Daily Links Sep 7

A good start to urgent climate change abatement: end native forest logging now 

Bob Debus  

The native forest logging industry is a fundamental danger to Australia’s natural environment and an utter disaster for climate change policy. 

On This Day 

September 7 

Ecological Observance 

National Threatened Species Day 

International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 

Climate Change 

This August was the hottest ever recorded, UN’s weather agency says 

Earth has sweltered through its hottest northern-hemisphere summer ever measured, with a record-warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures, according to the World Meteorological Organization. 

World meteorologists point to ‘vicious cycle’ of heatwaves and air pollution 

The climate crisis and soaring temperatures are worsening air quality, WMO says, with ‘knock-on effects’ 

National 

Australia is pockmarked with small dams. With a little tweak, many could be turned into ‘batteries’ 

Researchers identify thousands of locations for potential micro-pumped-hydro energy storage across rural Australia, using pre-existing farm dams and rivers. 

Stormwater loaded with microplastics from car tyres 

Stormwater that winds up in Australia’s creeks, rivers and ultimately the sea is loaded with tiny toxic particles shed by car tyres, researchers have found. 

Plibersek declares war on cats as 48 new species join endangered list 

The environment minister has revealed more species of native animals are at risk of annihilation. 

Eight weeks’ work generates consultancy $1.2m [$] 

The department that oversees the government’s climate agenda has paid a consulting firm $1.2m for just eight weeks work, in one of the most lucrative deals awarded since Labor came to power. 

Wildlife sniffer dogs teach platypus experts new tricks 

Despite the platypus having an iconic status in Australia, much remains unknown about this unique egg-laying duck-billed monotreme. That’s where the dogs come in. 

Crackdown on water traders in new River Murray bill 

Battle lines are being drawn after Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek introduced federal legislation today to amend the Murray Darling Basin Plan, increasing voluntary buybacks and getting tough on water traders. 

Feral cats main driver of biodiversity loss in Australia, costing billions 

Invasive species are the leading cause of biodiversity loss and species extinction in Australia and a new report suggests the problem is getting worse. 

Putting people at the centre of our climate policies [$] 

Adam Triggs 

Here’s an inconvenient truth. The key reason Australia struggled to get meaningful and sustained action on climate change is because we failed to put the welfare of people at the centre of our policies. Politicians focused on the benefits of decarbonisation – of which there are many – but tended to ignore the groups of Australians who would be hurt by it. 

Australia’s least wanted – 8 alien species and diseases we must keep out of our island home 

Jaana Dielenberg and Patrick O’Connor 

This week’s landmark report on the impact of invasive alien species revealed costs to the global economy exceeded US$423 billion (A$654 billion) a year in 2019. Costs have at least quadrupled every decade since 1970 and that trend is set to continue. 

Who’s looking after electricity consumers? [$] 

Ted Woodley 

How could TransGrid have got the cost of the HumeLink transmission line so wrong? And what are the ramifications? 

Harnessing offshore wind power needs red tape cut [$] 

Aylin Cunsolo and Ben Cerini 

Capitalising on the power of wind offshore can have an important role to play in Australia’s energy transition, but only if regulatory obstacles are taken down. 

Fuelling the habit 

Rachel Withers  

How can anyone claiming to care about Australia’s wellbeing continue to push coal and gas? 

Victoria 

Gone by year’s end: Victoria dismantles native logging business 

VicForests has been under financial pressure, blaming legal battles that had stopped it from logging and forced it to pay compensation to clients for missed orders. 

EV sales are booming in Melbourne’s outer suburbs and Sudeep is saving, but many are missing out 

Electric vehicles sales in Melbourne’s outer suburbs are rising and residents say they are saving money, but there are still roadblocks for people getting into the market. 

New South Wales 

One of Australia’s rarest birds encourages conservationists with ‘remarkable’ record long-distance flight 

A critically endangered regent honeyeater, released as part of a captive breeding program, has travelled hundreds of kilometres in only three months. Conservationists says it shows captive-bred birds can adapt and thrive in the wild. 

$2.7b coal royalty hike in NSW will hurt but could have been worse, mining sector says 

The NSW government plans to boost the budget by close to $3 billion over four years with the increase. The mining sector says it is a “significant additional impost”, but is relieved the state did not follow Queensland’s model. 

