Climate’s ‘Catch-22’: Cutting pollution heats up the planet
Air pollution, a global scourge that kills millions of people a year, is shielding us from the full force of the sun. Getting rid of it will accelerate climate change.
On This Day
Climate Change
World ill-prepared to stop climate crisis reversing progress on health, says study
UN meteorological body finds health experts have access to heat warning services in only half of affected countries
Action to protect against climate crisis ‘woefully inadequate’, UN warns
International funding to shield people from heatwaves, floods and droughts only 5-10% of what is needed, report finds
James Hansen is back with another dire climate warning
In a new paper, the influential climate scientist argues the Earth may be more sensitive to greenhouse gases than previously thought. Others are less sure.
National
Large Australian companies will soon have to disclose climate risks but there are concerns that legal avenues will be closed off to combat greenwashing.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers concedes Australia risks missing its climate targets
The treasurer admits that Australia is on track to fall short of its climate targets without more money invested, quicker construction of renewables projects, and better regulation.
Drones, dingoes and thermal cameras: The new war on feral goats
Australia has a major feral goat problem, and the federal government is looking at all options to curb their ballooning population.
The charts that explain why 2023 will be the hottest in 100,000 years
New figures show that the danger of extremely hot summers is getting worse and will only increase in time.
‘Overhaul laws or risk losing green billions’ [$]
Investors, energy experts say what needs to happen in order for the Albanese government to meet its ambitious climate targets.
Heat death isn’t the only cost of our addiction to fossil fuels [$]
Bernard Keane
A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the cost of the rising frequency of extreme heat events. And that doesn’t include the death toll from coal-fired power.
Jonathan Green
As increasingly frequent and intense fires ravage parts of the country, Tony Abbott’s climate denialism remains impervious
Tony Abbott’s 25 consistent, unflinching core beliefs on climate change [$]
Charlie Lewis
Tony Abbott is now saying he never believed in climate change. Which only adds to his contradictory statements on the subject over the years.
Our children are victims of road violence. We need to talk about the deadly norms of car use
Hulya Gilbert and Marco te Brömmelstroet
The deaths and injuries caused by car drivers are an everyday occurrence. This road violence has become normalised. We take it for granted as the price we have to pay to use our cars.
What makes an ideal main street? This is what shoppers told us
Louise Grimmer et al
A lot of dedication and effort goes into making main streets attractive. Local governments, planners, place makers, economic development managers, trade associations and retailers work hard to design, improve and revitalise main streets. The goal is to make them attractive places to increase shopper numbers, provide pleasant places for communities, and boost local economies.
Why a $20 billion price tag for Origin Energy just isn’t enough
Elizabeth Knight
While AustralianSuper’s reasons to reject the sweeter offer are valid, it probably hasn’t made any friends with Origin’s other shareholders.
Jim Chalmers has plenty on his plate — but he’s just added another tricky task
Michelle Grattan
There’s a general recognition Australia is not on track to achieve the government’s commitment to have renewables deliver 82 per cent of electricity by 2030. The treasurer wants to change that.
Is nuclear the answer to Australia’s climate crisis?
Reuben Finighan
In Australia’s race to net zero emissions, nuclear power has surged back into the news. Opposition leader Peter Dutton argues nuclear is “the only feasible and proven technology” for cutting emissions. Energy Minister Chris Bowen insists Mr Dutton is promoting “the most expensive form of energy“.
Coalition must abandon economy-destroying lunacy [$]
Rita Panahi
It’s time the Coalition recognise the enormous error it made, under Scott Morrison’s leadership, to embrace net zero.
It’s clear that the current path we’re on is to failure [$]
Karen Barlow
Australia’s net zero transformation will define the 2020s, the Treasurer said on Thursday well into 2023.
Canberra’s heavy ‘helping’ hand to whip up clean-energy fervour [$]
Tom Dusevic
At midterm, the elements of Albonomics are falling into place.
Victoria
Scientists at Deakin University discover how to mulch down old clothing into a pigment as part of an going project looking at textile waste solutions.
