Post of the Day
The capacity of rooftop solar in Australia will eclipse the country’s entire electricity demand in coming decades, according to a report that charts the technology’s rise.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
National Waste Awareness Day – Indonesia
Climate Change
The challenges of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the perils of the climate crisis and the complexities of leveraging finance were among the topics discussed at a gathering today of ministers from many of the Asia-Pacific Region’s countries most vulnerable to global economic and climate shocks.
‘Energy turmoil’ looms unless demand is checked, says Cop28 president
Sultan Al Jaber, an oil executive, calls for governments to be ‘honest’ about costs involved in transition to net zero
Global hunger crisis deepens due to climate change and conflicts
The escalating global food crisis, fueled by climate change, extreme weather, and conflicts, is pushing millions into hunger and malnutrition, signaling an unprecedented challenge in global food security.
The COP and climate change: a spent force
Jeremy Webb
The latest update by the ANU’s Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions has issued another frank, distressing prognosis. Professor Howden – a vice chair of the IPCC and director of the ANU Institute – warns that the annual Conference of Parties (COP) is not going to deliver global temperatures under 1.5C.
National
The federal government has faced questioning over whether millions of dollars of public funds that have been handed to oil and gas companies are “valid and legal”.
Farmers’ cash drive ‘to save the basin’ [$]
Farmers have likened a mining giant’s proposal to ‘pumping industrial waste in the Great Barrier Reef’ but the project was deemed not to be of national environmental significance.
An ecologist who spent 36 years with NSW Fisheries says scientists working for the government are ‘aghast’ at the state of the Darling River but can’t speak publicly
More efficient cars could almost halve Australians’ yearly petrol costs, new analysis shows
Australians spending much more at bowser than most overseas drivers but government’s proposed fuel efficiency standards could change that
Battery storage and green hydrogen could be key to cutting transmission bottlenecks
Michael Mazengarb
Emerging technologies like energy storage, green hydrogen and digitisation platforms may be the key to dodging a global network infrastructure supply crunch and avoiding delays in the energy transition.
The public wants clean energy – but this is Australia, where the climate wars never die
Adam Morton
Voters have made their position clear but our politicians are still not talking about how we can change the way we live and work to ease the climate crisis
Dennis Atkins
Is fear about taking action on climate change justified? Dennis Atkins has been looking at a new international study saying the opposite is true.
The Garnaut-Sims power plan is Argentina on steroids [$]
Ed Shann
The $100 billion carbon tax proposal would be an act of amazing self-harm and would destroy Australia’s big export industries to force-feed unproven ones.
New South Wales
Dangerous asbestos detected at popular Sydney park as more contaminated sites revealed
Bicentennial Park, an aged care facility, a parish and a private residence are among new sites that have tested positive for asbestos in Sydney.
Any fishing of NSW’s beloved blue groper could lead to jail under new ban
Yearlong trial of ban, including potential prison time, follows two high-profile recent incidents of spearing of protected fish
‘We are flying blind’: No air quality rules for polluted underground stations
There are no regulations, limits, controls or monitoring of air pollution levels on Sydney’s underground train platforms.
ACT
WorkSafe ACT confirms mulch contaminated by bonded asbestos has been supplied to customers in the territory, and warns anyone who purchased ‘”cottage mulch” products between March 1, 2023 and February 19, 2024 not to distribute or disturb it.
Hand greater heritage powers to First Nations people, govt told [$]
First Nations people in the ACT should be handed the power to decide how Indigenous heritage sites are protected and recognised, the ACT government has been told.
Queensland
Coronado Coal profits fall 80pc as costs and taxes bite [$]
Revenues at the miner, which operates in Queensland and in the United States, also slid as coking coal prices fell from highs seen after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Brisbane’s battle to maintain open space no walk in the park
Brisbane’s reputation as one of Australia’s greenest cities is well deserved, but experts question whether the mix is right when it comes to public open space.
Striding or stumbling? Walkability in Brisbane a tale of two cities
Research suggests inner Brisbane is great for pedestrians, but advocates say that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Tasmania
Ten years ago, Tasmania was ruled by a minority government. With an election on for March 23, and a solid chance of a repeat, this former leader and others say it will be “good for democracy”.
Tasmanian Labor promises to scrap electricity connection fees if it wins state election
Tasmanian Labor says it will scrap electricity connection and disconnection fees if it wins next month’s election. The state’s network operator will bear the $4 million a year price tag.
Northern Territory
Traditional land management techniques centre stage at major fire forum
Traditional Owners from northern Australia have been using fire to care for country for thousands of years.
Aboriginal leaders share prawn farming ambitions in Tiwi Islands – video
Aboriginal leaders are partnering with researchers to launch a commercial prawn operation on the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin. Starting at the small community of Wuran-kuwu, it’s part of a CSIRO investment to revolutionise the seafood industry.
Western Australia
Bowen unveils new offshore wind zone for up to 20GW of turbines
The federal government has launched consultation on Australia’s sixth and final offshore wind energy development zone, an area off the coast of Bunbury in south-western Western Australia that could host up to 20GW of projects.
Bushfire rages through Bibra Lake
The blaze occurred on a day of sweltering temperatures across Perth and extreme fire risk for the state.
WA invention improves water quality in Peel-Harvey estuary
An innovative trial using a clay treatment devised by WA scientists is helping improve water quality in the Peel-Harvey estuary.
Sustainability
At least 60% of US population may face ‘forever chemicals’ in tap water, tests suggest
Federal tests of one-third of water systems find 70 million Americans exposed to PFAS – suggesting 200 million affected overall
Bangladesh’s tea production: a threat to biodiversity and health
In Bangladesh, the widespread use of the herbicide glyphosate in tea production raises significant environmental and health concerns.
Navigating the invisible threat of PFAS in our lives
A new report highlights the challenges in identifying and limiting exposure to PFAS, the ubiquitous and harmful chemicals found in many consumer products.
Greenpeace CTO urges tech industry to embrace sustainability
Greenpeace’s Chief Technology Officer, Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa, highlights the need for the tech industry to prioritize environmental sustainability.
The California Energy Scam: Newsom’s actions of ‘leaking’ emissions to poorer developing countries
Rolan Stein
Cleaning up emissions in-state increases worldwide emissions by ‘leaking’ manufacturing to poorer developing countries with miniscule environmental regulations.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
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