Daily Links Nov 9

Post of the Day 

Climate disconnect grows wider as fossil fuel use soars to ‘double’ required level by 2030 

The gap between climate rhetoric and fossil fuel use is growing, according to a UN report that warns the world’s carbon budget has almost been used up. 

On This Day 

November 9 

Feast of the Virgin of Almudena – Madrid 

Ecological Observance 

Climate Change 

‘Insanity’: petrostates planning huge expansion of fossil fuels, says UN report 

Plans by nations including Saudi Arabia, the US and UAE would blow climate targets and ‘throw humanity’s future into question’ 

Oil and gas ‘not the problem’ for climate, says UK’s net zero minister 

Campaigners call Graham Stuart’s comments ‘laughable’ and say Conservatives are weaponising climate action 

Human-caused heating behind extreme droughts in Syria, Iraq and Iran, study finds 

Millions of people’s lives wrecked by droughts that used to happen once every 250 years but now expected once a decade 

This year ‘certain’ to be hottest in history, with October breaking monthly heat record 

The year 2023 is almost definitely the hottest ever recorded say two major global climate bodies, as data shows October smashed the previous monthly record by 0.4 degrees. 

How shipping more US natural gas to Europe helped fuel CO2 pollution 

Carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. liquefied natural gas facilities have jumped to 18 million tons per year, up 81% since 2019, adding a volume of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere equivalent to that produced by several big coal plants, according to United States government data. 

Extinction Rebellion’s future is far less radical than its past 

Rupert Read 

Now that the alarm has successfully been raised, the organisation could help unite people in positive action 

National 

Battles brewing over the Murray-Darling Basin Plan 

The Murray Darling Basin back in the spotlight as the federal government rushes to extend the 2024 deadline to return more water to rivers and restart water buybacks. 

On the map: A state-by-state guide to all operating generators on the NEM 

Where is that wind and solar farm that we keep on hearing about? Where is that big battery? And that coal generator about to shut down. 

Since 1960, Australia has lost 23 native animals in an extinction wave 

While Australia has lost many unique species in living memory to bulldozers, climate change and bushfires, nothing has killed off living wonders quite like invasive pests and diseases. 

Scientists’ clarion call on fossil fuel projects as oceans warm faster than predicted 

Ocean scientists say fossil fuel use needs to stop if ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef are to have a fighting chance of survival. 

Farmers warn bank over land clearing policy [$] 

Westpac is the first major Australian bank to prohibit lending to dairy, beef and sheep farms involved in deforestation. Farmers have described it as a ‘seminal moment’ for the industry. 

Bowen says accelerating switch to renewables essential to “keep the lights on” 

In a speech in Adelaide, federal energy minister doubles down on 82% renewables target and hints at new policy initiatives to “amplify” efforts to reach it. 

Supermarkets have been called out for stalling on reducing plastic. One is slightly better 

Supermarkets are largely just using thinner plastics rather than eliminating plastic items, a new report has found. 

Hybrid car sales surge in third quarter 

Hybrid vehicle sales grew very strongly in the September quarter, taking market share from both internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). 

‘Where will we go?’: First Nations court bid to force federal action on climate 

The first Australian climate court case brought on behalf of First Nations people in the Torres Strait has heard climate “tipping points” could be reached that would rapidly lead to irreversible changes, such as sea level rise. 

Want your fruit and veg without the plastic? You’ll have to pay more 

Supermarkets are charging more by the kilo for fruit and vegetables sold without plastic, prompting green groups to challenge shops to meet their own standards. 

Former climate minister Greg Combet on Australia’s mission to reach net-zero – Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast 

Combet joins The Conversation to discuss the enormous challenges of Australia’s transition to renewable energy, its complications, and what is necessary to achieve our 2030 and 2050 commitments. 

26 years ago, Howard chose fossil fuels over the Pacific. What will Albanese choose? 

Wesley Morgan 

Hot on the heels of trips to Washington and Beijing, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is now in the Cook Islands for the Pacific Island Forum. There, he will aim to strengthen relations with Pacific countries and reaffirm Australia’s place as a security partner of choice. 

Teen poster boy for nuclear energy denies Libs are backing his ‘nonpartisan’ group [$] 

Cam Wilson 

Will Shackel’s Nuclear for Australia says it’s ‘independent’ but many parts of its website trace back to the Liberal Party. 

How solar has won the energy wars but left a big political problem 

John McCarthy 

Somewhere along the way, the means we use to power our economy, cook our sausages and heat our water became political, tribal even. 

Making money green: Australia takes first steps towards a net zero finance strategy 

Alison Atherton and Gordon Noble 

Just north of Jamestown in South Australia, 70 kilometres east of the Spencer Gulf and next to a wind farm of nearly 100 turbines, stands the world’s first big battery. 

Australia’s big batteries: What do they do and how do they make money? 

Giles Parkinson 

Battery storage is changing the grid: Neoen provides insight into how they make money, including three new revenue streams. 

Heat, cold, pollution, noise and insects: too many apartment blocks aren’t up to the challenge 

Nicole Cook and Sophie-May Kerr 

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the impacts of air quality on high-rise living. However, apartments face a range of atmospheric challenges. These include air and noise pollution, temperature and weather extremes, bushfire smoke and insects. 

‘If you break it, fix it’: Let’s take responsibility for region’s climate [$] 

Jeremy Moss 

High on the list of issues at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands is the existential threat of climate change and whether Australia is doing our fair share to support our Pacific neighbours. 

Costing the earth: support for climate action and renewable falls [$] 

Graham Lloyd  

As the financial reality of decarbonising our lives becomes increasingly clear – and expensive – there’s growing evidence that it’s a price many individuals are neither willing nor able to pay. 

Albanese has Pacific job to do but it is not to close coal [$] 

Australian editorial 

PM must push Australia’s interests without appearing hypocritical. 

Victoria 

Would you wash with used hotel soap? A Melbourne recycling program is using discarded bars for good 

A Melbourne program is recycling millions of used soap bars from hotels, cleaning it and turning it back into bars ready to be donated to people in need. 

New South Wales 

Koala influx sparks hope small town’s colony is getting bigger 

Mandy Della-Valle had never seen a koala in the wild until this week when she saw two in the space of three days. It has brought hope that a little-known colony is growing. 

Irish renewable developer advances plans for massive wind and battery project in NSW 

DP Energy says it has the OK to take the next important steps in gaining approval for a 700MW wind farm and battery project proposed in the south west of New South Wales. 

Why conservationists are working to protect the creature behind Hexham bunyip folklore 

Almost 150 years ago, three miners headed into a swamp for an evening of wild duck hunting. They discovered a terrifying creature with a roar “like that of a lion” in the darkness. 

Environment watchdog says lead contamination found near gold mine ‘typical’ of rainwater tanks 

A water scientist says there should be statewide alert about heavy metals in rainwater tanks after results of testing near Cadia Valley Operations’ gold mine were released. 

‘Jumped the gun’: Offshore wind farm plan withdrawn as debate rages in NSW 

Spanish firm BlueFloat Energy says it intends to resubmit its proposal for the controversial project off the Illawarra coast, which it lodged before the government declared the area designated for that purpose. 

Mine plan to pump more water into Sydney drinking catchment will make pollution worse, expert warns 

Centennial Coal says it has to release five Olympic pools’ worth of “predominantly untreated groundwater” a day to stop a Lithgow mine flooding, which a water scientist says will worsen contamination. 

Editor of scientific journal blasts ‘imaginary paper’ linking offshore wind farms to whale deaths 

The editor of a prominent scientific journal has described online claims about a study linking whale deaths to offshore wind farms as a “classic example” of misinformation as concerns grow about fake news distorting the debate. 

NSW set to enact its own ban on engineered stone benchtops 

Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis says harmful silica-engineered stone could be outlawed in NSW if a federal ban is delayed beyond the end of the year. 

This civic centre is a hole in the ground. Council needs $113m to fill it 

Ryde Council faces cutting services and selling off a suite of properties to meet an estimated $113 million shortfall for construction of its problem-plagued new civic centre, a confidential briefing document says. 

ACT 

Capital’s clean energy strategy hits hip pockets [$] 

While ACT households have paid a premium for clean energy under the territory’s 100 per cent renewables target, customers are now being shielded from higher wholesale prices. 

$80,000 fines for damaging trees in Canberra [$] 

Parking on a nature strip in Canberra may cost you more than the standard $132 fine. From January, damaging a tree will cost Canberrans up to $80,000. 

Queensland 

New $137 million facility to transform Queensland’s paper-recycling industry 

One of Australia’s biggest paper recycling facilities will be built in South East Queensland with plans to turn 220,000 tonnes of waste paper and cardboard from across Queensland and northern New South Wales into pulp annually for export. 

South Australia 

Nine-year ‘duck’ hunt ends as photographer snaps elusive orchid 

An amateur photographer has been looking across two states for almost a decade for a small orchid resembling a flying duck. Then a tip from a friend finally ended his long search. 

Big rise in kangaroo collisions prompts appeal to country drivers: Don’t leave them dying 

Kangaroos are on the move and road accidents involving them are up 32 per cent, says the Royal Automobile Association. Here’s how to reduce the chances of hitting a ‘roo and what to do if it happens.  

Aboriginal land care practices revive centuries-old river red gum 

A culturally significant tree in Adelaide’s foothills that is thought to be more than 450 years old has been brought back to life through community efforts with Kaurna elders. 

City underground rail key to Adelaide group’s new transport vision 

Adelaide needs a new approach to public transport with an underground rail loop in the city a key part of this transformation, according to a comprehensive blueprint released by a South Australian transport lobby group. 

Tasmania 

‘An attempt to resolve up to a century of misunderstandings’: New Tasmanian tiger research published 

New research disputes a recent hypothesis the last captive Tasmanian tiger was a female, and argues the animal did not die from neglect. 

National marine pollution exercise in Hobart next week 

A national marine pollution exercise will occur in Hobart and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel region of Tasmania on 14 to 16 November 2023. 

Northern Territory  

Anti-fracking activists’ Beetaloo court battle begins 

An anti-fracking group has begun legal action against the Northern Territory government’s decision to allow exploration in the Beetaloo Basin. 

‘One day…we will be under water’: Traditional Owners issue plea as climate case resumes 

Traditional Owners of the Torres Strait have expressed their fears at hands of rising sea levels ahead of resuming their landmark case against the federal government for climate change inaction in Narrm. 

Western Australia 

Native Title battle in Goldfields resolved after 30-year fight for recognition 

After a 30-year battle, the Wongi People’s Native Title rights have been recognised after the Federal Court of Australia ruled in favour of their claim over 30,000sqm of Wongatha land in the vast Eastern Goldfields area. 

‘A hell of a lot’ of fires: WA’s bushfire season arrives up to two months early 

Firefighting services across WA are being stretched to the limit with dozens of blazes burning already, in a bushfire season the emergency services commissioner says is up to eight weeks ahead of schedule.  

Climate activist convicted in fight to protect sources 

A prominent anti-gas campaigner fighting to stop a Woodside Energy development has claimed victory after being found guilty of failing to give police access to his computer and phone. 

Woodside resubmits seismic request [$] 

Woodside said it had consulted with 11 Indigenous groups since September’s landmark court decision. 

Sustainability 

Nuclear issues bubble to front at Pacific Islands Forum 

The region’s non-nuclear proliferation pact and Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant fallout have emerged as key issues at the Pacific Islands Forum. 

Plastic waste ‘spiralling out of control’ across Africa, analysis shows 

Predicted 116m tonnes of waste annually by 2060 is six times higher than in 2019, driven by demand in sub-Saharan Africa 

Coca Cola, Nestlé face scrutiny on recycled bottles claims 

Dutch consumer watchdog Consumentenbond has joined European consumer organisation Beuc and other groups from 12 EU countries in a legal complaint against food and drink giants Coca Cola, Danone and Nestlé for misleading claims about recycling plastic bottles. 

Gas cookers pump out toxic particles linked to childhood asthma, report finds 

Scientists find average levels of nitrogen dioxide almost twice as high in homes cooking with gas as in those cooking without. 

The skyrocketing cost of plastic: New research reveals shocking environmental and health impacts in global south 

The lifecycle cost of plastic is up to ten times higher in low-income countries than in wealthy ones, largely because a lack of waste management infrastructure means plastic ends up as pollution. 

Gas industry reached for tobacco playbook after science showed that gas stoves are harmful 

Jonathan Levy 

The gas industry was told by science in the 1970s that gas stoves were harmful to health, so it reached into the tobacco industry’s playbook of denial. 

Nature Conservation 

Number of species at risk of extinction doubles to 2 million, says study 

New research on insects – without which the planet would not survive – shows a higher proportion are at risk of disappearing 

Woodland birds in quickening decline in UK, with risk of extinctions, say experts 

Campaigners call for urgent action after data shows almost all bird types reducing in abundance 

UK forests face catastrophic ecosystem collapse within 50 years, study says 

‘Alarming’ new research warns of risk to British woodlands from disease, extreme weather and wildfires, unless ‘call to action’ is heeded now 

Kenya declares surprise public holiday to plant trees 

The Kenyan government has announced a surprise public holiday for a nationwide tree-planting day, as part of its ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. 

Extreme weather helping invasive species replace native species, study finds 

A new analysis published this week suggests that extreme weather linked to climate change might be much harder on native species than on nonnative ones. 

Not MPAs but OECMs: Can a new designation help conserve the ocean? 

Countries are now working to identify areas that meet the criteria and register them as “other effective area-based conservation measures,” or OECMs, including in Africa where a recent webinar highlighted the promises and pitfalls of this relatively new conservation designation.