New South Wales
Broken Hill cobalt project has big plans for the global critical minerals stage
A company working to establish a cobalt mining and processing project using a deposit near Broken Hill aims to eventually become the largest producer of ethical cobalt in the world and hopes access to a federal government loan scheme will help them get there.
Queensland
‘Get ready early’: Conditions ease but authorities warn to stay vigilant as fires continue to burn
Crews have worked tirelessly through the night again in an effort to bring 59 blazes under control in Queensland.
Flannery and Mende move in to rescue Bowen Coking Coal
Coal barons Brian Flannery and Hans Mende have thrown their money behind Bowen Coking Coal through a $50 million capital raising by the company.
Greens claim airport noise win for residents as flights diverted [$]
Brisbane’s federal Greens MPs are claiming victory with flights set to be diverted, but say more still needs to be done.
The future of retail in the city? It’s not more retail
Courtney Kruk
The official sale period for Brisbane’s Treasury buildings has begun, putting a fresh question mark over the river end of the mall’s future. But within this current state of flux, a bigger question needs to be asked.
South Australia
‘Go hard and go big’: How South Australia got solar panels onto one in every three houses
Households have continued to use state help that was first created more than a decade ago
Duck hunters fined over offences caught on video on first day of SA season
Three duck hunters have been fined after animal activists filmed them harming birds on the opening day of the season in South Australia’s south-east earlier this year.
Tasmania
‘Frightening lack of commitment’: Transport emissions plan slammed [$]
A document outlining the state government’s plans to slash transport emissions in Tasmania has been sharply criticised by climate action advocates, who say it demonstrates a “frightening lack of commitment”.
Lab-grown giant kelp babies planted in ocean waters [$]
A bid to bring back abundant giant kelp forests in Tasmania will see tiny plants seeded to the ocean floor on eastern coastlines
Backing in Tassie’s salmon industry
Janie Finlay MP, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Water
Tasmania’s salmon industry is one of our greatest success stories filled with passionate, hard-working people who are the driving force behind many of our regional jobs and our state’s economy.
Northern Territory
Tiwi Islanders win last-minute bid to temporarily halt Santos’ Barossa gas project
A Tiwi Traditional owner has won a last minute bid to temporarily halt oil giant Santos from building a $5.8 billion Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea.
Deliberately lit fires have burnt millions of hectares and NT land managers are livid
Cattle producers, firefighters and Indigenous rangers want action to stop deliberately lit fires, with more than 13 million hectares burnt in the past two months.
Taming wild northern rivers could harm marine fisheries and threaten endangered sawfish
Éva Plagányi et al
Australia’s tropical northern rivers still run wild and free. These relatively pristine areas have so far avoided extensive development. But this might not last. There are ongoing scoping studies exploring irrigating agricultural land using water from these rivers.
Sustainability
Poisoned for decades by a Peruvian mine, communities say they feel forgotten
Communities in Cerro de Pasco, Peru, have been living for decades with contamination from mining activities, which has had serious health consequences, ranging from chronic to fatal diseases.
A visit to the garbage incinerator, and the future [$]
Bernard Keane
From rubbish handling to car manufacturing, China is about scale — as well as a headlong rush to the future that is alarming the West.
Coal producer Peabody implicated in fake coal quality scandal, PwC looks the other way
Callum Foote
American coal miner Peabody, alongside its auditor PwC, was involved in the industry-wide coal fraud scandal that has rocked Australian miners since 2020, documents obtained by MWM reveal.
Nature Conservation
Government should target tree aftercare rather than planting, say UK experts
Experts at Royal Horticultural Society conference argue for change of focus as many saplings are dying
Capturing carbon with seaweed: What we know, what we don’t, and what we’re totally unsure about
Towering underwater kelp forests are often likened to trees, but seaweed carbon sequestration is far more complex than in soil-bound ecosystems.
Cryopreserved corals can now have babies
The first deep-frozen baby coral has lived to grow its own offspring. Could the futuristic technique eventually save dying reefs?
New research gives a rare look at climate attitudes of Mississippi River basin residents and the relationship they have — or don’t have — with one of the world’s most important rivers.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation
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Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
p | 1800 223 669 t | @AusConservation