Date: 28 November 2023 at 8:52:03 am AEDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Nov 28
Post of the Day
We’ve committed to protect 30% of Australia’s land by 2030. Here’s how we could actually do it
James Fitzsimons
In the mid 1990s, only 7% of Australia’s land was protected for conservation. Now, it’s more than tripled to 22%. But to reach our ambitious goal of boosting protection to 30% by 2030, we’ll have to sharpen our focus and boost funding.
On This Day
Beginning of the Nativity Fast – Eastern Orthodox Church
Ascension of Abdu’l‑Baha – Baha’i
Climate Change
Environmental groups take Portugal to court over climate inaction
Environmental groups have filed a legal action in a Lisbon court against Portugal over an alleged failure to put into practice its own regulation to tackle climate change, they said on Monday.
Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
The rapid rise of renewables and EVs has already put us on a safer path.
5 key climate change phrases, defined
Often, the highest-stake decisions impacting the planet come down to the simplest phrases.
Why this electro-tech inferno should have Greenies in despair [$]
Tim Blair
The climate experts got it right, our planet is truly bursting into flames. But its the technology designed to save our planet that’s seeing it burn more and more.
Facing climate catastrophe, secrecy is the last thing we need
Richard Hil
Confronted by the horrors occurring in the Ukraine, Ethiopia, Sudan, Myanmar and now the Middle East, it’s hard to contemplate that an even more imposing global tragedy is already here – climate breakdown
The energy transition can’t happen without water security
Miriam Denis Le Seve
If renewable energy is to fulfil its promise as a direct replacement to fossil fuels then we need a plan to better manage water demand. Member states gathering in Dubai to discuss climate solutions need to recognise that a river runs through it.
National
Government strikes Murray-Darling Basin deal with Greens
The government has struck a deal with the Greens that could see more than 700 gigalitres of water used for farming each year, allocated to the environment.
The perilous future facing Australia’s secretive ‘flying koalas’ [$]
Greater gliders were once a common feature of our forests, but experts say only urgent action can save them.
‘Google for wildlife sounds’: Huge boost for conservation research
A new search tool from Google Australia lets ecologists and conservationists upload recordings of wildlife calls, and instantly match them to thousands of similar sounds from around the country, allowing for ecosystem insights that could otherwise take thousands of hours to achieve.
Bowen: ‘Reckless’ Greens threaten east coast gas supply [$]
The Greens are threatening to block a deal Labor struck with energy giants to prevent a widespread east coast gas shortfall later this decade.
Ministers put consumer energy on agenda. Is this a turning point or Groundhog Day?
State and federal energy ministers agree to develop a national roadmap for customer‑owned energy resources – from rooftop solar to electric vehicles. Is this a win?
Energy giant AGL confident of avoiding summer power outages
The energy producer is fast-tracking preventative maintenance on its fleet of coal, gas and hydro generators ahead of an expected long, hot summer.
Solar and wind outpaces household electricity needs
Solar and wind energy supply has exceeded household electricity use for the first time in 2021-22 according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
AGL spending $760 million on coal generator upkeep, even as it adds new batteries
AGL to spend $760 million this financial year keeping its two coal fired power generators online as part of a $1 billion upgrade and maintenance program.
Case for gas as transition fuel falling apart on both economic and environmental costs
Australia’s biggest gas projects have cost shareholders $US19bn and the methane emissions are on par with coal, studies show.
Australia’s feral cat problem could be fixed with powerful new gene editing tools
Ellen Cottingham
A new genetic tool may be crucial to eradicating the millions of feral cats wreaking havoc across Australia — not to mention other pests such as foxes, rabbits, cane toads and carp.
Something stinks in this insane rush to net zero
Mike O’Connor
While the Albanese government charges blindly into the valley of net-zero instability, the rest of the world is taking a breath and pondering the folly of our blinkered renewable zealotry.
Bowen throws more cash at renewables, but we foot the bill [$]
Judith Sloan
To be blunt, when it comes to the energy transition and the benefits that would flow from it, Australians have been sold a pup.
The government’s Murray-Darling bill is a step forward, but still not enough
Celine Steinfeld et al
This week, the Senate is debating changes to Australia’s most important water laws. These changes seek to rescue the ailing A$13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan to improve the health of our nation’s largest river system.
Victoria
Why a Melbourne roundabout is labelled a victory — and what it could teach other growth areas
The power of community advocacy is being celebrated in Melbourne’s booming outer north, where a newly built slip lane is shaving off an average of 30 minutes from the morning drive. The locals who championed the change say there are lessons for other growth areas.
Farmers gather with Shepparton locals to protest reintroduced Murray-Darling Basin Plan buybacks
Dozens of Victorian farmers have taken to the streets in tractors to protest against the reintroduction of water buybacks to the Murray-Darling Basin plan.
Indigenous land council’s collapse after fraud allegations raises spectre of delays
Significant projects across a large part of Victoria are facing months-long delays in the wake of the Bunurong Land Council collapse.
Why a more attractive Melbourne CBD is still years away [$]
Construction on Sally Capp’s hyped Greenline Project – which would activate and connect the city’s river and wharf precincts – won’t start for two years, meaning completion will be 12 years after it was first pitched.
Two new big batteries approved, including four-hour BESS and another near Hazelwood
Victoria’s planning department gives the green light to two new big batteries: One four-hour project and a smaller project proposed for coal country.
New South Wales
Two protesters fined, more than 100 people charged over global warming protest in Newcastle Harbour
Protesters blockaded Newcastle Harbour with canoes and other small craft as part of a 30-hour gathering.
