https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=22738&page=3
Date: 14 November 2023 at 8:36:58 am AEDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Nov 14
Young Australians want the right to a healthy environment enshrined in law
A poll of 1,700 Australians aged 13–24, conducted as part of the research, reveals:
- Nine out of ten young people believe they have a right to a healthy environment.
- 74% believe climate change will make their lives harder and the same percentage say the federal government should do more to address the problem.
- Two thirds believe the federal government should pay more attention to their views on climate change.
On This Day
Climate Change
The world’s most powerful current has a ‘leak’ – and that spells trouble for Antarctica
The powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Southern Ocean acts like a force field, keeping warmer waters out of the polar region. But scientists are concerned a “gateway” is opening up.
Melting of all Greenland’s glaciers ‘in full swing’ as speed of ice thaw increases fivefold
A study of a thousand glaciers in the area shows the rate of melting entering a new phase over the last two decades.
The Lego-like way to get CO2 out of the atmosphere
A company says it has found a way to remove CO2 from the air for less than $100 per ton.
Protecting New Zealand’s cities from climate change
New Zealand’s coastal communities bear the brunt of extreme weather events. In Auckland, young engineers and architects are using technology to help their city withstand the impact of our changing climate.
BP and Spotify bought carbon credits at risk of link to forced Uyghur labour in China
Credits sourced from carbon project that was centred on biomass power plant in Xinjiang, investigation finds
Richard Levy et al
Projecting when and how fast the West Antarctic Ice Sheet will lose mass due to current and future global ocean warming – and the likely impact on sea level rise and coastal communities – is a priority for climate science.
National
MPs cry foul over fake signatures on petition opposing offshore wind farm
The head of a parliamentary committee condemns an “unethical” attempt to “undermine the democratic process of petitioning” as debate over the Illawarra proposal heats up another notch.
Gender-bending heavy metals could be skewing the sex ratios of Australia’s green sea turtles
Rising temperatures are already skewing sea turtle clutches towards having more female than males, but new research suggests heavy metal pollution could be too.
Flattening the solar duck: Why households should also face negative export tariffs
Should we panic about negative electricity prices, or – as one industry expert argues – embrace them as an indispensable part of a two-sided market?
Renewables hit record high in Australia, as green energy transition rolls on
Renewable energy hit a record high of 72.9 per cent of total generation on Sunday, as a wave of wind and solar across the grid sent coal output and operational demand to new lows.
How many different types of spiders are there in Australia? New research has scientists estimating that there could be up to 15,000 — including thousands that haven’t even been discovered yet.
Murray-Darling water buybacks won’t be enough if we can’t get water to where it’s needed
Avril Horne and Andrew John
When it was clear the Murray-Darling Basin Plan could not be completed on time, Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek announced a new agreement (without Victoria) to deliver in full the plan’s aim of restoring the health of this vast river system.
Britain’s ‘unbearable’ sewerage problem is a warning against privatisation in Australia
What contribution has privatisation made to the creation of a better, fairer, more harmonious society? Britain’s experience with the sale of its water and sewage network suggests not all industries come out on top
Petitions to Parliament to improve verification after Illawarra wind farm ‘blackmail’ [$]
The verification of the individuals signing petitions for Federal Parliament will improve after an anti-wind farm group offered giveaways and freebies in exchange for submissions against a proposed offshore wind zone off the coast of the Illawarra.
Australia’s centre of power to power more electric cars
Australia’s centre of political power is poised to become a hub for electric vehicle power after the launch of 10 charging stations and plans to install more than 50.
Carbon border tariff consultation now open [$]
Chris Bowen says the government is opening consultations that could pave the way for an Australian Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Brian Wawn
The Liberal Party’s energy policies lack clarity, making them ill-suited to take to the next federal election (due by mid-2025).
Water will not flow forever if we continue business as usual [$]
Gloria Jones
Ten years ago I travelled from our home in Clayton Bay, South Australia to Canberra with my late husband Henry Jones, where we cooked Coorong mullet for MPs to drive home the importance of reducing the amount of water being taken from the Murray.
High-speed rail collides with reality [$]
Jennifer Hewett
Governments have been talking about high-speed rail for decades but are yet to create one kilometre of it to make the dream real. The Albanese government promises to be different, but who will pay?
Victoria
Vic in for big bill as feds demand 50-50 split on transport projects [$]
The state government will have to stump up more cash for road and rail projects under an Albanese government plan to share responsibility for infrastructure spending.
New South Wales
Plans for Australia’s longest zip-line scrapped after community outcry
An “adventure precinct” slated for the Blue Mountains’ Gardens of Stone Conservation Area will no longer be built, but plans for a series of eco-cabins are still moving ahead.
Australia’s biggest coal state reaches 100 pct “potential” renewables for first time
NSW – the state with the biggest capacity of coal fired generators – reaches more than 100 per cent “potential” renewables for first time as coal output hits record low.
People who build wind turbines at sea do not care if whales live or die. Monsters! – cartoon
First Dog on the Moon
Donald Trump said it so it must be true
Queensland
Amazed beachgoer videos endangered cassowary emerging from ocean off Far North Queensland
From a distance it resembled a mythic monster but as it came closer in the tropical Queensland waters a stunned onlooker realised the struggling creature was a large bird — and not a seabird.
