Post of the Day
What is the global stocktake of climate action and why does it matter?
As governments signed up to the Paris agreement in 2015, they committed to officially checking in at the end of 2023 on how the fight against climate change is going. This health check is known as the global stocktake and work toward it began at Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
National Arbor Day – USA
Climate Change
The ‘national crisis’ facing millions on Australia’s sprawling city fringes
The federal government is warned of millions of Australians at heightened risk of climate disasters due to homes being built on sprawling suburban fringes prone to floods and fires.
The missing $2m, the alleged bribe and the police raid: PNG’s climate change office hit by scandal
Senior Papua New Guinea climate change officials are facing criminal action, after allegedly misappropriating more than $2m of public and international funds.
For most people, climate change isn’t out of sight, out of mind
A recent meta-analysis conducted by a team of researchers in the Netherlands suggests that climate events that occur far away do not necessarily lead to less citizen engagement on climate issues.
New rules for power plants could give carbon capture a boost. Here’s how.
The technology has struggled to gain traction, but strict new emissions limits for gas and coal stations could encourage broader adoption.
There is concensus among international weather modelling that an El Niño will happen, but there is still no guarantee. So when will we know?
GOP’s climate counter punch: pushing more fossil fuels
Republicans are confident they’ve found an issue that can help them unseat President Joe Biden and expand their control of the Hill: fossil fuels.
National
Wholesale power prices tumble as surging green energy puts coal, gas in the shadows
Fossil fuel-fired energy output hits record low levels in Australia’s biggest electricity grid, triggering large falls in power prices spurred on by extraordinary growth in green energy.
Australia is at the ‘back of the pack’ with electric vehicles. Could fuel efficiency standards help?
Car manufacturers say Australia needs to urgently adopt fuel efficiency standards in line with other countries to help promote the uptake of electric vehicles, warning it will otherwise be unable to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
As the green energy transition gains momentum, calls grow for a national authority to oversee it
With the country’s oldest coal-fired power station set to close down tomorrow, calls have intensified for the federal government to set up a National Energy Transition Authority and allocate funding to it in next month’s budget.
Report calls for national standards on building energy efficiency, electrification
Property Council of Australia and Green Building Council set out policy recommendations to get Australia’s buildings net-zero ready, and save consumers money.
Water model to have flow-on benefits for First Nations
The federal government has announced $9.2 million in funding to develop a First Nations water holding model, in partnership with Indigenous organisations.
“Change of philosophy:” Wind, solar and battery projects get bigger and more complex
Australia’s most successful renewable and storage developer says projects getting more complex, and new technologies require change in “philosophy” about way grid is managed.
Calls for regulators to make electricity trading easier for consumers – podcast
New modelling of existing data has provided a glimpse of a future where every possible rooftop is fitted with solar allowing Australians to trade electricity and boost their household budgets. It suggests regulators need to make electricity trading easier so households and businesses can sell excess daytime generation into peak evening demand.
What is an El Niño? And how will it affect Australia? – video
After three wet years of La Niña, Australia might cop a scorching El Niño summer – but what does that mean?
Maybe it’s not the end of the weekend, but will SUVs cost more? [$]
Jennifer Hewett
The Albanese government is going to introduce a fuel efficiency standard. Will the Coalition negotiate on how tough it should be or leave it to the Greens to demand a stricter standard?
If your fund wants to stop climate change, why did it buy Microsoft? [$]
Aaron Patrick
Are the “sustainable” investment funds rushing the ASX really different to regular funds?
The public history, climate change present, and possible future of Australia’s botanic gardens
Susan K Martin
Can we justify maintaining water-hungry botanic gardens in an age of climate change and rising water prices?
Restoring forests often falls to landholders. Here’s how to do it cheaply and well
Penny van Oosterzee and Noel D Preece
From the outside, planting trees seems simple. Seedlings want to grow – pop them in the soil, water them and walk away.
‘Systemically spreading lies’: Turnbull and Burrow laud watchdog’s Sky News climate crackdown [$]
John Buckley
Foxtel now has four months to undertake an internal review and report back to the regulator with its findings.
Dead duck curve: Rooftop solar saturation can be big win for consumers and grid
Gabrielle Kuiper
Modelling shows how good policy and regulation can put the famous solar duck curve to sleep and share the benefits of rooftop solar with everyone.
Victoria
Energy bonus worth $250 going begging in regions and among wealthy Bayside residents
The electorates with the highest and lowest take-up of the state government’s power saving rebate aimed at easing the cost of living have been revealed.
Victoria’s new public energy utility begins search for first renewables and storage deal
Victoria launches market search for large-scale renewables generation and/or storage project to kickstart its revival of the State Electricity Commission.
New South Wales
Australia’s oldest coal-fired station Liddell powers down in the Hunter Valley
Liddell Power Station leaves behind a 52-year legacy of electricity supply and employment for thousands, but an environmentalist says its closure is a “massive opportunity” to improve quality of life.
NSW mulls extending life of biggest coal plant to avoid power shortfalls
The state government is racing to get more renewable energy projects online to curb possible energy shortfalls before the scheduled retirement of four out of five coal-fired power stations.
