“The rate of change is so low that no-one would even notice it in their entire lifetime.” Well, is that true? Fires, floods, extreme temperature records? Straw men abound in this article. The attempts to continue befuddlement and doubt are increasingly incoherent in the face of what we are noticing in our lifetimes.
https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=22746&page=5
Date: 24 November 2023 at 9:03:55 am AEDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Nov 24
How to ensure Bowen’s underwriting scheme doesn’t create another Snowy 2.0 debacle
Tristan Edis
Federal Labor’s move to underwrite 32GW of renewables and storage is nothing short revolutionary. But abandoning market-based mechanisms carries its own serious risks.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
Earth breached 2 degrees of warming for the first time. What does that mean?
Last week, the planet appeared to briefly breach a climate threshold set by world governments for the first time. Experts say it is just another sign of how much the planet is warming.
With Arctic permafrost thawing, Pentagon frets over deadly pathogens
In one troubling case, dozens of people were sickened − and thousands of reindeer were killed − when anthrax spores emerged from the thawing permafrost in an Arctic region of Siberia.
They’re talking, but a climate divide between Beijing and Washington remains
The two superpowers are a long way from the days when a surprise U.S.-Chinese agreement to cooperate on climate change had the power to land a landmark global pact.
Adam Tooze
Global conferences such as the upcoming Cop28 may seem like staid and ritualistic affairs. But they matter
Asteroid impact model the best approach to climate change policy
Tom Harris
‘There is no climate emergency. Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm.’
Communication and education to mobilise global climate action
Marcia McKenzie
Evidence-informed strategies for promoting global climate literacy and action are essential for addressing the climate crisis
National
Heavy rain ‘taking the sting’ out of intense drought conditions in Australia’s parched regions
Rain is falling onto dry farms, dry gardens and empty water tanks, much to the relief of farmers and firefighters after a very dry couple of months.
Here’s how many people could be in your capital city by 2071
As of the end of June 2022, 67 per cent of all Australians lived in capital cities – that is set to increase to 68 per cent by 2032.
‘Not a plaything’: Anger grows over mining giant’s plan to inject waste into Great Artesian Basin
Environmentalists and farmers are hardening their resolve against a proposal to inject liquefied carbon dioxide into Australia’s biggest underground fresh water reservoir.
Need for fossil fuels spending to hit net zero [$]
A new report released on Thursday found oil and gas was needed in every energy scenario including the most ambitious target to keep global warming to 1.5C of pre-industrial levels.
Allies say it’s nuclear energy for take-off [$]
Chris Bowen is facing a nuclear ambush at the UN climate summit, with Labor’s renewables-only vision isolating Australia as key allies charge ahead with zero-emissions nuclear technologies.
Old and new energy react warmly to Bowen’s underwriting plan – but some still want gas
Energy industry reacts warmly to Bowen’s huge underwriting plans, although there are still questions about transmission, social licence and households. And some still want gas.
The fight for fairer rooftop PV – and cheaper home batteries – Solar Insiders podcast
Heidi Douglas talks through Solar Citizens’ list of policy asks for the upcoming energy ministers’ meeting. Could we get discounted batteries for Christmas?
Labor doubles down on failed energy policy
Liberal Party media release
Labor’s decision to write a blank cheque on behalf of Australian Taxpayers to bring more renewables online is a glaring admission that its climate and energy policies have failed.
Will renewables reboot get near the target? [$]
AFR editorial
Chris Bowen was at a point where he had to do something to get close to the legislated target of 82 per cent renewable energy in just seven years.
Deborah Bower et al
Australian freshwater turtles support healthy wetlands and rivers. Yet one in three turtle species is threatened with extinction. And there is still much we don’t know about them.
Peter Hannam
The renewable energy sector has been big on promise but lately lagging in delivery, particularly with 2030 emission targets just a little more than six years away
The government will underwrite risky investments in renewables – here’s why that’s a good idea
Tony Wood
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen today announced a scheme to underwrite the risk of investing in new renewable energy generation and storage.
Billions being blown on energy insanity [$]
Terry McCrann
The federal government is going all-in on energy insanity, and it’s us, the taxpayers, who are going to pay.
Bowen wants blank cheque as world looks to nuclear
Australian editorial
Taxpayers deserve to be told how much the renewables plan will cost.
Our new high-resolution climate models are a breakthrough in understanding Australia’s future
Ralph Trancoso et al
Australia’s climate, already marked by extremes with bushfires, heatwaves, storms and coastal flooding, is only set to worsen with the growing effects of climate change.
Restoring democracy to avoid climate collapse
Gregory Andrews
17 November 2023 will go down in history as the day when planet Earth reached its first two degree plus temperature anomaly relative to the preindustrial baseline. It was also the day that I was carted off to hospital in an ambulance after spending over two weeks on a climate hunger strike on the lawns
John Mikkelsen
Thousands of school students took part in a climate action strike under the guise of ‘A sick day for a sick planet’.
