Daily Links Oct 4

Post of the Day 

Abandoned lands: a hidden resource for restoring biodiversity 

Abandoned farmland has been increasing, with a billion acres — an area half the size of Australia — lost globally. Ecologists are increasingly pointing to the potential of these lands and of degraded forests as neglected resources for rewilding and for capturing carbon. 

On This Day 

October 4 

Feast of St Francis of Assisi – Christianity 

Climate Change 

Many scientists don’t want to tell the truth about climate change. Here’s why 

Climate scientists, in an effort to stave off despair, aren’t telling the truth about our warming planet. 

Have some economists severely underestimated the financial hit from climate change? Recent evidence suggests yes 

Timothy Neal 

Scientists say severe climate change is now the greatest threat to humanity. Extreme weather is expected to upend lives and livelihoods, intensifying wildfires and pushing ecosystems towards collapse as ocean heatwaves savage coral reefs. The threats are far-reaching and widespread. 

Striking a balance: climate change realism in a world of hysteria 

Vince Hooper 

There is a growing concern that resources are being diverted away from equally pressing challenges, based on expectations that may be overly optimistic and detached from the arduous path of reversing climate change. 

National 

Australian scientists add recycled coffee grounds to cement 

Scientists are trying to make concrete stronger and more sustainable by adding coffee grounds to the mix. Initial results are promising, but questions about scale remain. 

Energy consumer lobby calls for Australia-wide ban on gas connections in new homes 

The group also wants governments to develop a plan to electrify all existing properties 

‘Absolutely perverse’: climate scheme could reward Australian coalmines while emissions rise 

Analysis says under Labor’s revamped safeguard mechanism some coalmines could more than double their emissions and still benefit financially 

Plibersek hails recycling jobs ‘boom’ as Australia scrambles to meet targets 

The recycling industry is generating three jobs for every one in landfill as the federal government works to meet ambitious waste reduction targets. 

Invest more in gas ‘to avoid supply shortfall’ [$] 

A new paper says more investment in gas production is needed to prevent consumers from paying higher prices and ensure supply is not outpaced by demand 

Lander & Rogers commits to net zero by 2030 

 National law firm Lander & Rogers has signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative in order to achieve net zero emissions in the next seven years. 

Australia’s emissions must decline more steeply to reach climate commitment: OECD 

Michelle Grattan 

Australia’s emissions need to decline “on a much steeper trajectory” if it is to meet its declared commitment of a 43% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development says. 

Humpback whales hold lore for Traditional Custodians. But laws don’t protect species for their cultural significance 

Jack Pascoe et al 

For saltwater people of Australia’s east and west coasts, humpback whales hold important lore in the form of stories. 

Our climate hell rips off Groundhog Day, without the happy ending [$] 

Maeve McGregor 

The comedy classic speaks to the crisis of global warming in a way that’s not confined to the monotony of inaction. 

Australia has enough renewables to reach 100pct at times, but coal gets in the way 

Giles Parkinson 

Instances of 100 per cent renewables are already being presented on Australia’s main grid – nearly two years ahead of expectations, and before the market is ready. 

Spring shows how more wind and solar leads to low prices – once built 

David Leitch 

Spring on the grid demonstrates that if you have enough renewables, the low variable costs will lead to low average prices. The challenge is to get the capacity built. 

We need economic growth to make us better off, right? Well, actually … 

Ross Gittins 

Unending growth in the economy simply isn’t physically possible, and the more we keep growing the more we’ll damage the natural environment, to our great cost. 

Even platypuses aren’t safe from bushfires – a new DNA study tracks their disappearance 

Emily McColl-Gausden and Andrew Weeks 

When the Black Summer bushfires swept across eastern Australia in 2019–20, thousands of animal species lived in the path of these megafires. 

Victoria 

Anxious Gippsland residents, CFA prepare for bushfire season 

They live in one of the most bushfire-prone parts of the country, but Andy Bennett and these far-east Gippsland residents would not live anywhere else — even as they watch a fire emergency unfold in their region. 

Flood alerts for parts of Victoria after cooler weather reduces fire risk 

Victorians warned of flood threats after cooler weather reduces fire threat. 

‘Develop the land or sell it’: Victoria to broaden vacant land tax 

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has announced plans to broaden a tax on vacant residential properties to the rest of the state. 