NSW chooses preferred network operator for first renewable energy zone
NSW has chosen its preferred consortium to build and operate the state’s first renewable energy zone, which might come as a surprise to the local DNSP.
Keeping the lights on is the number one priority [$]
James O’Doherty
New Environment Minister Penny Sharp is busy juggling four major portfolios. But her number-one priority must be to guarantee electricity supply.
ACT
Night time closures ahead for several reserves as rabbit numbers soar
Several Canberra nature reserves will be periodically closed over the next two months as rangers work to control a burgeoning bunny problem.
Welcome to the newest EV ‘tribe’, and a new way of doing business [$]
Canberra’s “progressive” stance on electric cars made it the logical fit to launch the country’s newest electric car, with the fledgling Spanish brand Cupra aiming to woo new customers with a “tribal” approach.
Botanic gardens’ wishlist to start being checked off through budget [$]
Long-awaited growth of the Australian botanic gardens is seemingly imminent following a federal funding promise expected to see establishment of a new national seed bank.
Queensland
‘The best cities in the world aren’t created by chance’
A blueprint to fast-track planning in Brisbane’s inner city shows a future where new housing types are needed, as half a million people live within five kilometres of the CBD.
South Australia
Fear mongering ‘unforgivable’ amid Murray basin drought warning
SA’s River Murray Commissioner has delivered a damning report stating that it will take more than 1000 years to deliver vital environmental water to the Murray Darling Basin at the current rate and that politicians prefer “hyperbole” rather than action to prepare for potentially devastating droughts.
Northern Territory
Laramba Water Treatment Plant officially opens after long campaign for clean water
Water quality in a Central Australian community has improved following the installation of a long-awaited water treatment plant.
Western Australia
Environmental activists make bold entrance as Rainbow Warrior docks in ‘progressive’ WA city
The world’s best-known environmental organisation makes its presence known in the port city of Fremantle ahead of Woodside’s AGM tomorrow, labelling the gas giant’s Pilbara project as a “major threat” to WA’s coastline.
Fossil fuel company seeks to undo decades of whale conservation
David Ritter
While Australia has been a leader in whale conservation, one energy company is planning a project that could harm the endangered creatures.
Sustainability
Ambitious genome project shows how humans fit with other mammals
Scientists on Thursday unveiled the results of a project comparing the genomes of 240 mammal species – from aardvarks and aye-ayes to zebus and zebras, as well as people – to trace evolutionary changes spanning 100 million years, pinpointing genetic traits widely shared and those more uniquely human.
Kitchen appliance could make solar panels easier to recycle
Microwaves could process silicon solar cells using less time and energy than high-temperature furnaces, making panels easier to disassemble and recycle.
‘Nuclear Now’ review: Oliver Stone makes the case for power plants
Oliver Stone’s new documentary considers our complicated relationship to nuclear energy and argues that it is our best hope against climate change.
Is PFAS pollution a human rights violation? These activists say yes
Activists in North Carolina say DuPont has for decades fouled Cape Fear River with PFAS. They want the UN Human Rights Commission to hold it accountable.
Are microplastics invading the male reproductive system?
A new pilot study shows that microplastics — plastic particles that are smaller than five millimeters or close to the size of a short rice grain – can be found in human testis and semen, according to the paper published last month in Science of The Total Environment.
Dirty old used cars keep pumping out fumes after being exported to Africa – podcast
The typical car will go for its last drive sometime between its 10th and 15th year on Earth. At this point, the vast majority are sent to be recycled or sold for parts. But for a few autos, a second lease on life awaits, as a significant percentage are exported from richer nations to developing nations for a few more years on the road.
Why green ammonia may not be that green
Jamin Wood and Bernardino Virdis
Ammonia has been in the news because of its suitability as a hydrogen carrier and fuel, in addition to being a vital ingredient in fertiliser.
Nature Conservation
Tanzania: Maasai forcibly displaced for game reserve
The Tanzanian government’s forced eviction of Masaai communities from areas in northern Tanzania they have long inhabited violates their rights to land, livelihood, and culture. Since June 2022, the authorities have engaged in abusive and unlawful tactics, including beatings, shootings, sexual violence, and arbitrary arrests to forcibly evict residents from their land.
Brazil VP Alckmin says land grabbers, not farmers, guilty for deforestation
Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin said on Thursday land grabbers, not farmers, are guilty for deforestation in the Amazon rain forest.
Hippos are in trouble. Will an endangered listing save them?
Animal welfare groups are pushing the U.S. to list the hippopotamus as endangered, which would lead to restrictions on the import of hippo parts. But experts argue that reducing habitat loss and conflict with humans would go much further toward saving this vulnerable species.
Kelp forests contribute $500 billion to global economy, study shows
New research suggests that kelp forests generate up to $562 billion each year by boosting fisheries productivity, removing harmful nutrients from seawater, and sequestering carbon dioxide.
Saving forests to protect coastal ecosystems: Japan sets historic example
Reliant on its fisheries, Japan has long known the importance of maintaining healthy forest watersheds so as to protect coastal fisheries. It’s a lesson other nations could benefit from as the global environmental crisis worsens.
Life in ocean’s twilight zone ‘could disappear’ amid warming seas
Less food is falling to deep, dimly-lit waters, home to specially adapted marine life – but reducing emissions would stem destruction.
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