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Date: 29 November 2023 at 9:11:42 am AEDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Nov 29
Post of the Day
Enough of the guesswork: Energy think-tank says govt should invest in measuring emissions
Australia is only “guessing” how much greenhouse gas it produces and the federal government should invest $60 million in new infrastructure to measure its real environmental impact, according to a renewable energy think tank.
On This Day
Climate Change
600 years of tree rings reveal climate risks in California
An interdisciplinary collaboration used 600 years of tree rings from the San Joaquin Valley to reconstruct plausible daily records of weather and streamflow scenarios during that period.
Former world leaders seek $25bn levy on oil states’ revenues to pay for climate damage
Gordon Brown leads those signing letter to Cop28 and G20 presidents calling for levy to help fill ‘loss and damage’ fund
COP28: Earth’s frozen zones are in trouble – we’re already seeing the consequences
Timothy Naish
As this year’s UN climate summit (COP28) gets under way in Dubai, scientists studying Earth’s frozen regions have been delivering an urgent call for action to policy makers. But is anyone listening?
Brendan Mackey
Eight years ago, the world agreed to an ambitious target in the Paris Agreement: hold warming to 1.5°C to limit further dangerous levels of climate change.
Out of the rubble, a kind of hope
Peter Boyer
Another annual climate summit is with us. More hype, more dire warnings, more noisy protests, more solemn pronouncements, more hypocrisy, more fakery.
Brilliant: a Cop28 to save the planet – staged by oil barons who imperil it
Marina Hyde
The UAE will have its moment of glory while the UK press worries more about petrostate money buying the Telegraph
National
As Australia plans to spruik its 2030 emissions reductions target progress at the UN COP28 climate conference in Dubai, an energy expert warns our climate goals are at risk unless there is a greater push to get local communities on board.
Clean Energy Council data reveals that investment in renewables has fallen to lowest levels since 2018
AGL hangs its strategy on energy demand rise, not Paris Agreement [$]
EVs will spark a 30 per cent increase in home electricity consumption as drivers plug their cars in to recharge overnight.
Australian researchers and Google have launched a first-of-its-kind search engine that analyses and identifies wildlife sounds.
The invasive species has been found in NSW after crossing the border from Queensland, and can be deadly and damaging
Youth are terrified for the future. Can the govt hear us? [$]
Dante Casanova
When I was 11 years old my school had an assembly with a guest speaker. There was nothing extraordinary about this, except the opening of this speech was this question: “Who here believes in climate change?”
The declining birth rate must be treated similar to climate change [$]
Rocky Scopelliti
Back in 2004 then-treasurer Peter Costello famously made headlines as he introduced the baby bonus scheme by imploring Australians to “have one for mum, one for dad and one for the country”.
Carbon Clive or Green Forrest: Which of the pair would you rather bet on?
John McCarthy
They made enormous wealth from iron ore but Clive Palmer and Andrew Forrest have trod very different paths since then. Only one is likely to go well from here, but it’s so hard to see which one.
Gas has role to play in net-zero journey [$]
Courier Mail editorial
When it comes to climate action, Australia has a destination, but while renewables technology will play a huge part of the journey, it’s becoming increasingly clear that traditional energy generation – or even nuclear power – may still have a role to play.
Victoria
Why our city office towers are turning green
Melbourne’s office tower owners have identified climate change as a key commercial property investment risk, with strong sustainability credentials and landlord willingness to agree to an electrification pathway for buildings a “must have” requirement for new tenants.
New South Wales
Mass tree killing on Sydney Harbour is ‘worst act of environmental vandalism’ locals have seen
Another mass killing of trees and plants has taken place in Longueville on Sydney’s lower north shore, just months after more than 200 were cut down in a nearby suburb.
Greens secure legally binding net zero target and lay foundation for the end of coal and gas
Climate Change laws have passed through the Upper House of the NSW Parliament, with the NSW Greens securing amendments that make the state’s net zero target a legally binding duty, ensure the framework includes an emissions reduction target of 70% by 2035 and provides a mechanism to ramp up the targets.
