Post of the Day
Annabelle Workman and Kathryn Bowen
Two billion people, including many Australians, will find themselves living in dangerously hot places this century if global warming reaches 2.7℃, research released today reveals.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
Global heating will push billions outside ‘human climate niche’
World is on track for 2.7C and ‘phenomenal’ human suffering, scientists warn
Big polluters’ share prices fall after climate lawsuits, study finds
Fossil fuel companies register drop in value after litigation or unfavourable judgments
Can ‘enhanced rock weathering’ help combat climate change?
‘Enhanced rock weathering’ uses tiny volcanic rocks to capture the greenhouse gas carbon from the atmosphere.
Heat waves are breaking records. Here’s what you need to know
Normally, heat records are broken by a few tenths of a degree. But last week in Canada near Hudson Bay–which is still covered in winter ice–a heat record was broken by a huge 7 degrees Celsius or more than 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why I stopped arguing about the climate emergency and tried the silent treatment instead
Helena Echlin
The sensible methods didn’t work, so I became a member of the Red Rebel Brigade. Now I feel I’m doing something useful
Is water the ‘forgotten piece’ of the climate puzzle?
Emilio Tenuta
Obviously, reducing carbon emissions will be key to a more sustainable future, but there are also other issues that will need to be dealt with – like water.
National
AEMO gets funding boost to fast-track key wind, solar and storage connections
AEMO given funding boost to fast-track connections for key wind, solar and battery projects as part of a trial to help reduce delays.
What’s behind the rise in timber prices and what does it mean for Australia’s building sector?
The lifting of China’s export restrictions, combined with rising interest rates and a housing shortage, could spell trouble for the housing industry
How big a deal is US and Australian cooperation on climate and energy?
Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese have flagged a joint push to boost action on the two issues but at this stage much of the work is yet to be fleshed out
Electricity bills to surge despite budget tipping modest rise
Power bills in at least three states will rise by more than double the amount estimated in the federal budget.
When it comes to beating pollution, we’re gradually getting there
Australians are being urged to hop on a bike, go for a walk, or catch trains and buses three times more often to cut transport pollution to a sustainable level.
Elodie Camprasse and Adam Cardilini
Imagine coming across an injured kangaroo on the side of the road. Or a bat entangled in fruit tree netting. Would you know who to call to get help?
Rachel Withers
The Albanese government’s first year has extinguished much of the climate hope I had left
What role will neighbourhood batteries play in the electrification of everything?
Lloyd Heathfield
Think of a community battery like a bus stop. It is installed in a neighbourhood at no cost to the residents, but should provide benefits for all.
All hail our magnificent miners and their budget surplus machines
Dan Petrie
The much-heralded budget surplus was delivered by Australia’s iron ore and coal mining companies who suffer ongoing demonisation that is counter-productive to Australia’s prosperity.
Victoria
Fisherman’s strange catch identified as new shrimp species
A new native “skeleton shrimp” species has been recognised by scientists after a fisherman caught thousands of the tiny invertebrates in the Gippsland Lakes.
New South Wales
Back-burn strategy ‘appropriate’ for containing Currowan blaze, inquiry hears
The NSW bushfire inquiry hears the use of back-burning was an appropriate fire containment strategy despite claims spotting from the fires may have destroyed homes and killed three people.
Backlog of 40,000 defects plaguing Sydney train network, report finds
An interim report finds a backlog of almost 40,000 defects plaguing Sydney’s “fragile” train network, and things are on track to get worse.
Salt harvesters keep 200 tonnes a day from leaching into Murray River system
Highly saline brine pumped from a deep aquifer on the Murray Darling Basin is being harvested for an essential mineral that has uses beyond the kitchen table.
The fight to save logging of koala habitat in Pine Creek State Forest
Local communities are fighting to stop New South Wales Forestry Corporation from logging an area critical for koala connectivity and habitat on the NSW mid-north coast.
“Savagely imperfect:” Forrest lets fly at coal, nuclear and ex-Snowy boss Paul Broad
Iron ore billionaire reminds those in NSW who “bitch and whinge” about power prices that 78% of the state’s power is still coming from coal.
‘How dare you do this’: How Defence’s river of poison put thousands of years of culture in jeopardy
Part two of the Poisoned Paradise investigation into the contamination of water supplies around Wreck Bay from a Defence base reveals the shocking impact on local culture.
