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Date: 27 March 2024 at 08:40:44 GMT+11
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Mar 27
Post of the Day
“It makes climate change worse:” Carbon credit projects claiming to regrow forests are failing
New research from three Australian universities shows forest regrowth projects show little improvement, many going backwards.
On This Day
Nuzul Al-Qur’an – Islam
Hola Mohalla ends – Sikhism
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
New maps help decision-makers factor albedo into tree-planting decisions
Albedo can cause large reductions to the climate benefit of tree planting — but new science helps identify locations with greatest climate-cooling potential
Florida moves to remove climate change mentions from its laws
Florida is set to largely eliminate climate change references from state legislation, despite facing significant environmental challenges.
Wildfires in the US grow larger due to climate change
In a recent tragedy in Texas, a brush fire, exacerbated by climate change, claimed lives and property, reflecting a broader trend of increasing wildfire sizes across the US.
National
Biggest polluters meeting emissions rules using credits that did not reduce CO2, researchers find
Researchers find some of the nation’s biggest polluters are meeting their emissions obligations using carbon credits that have not actually resulted in emissions reductions.
Climate change will see Australia’s soil emit CO2 and add to global warming
New research has shown the warming climate will turn Australia’s soil into a net emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), unless action is taken
Ladybirds ‘ferocious as a shark’ used to target invasive insect pest
There are some things that are cute to us like ladybirds — but not if you’re a tomato potato psyllid, a wasp-like pest that can halve crop yields.
Two new reports find that regional Australia wants more certainty for the future as the country looks to decarbonise by 2050, with one stating the current “largely unplanned, market-led approach” is unlikely to be effective.
Australia’s rooftop solar waste problem is hurtling towards 1.2 gigawatts a year
Australia’s solar panel waste challenge is “more immediate” than previously thought, a new study has warned, with volumes of discarded panels expected to reach the equivalent of 1.2GW a year by 2030, the vast majority coming from PV systems on the nation’s rooftops.
Carbon emissions limits for cars weakened amid opposition’s ‘ute tax’ campaign
The federal government will water down proposed carbon emissions laws for vehicles, as it seeks to appease car makers who feared it would push up the price of some cars by thousands of dollars.
Major new report maps out a path for Australia to deliver a 75% emissions cut below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2035.
How Australia can avoid climate disaster
A new report has revealed exactly what it’s going to take for Australia to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
Labor unveils watered-down fuel efficiency standard that eases emission rules for large SUVs
Bill to be introduced to parliament this week will incentivise carmakers to import cleaner vehicles
Albo makes huge call on utes and SUVs
After copping fierce criticism from some vehicle manufacturers, the Albanese government has made a huge call on new cars.
Australia’s carbon credits system a failure on global scale, study finds
Researchers find carbon offsets approach, which is supposed to regenerate scrubby outback forests, was not reducing emissions as promised
Capital city growth the highest on record
The population of Australia’s capital cities grew over 500,000 in the year ending June 2023, the largest annual growth recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Albanese government manages to unite automotive industry on fuel standards – almost
Elias Visontay
Although forced to water down its original settings, the revised model will help Australia reach its decarbonisation targets
Revised car emissions policy will live or die on flexibility ]$]
Phillip Coorey
The challenge is to transition to vehicles that do what their petrol and diesel counterparts can do and for the same price.
Climate craze splits us into society of doomsters vs. deniers [$]
Greg Craven
I am inclined to collaborate with the climate curmudgeons. The world is full of adamant teenagers waving pictures of dying koalas but not so many geriatrics cuddling lumps of coal.
High seas drama over deep seabed mining [$]
Anthony Bergin
With the International Seabed Authority meeting to hammer out regulations, Australia should help our Pacific friends develop seabed mining policy.
EPBC Act reform must offer a sustainable future based on science
David Shearman
The operation of democracy in Australia is incapable of addressing the impending environmental and climate crises because of conflict between tested truth – and convenient lies.
Victoria
Libs want watchdog to rein in major project blowouts [$]
The state opposition is pushing to introduce a new body to crack down on cost blowouts on Victoria’s multi-billion dollar transport projects.
‘Obvious and fun’: Why we should be swimming in the Yarra River [$]
Melbourne CBD office workers would be able to take a lunch-break dip in the Yarra River under a bold 10-year plan to create a world-class “swimmable urban corridor”.
Air quality at many train stations is alarmingly bad. Here’s how to improve it
Magnus Moglia et al
Recent revelations about poor air quality at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station probably came as no surprise for passengers who have experienced such conditions.
New South Wales
How Sydneysiders could save $730 a year by ditching gas
Caitlin Fitzsimmons
NSW residents could save $1.1 billion and the equivalent of 1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions a year by swapping gas for electricity.
Queensland
‘Dingo bit her head’: Young boy saves cousin from terrifying attack [$]
When 12-year-old William Farley saw his little cousin screaming in terror as a dingo attacked her in the water on K’gari he didn’t hesitate.
‘Same excuses’: New Transport Minister’s Bailey-esque move [$]
Transport Minister Bart Mellish has been accused of channelling predecessor Mark Bailey in refusing to say when he first learned of an $864m blowout to a major Qld road project, the Opposition has claimed.
South Australia
The filtered limestone environment of the Ewens Ponds provides the perfect condition for plants that don’t usually grow fully submerged in water. This is one of the sinkhole’s many unique aspects.
Logging resumes on Kangaroo Island after koala deaths
Loggers have been given the go-ahead to resume tree-felling operations after shocking footage showed koalas falling to their deaths on one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations
Public warned over Lake Alexandrina algae outbreak
A “potentially harmful” outbreak of blue-green algae has made a popular tourist destination a no-swimming zone for both people and pets over the Easter long weekend.
Tasmania
In this picturesque Tasmanian bay, marine scientists are bringing a once-lost habitat back to life
Tucked away in a picturesque bay on the Tasman Peninsula is a precious underwater field of giant kelp that’s thriving thanks to a team of determined scientists.
Would you pay more for your milk, if you knew it was climate-friendly?
You can buy all kinds of milk in the supermarket these days, but would you pay more for a dairy product that’s better for the environment? This Tasmanian company hopes customers will.
Recommendations for Hobart Climate Assembly
Development of connected, safe and green corridors for walking and cycling that also help cool the city; phasing out the use of fossil fuels in Council operations; and providing public spaces for use during extreme climate events – these are some of the recommendations to come out of the City of Hobart’s inaugural Climate Assembly.
Northern Territory
Committee to decide whether buffel grass should be declared a weed in the NT
Buffel grass is valued as a form of cattle feed, but others say it poses unacceptable threats to the environment. In the coming months, a committee will rule on whether or not it should be declared a weed.
Pine Gap supports nuclear war fighting, not monitoring arms control agreements
Brian Toohey
Richard Tanter stated in Pearls and Irritations on March 21 in regard to my piece on a former Defence Deputy Secretary, Paul Dibb on 14 February, that “Media self-censorship, and acceptance – if not cultivation – of a mystique of impenetrable opacity about Pine Gap has facilitated public acceptance of government silence, misdirection and mendacity
Western Australia
West Australian green energy hub rejected by development panel
Plans for a green energy and hydrogen hub near Northam hit a roadblock, with planners rejecting Infinite Green Energy’s proposed facility.
WA bushfire contained but not controlled
Residents south of Perth have been warned it is not yet safe to return to their properties after a bushfire destroyed several buildings including three homes.
Kim Beazley urges Tanya Plibersek to reject Woodside LNG plant extension
Former Labor leader joins other ex-ALP leaders, Indigenous elders and scientists in calling on federal government to protect Indigenous rock art on Western Australia’s Burrup Hub
Perth the fastest-growing capital city in Australia
A 3.6 per cent jump in 2022-23 marks the biggest annual change to the state’s population.
Three homes lost as fire tears through bushland in WA’s south
Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said it was a testament to firefighters’ efforts that no lives were lost.
Cost of parking in Perth during the day to rise, but one parking perk will stay
The City of Perth council has backed a substantial increase to daytime parking fees, with the hike set to bring in $700,000 in extra revenue this financial year.
New guides to help protect First Nations cultural heritage
The First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance has launched the Dhawura Ngilan business and investor guides to prevent the repeat of the destruction of the 46,000-year-old rock shelter at Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara.
Sustainability
Calls for international criminal court to end ‘impunity’ for environmental crimes
Campaigners say activities leading to severe environmental harm usually also violate human rights
Common household chemicals pose new threat to brain health, study finds
Research shows chemicals in countless household items harm specialized cells in the brain
Research lights up process for turning CO2 into sustainable fuel
Researchers have successfully transformed CO2 into methanol by shining sunlight on single atoms of copper deposited on a light-activated material, a discovery that paves the way for creating new green fuels.
Research identifies characteristics of cities that would support young people’s mental health
As cities around the world continue to draw young people for work, education, and social opportunities, a new study identifies characteristics that would support young urban dwellers’ mental health
Water treatment policies linked to decrease in arsenic-related cancers
According to a new study published in Environment International, the frequency of several arsenic-related cancers in Taiwan decreased significantly once the nation began treating their tap water supply to reduce arsenic contamination.
AAP FactCheck: Tiresome tyre claim false to get traction
A study comparing tyre wear and exhaust emissions in petrol-powered cars has been misrepresented with claims it showed higher emissions for electric vehicles.
Nature Conservation
Mount Everest climbers given poo bags to help fix an unsavoury problem
Climbers embarking on the ascent of Mount Everest will be forced to include an unorthodox addition to their gear list in a bid to solve an unsavoury and worsening problem.
‘Cautious optimism’ as penguins test positive for bird flu but show no symptoms
Asymptomatic cases may seem reassuring for the penguins, but scientists fear they could act as ‘Trojan horses’ for other species
New roadmap to prevent pandemics centers on protecting biodiversity
An international team of 25 scientists has proposed a roadmap for how to prevent the next pandemic by conserving natural areas and promoting biodiversity, thereby providing animals with enough food, safe havens and distance to limit contact and the transfer of pathogens to humans.
When officials make tough calls on which areas to prioritize for conservation, biodiversity is often their top consideration.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
1800 223 669
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