Post of the Day
Andy Sheppard et al
Invasive alien species are driving biodiversity loss and extinctions in every country, all over the world. Responding to the challenge, the United Nations is today releasing the first global assessment of invasive alien species and their control.
On This Day
Climate Change
Maina Talia says climate change for Tuvaluans is a matter of life and death
A significant event happening in Sydney this month is the 21st Triennial General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites).
Banks pouring trillions to fossil fuel expansion in global south, report finds
Since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, banks have provided some $3.2tn to the fossil fuel industry to expand operations
Clean energy projects are booming everywhere. Except in poor nations.
A big obstacle is the lack of loans, a subject of intense disagreement between richer and poorer countries. But in Congo, a hard-fought solar investment shows a possible path forward.
African leaders at odds over climate plans as crucial Nairobi summit opens
Oil-producing African nations argue they should be able to use fossil fuel resources for economic growth
The world could be at an energy turning point
Climate crisis poses greatest risk to people with respiratory illnesses, experts warn
Call for EU to match WHO’s air pollution regulatory limits as impact of climate emergency and human health is interlinked.
‘There’s a very real danger here’: AOC on 2024, the climate crisis and ‘selling out’
Twice re-elected and comfortable in her political skin, the Democratic congresswoman makes clear that Biden can’t take progressives for granted.
Hundreds of millions of dollars pledged for African carbon credits at climate summit
UAE commits to buying $450 mln of carbon credits
Summit aims to show Africa as destination for climate investment
Germany announces $65 mln debt swap with Kenya
Ian Dunlop
In the last few months events have occurred globally which indicate an astonishing, but not unexpected, acceleration in the pace of climate change. The world has now entered a new era of extremely dangerous climate impacts which are already proving catastrophic in many parts of the world. The factors which hitherto have constrained warming, such as the inertia of the climate system and the cooling effect of atmospheric aerosols, are fading, pushing the global climate system into uncharted territory.
Only by claiming our human rights can we prevent more crimes against our children
Bronwyn Kelly
With the escalation of natural disasters in the last five years due to climate change it is now obvious – all too painfully obvious – that we have let our kids down, that we have robbed them of a decent future.
National
Class action begins alleging one of the world’s most popular weedkillers causes cancer
A class action involving 800 Australians who allege their non-Hodgkin lymphoma was caused by Roundup has begun in Melbourne.
Invasive species driving destruction of nature worldwide
Australia’s unique environment is under relentless attack by unwanted aliens and climate change is about to supercharge the threat, top scientists warn.
Albanese clocks the ‘extraordinary’ rare earths chance Australia ‘will only get once’ [$]
Anthony Albanese has declared Australia stands at an “extraordinary intersection” in the critical minerals and net zero races, pointing to unprecedented global demand for lithium, cobalt and rare earths, and abundant national supply.
The future of energy is local, in our smart all-electric homes – SwitchedOn podcast:
Energy tech companies are envisioning a future where home generate power and trade with the grid. Raghur Belor from Enphase Energy explains how.
Health evidence against gas and oil is piling up, as governments turn a blind eye
Melissa Haswell et al
We are seeing deadly heat and fires circle the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns we are fast running out of time to secure a liveable and sustainable future. Without emergency action to stop mining and burning fossil fuels, the world faces an unthinkable 2.8℃ temperature rise.
Walkleys promise a review of sponsorship rules in the face of climate boycott [$]
John Buckley
Australian journalism’s most prestigious awards night is sponsored by petrol retailer Ampol. Cartoonists are leading a boycott.
“Business will kill your children:” Was Andrew Forrest’s climate speech really that “loopy”?
Giles Parkinson
Andrew Forrest has been described as “loopy” and weird for his striking speech that warns “humanity is at risk” and that “business will kill your children.” Just because he said the obvious.
Why Australia is on the front line of a global war on invasive species
Laura Chung
A blockbuster UN report found the global cost of managing invasive species exceeds $600 billion.
Inflation fight, not climate policy, new Reserve chief’s job [$]
Judith Sloan
Michele Bullock seems to have swallowed the key messages of the climate zeitgeist, which is unfortunate given her elevation to the RBA’s top job.
