Date: 12 September 2023 at 8:49:47 am AEST
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Sep 12
Post of the Day
Daniel James
When it comes to the climate, leaders will only grasp that the writing is on the wall when the wall is burning
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
Small island nations take high-emitting countries to court to protect the ocean
Countries threatened by rising sea levels are asking a tribunal to decide on responsibility for pollution of the marine environment
From carbon sink to source: the stark changes in Arctic lakes
For millennia, lakes in Greenland’s dry tundra have locked up huge loads of carbon in their sediment. But as the Arctic becomes warmer and wetter, scientists believe these lakes could become sources of carbon, which would have important consequences for the world’s climate.
“Re-industrialise the nation:” Australia urged to provide $100 bn in clean energy initiatives
A new coalition of organisations says responding to US plan could provide kick-start to green industries in Australia with a $300 million export revenue goal by 2035.
Dan Murphy’s charging deal to top up electric vehicles
More drivers will be able to top up thirsty electric vehicles while they shop for their latest drop after liquor retailer Dan Murphy’s extended its deal with charging firm Evie Networks.
How oil, sugar cane and poo could keep the lights on
These are the everyday items that could become new-age fuels for planes and homes across Australia. See how it can work.
How Australia’s coasts are set to change
The UK and Europe have embraced offshore wind in a huge way, with turbines dotting the coasts – and they’re going to start appearing in Australian waters. Find out where.
Green tape powers legal boom [$]
An explosion of green tape under new energy reforms has sparked a race between top law firms to hire energy transition lawyers.
Fire regimes around Australia shifted abruptly 20 years ago – and falling humidity is why
Roger Jones
This century, Australia has suffered more frequent and more severe bushfires. The Black Summer fires of 2019–20 were the worst on record for the area burned and property loss.
Governments turning deaf ears on logging outrage
Sue Arnold
Governments at both state and federal levels are continuing to ignore the environmental devastation and biodiversity loss caused by logging.
Nuclear energy remains weapon of choice for climate deniers and coal lobby
Giles Parkinson
The Coalition is declaring a new “war on wind and solar” as it uses the nuclear debate to disguise the fact it intends to do nothing about climate action.
How Australia’s largest fossil fuel subsidy could decarbonise mining
Tim Buckley & Matt Pollard
New modelling shows fuel tax credits paid to the mining sector will cost the economy a cumulative $37bn out to 2030. This money should be reinvested in decarbonisation.
Keeping cats indoors is a rare solution where everybody wins
Calla Wahlquist
In the debate over protecting native wildlife from domestic felines, one thing is often overlooked: cats should be kept indoors for the sake of cats
Callum Foote
Korean coal buyers are bringing a claim against a number of Australian coal producers for fraudulently boosting coal quality results for over a decade
Government’s abject failure to understand the gas industry’s huge health impacts
David Shearman and Melissa Haswell
Current articles on the government’s climate policies increasingly use words such as reckless, hypocrisy and betrayal referring to approval of coal mines. But it is even more difficult to find words to describe the gas industry’s infliction of pain on humanity by the approval of gas mines.
There are so many feral cats in this country right now they outnumber ministerial photo ops!
First Dog on the Moon
A threatened species day press conference with Tiramisu Powerbrunche
Victoria
How we brought mistletoes back to the trees of Melbourne – while warding off hungry possums
David M Watson and Rodney van der Ree
Until recently, mistletoes were regarded as problematic pests across Australia. They were seen as having been introduced from elsewhere, exploiting helpless trees and driving their premature demise.
New South Wales
Lead ‘fingerprints’ found in rainwater tanks match gold mine’s ore
A report commissioned by Newcrest Cadia finds lead matching the mine’s isotopic signature in 40 per cent of tank sludge samples taken from Orange district rainwater tanks.
Air quality ‘very poor’ in Sydney’s east as firefighters ‘catch up’ on hazard reduction burning
Smoke settles across many areas of Sydney as hazard reduction burning by the NSW Rural Fire Service continues ahead of a forecast warm and dry weekend.
Frustrated Richmond residents fearful of the impact of recent floods on the “forever chemicals” call on the Defence Department to expand its testing area beyond the military base.