ACT
Apartment owners seek out ‘generous’ discounts on energy bills [$]
A group of apartment owners in Downer had almost given up on the idea of installing solar panels at their complex, finding it too costly and difficult to work out a fair system.
Queensland
Outback energy corridor MOU signals biggest investment in western Queensland ‘since the railway’
An alliance of rural councils has signed an agreement with CopperString’s founders to build a 930km “clean energy corridor” transmission line from Hughenden in the west to Biloela, one of Queensland’s major power hubs.
Hamilton Island owners no longer planning to sell
The owners of tourist destination Hamilton Island are no longer planning to sell it.
South Australia
‘Lesser of two evils’: Return of Murray Mouth dredging met with mixed emotions after floods
Dredgers at the River Murray mouth were halted for the first time in six years when floodwaters arrived in 2022. But now they’re back in action in what irrigators and scientists see as an unfortunate necessity in this unique ecosystem.
Dead fish at River Torrens weir unlikely to have been killed by toxins, biologist says
Clusters of dead carp spotted near Adelaide’s Torrens weir are likely the result of last week’s heavy rain higher up in the catchment area, rather than anything more noxious in the water, a biologist says.
Tasmania
Threat to endangered parrot species dismissed and wind farm approved
Tasmania’s planning appeals tribunal has thrown out a project-killing condition imposed on a large wind farm proposal, due to it being in the migratory path of an endangered bird species — which has elicited a furious reaction from veteran environment activist Bob Brown.
Oil group hits back at claims Bass Strait drilling project risks spill [$]
The US oil and gas company seeking to explore off the coast of King Island has rejected a claim by an environmental group that it is attempting to be less than transparent about its plans.
How Rowallan Power Station can stay switched on for 30 more years [$]
Rowallan Power Station, which is south of Liena, will undergo a refurbishment to will keep the lights on for another 30 years.
Tasmania sets green standard as nation’s sustainable tourism leader [$]
Tasmanian businesses are leading the charge in sustainability and reducing emissions in Australia’s tourism industry – which is critical for the national sector.
Rewilding Tasmania: Wildlife conservation process could hold key to restoring ecosystems – video
As world leaders head to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai next week, climate targets will be put under the microscope. Some scientists are also urging a focus on the role of animals in contributing to the goal of keeping global temperatures below the 1-point-5 degree Celsius tipping point. It’s a conservation process called ‘rewilding’ – which involves repatriating wildlife to damaged ecosystems – and allowing nature to ‘bounce back.’
Fueling a switch to electric vehicles makes financial sense for Tassie [$]
Jack Redpath
One billion dollars. That’s how much Tasmanians spend each year on petrol and diesel to fuel their cars (ABS data for drivers and kilometres, last two years’ average fuel prices from fuel.io). And this is just for passenger transport; light freight, freight, marine, aviation and other transport are not included.
Western Australia
A group of scientists, including high-profile environmentalist Tim Flannery, warn that United States aluminium giant Alcoa is risking the future of Western Australia’s environmentally vulnerable jarrah forests.
Application ‘error’ creates potentially lengthy delay to Burrup Peninsula World Heritage listing
An application for the Pilbara’s Murujuga National Park, the world’s largest collection of rock art, to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site been faced with delays after the United Nations body confirmed the federal government’s application was invalid.
Burrup Hub gas project could release 13 times Australia’s annual carbon emissions, analysis suggests
Greenpeace-led research discussed in Canberra with independent Kate Chaney saying politicians need to understand ‘sheer scale’ of what is planned in WA
Financial aid for WA residents hit by bushfires, electricity costs
Premier Roger Cook and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas have both unveiled financial assistance policies as Western Australia is gripped by devastating bushfires and cost-of-living pressures.
Pollution from coal power contributes to far more deaths than scientists realised, study shows
New study finds air pollutants from coal power plants were associated with nearly half a million premature deaths of elderly Americans from 1999 to 2020.
Revolutionary breakthrough in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells
Engineers have achieved a world first by manufacturing the first back-contact micrometric photovoltaic cells.
Seaweed harvested with methane-busting potential – video
As countries try to meet their Net Zero targets by cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close as zero as possible .. the agriculture industry is in the spotlight. Around 14 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock, the majority in the form of methane. Australia is the 11th largest emitter of methane – and last year signed a global pledge to collectively reduce methane emissions, prompting a race to find mitigation solutions.
Nature Conservation
Sanctuary celebrates birth of critically endangered Sumatran rhino calf
The species’ population is estimated to be fewer than 50, and conservation groups say there are only about 30 mature animals left.
Time is now for oceans protection
Community organisations, mana whenua and the Greens have written to the incoming NZ Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to call for the progression without delay of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill.
Eelgrass is amazing. Here’s who’s saving it
Coastal livelihoods as well as our climate depend on the undersea fronds. Even a small buoy can play protector.
Western gray squirrel placed on endangered list in Washington state
A rare species of gray squirrel has been placed on the endangered list by wildlife officials in Washington state as escalating climate emergency and land overdevelopment rob the rodents of their habitat.
North Atlantic orcas reveal the troubling persistence of toxic ocean pollutants
Scientists found that North Atlantic orcas feeding on marine mammals carry significantly higher levels of pollutants than orcas that eat fish.
Pollution feeding potential “feminization” of sea turtles, study says
Green sea turtles are producing more females in response to a warming climate — and human-caused pollution is helping fuel the surge, a recent analysis suggests.
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.
We pay respect to their elders past and present and to the pivotal role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play in caring for country across Australia.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation