

Public relations is at the core of coal and gas industry influence which has governments actually incentivising the burning of the planet. Ending subsidies and lifting the price of emissions is the simplest and most effective way to transform to a clean energy world

On This Day

March 11

Ecological Observance

Johnny Appleseed Day – USA

Climate Change

A desperate race to avoid locking in the pathway to human extinction

Ian Dunlop

We are in a desperate race to avoid locking in a pathway to human extinction.

National

Climate change takes focus ahead of by-election

 Climate change is shaping up as a key issue ahead of a federal by-election with Energy Minister Chris Bowen accusing the Liberals of being anti-business by not backing emissions reduction measures.

Threat to delay climate reforms [$]

The Coalition will try to gag ­ debate on Labor’s signature ­climate policy when parliament returns in two weeks, seeking to delay the passage of safeguard mechanism reforms.

“Making dumb solar smart:” Push to bring old rooftop PV into new world of flexible exports

Arena-backed trial will see energy retailers offer innovative incentives to customers to enable access to their existing rooftop solar systems.

Explainer: What do you do with an old wind farm?

With some of Australia’s oldest wind farms occupying some of the best sites, “repowering” – replacing old turbines with new – is an important consideration. But how is it done?

Australia needs to safeguard our island homes against climate change

‘Alopi Latukefu

As a Pasifika Australian deeply connected to my heritage, and in the face of the current Parliamentary debate on the federal government’s proposed safeguard mechanism, I feel a duty to speak up.

Labor runs rings around rival parties on emissions [$]

Jack the Insider

Greens are like toothless labradors on emissions, gumming up whatever Labor feeds them, while the Coalition has vacated the battlefield altogether.

Climate baubles for the Greens as Coalition vacates the field [$]

Phillip Coorey

Peter Dutton’s failure to negotiate on the safeguard mechanism misses an opportunity to be more business friendly and even win back seats.

On anniversary of the Fukushima disaster, Australia must stand firm against nuclear

Dave Sweeney

Against the shadow of Fukushima, the latest pro-nuclear push in Australia is ill-judged, insensitive and wholly inappropriate.

Victoria

New fees, clearer signs: Melbourne’s plan to tackle parking ‘nightmare’

The City of Melbourne could regularly increase or lower the price of street parking in different areas as part of an effort to encourage motorists to use multi-storey car parks and unclog city streets. 

Almost $1million in clean energy grants available for Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

The Victorian government is supporting Traditional Owners to increase clean energy capability and leadership as part of the inaugural First Peoples Adoption of Renewable Energy Program.

New South Wales

NSW to make coal mines pay for lost water under Sydney catchment

Environmental groups say the deal to provide retrospective water licences to coal mines under the Sydney and Illawarra drinking catchment is cynical and full of flaws. 

Nationals candidate in crucial seat challenges man-made climate change

Video emerges of Peta Pinson telling a public meeting that NASA has admitted an alternative reason for global warming.

Australia’s biggest electric vehicle show roars to life

More than 10,000 people are expected to visit Australia’s biggest electric car show in Sydney, where organisers will display almost every battery-powered vehicle available in the country.

Fines given to Fireproof Australia activists

Firefighter Alan Glover and opera singer Karen Fitz-Gibbon were fined for taking part in a climate protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge last April.

Australia’s Gelion says it secures chemistry to make “world’s best battery”

Sydney-based Gelion announces intention to build “world’s best battery” after buying up hundreds of lithium sulfur and silicon anode patents.

Kean taunts Labor with data showing NSW outstrips whole country on renewable starts

Matt Kean strikes back at NSW Labor, pointing to data showing the state outstripping the rest of the country in new renewable and storage projects.

Queensland

Noise complaints about Brisbane flights heard from 226 suburbs

As Labor announces a new community group to advise Airservices Australia, a hearing reveals the government-owned corporation collects $1 billion in fees from airlines each year.

South Australia

SA hits new record running on 100 per cent renewables

SA hit a world-leading stretch of operating on 100 per cent renewable energy over summer, with Trade Minister Nick Champion heading to Singapore and Japan to lure more investment for the sector.

Tasmania

Mayor calls for locks to help clean up trolley city [$]

They are found on city streets, in car parks, in green spaces and even in waterways. Now, Tasmanian councils are putting pressure on the big supermarkets as they fight a long-running war against abandoned shopping trolleys.

Native duck slaughter set to begin

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP

From dawn tomorrow the sound of gunfire will ring out across waterways around Tasmania, marking the start of this year’s native duck hunting season.

Northern Territory

Two men face charges for setting fire in National Park that burned for 11 days [$]

Two men have been charged for allegedly starting an illegal fire that burned out of control for 11 days in Djukbinj National Park last August, causing massive destruction to vegetation and an adjoining pastoral station. 

Western Australia

The ‘tree house’ design that could lead to more greenery in Australia’s drying suburbs

A new subdivision described as an “adult tree house” crossed with “Noah’s Ark” is hoped to become a blueprint for developing property without razing the land of all its trees. 

Sustainability

Is the Northern Sea Route Putin’s gamble for Arctic supremacy?

For the past decade, Vladimir Putin has been quietly pursuing his goal of transforming Russia’s frozen northern coast into a global shipping hub to rival the Suez canal. It’s a bet that appears to be paying off at a key moment.

A huge city polluter? Buildings. Here’s a surprising fix.

Carbon capture might not work for all buildings. But some are giving it a try.

Nature Conservation

Environmental groups allege Chinese super trawlers ‘ploughed through’ whale pods

Two environmental groups are calling for krill fishing to be outlawed, saying Chinese super trawlers are endangering pods of whales in the Southern Ocean. 

Climate change is decimating our once common bumble bee

We need a radical change to protect the beleaguered pollinator.

Can seaweed save the world? Well it can certainly help in many ways

Catriona Macleod

Seaweed is increasingly seen as a solution to many of the world’s most pressing problems. Interest in farming seaweed has exploded.

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