Hive euthanasia to be reassessed under new varroa mite response plan
The deadly parasite moves further north in New South Wales, as a new more risk-based approach to controlling its spread is adopted, considering time of infestation, mite load and tracing on a case-by-case basis.
The Sydney roads made from 136,000 coffee cups and 1.2m glass bottles
Recycled coffee cups have been combined with crushed glass to produce roads across the Penrith region – and they won’t get as many potholes.
Hearts and minds is more than just a slogan as NSW manages coal exit
David Leitch
The real news in the NSW supply and reliability checkup is not Eraring: It’s the recognition that government needs to do a much better job of turning renewable energy zones into reality.
ACT
Planning system makes space for nearly 150,000 extra Canberra homes [$]
A new territory plan and district strategies will chart the path to adding up to nearly 150,000 homes across Canberra in the largest shake up to the planning system since self-government
Queensland
Rangers euthanase dingo involved in high-risk attacks, the third to be destroyed this year
Rangers are pleading with visitors to K’gari to heed warnings about dingoes ahead of school holidays as another one is destroyed due to its dangerous interactions with humans.
Brisbane train stations to close for 10 months
Under a $370 million works program, four suburban stations will be closed within months to allow for disability access upgrades to be completed.
‘We’ll run dry’: Fresh call for second Brisbane water source as restrictions loom
The state government has been accused of “not doing a damn thing” about a second water source in the South East, potentially leaving Brisbane at risk of running dry next year.
Richard Buning and Wendy Pham
Five years after being the first Australian city to introduce rideshare e-scooters, Brisbane is leading the way after many growing pains and a lot of learning.
A relic of white-shoe brigade (and a very different Qld), Hamilton hits market for $1b
John McCarthy
Hamilton Island is being shopped around by the Oatley family for a reported price of $1 billion. There will never be another resort like it in Queensland.
South Australia
Solar reaches record 120 per cent of electricity demand in South Australia
South Australia sets a new record with solar providing 120 per cent of it electricity demand.
Federal government reveals cost of abandoned nuclear waste dump in South Australia
Resources Minister Madeleine King says the Commonwealth had spent $108.6 million towards establishing the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF) between July 2014 and August 2023.
Wine industry says it can ill-afford container scheme hit [$]
The inclusion of wine bottles in state-based container deposit schemes would be a $100m blow to an industry which is being hit on multiple fronts, Mitchell Taylor says.
Tasmania
A company wanting to build a wind farm in the migratory path of the critically-endangered orange-bellied parrot says climate change poses a greater risk to the species than birds colliding with its turbines.
Takayna still without heritage listing
Bob Brown Foundation has welcomed news that Stanley and the Nut will be assessed for inclusion on the National Heritage list but has reminded Federal Environment Minister Plibersek that takayna / Tarkine remains unlisted.
Northern Territory
Defence Force deployed as huge blaze rips through NT [$]
Australian Defence Force resources as well as interstate firefighter crews have been deployed to an out-of-control blaze, while Tennant Creek residents are being urged to prepare for the fire.
Western Australia
AustralianSuper helped Woodside stop investor protest vote over climate policies, analysis shows
Activist group Market Forces says Australia’s biggest super fund ‘signalled tacit approval’ of oil and gas giant’s expansion policy
Large bommies made of a stony coral known as porites underpin the World Heritage reef system. It’s hoped they can help scientists predict how a warming world will affect the reef’s health.
Sustainability
Heat pumps twice as efficient as fossil fuel systems in cold weather, study finds
Doubts about whether heat pumps work well in subzero conditions shown to be unfounded, say researchers
Yanis Varoufakis
Unlike their US counterparts, EU policymakers still face the roadblocks of no money and no common treasury
Why 2% is the most dangerous number no one is talking about
Richard Heinberg
The sheer quantity of chemicals being dumped into the environment is quickly growing—and we only be seeing the beginning of the harm they are doing to us.
Nature Conservation
Red fire ant colonies found in Italy and could spread across Europe, says study
Researchers identify 88 nests of destructive invasive non-native species near Syracuse in Sicily
In search of safer refuge: the challenges of replicating nature
Human-made shelters don’t always keep creatures out of harm’s way. Can technology help design a better birdhouse?
Indian River Lagoon dolphins are dying from pollution and fishing gear
A new study by Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute found that many of the dolphins dying in the Indian River Lagoon are victims of fishing gear.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation