Post of the Day
Our planet is burning in unexpected ways – here’s how we can protect people and nature
Luke Kelly et al
People have been using fire for millennia. It is a vital part of many ecosystems and cultures. Yet human activities in the current era, sometimes called the “Anthropocene”, are reshaping patterns of fire across the planet.
On This Day
Teej Festival – Nepal
Ganesh Chaturthi – Hinduism
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
California sues world’s largest oil companies, alleging they caused billions of dollars in damages
The lawsuit alleges the companies misled the public by minimising the risks from fossil fuels.
Earth’s check-up finds it’s now two-thirds of the way to becoming unliveable
More than two dozen scientists have completed a check-up on the planet, and find that it’s ‘outside the safe operating space for humanity.’
Climate activists spray paint Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate
Climate activists have sprayed orange and yellow paint on the columns of Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate to push demands for a stop to the use of fossil fuels by 2030.
Group think: Paralysis and the missing ONI climate security report
Elizabeth Boulton
On assuming office, one of Prime Minister Albanese’s first actions was to task the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) to review the security threats posed by climate change. The report was finalised in late 2022 but not made public. Accordingly, a “release the ONI report” campaign has dominated climate-security discourse over much of 2023. Foreign
Jonathan Symons
For three decades, the goal of international climate negotiations has been to avoid “dangerous” warming above 1.5℃. With warming to date standing at around 1.2℃, we haven’t quite reached the zone we labelled dangerous and pledged to avoid.
National
Ross Garnaut says we have an opportunity to pursue “transformational economic reform” by tackling the rising problem of economic rents,
Farmers are locking their gates to level the playing field with power giants, and it’s creating a roadblock on Australia’s clean energy super highway. So what happens now?
Ever feel like plastic packaging is the uninvited guest in your house? An overhaul is in the works
Australia’s plastic packaging system is being overhauled, which is good news for conscious consumers like Nadene, but some remain sceptical about how much recycling can realistically be achieved.
Echidna breeding season provides opportunities to learn more about the elusive creatures, but echidnas on the move means they’re also more likely to run into trouble with humans. Here’s how you can help on both fronts.
The prospect of an El Niño climate pattern has made headlines for months now, but while ocean temperatures are strongly favouring its development, the atmosphere still hasn’t kicked into gear. So what’s going on?
Seed banks struggle to keep up with growing demand for biodiversity, revegetation projects
Seed banks say they need more government funding to plant native orchards to ever hope to reach regeneration targets.
Totem species not wild dogs, says First Nations man seeking change to dingo management
Stuart Harradine says dingoes, or wilkerr as they are known in Weirgaia language, are a spiritual relation to his community and need to be looked at as more than a pest.
Hazard burns could be fuelling the fire danger. Indigenous practices offer another way
Hazard reduction burns are widely practiced by Australia’s fire fighting agencies, but not everyone thinks they reduce bushfire risk. Proponents of Indigenous burning practices and some scientists say there are better options.
The figure adds fuel to the growing political dispute over the pace and form of Australia’s energy transition
Australian governments need to set clear policy direction for gas sector, says regulator
As a growing number of householders turn off the gas, the fossil fuel sector will need clear policy direction from government, says energy regulator
Which bin would you put your rubbish in? It’s not that straightforward
Taking a walk through a supermarket with two of the people charged with reshaping packaging regulations shows the challenges consumers face to recycle.
Electric vehicle challengers on the rise in Australia
Electric vehicle brands on the rise in Australia:
ALP ‘abandoning environment’ [$]
Bob Brown has attacked the environmental credentials of the Albanese government, accusing Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek of abandoning her responsibilities.
What’s in a name? The renaming of the pink cockatoo is no small thing in Australia’s violent history
Andrew Stafford
This beautiful bird’s former name represented colonial dominance – and told us nothing about the species
Hussein Dia
Two electric vehicle fires have been reported in Australia this week. Five cars were destroyed after a lithium battery ignited in a car parked at Sydney Airport on Monday. Firefighters believed the battery had been detached from the car because it was damaged.
Loopholes and carve-outs: how tricky accounting makes a farce of carbon neutral claims
Callum Foote
Big banks claiming to be ‘carbon neutral’ are anything but. The big four banks in Australia only account for a fraction of their emissions, with CBA offsetting a measly 4%
Fairness slips through ALP’s gillnet policy [$]
Nick Cater
Gillnet fishing was banned at the insistence of a supranational organisation without any discussion in parliament or consultation with the industry.
Regional Australia is resisting Labor’s wind, solar fantasy [$]
Ted O’Brien
Regional Australia understands the importance of new technology to tackle climate change, but threaten their way of life and all bets are off.
Future energy mix must be shaped by cost benefits [$]
Australian editorial
The nation’s rich uranium resources would assist with SMRs.
Reporting on green energy fails truth test [$]
Chris Mitchell
There is a far less rosy side to the energy transition story than reporters are admitting to readers and listeners.
How to build a green economic boom [$]
Saul Griffith
his second instalment of a two-part series explains how Australia can create a thriving economy based on green energy and manufacturing, while helping the world shift to renewables.
Victoria
The Melbourne train lines that cop the most delays and no-shows
Commuters on Melbourne’s least reliable train lines are experiencing more than three times as many delays and cancellations than those with the city’s best performing services.
Surge of interest as battery, energy projects clamour for $1b SEC boost
Victoria’s revived State Electricity Commission has received more than 100 registrations from energy and battery projects hoping to receive up to a $1 billion from its investment fund.
Logging ‘carnage’ in endangered greater glider habitat
Though logging operations in one glider habitat have been suspended and some koala habitat is being protected, environmentalists say key habitat is still being felled.
Philip Ingamells: brave fighter for Victoria’s heritage
A fierce campaigner for Victoria’s national parks, key figure in the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires, and a mentor to many, Philip Ingamells will be sorely missed by family, friends and colleagues.
Australian uni student invents electric motor to convert petrol and diesel cars into hybrids
This unique electric motor – which could turn almost any petrol or diesel car into a hybrid – has won a prestigious design award, and might be available to buy in the future.
Melbourne left trailing in cycling revolution [$]
Age editorial
Being one of the most liveable cities in the world is, quite justifiably, a point of pride for Melburnians. Relative to most cities, Melbourne’s healthcare, cultural and culinary vibrancy, education and environment stand above the pack.
New South Wales
Serious bushfire prompts warning in NSW Hunter Valley
A local pub has shut its doors as a precaution and is providing free food and water to firefighters battling the blaze at Neath near Cessnock.
‘It’s not their fault’: Crackdown on climate activism sees older, law-abiding citizens risk jail to join the fight
After 40 years fighting bushfires, and becoming increasingly alarmed at their intensity, Alan risked jail to join young climate activists like Violet. He’s not alone and here’s why
$200m for Parramatta light rail as project steams ahead [$]
Construction of stage two of the Parramatta light rail is on track to begin next year with $200 million to be allocated towards the project in Tuesday’s budget.
Sydney students building nuclear device to unlock the energy of stars
Sydney students are building a device capable of nuclear fusion – the process that powers stars and could unlock enormous amounts of carbon-free energy on Earth.
Don’t listen to Barnaby Joyce – New England loves renewable energy
RK Crosby
The loud bloke in a hat’s pro-nuclear, anything-but-renewables stance is out of touch with his NSW electorate
ACT
These Canberrans are working towards a future without fashion waste [$]
It’s increasingly looking like our grandchildren’s version of thrifting will be to start digging ground until they unearth a big pile of clothes.
Climate change inaction damaging Australia’s economy [$]
Ebony Bennett
This weekend, Canberrans can look forward to balmy back-to-back days in the mid-20s. Across south-east Australia, temperatures will soar to 10-14 degrees above average. It’s only September – the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts it will get hotter and drier from here.
Let’s get this planning shake-up right [$]
Canberra Times editorial
It’s been billed as the ACT government’s biggest shake-up of the planning system since self-government.
Why Price is right to reject perpetual victimhood [$]
Piers Akerman
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in a far better place to judge what’s best for Aborigines.
Queensland
Acland finally has its breakthrough moment, producing its first coal after 16 years
It took New Hope Group 16 years but it finally was able to deliver the first coal from its Acland third stage expansion
As the days go by: Council questions Fed delays, review putting key projects at risk
Moreton Council is asking how a 90-day review into infrastructure by the Federal Government has stretched out to more than 130 days and put key developments in the region at risk.
2024 Olympic city Paris has banned e-scooters. Brisbane should not be next
Felicity Caldwell
Brisbane was a leader when it came to the e-scooter boom five years ago. It should not follow Paris in banning them.
South Australia
‘Cultural genocide’: Earthworks destroy sacred Flinders sites [$]
For thousands of years, sand hills in the Flinders Ranges have been home to sacred Adnyamathanha sites. Now they have been destroyed after “unauthorised” earthworks ripped through the area.
Shocking video shows thousands of dead baby carp at Lake Bonney [$]
A disturbing video on social media shows thousands of dead and dying baby carp at Lake Bonney in Barmera, with the man who filmed it stunned.
Albo on notice as SA calls for end to controversial policy [$]
The Albanese Government will face pressure to dump blocks on water buybacks that are sinking efforts to save the Murray, the state government says.
SA business ramps up nuclear plea amid spiralling power surcharges [$]
Soaring costs for industry to keep the lights on in the state’s renewables-reliant grid have spurred a fresh appeal for nuclear power to be considered.
Tasmania
Environmentalists say Tasmania’s tall trees could become a major tourism drawcard like California’s redwoods, but pot-holed winding roads and rough tracks make them hard to access.
Plea for Tassie’s future AFL team to snub fossil fuel sponsors [$]
Those in charge of Tasmania’s AFL club have been asked to “rule out” sponsorship from fossil fuel companies.
Huge numbers of Tasmanians plan to turn backs on petrol cars [$]
A major new survey has revealed just how many Tasmanians plan to buy an electric vehicle for their next car, as calls mount for the state government to implement a transport emissions reduction target.
Northern Territory
Massive bushfire five times size of ACT fuelled by climate change, experts say
Experts say climate change is fuelling the massive bushfire sweeping across the Barkly region, with similar fires predicted to become more frequent in the Northern Territory.
Thousands of jobs tipped for NT green hydrogen plant [$]
Plans for a new green hydrogen plant could be a saviour for a remote Northern Territory town. Read what’s planned.
Western Australia
Western Australian walkers celebrate 25 years along the 1,000km Bibbulman Track
Giant trees, pristine rivers and sparkling blue oceans continue to draw thousands of hikers to the Bibbulmun Track, decades after the first sections were created.
New species of burrowing spider unearthed in outback WA
For arachnologist Jeremy Wilson, eight-legged wonders like this wishbone spider are well worth going bush for.
Why WA needs to step on gas to avoid east-coast energy drama [$]
Caroline Cherry
As winter ends and energy system pressures that often emerge in cooler months ease, it can be easy to forget that WA must remain vigilant to retain the State’s enviable energy security position.
On trial for protesting against Woodside [$]
Joana Partyka
This week, I will be the first person to be prosecuted for protesting against Woodside’s Burrup project. This is the story of the raid on my home and the six-month wait for a hearing.
Sustainability
Environment: Governments and fossil fuel subsidies, the infatuation grows
Peter Sainsbury
Doesn’t matter how much harm fossil fuels cause, governments have an ‘Everlasting Love’ for subsidising them, so no surprise that coal and oil consumption is increasing. The global love affair with electricity started in 1950.
The mirage of China’s offensive nuclear strategy
Kari McKern
In previous articles, I’ve articulated why I adopted a skeptical and analytical mindset from a young age, particularly in the realm of geopolitical claims made by nation-states in the nuclear age. Now, let’s shift our focus to China’s nuclear strategy.
Beyond the razzle-dazzle, Apple’s climate claims deserve scrutiny
Mark Gongloff
Apple’s true specialty isn’t consumer technology. It’s marketing. So how much can we believe it selling its green credentials?
The world is in a prolonged senior moment. The next generation will blow it up [$]
Malcolm Knox
If the world doesn’t end first, the question is where our gerontocracies are leading us.
Earth Systems Treaty: The emerging cross-cultural commitment
Geoffrey Holland
The long-standing, gender-dominant human cultural course has come to its final dark expression. The question now is, will life on Earth flame out because of the implacable resistance of one in three humans, or will we find a way to come together and cooperate – all genders, ethnicities, and nationalities – in support of a worthy human future, and a good outcome for all of our Earth’s natural systems?
Nature Conservation
Diverse mix of seedlings helps tropical forests regrow better, study finds
Malaysia trial shows quicker recovery compared with areas replanted with four or just a single native species
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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