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Date: 20 March 2024 at 08:53:11 GMT+11
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links mar 20
Post of the Day
The UN agency’s annual State of the Global Climate report confirmed it wasn’t just the hottest year on record, ocean heat reached its highest level since records began, global mean sea level also reached a record high and Antarctic sea ice reached a record low.
On This Day
Saint Cuthbert’s Day – UK
Naw Ruz – Baha’i
Ecological Observance
National Festival of Trees – Netherlands
Climate Change
Court ruling erodes climate activists’ ability to defend themselves – as the planet heats up
Sandra Laville
Court of appeal’s removal of ‘consent’ defence means defendants on trial for criminal damage can no longer use it in England and Wales
46C summer days and ‘supercell’ storms are Britain’s future – and now is our last chance to prepare
Bill McGuire
Neither the Tories nor Labour seem bothered by the climate mayhem that awaits us, but to save lives they must act
National
Public transport timetables and updates will soon need to be provided in accessible formats and taxi ranks will be required to increase the ratio of wheelchair accessible taxi spaces.
What does good fire look like? Combining traditional techniques with modern landscapes
Speaking at the Blak and Bright First Nations literary festival in Naarm on Sunday, Euahlayi man, Bhiamie Williamson and Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta Elder, Uncle Rodney Carter said greater First Nations participation in fire management promises both cultural and practical impacts despite persisting red tape.
Scientific body given just $100,000 a year to fight deadly fire ants, Senate inquiry told
The CSIRO says it only received $1m over the last ten years to combat the highly invasive pests despite pioneering research into their management
Big swings and long tails: The energy crisis is easing, so why aren’t our power bills tumbling?
There has been hope that today’s release of the energy regulator’s draft benchmark prices will provide relief to people facing skyrocketing power bills. The truth is, that was always optimistic. Here’s why power prices are not dropping much — yet.
Belated power price relief for some, while other Australians expected to have increased bills
Benchmark electricity prices are set to fall for hundreds of thousands of customers but will rise for others under changes flagged by the country’s energy regulator.
We mean bees-ness! New varroa mite detection technology to be tested
In response to the recent varroa mite outbreak, the Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity (CAB) initiative is leading a cutting-edge partnership between the Australian Capital Territory Government, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, University of Canberra and CSIRO, to detect varroa mites – a danger to honeybees across the globe.
Can biofuels save the great Aussie ute (as well as trucks and hybrids)?
Truckies won’t have to go electric and Aussies don’t have to give up their utes if more biofuels get the green light.
‘Secret gas loophole’ or a ‘conspiracy theory’? The political fight brewing over gas approvals
A political stoush is erupting over a relatively minor tweak to Australia’s environment laws, but opponents fear it could lead to fast-tracking approvals for new gas projects.
Coalition’s nuclear power crusade is futile distraction
Richard Denniss
Nuclear energy really is remarkable. It solves so many political problems without solving any real-world problems.
Forget nuclear: would Peter Dutton oppose a plan to cut bills and address the climate crisis?
Adam Morton
We should focus on rooftop solar – Australians love it
Monster utes are symbolic of everything that’s wrong with our world [$]
Vivienne Pearson
Bloated cars are effectively holding up a knuckleduster-decorated middle finger in the face of climate change.
Cheaper energy is still a mirage [$]
Australian editorial
The AER decision is likely to be a false dawn in hope for lower prices.
Nik Callow et al
In the 1890s, railway engineers noticed river water used by steam locomotives started to become salty when surrounding land was cleared for agriculture.
Australia’s new environment laws are being drafted behind closed doors [$]
Miki Perkins
In a highly unusual process, dozens of representatives from key groups have found themselves in three closed-door sessions to view sections of draft environment legislation.
Rooftop solar ducks would eat nuclear’s lunch. So will Coalition slow PV or pay to store it?
Giles Parkinson
In a grid reshaped by wind and solar, and rooftop PV in particular, there is a lot of space for fast and flexible “firming” capacity, but not for baseload technologies like nuclear.
Victoria
West Gate Bridge protesters who caused traffic chaos in Melbourne jailed for two months
A pair of climate protesters who blocked traffic on Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge for hours earlier this month have lost an appeal to reduce their sentences.
Wind, solar farms to go ‘in wrong places’ [$]
The Victorian government’s plan to fast-track approvals for renewable energy projects will lead to ‘terrible decisions’, an eminent planning expert warns.