Victoria
Victoria warned against ‘very, very inefficient’ hydrogen buses after trial announced
Cambridge professor says grey hydrogen buses are expensive, ‘destructive’ and not a true zero-emissions solution
New South Wales
‘Horrendous’ year of koala deaths in NSW prompts calls for lower speed limits, better road design
A coalition of koala conservation groups calls on NSW Roads Minister John Graham to take action after a spike in koala road deaths.
NSW Liberal leader’s party branch calls for opposition to offshore windfarms in Illawarra and Hunter
Mark Speakman’s branch to table motion at state party conference to reject renewable energy zones and look into nuclear reactors instead
NSW minerals lobby advertising blitz doesn’t come clean on the dirty realities of coalmining
Graham Readfearn
State’s Minerals Council says campaign aims to educate the public – but its claims of responsible, low-emissions mining don’t stack up
Palmer drops Qld appeal against coal mine refusal
Businessman Clive Palmer has dropped his second appeal against a $6.5 billion coal mine being blocked over “unacceptable climate change impacts”.
Government’s pledge to ‘supercharge’ nation’s wobbly grid a big deal for our batteries
The Queensland Government owned generator companies would be able to add another 1.5 gigawatts of battery storage to the market.
SA puts deadline on silicosis-causing engineered stone
South Australia has threatened to go it alone if engineered stone is not banned nationwide by the end of the year.
UK battery developer unveils biggest SA project and “multi-gigawatt” Australia plans
Pacific Green unveils plans for South Australia’s biggest battery, a 1.5GWh project that could be trumped by an even bigger project in Victoria.
Tasmania
Youth demand climate jobs guarantee
Media release – Tomorrow Movement
Young people are demonstrating at Julie Collins’ office today in response to predicted soaring summer temperatures and Labor’s failure to deliver a plan to protect us from climate impacts. They are demanding a transformative and ambitious plan to take action on climate and cost of living to keep everyone safe this summer.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation
Two hundred citizens and scientists will join Bob Brown Foundation’s campaigners in takayna for our ninth annual BioBlitz.
Northern Territory
Traditional owners seek at least $225m in compensation over NT mine expansion
A group of traditional owners are seeking “no less than” $225 million in compensation over the effects of the Northern Territory’s largest zinc and lead mine.
Gove refinery demolition well on its way to recycle 142,000 tonnes of scrap metal
Mining company Rio Tinto is undertaking the largest demolition project in Australia’s history, taking apart an old alumina refinery in north-east Arnhem Land with the first scrap metal from the site shipped to Asia.
Western Australia
Bushfires continue to burn in Perth amid ‘significant damage’
Ten homes have been lost in bushfires in metropolitan Perth, with fears the toll could climb higher as authorities warn it’s likely to be days before the situation is under control.
Geothermal acreage nominations open
Industry is invited to nominate areas to be considered as part of Western Australia’s 2024 geothermal exploration acreage release.
Sustainability
US coal power plants killed at least 460,000 people in past 20 years – report
Pollution caused twice as many premature deaths as previously thought, with updated understanding of dangers of PM2.5
Nearly 40% of conventional baby food contains toxic pesticides, US study finds
None of the organic products sampled contained the chemicals, which present a dangerous health threat to babies, researchers say
Do I need to worry about radiation from my smartphone?
If you’re constantly on your phone, how worried should you be about radiation exposure?
China’s green surge could be a watershed moment for the world
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Xi Jinping was a green warrior long before it became fashionable.His big bet is set to pay off.
Artificial intelligence could hold the key to our survival
Keith Presnell
Artificial intelligence could potentially be an asset in solving the complex social and environmental problems wreaking havoc on our planet.
Flame retardant chemicals can cause serious health risks – and they only slow fire by a few seconds
Martin Sharkey
Flame retardants were developed to prevent house fires and help save lives. But they come with some serious health risks.
Nature Conservation
Brazil to propose mega fund to conserve forests at COP28 climate summit
Brazil plans to propose a “huge” fund to pay for the conservation of tropical forests at the United Nations COP28 climate change summit that begins later this month in Dubai, the country’s top climate negotiator said on Thursday.
Biden, Trump and … whales? The GOP obsesses on blubbery sea mammals
Some Republicans say President Joe Biden’s protections for endangered whales are raising gasoline prices. Others blame his offshore wind efforts for killing whales.
Wild turkeys are disappearing, and Thanksgiving has nothing to do with it
Wild turkeys are on the decline nationwide. Scientists are exploring a few possible causes — Including habitat loss, hunting, disease and climate change.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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