ACT
ACT calls for ‘streamlined’ approval system to speed up light rail [$]
Canberra’s light rail project risks being held up by Australia’s most complex approvals process, which instead should be streamlined, the ACT has said.
Queensland
Bigger spending means Queensland retains lead in carbon farming
Queensland has been named as the national leader in carbon farming on the back of Government policy and the promise of $50 million carbon reduction and abatement projects.
New walkway to link Story Bridge to city heart
Openings have been cut into the 83-year-old concrete walls of the Story Bridge to build a walkway under part of the city’s history with its emerging future.
South Australia
Abbott hangover? Iberdrola further delays wind farm first sidelined by 2013 RET review
Ten years after being sidelined by Tony Abbott’s renewables investment freeze, construction of Woakwine wind farm in South Australia has again been delayed.
Hydrogen plant to suck up River Murray water [$]
SA’s hydrogen plant may use River Murray water, it’s been revealed by the project’s CEO, who has also confirmed energy storage plans have changed.
Funding cloud over ‘megalith’ park lands sport hub
Plans for two-storey sports clubrooms on the southern park lands – described by the Lord Mayor as “colossal” – are in doubt after Adelaide City Council flagged withdrawing around $5m in funding for the project.
The community impact of kneejerk lawmaking
Sarah Moulds
Rushed state parliament legislation to counter climate protesters should raise serious concerns about the lack of debate.
Tasmania
Rabbit dumpling soup and hearty venison stroganoff: Hunters cook creatively with invasive species
Hobbyist hunter Shauna Pickin loves using her culinary skills to prepare meat from invasive species for her family.
Doubts over Cradle Mountain cableway future after funding deadline missed
The Cradle Mountain Cableway is in serious doubt after the Commonwealth withdraws $30 million in funding from the project because the Tasmanian government missed a deadline.
Stadium project needs light rail, Darklab director says [$]
Leigh Carmichael says the Mona offshoot’s support for the Macquarie Point stadium is “contingent” on the establishment of a light rail service.
Question mark hangs over Marinus Link under Tasmania minority government
Bob Burton
A deal between the Tasmanian government and two renegade Liberal MPs does not address concerns over the $3.8bn Marinus transmission link.
Northern Territory
Traditional owners challenge Supreme Court decision on McArthur River Mine
Lawyers lodging the appeal on behalf of traditional owners and environment groups say the recent Supreme Court decision is serious, and if left unchallenged “could set a dangerous precedent”.
NT chief minister in tears after confrontation with protesters during outback race
Police were called after dozens of protesters stormed the finish line in protest of the NT government’s green-lighting of fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.
New documents also reveal federal government admitted Australia did not have policies to ensure project would meet key recommendation in full
Late Yunupingu wins final court battle in landmark native title case [$]
The court win could expose the federal government to a slew of compensation cases over land it acquired in the NT, with this claim alone estimated up to $700 million.
Western Australia
Tjiwarl Native Title holders reach historic settlement with WA Government
The Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation and Western Australian government have reached a historic settlement for three native title compensation claims in the northern Goldfields region.
In the old fossil fuel heartlands of Australia, a new kind of industry is being built
Batteries could shape Australia’s future from mining to assembly. But industry leaders say we need to act quickly to capitalise on the renewables boom.
Sustainability
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant cut off from grid
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been cut off from its external power supply and is relying on emergency generators to cool nuclear fuel and prevent a disaster.
America’s big shift to green energy has a woolly mammoth problem
Transmission lines in the US need to be increased threefold, but faces pushback from fossil conservation and green groups
Microsoft deal shows carbon removal credit market firing up [$]
The software giant founded by Bill Gates is moving at pace to retrospectively atone for all of its carbon emissions since it started up
As peak oil looms, Exxon wades into lithium mining
Eyeing a future of waning oil demand and rising sales of electric cars, Exxon Mobil is set to begin mining lithium, a key ingredient in EV batteries.
In adults, exposure to BPA has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity and erectile dysfunction.
Nature Conservation
Scientists take a look into the deep with online mapping tool revealing marine life on ocean floors
A first-of-its-kind data portal being unveiled today will allow marine and armchair scientists to take an in-depth look at what lives on the sea floor around Australia.
Cocoa planting is destroying protected forests in west Africa, study finds
Wilma Hart
Global trade in chocolate, worth more than $1tn a year, is leading to widespread deforestation in Ivory Coast and Ghana
Judith Rosentreter and Bradley Eyre
Coastal ecosystems can absorb or emit the three main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
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