‘Sham consultation’ over renewable energy projects [$]
The announcement to fast-track renewable energy project approvals comes amid concerns affected communities are not being consulted on project plans.
New South Wales
Councils in Sydney say they can’t afford to maintain local roads, which are busier than ever despite the newly opened toll motorways nearby.
By land and by air, baiting program combats fire ant incursion in northern New South Wales
Helicopters are being used in northern New South Wales as part of a $600 million program to stamp out red imported fire ants, after nests were detected south of the Queensland border late last year.
Balmoral Beach figs expected to survive as more waterfront trees vandalised in Sydney’s south
The word “poisoned” stamped onto the trunks of dying Norfolk pines along Botany Bay leaves passers-by in no doubt about the cause of their demise. If the aim was to improve views, it may backfire, as council’s policy is to replace any destroyed tree with two more.
Pagan and Andie were thrilled to get engaged, but needed money to pay for the wedding. More than 111,000 recycled containers later, they are happily married.
SENSITIVE: Brumbies aerial culled at Kosciuszko National Park [$]
Brumbies aerial culled at Kosciuszko National Park with bullet holes outside the target areas
War declared on logging industry
Sue Arnold
Former Australian Conservation Foundation chief, Geoff Cousins, declared war on the NSW forestry industry last week, no doubt causing some political indigestion.
ACT
Light rail’s true cost to Commonwealth Park above $1.46b: Liberals [$]
The Canberra Liberals’ claim light rail to Commonwealth Park will cost $1.46 billion, opening a new round in the political fight over public transport costs.
Queensland
Cane toad scare on remote Queensland island sparks biosecurity concerns
One of the only cane toad-free places in Queensland has had a close call with the invasive, toxic species, prompting rangers to introduce stricter measures to protect native wildlife.
How a global mining company plans to solve Queensland’s fossil fuel curse
Farmers, environment groups and councils have all attacked a plan by one of the world’s biggest mining companies that wants to pump carbon dioxide into the Great Artesian Basin as a last-ditch attempt to keep fossil fuels alive. What could go wrong?
Tasmania
Tasmanian Elder Jim Everett arrested at forest protest
Tasmanian Elder Uncle Jim Everett has been arrested in Tasmania’s Styx Valley after joining community members at a planned forest protest.
Fifty-seven independent and minor party candidates across all five electorates have signed Sophie Scamps MP’s Forest Pledge ahead of the Tasmanian election, setting the stage for the next parliament to end native forest logging in Tasmania.
DiCaprio weighs into contentious Tassie election debate [$]
Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio has issued an eleventh hour plea to Tasmanian politicians ahead of Saturday’s state election, making his feelings known about a hot-button issue.
Northern Territory
Environmental Defenders Office to review its handling of major case
Following critical judicial comments, the Environmental Defenders Office has appointed an external team to review how it handled a major case involving First Nations clients and communities.
NT residents assess damage after cyclone – video
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan has been downgraded to tropical low after lashing Northern Territory coastal communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The NT government has faced questions after failed evacuation attempts saw hundreds pile into community centres in the remote town of Borroloola.
Western Australia
A once-thriving penguin colony is in danger of dying out, needing shelter from the warming climate
Tens of thousands of tourists flock to an island off Perth’s southern coast each year to see its population of little penguins, but as numbers of the birds plummet, scientists and volunteers team up to do something about it.
Bushfire on Perth’s outskirts threatens lives
A bushfire is threatening lives and homes on the outskirts of Perth, prompting an emergency warning from firefighters.
WA hydrogen project is almost four times larger than Whyalla’s
The federal government will contribute $1.7 million towards a feasibility study for a newly announced hydrogen project in Western Australia which dwarfs what’s proposed for the Upper Spencer Gulf in SA.
Sustainability
Only seven countries meet WHO air quality standard, research finds
Almost all countries failing to meet mark for PM2.5, tiny particles expelled by vehicles and industry that can cause health problems
New bifacial solar technology generates more power at much reduced cost
Researchers claim new bifacial solar technology offers greater efficiency than traditional solar at significantly less cost than existing solar panels.
Nature Conservation
Pesticides pose risks to fish, study finds
A new study from Oregon State University highlights how even minimal exposure to common pesticides can have significant harmful effects on fish, raising concerns about broader environmental and health implications.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
1800 223 669
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