New South Wales 

Cadmium at 50,000 times the legal level found next to farm near disused gold mine, inquiry told 

Water running through the Grenfell-district property was also found to have a pH the same as “stomach acid”, according to evidence heard by a NSW inquiry into heavy metal impacts. 

New South Wales swelters as bushfires ravage state’s south 

New South Wales is sweltering through another scorcher as bushfires burn out of control around the state, including around the Bega Valley region. 

NSW dominates big solar output as other states switch off due to negative prices 

NSW steal the prize for best performing solar state in September as negative prices in other states slash output. 

This is meant to be Sydney’s newest park. It’s still a wasteland 

Parkland promised for Sydney’s inner west as part of a controversial toll road project is set to be delayed again. 

Billionaire family pushes for metro extensions in Sydney’s west 

A billionaire dairy farming family that owns vast swaths of land near the new Western Sydney Airport is lobbying for extensions of metro lines and says it can help the state government fast-track the rail projects. 

‘Staggering’ number of koala deaths prompts calls for lower speed limit on busy road 

A wildlife rescue group says the NSW government needs to intervene to lower speed limits on a busy road south of Sydney where dozens of koalas have been killed by vehicle strikes. 

NSW landowners tell inquiry they are ‘unable to farm’ due to effects of mining 

Inquiry is examining how heavy metals and critical minerals mining is regulated and if the response to community concern is adequate 

New documents: EPA and Forestry Corporation at loggerheads over forests, koala protection 

Suzanne Arnold 

Documents reveal NSW Environmental Protection Agency and the state Forestry Corporation are at war over the proposed Great Koala National Park. 

Queensland 

‘Another insult’ as Indigenous well filled with concrete in outback Queensland 

Police say they are investigating the apparent desecration of the cultural heritage site, which has hurt and angered the area’s Aboriginal custodians. 

$6.4 million boost for Great Barrier Reef water quality projects 

The Australian Government is investing a further $6.4 million in 3 new water quality projects to safeguard the health of the iconic Great Barrier Reef. 

‘No blackouts’ promise as Qld power demand set to hit all-time high [$] 

Queensland’s all-time electricity demand record will be broken this summer but there is no likelihood of blackouts the state’s energy minister has declared. 

Explained: Why Brisbane’s wetland waterways have turned pink [$] 

Fears of pollution have been triggered after sections of Brisbane’s largest wetlands mysteriously turned a bright shade of bubblegum pink, but the reason for the dramatic change can now be revealed. 

Tasmania 

New northern fish package plant to open in time for export surge [$] 

A $10 million investment into a new plant producing fish packaging has highlighted just how fast the state’s salmon industry has grown in recent years. 

‘Couldn’t pick a worse spot’: Wind farm’s latest blow [$] 

Wind farms will never be compatible with the unique environment of Robbins Island, the Bob Brown Foundation has said, as the organisation awaits a tribunal decision 

Western Australia 

World’s biggest standalone grid reforms market to pave way for more renewables 

WA – host to the world’s biggest standalone grid – has ushered in major reforms to its Wholesale Electricity Market to pave the way for more renewables, battery storage and demand management. 

Sustainability 

Electric cars draw a backlash across the U.S. and Europe 

The push to move away from the internal combustion engine is becoming an election issue on two continents. 

Scientists look to space rovers to limit car tire pollution 

Car and truck tires of the future could share some DNA with vehicles being used in NASA’s exploration programs. 

In shipping, a push to slash emissions by harnessing the wind 

More ships are running on wind power, as the global industry tries to fight climate change. One concept has backing from Abba, the Swedish pop stars. 

We’re paying dearly for personal care items packaged in cheap plastic 

Can you help slow climate change by buying soap? 

Disaster-proofing sustainable neighborhoods requires thorough long-term planning 

Engineers and scientists look at how thoughtful design can reduce a sustainably-designed neighborhood’s energy vulnerability during power disruptions, as well as which design characteristics are needed if and when local populations need to move to shelters. 

Nature Conservation 

Tree-planting schemes threaten tropical biodiversity, say ecologists 

Monoculture tree-planting schemes are threatening tropical biodiversity while only offering modest climate benefit, ecologists have said, warning that ecosystems like the Amazon and Congo basin are being reduced to their carbon value. 

The oceans are getting greener, remote sensing reveals 

Satellite images have confirmed that the world’s oceans have become slightly greener. Scientists suspect climate change is the reason.