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Date: 5 March 2024 at 08:47:31 GMT+11
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Mar 5
Post of the Day
Satellite to ‘name and shame’ worst oil and gas methane polluters
Leaks are driving 30% of the climate crisis and MethaneSat will provide the first first near-comprehensive global view
On This Day
St. Piran’s Day – Cornwall
Ecological Observance
National Tree Planting Day – Iran
International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness
Climate Change
No 10 berates Chris Packham for ‘irresponsible’ Just Stop Oil comments
BBC presenter defends climate activists’ right to target MPs’ homes amid debate over politicians’ safety
John Kerry: US committed to tackling climate crisis despite fossil fuel growth
Outgoing climate chief says he is ‘not ready’ to give up on 1.5C target he helped negotiate in Paris agreement
Greenwashing claims on trial: should NZ ban fossil fuel advertising?
Matthew Hall
According to independent watchdog Consumer NZ, New Zealand is “rife with greenwashing”, with many companies positioning themselves as “sustainable”. No doubt you’ll have seen such claims on the products in your weekly shopping basket.
Global warming may be behind an increase in the frequency and intensity of cold spells
Beatriz Monge-Sanz
Global warming caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases is already affecting our lives. Scorching summers, more intense heatwaves, longer drought periods, more extended floods, and wilder wildfires are consequences linked to this warming.
National
One Australian state has recorded its hottest summer ever, with temperatures hitting nearly 50 degrees in one area.
Australian program to eradicate red fire ants is a ‘shambles’, Senate inquiry told
Invasive species could be worse than rabbits, cane toads, foxes, camels, wild dogs and feral cats combined, committee hears
Large-scale reactors part of Libs’ nuclear option [$]
The Coalition’s energy plan is likely to include not just small-modular reactors, in a policy that will go to shadow cabinet.
Red meat not for chop in climate reckoning [$]
Dietitians have welcomed the plan to include climate change impacts into the country’s official dietary recommendations, but have downplayed concerns by some farmers over red meat.
Energy firm drives heavy duty electric vehicle plans [$]
One of Australia’s largest electricity distributors has adopted heavy duty electric trucks as part of a commitment to replace 900 petrol and diesel vehicles and encourage other businesses to make the change.
Car lobby calls for more trains to prevent gridlock [$]
More homes are urgently needed to address Australia’s housing affordability crisis but without increased investment in public transport, new residents face increased congestion and worse standards of living, says an influential car lobby group.
Australian movement of Russian coal breaches sanctions, DFAT argues
Australian citizens and businesses that wittingly haul Russian coal to be sold to a third party are breaching the sanctions regime imposed following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Commonwealth argues in court.
Yabby traps and discarded fishing tackle can kill platypuses – it’s time to clean up our act
Katherine Warwick et al
Recreational fishing is a popular pastime in Australia’s inland rivers and streams. Unfortunately in the process, many people are unwittingly killing platypuses.
Nuclear power and Liberal response to Dunkley – two things that don’t add up
Paul Bongiorno
The biggest loser at the weekend was Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, and his complete absence from the media for the past three days is a sure sign he knows it.
Political courage is the only pathway forward for Dutton [$]
Simon Benson
Committing to an energy policy with nuclear power as a central component in the future is as big and brave as it gets. But it is a debate the country should have had long ago.
Rebooting farm productivity will help achieve climate goals [$]
Jared Greenville
Delivering sustainability outcomes is paramount for farmers, but more work needs to be done to understand the challenges in the sector as costs rise faster than revenues.
In a dangerously warming world, we must confront the grim reality of Australia’s bushfire emissions
Robert Hortle and Lachlan Johnson
In the four years since the Black Summer bushfires, Australia has become more focused on how best to prepare for, fight and recover from these traumatic events. But one issue has largely flown under the radar: how the emissions produced by bushfires are measured and reported.
Duttonheimer goes nuclear – cartoon
Spooner
Victoria
Future of majestic river red gum tree in central Victoria uncertain after massive limbs lost
The 2023 Victorian Tree of the Year has lost massive limbs in what sounded like “a car crash”. A Dja Dja Wurrung elder is urging greater protection of the significant river red gum.
New direction for groundbreaking Melbourne ‘sky farm’ [$]
A “sky farm” perched atop a city tower overlooking the Yarra River in the heart of Melbourne has unveiled a new twist in its push to pioneer urban agriculture.
Rare hope for ‘forest fairies’ whose numbers have dwindled to the dozens
In some rare good news for the critically endangered lowland Leadbeater’s possum, conservationists have identified 34 possums in the wild – an increase of 10 possums on the last count.
New South Wales
Councils race against climate clock to save heritage trees
Councils across the state are adopting new tree management policies to save old trees from destruction and increase tree coverage, as they respond locally to rapidly increasing urban heat.
