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Date: 20 July 2023 at 9:11:30 am AEST
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Jul 20
Post of the Day
Forked Tongues: heavy emitters exposed as hypocrites on climate action, new analysis shows
Callum Foote
Behind public statements supporting climate action, key companies engaged in extensive lobbying against Labor’s flagship climate policy
On This Day
Ecological Observance
National Tree Planting Day – Central African Republic
Climate Change
As heat records continue to tumble in the US and Europe, scientists warn it could be another deadly northern summer.
‘We are damned fools’: scientist who sounded climate alarm in 80s warns of worse to come
James Hansen, who testified to Congress on global heating in 1988, says world is approaching a ‘new climate frontier’
‘No need for voice if there’s places for all’ [$]
Labor’s plan to guarantee all Indigenous students a Commonwealth-supported place at university shows ‘we do not need a voice to parliament’, says Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
Extreme heat is a pregnancy health and reproductive justice problem
As many countries around the world are facing threats from deadly extreme heat, public health officials should ensure pregnant people are considered among those most at risk. Journalists and others investigating public health responses to the heat waves should also monitor that pregnancy health is considered.
AAP Fact Check: Carbon atmospheric residence claim is full of gas
It’s claimed that carbon dioxide has no significant impact on the earth’s climate because it stays in the atmosphere for less than a decade.
What is supercharging the global heat? – video explainer
The planet is being hit with a double whammy of global heating in 2023: on top of the rise in global temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions is an emerging El Niño. This sporadic event is the biggest natural influence on year-to-year weather and adds a further spurt of warmth to an already overheating world. The Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, explains what El Niño is and how it affects extreme weather
This heatwave is a climate omen. But it’s not too late to change course
Michael Mann and Susan Joy Hassol
The warming of the planet – including the most up-to-date data for 2023 – is entirely consistent with what climate modelers warned decades ago
National
Labor faces internal fight over native forest logging despite emissions pledge
Labor’s Environment Action Network says draft national platform ‘very, very weak’ on opposing native forest logging and land clearing
How are you doing your bit to cut down on waste? Tell us
It’s easy to accumulate waste. The real challenge lies in limiting what and how much we throw out, so we want to hear your creative solutions in dealing with everyday waste.
Australian travellers seek eco-friendly options or bust
One in three Australians will seek out sustainable travel options when they holiday over the next year and almost one in five say will travel less or not at all if they cannot find one.
Petrol giant to help Aussie car owners go electric
Australia’s largest petrol retailer will make a significant investment in the electric vehicle market after signing a deal with a Brisbane start-up to deliver in-home charging equipment.
Electric vehicle demand revs up as companies eye future
More than half of Australian businesses are planning to replace petrol with electric cars in the next two years as they look to accelerate transport emission cuts.
Labor’s battery dream to cost taxpayers more than it earns [$]
The Productivity Commission has warned the Albanese government against pouring billions of dollars into picking winners, including local battery manufacturing.
Power prices surged when Liddell closed down [$]
The Australian Energy Regulator says electricity and gas prices increased in the second quarter, but not as much as the record highs last year.
‘Go nuclear’, US Congressmen urge Australia [$]
The nation should join a widening global trend towards the use of small modular reactors to cut emissions while shoring up energy and geopolitical security, American legislators say.
Toxic culture and a worrying chemical residue
John Hanscombe
Peeing on colleagues at a Christmas party is never a good idea. Besides being abusive and unhygienic, it also reveals the toxic culture within the organisation on whose watch it occurred.
Victoria
Victorians could save $490 on their winter power bills by switching from gas, report says
With about 2 million homes connected to gas in Victoria, a program director for energy and climate science says a shift to electricity needs to speed up.
‘Urgent call to action’ as Victorian areas most at risk from rising seas identified
More than 16,000 properties in Melbourne’s Southbank are at high risk of damage from sea-level rises and storm surges within 17 years as climate change exacts an alarming toll on Victoria, new research shows.
Outrage as Andrews govt ‘plunders’ Tassie timber
The state government has been accused of pillaging resources from Tasmania after shutting down Victoria’s native logging industry.
