Daily Links Oct 12

“Not listening to scientists:” Most Australians don’t think climate change is a serious problem 

Griffith Uni study find most Australians are not not listening to climate scientists, they’re “looking out the window and saying ‘I think the weather is all right’.” 

 

On This Day 

October 12 

 

Climate Change 

Severe debt burdens thwarting progress on climate and poverty, says World Bank 

Bank’s new president Ajay Banga urges faster action on providing debt relief but says there is no ‘magic wand’ 

 

Exxon reinforces support for fossil fuels with deal to buy shale giant for $60bn 

Deal to buy Pioneer Natural Resources shows Exxon’s confidence that fossil fuel output will not be hampered in years to come 

 

Politicians, not public, drive U-turns on green agenda, says UN biodiversity chief 

People are ahead of governments, says David Cooper, who blames backtracking on parties seeking ‘wedge issues’ for electoral gain 

 

The Gulf Stream is warming and shifting closer to shore 

A new study now documents that over the past 20 years, the Gulf Stream has warmed faster than the global ocean as a whole and has shifted towards the coast. 

 

Paleoclimatologists use ancient sediment to explore future climate in Africa 

With global warming apparently here to stay, a team of paleoclimatologists are studying an ancient source to determine future rainfall and drought patterns: fossilized plants that lived on Earth millions of years ago. 

 

The changing climate creates more noise in the oceans 

Due to the changing climate, the underwater world is getting ever noisier. 

 

A loophole in the Montreal Protocol lets U.S. facilities pollute 

A perceived loophole in the Montreal Protocol has led U.S. factories to emit gases that damage the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. 

 

Greta Thunberg: Who is the climate activist and what has she achieved? 

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is appearing in court following anti-oil demonstrations in Sweden. 

 

To avert climate disaster, what if one rogue nation dimmed the Sun? 

In an influential cli-fi novel, a desperate government ignores international consensus and pumps aerosols into the atmosphere to cool the world. Could it happen for real? 

 

Time to kill off ‘net zero’ 

Fossil fuel companies are no longer denying the realities of climate change — which many of them reported on privately for decades. Instead, they’re attempting to position themselves as key players in the “low-carbon transition.” 

 

National 

Australia needs climate trigger laws, conservation groups say after failed challenge to coalmines 

Calls come after federal court dismisses legal action against environment minister’s decisions on two mine expansions 

 

Hopes monthly fee will sell business on electric fleets 

A $24.9 million plan to offer businesses vehicle charging stations for a monthly subscription fee could help put thousands more electric cars on Australian roads, according to the company behind the program. 

 

A successful energy transition depends on managing when people use power. So how do we make demand more flexible? 

Chris Briggs 

Energy security concerns are mounting as renewable projects and transmission lines are delayed. 

 

Waking up: Australia and the El Niño on our horizon [$] 

Bill Henderson 

Australia knows it’s facing a building El Niño and a potential horror summer of bushfire — but is it really prepared for what’s to come? 

 

‘Bitterly disappointed’: The federal government’s just had a big win against environmentalists in court 

Michael Slezak 

The Federal Court has ruled the government can approve coal mines without considering emissions. That’s not sustainable in the long run 

 

Victoria 

‘Substantially dangerous’: Melbourne Water boss grilled over Maribyrnong flood 

The Melbourne Water managing director was forced to defend her job at the authority. 

 

Golfers teed off over plans to convert Oakleigh course into a park 

Rapid population growth in Melbourne’s south-east is driving an idea to convert the public course into open space, but golfers say private courses are too expensive. 

 

Racing boss won’t say if Flemington wall led to flooding [$] 

The boss of Victoria Racing Club has refused to say if a Flemington Racecourse wall was to blame for worsening devastating flooding in 2022 as an inquiry heard air sirens are needed for future disasters. 

 

New South Wales 

Network muscles in on smart meters as regulator grants “trial waiver” 

NSW distribution network company to roll out 5,600 smart meters to customers after being granted a “trial waiver” from the Australian Energy Regulator. 

 

Offshore wind turbines will “block the sunrise:” Illawarra consultation takes a bizarre twist 

Consultation on federal government plans to establish an offshore wind zone off NSW coast of Illawarra is stirring up some bizarre behaviour and claims. 

 

NSW set to enshrine net zero emissions by 2050 in law and create monitoring panel 

Labor government to introduce centrepiece climate legislation on Thursday, saying it shows it is ‘serious’ about driving down emissions 

 

Dutch cattle feed additive cuts methane emissions massively in Australian research trials 

Researchers in regional NSW say cattle that ate the additive had methane emission reductions of up to 99 per cent. 

 

Did you miss the auction? Shucks. Government sells a hectare of Sydney for just $41k 

Callum Foote 

The NSW government’s Landcom has sold a hectare of prime bushland in Sydney for just $41k to shopping centre developers but has declined to respond to questions about the number of people at the auction. 