Clover Moore attacks NSW government and EPA over ‘regulatory failure’ before asbestos crisis
City of Sydney lord mayor reveals testing of potentially contaminated mulch has cost $200,000 with remediation costs likely to be ‘substantial’
Minns must show some vision or voters will look elsewhere [$]
SMH editorial
The latest Resolve Political Monitor poll suggests the NSW electorate is still quite ambivalent about Labor and many voters are unsure of what the Minns government stands for.
Motorway to Sydney’s new international airport hits another hurdle
The cost of two major contracts for construction of a new motorway to Sydney’s second international airport has risen by almost $90 million in the latest sign of budgetary pressures on the M12 road project.
ACT
‘Labor’s in bed with developers’: Greens slam Steel’s planning decision
The ACT’s Greens’ Environment Minister has blasted her Labor colleague over a decision to call in an estate development plan in Denman Prospect, saying she was blindsided by the “reckless decision”
Cynicism reaches new heights over tram timeline [$]
Canberra Times editorial
If the more than 173 comments on The Canberra Times’s report light rail to Woden won’t be finished for at least another nine years – and at a massive cost – have already attracted are anything to go by community cynicism about the Barr-Rattenbury government is at a high.
Queensland
All bets are off as Greens tout housing takeover of Eagle Farm racecourse
A Greens-led Brisbane City Council would buy Eagle Farm racecourse – compulsorily if necessary – to provide housing for up to 10,000 people.
‘We need Erin Brockovich’: Water issue continues to plague community [$]
Despite council advising residents the brown water coming out of their taps is safe to drink, locals are furious that the issue, which appears to pop up every few weeks, hasn’t been rectified.
South Australia
Dozens of koalas allegedly killed or injured during plantation logging on Kangaroo Island
Exclusive: Ex-employees of Australian Agribusiness Group allege dozens of injuries occurred as blue gums cleared for agricultural use, claims which the company rejects
They build, you pay: $1b problem sparks ‘catastrophic’ bill warning [$]
Huge suburban land releases have left a billion-dollar problem that all SA home owners will have to pay for, builders have warned.
Tasmania
Call for funding to deliver active transport plan
Cycling South is calling on the major parties to commit to the implementation of the Greater Hobart Cycling Plan. The plan identifies separated cycling routes that can be used by all ages and abilities (AAA) so that children, teenagers and retirees can feel comfortable riding their bikes to go places.
Could cable car project be revived? Greens pitch alternative [$]
With fears the kunanyi/Mount Wellington cable car project could be revived during the election campaign, the Greens pitch an alternative solution.
Construction company to cough up cash for illegal dumping [$]
A construction company has been fined for illegally dumping demolition debris at a rural property.
SFF commits to no Macquarie Point Stadium, no Robbins Is wind farm
Media release – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party of Tasmania is the 4th largest political party in the state and aiming for a parliamentary top 3 finish.
In the dark, without headlights, headed for a cliff
Peter Boyer
We are now enduring the second election campaign since a University of Tasmania neuroscientist, Lila Landowski, drew attention in the Mercury’s Talking Point pages to the fact that ours is the only Australian state without a chief scientist.
Northern Territory
Second ‘big battery’ in the works for Top End grid [$]
A multimillion-dollar battery system will be installed in the Darwin-Katherine grid, as Chief admits ‘option’ to buy back stranded solar farms.
Native titleholders to appeal NT Supreme Court water ruling [$]
A group of native titleholders are appealing the NT Supreme Court’s decision supporting the government granting a water licence at Singleton Station, arguing the licence was a risk to Aboriginal culture and land, the Central Land Council has said.
Western Australia
Woodside and carbon offset body go their separate ways [$]
Woodside Energy declined to renew its membership of the leading domestic carbon markets industry group last year after tighter membership rules were proposed.
Greens reveal their staunch anti-gas upper house candidates [$]
A fierce opponent of the State’s multibillion-dollar gas industry who has also been vocal in her criticism of Israel looks destined to become a kingmaker in WA politics.
How can a little bit of drizzle bring down our power supply?
Laura Newell
Like 37,000 other households in the State, ours in the northern suburbs of Perth awoke to an eerie silence on Monday.
Sustainability
We need to talk about water – and the fact that the world is running out of it
George Monbiot
On a planet getting hotter and drier by the year, governments are wilfully ignoring a looming crisis
Nature Conservation
Why move species to islands? Saving wildlife as the world changes means taking calculated risks
Anthony Rendall
The eastern barred bandicoot was once found in abundance across the basalt plains of western Victoria. But habitat destruction and predation by introduced red foxes drove the species to the brink of extinction on the mainland.
Are there places on Earth we should be barred from visiting?
Linton Besser
Humans are wreaking havoc on our most cherished places and tourism is a significant and growing contributor to the chaos
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
1800 223 669
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