New South Wales
$30 million announced to tackle varroa mite, but industry says incursion costs run into billions
The state government has almost doubled its funding to tackle varroa mite but there are calls for more transparency on what the money is going towards.
Bushfire risk from overhead high-voltage power lines ‘virtually zero’, inquiry hears
A parliamentary inquiry is is weighing up the environmental risks and financial impacts of putting transmission lines from renewable energy projects underground.
Record release of 380 ‘amazing’ baby seahorses into Sydney Harbour gives endangered species hope
Marine scientists were able to find perfect conditions to raise the enchanting creatures, resulting in three pregnant males producing hundreds of babies.
Sydney told to embrace ‘greener future’ with electric ferries
The NSW government has announced it will review how to reduce Sydney’s ferry emissions despite weeks earlier announcing it would purchase seven new diesel vessels for the Circular Quay to Parramatta route.
NSW businesses win Sydney Light Rail class action
Transport NSW has been found to be liable for the financial damage two businesses suffered during the construction of the Sydney railway line, but a court said there remains a big question mark over the approximately 300 other group members in the class action.
State ministers touted ‘significant carbon abatement’ plus benefits for threatened species and regional economies
Queensland
In preparation for Cross River Rail, a warehouse has been transformed into a mock underground station – fitted out with replica platform doors, a foyer and even a mural of a train to ensure everyone can access Brisbane’s new transport links.
Paradise lost? Selfie-obsessed tourists putting island off-limits [$]
It’s an idyllic holiday paradise beloved by generations of Queenslanders. But the latest in a spate of dingo attacks – and questions over the behaviour of visitors – has put a question mark over future access to K’gari.
South Australia
Here’s what we know about the Kimba nuclear storage facility decision
This week the federal court ruled in favour of traditional owners who have been fighting against the development of a nuclear waste facility. Here’s what we know so far.
Moving up: How more residents will change city skyline
Rapid population growth is set to “alter the built form” of the CBD, with Adelaide City Council forecasting a need for three dozen 36-storey apartment towers by 2041 to house tens of thousands of predicted new residents.
Tasmania
Medical waste program aims to fix ‘shocking’ use of single-use plastics in health care
Brenton Lovering and Mat Usher were shocked by the amount of plastic thrown out in health care. Their Tasmanian pilot program is aiming to change that.
Northern Territory
New venomous species of desert snake discovered through genetic research
A new venomous species of snake is discovered after being mistaken as a different species for decades, researchers say.
The Northern Territory does not have a crocodile problem – and ‘salties’ do not need culling
Brandon Michael Sideleau
Last week, a 67-year-old man was bitten on the arm by a saltwater crocodile at a waterhole in the Northern Territory’s Top End. Predictably, the incident has prompted debate over whether a crocodile cull is needed.
Western Australia
Traditional Owners in Pilbara strike massive green energy deal
A renewable energy hub nears construction in the Pilbara. Image: AAP.
A massive billion-dollar renewable energy project will kickstart Australia’s renewable energy transition in the Pilbara after a partnership between Traditional Owners and Filipino-listed ACEN.
Sustainability
The Aussie invention helping Cambodian villagers produce clean drinking water for free
A small sticker that uses UV light to indicate when contaminated water is safe for drinking is revolutionising life for villagers in South-East Asia.
‘Outrageous’: MEPs condemn pesticide companies for withholding toxicity data
Bayer and Syngenta accused of breaching legal obligations and unethical behaviour over brain toxicity studies
Light and noise pollution ‘are neglected health hazards’, say peers
Lords committee calls for creation of advisory groups to tackle the pollutants, which may increase risk of heart disease and premature death
Researchers find evidence of ‘forever chemicals’ in blood of pregnant women
At least 97% of the blood samples contained a type of PFAS known as PFOS, associated with multiple serious health problems
The art (and evolution) of eco-design
When it comes to eco design, bland is out, with more environmentally inclined brands favouring the bold
Why comedy is the most powerful tool we have to change the world
In a world saturated with terrifying messages about the future, having a laugh can be good for the planet
Nature Conservation
Less than half of annual tree-planting target in England met, say MPs
Report finds government goal to plant 30,000 hectares of woodland by March 2025 unlikely to be achieved
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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