https://southwind.com.au/2023/06/20/american-democracy-and-our-climate-future/
Date: 22 June 2023 at 8:28:52 am AEST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Jun 22
Post of the Day
‘A green transition that leaves no one behind’: world leaders release open letter
Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and other international leaders address development needs
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
American democracy and our climate future
Peter Boyer
Another month, another dire UN climate warning. We’re “hurtling towards disaster”, said Secretary-General António Guterres last week, calling for immediate global action.
National
Inquiry to probe undergrounding of thousands of kilometres of renewable energy powerlines
Regional communities want to know whether powerlines connecting renewables to the grid to power the state’s transition can go underground — but the answer may not be so simple.
AGL says Australia must build its own wind and solar components as costs rise, ports choked
AGL COO urges governments to revive local manufacturing to prevent ports being choked with energy parts imports, and cited rising costs in wind energy and battery storage.
Climate 200 shops for cash off Van allegations [$]
The Simon Holmes à Court-backed group is leveraging allegations of sexual assault levelled against senator David Van to fundraise donations.
The federal government’s gas price cap is now acting as a floor according to major customers, and that’s not good for consumers. So what can it do next?
Teal MPs criticise Greens’ ‘short-sighted’ opposition to Labor’s planned nature repair market
Kylea Tink says the Greens are ‘cutting off their nose to spite their face’, but Sarah Hanson-Young says ‘Green Wall Street is not what nature needs’
Lights out: 90,000 Australian families stuck in energy bill debt
Almost 90,000 households are already in crippling debt over their energy bills with consumer advocates warning more families will buckle under the pressure of price hikes.
Jemena sees big rewards for vehicle to grid services – big risks to unmanaged EV charging
A pilot suggests $400-$800 in annual network upgrade savings for each EV owner who lets a third party control their charger.
BHP punts on unproven technology to cut emissions
Australia’s largest miner has warned that its carbon emissions will rise in the short term as it seeks to reach its 2050 net zero emissions goal.
Electricity in perspective [$]
Charles Hemmings
To be fit for purpose an electricity supply system must meet demand as it varies over time as well as being affordable.
“Like the Hydra”: Strategic incapacitation fails to decapitate the climate movement
Zelda Grimshaw
Blockade Australia’s return this week, in larger numbers and across three locations, represents a victory over ‘Strategic incapacitation’, a policing technique that aims to smash the organising ability of a group of people, such that the group can no longer function.
Victoria
“Cleaner, cheaper, faster:” Australian tech promises dramatic boost to lithium production
Monash University developed technology promises to deliver “cheaper, cleaner, faster” lithium – a critical mineral for battery technologies.
More Myki drama amid claims of ‘dodgy’ deal [$]
There are calls for a review into the tender process of Victoria’s new $1.7bn Myki contract, with a second company crying foul.
New South Wales
Onlookers delighted as endangered sharks congregate near coastal breakwall
The group of grey nurse sharks are attracting attention with their visits close to shore on the NSW Mid North Coast, but their arrival has come with a warning.
NSW train line blocked as anti-coal protestor sits 9m above rail bridge
A series of protests targeting rail lines leading to the Port of Newcastle this week have been causing ongoing disruptions.
A sixth protester is facing the consequences over a series of disruptive stunts that have shut down cities across Australia.
Nature prescriptions: how reconnecting with the landscape healed a bushfire-ravaged community
Three years after the black summer fires, Snowy Valleys council launched a nature trail to help residents work through grief
NSW’s new intercity train fleet delayed as rail chief departs
Commuters will have to wait until 2024 for the fleet to start running from Sydney to Newcastle, the south coast and Blue Mountains.
Massive NSW gold mine ordered to act over ‘unacceptable’ levels of dust pollution
One of the largest gold mines in the world has been told it must comply immediately with clean-air laws or risk further action, including licence suspension and court orders.
As farmers battle a boom in pest numbers, and no way to effectively cull them, the increased possibility of El Niño will likely create an opportunity for authorities to “crash” the feral animal population.
ACT
Govt urged to consider free public transport, income-based fines
Free public transport and income-based fines and government fees should be considered as the ACT faces its worst cost of living crisis in 20 years, the ACT Council of Social Service has said.
Queensland
Three climate activists arrested in Brisbane as protests cause peak-hour traffic havoc
Five people have been arrested in Brisbane since the group’s national climate action began three days ago.
South Australia
Yadlamalka Energy turns on battery storage and solar project at Port Pirie
A $22 million vanadium flow battery and co-located solar farm three years in the making will go live today at Port Pirie.