Environment watchdog takes legal action against power station over ‘horrific’ Lake Macquarie fish kill 

The NSW Environment Protection Authority alleges Delta Electricity, which owns Vales Point Power Station, is responsible for the deaths of thousands of fish at Mannering Park in 2022. 

‘Once-in-a-generation transition’: NSW Labor commits $800m to fast-track transmission lines 

The Minns government is investing in new overhead powerlines to link regional renewable energy projects to the grid. 

Payback for slavery: war breaks out over Sydney crown land claim [$] 

An Aboriginal Land Council CEO says a Sydney crown land reserve should be given back to Indigenous people, claiming the area’s wealth was partially built on “slavery” that went on through the 20th century. 

NSW eyes community batteries as part of energy shift 

The NSW government will earmark $1.8 billion in its next budget to support the state’s ongoing energy transition to clean, more affordable power sources. 

On hot days, up to 87% of heat gain in our homes is through windows. On cold days, it’s 40% of heat loss. Here’s how we can fix that 

Trivess Moor et al 

Climate change and energy costs mean we need to rethink how we design and build our homes. The updated National Construction Code has lifted the required energy performance of new housing from 6 stars to 7 stars (10 stars being the best). Windows are an obvious focus for improving the energy efficiency of Australian homes. 

NSW Labor’s tough talk on Eraring undermined by boost to coal royalties 

Peter Hannam 

The demise of the coal cap leaves the government little time to secure a deal with Origin Energy to extend the power plant 

Climate change comes second to Labor staying in power [$] 

Alexandra Smith  

When it comes to its environmental credentials, a risk-adverse Minns’ government is favouring short-term fixes over long-term reform. 

NSW giving billions in taxpayer money to a fossil fuel donor? Well, why not? [$] 

Bernard Keane 

Why won’t NSW Labor say how much it plans to hand to Origin Energy to prop up its fossil fuel emissions? Its version of CoalKeeper is even worse than the original. 

Eraring is more about bill shock and equity than lights going out: Batteries and Bowen can help 

Giles Parkinson 

The controversy over Eraring is not really about the lights going out, but about bill shock and equity. How NSW manages this is key to the success of the switch out of coal. 

Queensland 

Queensland coalmines to rival electricity sector for climate pollution by 2030, report finds 

Eighteen new coal projects represent ‘carbon bomb’ that should not be approved, conservationists say 

South-east Queenslanders called to count koalas as Griffith plans for safety 

Griffith University is leading the South East Queensland Koala Count and asking all citizens to participate and report koala sightings. 

Tasmania 

Breeding plan for Maugean skate and swift parrot aid projects 

The federal government will set up a captive breeding program for an endangered West Coast species and is urging the salmon industry to clean up Macquarie Harbour. 

Western Australia 

WA building the nation’s longest EV charging network 

Work is under way in Western Australia to build the nation’s longest electric vehicle charging network, stretching over 7000km. 

Sustainability 

EPA delays new air quality standards for ozone pollution until after 2024 election 

Decision on regulations for ground-level ozone – AKA smog – avoids election-year battle with industry groups and Republicans 

Biden to cancel oil and gas leases in Alaska issued by Trump administration 

Seven oil and gas leases canceled by interior department, which said sale during final days of Trump administration were flawed 

Muddied tropical rivers reveal magnitude of global gold mining boom: Study 

Escalating geopolitical tensions, a weakening dollar, and growing distrust in financial markets has triggered a tropical rush for gold, diamonds and precious metals that’s doing serious ecological damage to Earth’s rivers. 

Act, or die: the climate and nuclear juggernaut 

Andrew Glikson  

“When elephants fight the grass dies” – African proverb.   

Nature Conservation 

Why Ashland may need to step up prescribed burns to manage dying Douglas firs 

In Southern Oregon, Douglas firs are dying. And climate change is making the problem worse with more severe droughts and hotter temperatures. 

As the Mississippi swerves, can we let nature regain control? 

After the lower Mississippi began pouring through and enlarging Neptune Pass in 2019, sediment began flowing into a sand-and-silt-starved Delta bay. Now the Army Corps of Engineers — breaking with tradition — is considering letting at least part of the river have its way.