Victoria
Ratings agency says Victoria ban is beginning of the end for gas distributors
Bans on new gas connections will force distributors to start paying down debt sooner than expected as managed declines begin.
New South Wales
Minns to save Eraring to keep NSW’s lights on [$]
The Minns government will take the first steps in extending the life of Australia’s largest power station tomorrow.
“Delayed and over budget:” Sharpe strikes out at Kean, gives mixed signals on Eraring
Bipartisan push to replace coal in NSW is fraying at the seams, with Labor taking aim at Matt Kean over claimed Eraring extension costs and sending mixed signals about its closure date.
New wind farms face stumbling block in ‘basket case’ NSW [$]
No wind farms have been approved in NSW since May 2021, meaning a big catch-up is required to put the state back on track for 2030 targets.
It’s time for NSW to close Eraring [$]
Tim Buckley
The AEMO has shown that unreliable and risky coal-fired generators can be replaced by renewables, batteries, and gas peaking power.
ACT
X
Queensland
Key land-clearing report ‘out of date’
Queensland’s former chief scientist has warned a key report investigating land clearing rates across the state is ‘outdated’ because Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government sat on its findings.
How state’s tech sector boomed and coal slumped in $2 billion wipeout
More than $2 billion was wiped from Queensland’s coal sector in the June quarter as companies hostage to the global price saw their value evaporate.
South Australia
‘Shocking’ wind farm move blasted [$]
Workers are fuming following the SA government’s decision to oppose an offshore wind energy zone, saying thousands of jobs could be lost.
State Govt’s numbers on infrastructure costs don’t add up
Liam Golding
The State Government is relying on unrealistic data to compare the infrastructure costs of different types of development, from infill to greenfield
Tasmania
Single power link ‘still unviable’ [$]
A bailed-out, scaled-down Marinus Link project agreed between the federal and Tasmanian governments remains ‘preposterously expensive’.
Clock ticking until federal Minister delivers Tarkine decision [$]
The clock is ticking until federal politician Tanya Plibersek hands down a decision that could precipitate a “showdown” for Tasmania’s most heated environmental conflict in years.
Labor launches petition to ‘save public transport’
Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Transport
Labor has today launched a petition to stop the Rockliff Liberal Government’s cuts and save Tasmania’s public transport.
Northern Territory
Northern Land Council slams “outrageously low” fine for illegal land clearing
The Northern Land Council has slammed the “outrageously low” penalty issued by the NT government for the illegal clearing of almost 200 hectares of land.
Western Australia
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Sustainability
Fungi could be the answer to breaking down plastic junk
Enzymes that break down a polymer in wood can also handle polyethylene.
Someday, worms might help recycle your dirty plastic
Plastic is tough to break down and reuse. What if enzymes could do the job for us?
Faced with rising sea levels, the Marshall Islands are decarbonising ocean transport
As the world’s shipping industry decarbonises at a glacial pace, the Marshall Islands has a plan to wean its fleets off fossil fuels completely by 2050.
Groundwater depletion rates in India could triple in coming decades as climate warms, study shows
A new study finds that farmers in India have adapted to warming temperatures by intensifying the withdrawal of groundwater used for irrigation. If the trend continues, the rate of groundwater loss could triple by 2080, further threatening India’s food and water security. Reduced water availability in India due to groundwater depletion and climate change could threaten the livelihoods of more than one-third of the country’s 1.4 billion residents and has global implications.
Nature Conservation
Evolutionary imbalance explains global plant invasions
Plant species from certain geographic regions are more successful in spreading outside their native ranges than others — but why?
EU to rethink conservation status of wolves after numbers surge
Ursula Von der Leyen calls for action as attacks on livestock prompt rise in complaints from farmers
Marine heatwaves don’t just hit coral reefs. They can cause chaos on the seafloor
Amandine Schaeffer et al
Most of us know what a heatwave feels like on land – sweltering heat for days. But oceans get heatwaves too. When water temperature goes over a seasonal threshold for five days or more, that’s a marine heatwave. They do their worst damage in summer, when the ocean is already at its warmest, but they can occur any time of year.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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