 

Queensland 

Man fined $14,000 for dam built in national park, home to endangered wallaby 

Warren Spicer, 81, dug out a massive dam inside Dryander National Park, home of the Proserpine rock-wallaby that only lives within restricted rainforest areas of the Whitsundays region. 

 

Government opts for caution with new hydrogen transport laws 

The State Government has included safety as a critical requirement in its new approval regime for hydrogen pipelines and transport, including the use of toluene. 

 

Reckless riders on footpaths, cycleways may end up in court 

E-scooter and bike riders will need to offer assistance after a crash or provide their details under proposed laws to help streamline road rules. 

 

Car lobby warns Brisbane faces LA-style congestion 

The RACQ fears current development plans “lack transport ambition” and could jeopardise south-east Queensland’s quality of life. 

 

‘Vile’ smell ruins residents’ dreams as government investigates new waste facility 

Jeff Britten planned to build his dream home after buying a rural Queensland property two years ago. Now, a smell “like a dirty nappy under your nose” is ruining his life.  

 

South Australia 

Uranium mining at Honeymoon restarts 

The new owner of the Honeymoon mine has officially rebooted uranium mining activities on the site about 80 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill. 

Tasmania 

More Tasmanian forest for sale: 936ha reserve to change hands 

A 936ha property located 1.5 hours’ drive from Hobart has hit the market and is attracting inquiries from all over the world, a week after Forico, the state’s largest private forestry company, changed hands. 

 

Climate activists convicted of trespass over Polley protest 

Media release – Extinction Rebellion North Tasmania 

Today (Wed 11th October) Scott Bell, Deb Lynch and Jeff McKinnon appeared before Magistrate Sharon Cure in Launceston, charged with trespass. All 3 were convicted of trespass. No fines or court costs were imposed. 

 

Northern Territory  

It’s one of the driest places in the country. Residents are terrified of farming’s impact 

A farming corporation is licenced to take 40,000 megalitres of water from the underground table every year. 

 

Western Australia 

W.A. wants to build electrolysers to support massive green hydrogen plans 

W.A. government is looking at supporting an electrolyser manufacturing facility in the state to support its massive green hydrogen plans. 

 

Why Australia’s answer to Greta Thunberg is facing years behind bars 

At 19, this climate activist is now facing serious legal consequences over a foiled protest outside the home of the boss of an energy giant in Western Australia. Here’s why she still believes she’s on the right side of history. 

 

Legislation introduced to expand national park under Plan for Our Parks 

Legislation to enable 145,000 hectares to be added to the Helena and Aurora Ranges National Park has been introduced 

 

Listening to the Martuwarra  

Professor Anne Poelina brought the Martuwarra spirit to the Biodiversity Conference 2023 – Listening to Country, which commenced on Tuesday 10 October and concludes Thursday. 

 

Aboriginal Elders suspend Rio Tinto site survey over heritage concerns 

Traditional Owners have halted a heritage survey on Rio Tinto’s Brockman Syncline project in the Pilbara after blasting impacted an Indigenous rock shelter. 

 

No charges, fines following investigation into loss of potentially deadly radioactive capsule 

A “comprehensive investigation” into the loss of a tiny radioactive capsule, which sparked a frantic search in WA’s outback and an unprecedented public health warning, concludes without any charges being laid or fines issued. 

 

Sustainability 

Titanium oxide material can remove toxic dyes from wastewater 

Drexel University researchers show titanium oxide material’s potential for water treatment 

 

Massive new database on how plastic chemicals harm our health 

Experts from the Minderoo Foundation published today a large, open-access database, called the Plastic Health Map, that includes the findings from more than 3,500 studies from 1961 to 2022 on how plastic chemicals impact human health. 

 

Microplastics: The secret ingredient your cutting board could be adding to your meals 

A new study shows those that plastics cutting boards are likely to shed microplastics that could be harmful to your health. 

 

Nine ‘planetary boundaries’ set the limits of global economic freedom 

Ross Gittins  

One of the most important developments in economics is something in which economists had no hand: the identification of the environmental limits which humans, busily producing and consuming, cross at their peril. 

 

Nature Conservation 

Climate change could impact Pacific Northwest’s iconic wildflowers, research finds 

At Mount Rainier, wildflowers dazzle and amaze the hundreds of thousands of tourists that come to the mountain every spring and summer. Research from the University of Washington shows that as climate change continues, some visitors could miss out on the peak bloom altogether. 

 

If we protect mangroves, we protect our fisheries, our towns and ourselves 

Alvise Dabalà et al 

Mangroves do a surprising amount for us. But we’re often not looking after them. Here’s how we can protect these forests of the sea edge better.