Complaints to Queensland’s energy and water watchdog rise amid cost of living crunch
The Energy and Water Ombudsman negotiated more than $900,000 in outcomes for customers who made complaints.
Acland coal mine heads back to court over illegal mining claims
New Hope Coal is being dragged back to court over allegations of illegal mining as the Queensland Conservation Council flexes its new litigation strategy.
Climate protesters wait on challenge to parliament law
A group of 13 Extinction Rebellion protesters will not face a hearing on whether they are guilty of disrupting Queensland’s Parliament until at least February next year.
Clive Palmer sues government over ‘extremist’, ‘anti-coal’ judge in $69bn lawsuit [$]
Daanyal Saeed
Palmer’s company Zeph Investments, 100% owners of Waratah Coal, is accusing the government of installing a pro-climate change judge in an attempt to deny new coal projects.
Woodside boosts investment in molten silicon energy storage hopeful
Oil and gas major tips more money into Adelaide energy storage minnow 1414 Degrees, increasing its bet on the company’s molten silicon industrial heat solution.
Tailem Bend solar farm doubles in size with completion of stage two – battery to come
The second stage of what was one of South Australia’s first large-scale solar farms has been completed, with the commissioning of an additional 87MW.
Tasmania
‘People were trapped’: Lack of access roads slammed as Tasmania’s fire preparedness questioned
Two dangerous bushfires, two lucky escapes without any loss of life — but in the wake of two fire events in Tasmania where there was only one way out, the calls are igniting again that people must be given an escape route.
Mass-mortality of migrating bird ‘Abnormal’, wildlife carer says
Hundreds of shearwaters have been found dead along Tasmanian beaches, and wildlife carers say it’s far from normal. What could be causing it?
Northern Territory
High Court heads to Darwin as Commonwealth challenges $700m native title compensation claim
The High Court will hold a special hearing in Darwin next year in a challenge over a $700 million compensation claim over land acquired for aluminium mining in north-east Arnhem Land in the 1960s.
Chief Minister’s private shares in major gas company revealed [$]
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles currently holds an undisclosed number of shares in an oil and gas giant backing the proposed Middle Arm industrial precinct, raising concerns by critics that her private business interests could affect her government’s policy decisions around gas development, the NT Independent can reveal.
Largest water plan in NT history to extract 210 billion litres from environment annually
Environmental groups say the plan, which includes the Beetaloo Basin, is the “worst water decision” made in years, while industry groups say it is a positive step forward.
Western Australia
A Noongar Traditional Owner has been left “absolutely shattered” after a local shire council decided against supporting the dual naming of a culturally, physically and spiritually significant river in Western Australia’s south-west.
World’s biggest carbon storage project off WA coast burying only a third of what it promised to
What was to be the showpiece of the emissions reduction Australia’s gas giants need at Chevron’s Gorgon project is at just one-third capacity after seven years.
Sustainability
Algae is a biofuel option that can fuel you and your car, and could one day be a bowser choice
While you might recognise algae growing in your fish tank or floating on a lake, it can be transformed into a human food source that can also power your car, and it doesn’t compete for space with crops.
India: Delhi to make artificial rain to fight smog, improve air quality
Cloud seeding involves using drones or small planes to release salts like silver iodide into the air, which help form water droplets that eventually fall as rain.
Study links pesticides to child cancer deaths in Brazilian Amazon & Cerrado
According to new research, for every 5 tons of soy per hectare produced in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado, an equivalent of one out of 10,000 children under 10 succumbed to acute lymphoblastic leukemia five years later.
PFAS forever chemicals detected in water systems that serve 46 million
The EPA has released data showing more than 850 water systems reported finding forever chemicals, which are linked to increased cancer risk.
Scientists propose steps to prevent conflicts of interest in science-policy panel on chemicals
Scientists call for action to reduce industry influence and prevent conflicts of interest in a proposed intergovernmental science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention.
Floating factories of artificial leaves could make green fuel for jets and ships
Cambridge University scientists develop a device to ‘defossilise’ the economy using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.
Nature Conservation
Climate change challenges the Endangered Species Act and ‘toy’ deer
The Key deer is losing the only place it lives, raising uncomfortable questions for the people tasked with keeping endangered species alive.
Let forests grow old to store huge volume of carbon – study
Report says cutting emissions should still be key priority as it cautions against mass monoculture tree-planting
‘It was incredible to see’: Kenyans dig deep on first national tree planting day
The government in Nairobi has set up a national holiday to enable 15bn trees to be planted by 2032 to tackle the climate crisis and reverse deforestation
How science can help you feel better
Peter Boyer
The passage of time was never more confronting to me than seeing Professor Gretta Pecl in the news last week as co-author of a new, devastating report on the state of the global ocean. She’s also presenting next Friday at the Tasmanian Ocean Summit, a public forum at Spring Bay Mill, Triabunna.
Fire is consuming more than ever of the world’s forests, threatening supplies of wood and paper
David Lindenmeyer et al
A third of the world’s forests are cut for timber. This generates US$1.5 trillion annually. But wildfire threatens industries such as timber milling and paper manufacturing, and the threat is far greater than most people realise.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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