Tasmania
The Tasmanian Economic Regulator, Mr Joe Dimasi, has today approved Aurora Energy’s proposed regulated retail electricity (standing offer) prices for 2023-24.
Hope for Tasmanian devil, says UTAS research [$]
Research from the University of Tasmania has found that the deadly devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), responsible for wiping out two-thirds of the species over the last 30 years, is evolving to coexist with devil populations.
Bell Bay hydrogen project on hold as Fortescue lays off two Tassie staff [$]
Fortescue Future Industries has made its two Tasmanian employees redundant and suspended plans to progress a large-scale hydrogen project at Bell Bay due to a lack of firming electricity available at the site, two sources have confirmed.
Northern Territory
‘We will win’: Tiwi Islanders draw a line in the sand against Santos gas project and ‘white fella rule’
There is hope on the Tiwi Islands after a landmark court case forced Santos to consult with traditional owners about its massive Barossa project
‘Green hydrogen’ to create 2000 jobs, boost Territory economy [$]
A hydrogen hub at the Middle Arm precinct will bring the NT one step closer to its net zero target, all while creating more jobs for Territorians.
Western Australia
Rio Tinto bows to community pressure, withdraws mining application for south-west forest
The announcement follows a similar decision by US aluminium giant Alcoa, which vowed not to mine an 8,400-hectare zone around Dwellingup that environmentalists call “greenwashing”.
This World Heritage-listed site is known for its corals. But some could have a silent extinction
They are about 289 coral species around this coast. But scientists fear not all have been correctly identified.
WA Premier rules out any delay, as opposition to WA’s new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage law intensifies
While nearly 30,000 people have called for a six-month delay to WA’s new Aboriginal Heritage Act, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association wants the laws scrapped and rewritten.
Farmers hit out at WA’s new ‘extortionate’ Aboriginal heritage laws
Landholders are worried the new laws would make it illegal to dig holes, erect fences and other infrastructure on their own properties without engaging an Aboriginal heritage consultant.
Rio Tinto’s withdrawal from exploration a ‘big win’ for WA’s jarrah forests
The miner will cancel plans to explore more than 1000 square kilometres of jarrah forest for battery minerals after community opposition and doubts that mining would be approved.
Charter operators say ‘catch and cook’ rule doesn’t help
Charter operators say changes to a tag system for catching demersal scale fish are not enough to sustain their businesses after tag numbers were drastically cut in order to encourage sustainability.
Sustainability
Researchers and clinicians acknowledge the role of chemicals in spurring obesity
For the first time, prominent obesity researchers and clinicians have acknowledged the potential role of environmental chemicals in the obesity public health crisis.
How tidal range electricity generation could meet future demand and storage problems
Tidal range schemes are financially viable and could lower energy bills say researchers. Research combined a tidal range power generation model with its cost model to demonstrate the viability of tidal power. The research demonstrates the benefits of tidal energy, which does not suffer from unpredictable intermittency as power is generated both day and night, and in windy or calm weather. The creation of a tidal barrage could operate for 120 years or more to meet future demand and storage problems.
Environmental risks and opportunities of orphaned oil and gas wells
Researchers are leading an international team whose goal is to create a framework to help governments in the U.S. and around the world assess and prioritize remediation strategies for orphaned oil and gas wells.
The quest to save chili peppers from climate change
A seed bank in Taiwan is home to more chili varieties than anywhere else on earth. In a warming world, we’re going to need them.
New research reveals the impact of different species and their traits on human wellbeing
New research has revealed that well-functioning ecosystems are crucial to human health and wellbeing, with human-biodiversity interactions delivering wellbeing gains equating to substantial healthcare cost-savings, when scaled-up across populations.
Walkable neighborhoods help adults socialize, increase community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to socialize and have a stronger sense of community, report researchers.
Ralph Cooney
As the global economy moves away from fossil fuels, green hydrogen could be critical to achieving a zero-carbon world by 2050.
Nature Conservation
Iceland suspends whale hunting over animal welfare concerns
Iceland’s government says it is suspending this year’s whale hunting until the end of August due to animal welfare concerns, likely bringing the controversial practice to a historic end.
Bird populations are in meltdown
Humans rely on birds to eat insects, spread seeds, and pollinate plants—but these feathered friends can’t survive without their habitats.
In Bangladesh, microplastic threat to frogs is also concern for rice farming
Researchers have found microplastics in 90% of frogs sampled from the Bengal Delta in Bangladesh.
Cryo conservation: A cool solution to saving species from extinction
In the face of the biodiversity crisis, and alarming data showing a 69% decline in global animal populations since 1970, researchers are banking on a cool solution to help save species from extinction.
—
return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.