Hopes CO2-infused recycled concrete will help builders cut emissions
A Western Sydney University professor says her invention is as strong as new concrete, cheaper, and has the potential to help the construction sector become significantly greener.
How an idea floated almost 20 years ago became one of nation’s biggest climate-action blockades
The latest blockade of the Port of Newcastle is the crest of a wave that started building back in 2005 for the climate group behind the protest, Rising Tide.
I got arrested at 97 for my grandkids. They were tired of asking nicely
Alan Stuart
I have never done anything like this before. I have always been a law-abiding citizen, but I decided I needed to stand with my family and do what I can to help stop new coal.
NSW planning department can’t see the forest for the trees
David Leitch
The NSW Planning Department has made life difficult for project developers. If it continues, consumers will pay a heavy price for unreliable power from coal stations that should have been closed years ago.
ACT
Barr to PM: Canberra to Sydney rail improvement is a priority for ACT [$]
Chief Minister Andrew Barr has put forward upgrades to the notoriously slow Canberra to Sydney train link as a priority under the collaborative infrastructure agreement with the Commonwealth government.
Queensland
QPM has revealed what a bonanza the Queensland energy market has become with its Townsville Power Station generating $175,000 in a five minute period on November 16.
Plibersek set to decide the fate of controversial SEQ development
A long-debated plan to convert a sensitive mangrove foreshore into a marina with thousands of apartments and a retail centre could be decided within weeks.
How birdwatchers are helping to keep endangered shorebirds from extinction
Kathleen Catalan is quick to remind you that she’s “relatively new” to this whole birdwatching business, but she knows how important it is for their conservation.
Tasmania
Instagram adventurer won’t abide by rules on filming in Tasmanian wilderness areas
This YouTuber and Instagram adventure filmmaker was threatened with fines over his treks into Tasmania’s wilderness areas. Now, he has been issued with a new “commercial filming licence” application — which he says he’ll ignore because the strict conditions will kill his business.
$7.7M price tag on possible extinction
Tasmania has put a world-first price of $7.4 million on the extinction of a species, Bob Brown Foundation says.
‘Save the skate’: Protesters slammed for putting staff in ‘danger’ [$]
The Maugean skate debate continues to heat up as protesters trespass a salmon farm to put up a sign demanding more be done to save the endangered species that is endemic to Macquarie Harbour. But the action has been slammed by the industry.
Northern Territory
In front of an enormous map they had made back with their communities in the Northern Territory, traditional owners told federal politicians they are deeply concerned about the over extraction of water from their life-blood waterways.
Environmental mining reforms pass through Parliament
Reforms to the Northern Territory’s environmental regulation of mining activities, providing greater transparency and certainty for Territorians and industry, have passed through Parliament today.
Protester gets slap on the wrist for ‘ethical’ dragon’s claw action [$]
An anti-fracking protester protester who chained himself to a piece of machinery at East Arm has faced court for the first time in his more than two decades of ‘working on climate change’.
Western Australia
Native title recognised over area where communities grew after nuclear tests, rail development
Historic events of the past 120 years were among the factors that led people to Cundeelee, in WA’s Goldfields, where a large native title claim has just been determined.
Environmental group calls for formal investigation into Kimberley cattle deaths
Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard says he was horrified after reading accounts of scrub bulls dying in cattle yards and wants the incident investigated.
WA doctors call for less gas, stronger health system to beat killer heat
WA doctors want the state government to prepare the health system for the effects of climate change and stop approving high-emissions gas projects.
People will die overseas without WA gas: premier
The West Australian premier has doubled down on recent commentary about the importance of the state’s role in continuing to approve new gas supply projects.
Sustainability
First transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable jet fuel takes off
Virgin Atlantic flight, partly funded by UK government, hailed by ministers but criticised by campaigners
Nature Conservation
Levels of toxic PCB chemicals found at 30 times ‘safe’ limits in stranded whales
Studies of cetaceans stranded in UK waters show high levels of toxins 20 years since global ban of most PCBs, say scientists
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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