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Date: 17 April 2024 at 8:54:49 AM GMT+10
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Apr 17
Post of the Day
World faces ‘deathly silence’ of nature as wildlife disappears, warn experts
Loss of intensity and diversity of noises in ecosystems reflects an alarming decline in healthy biodiversity, say sound ecologists
On This Day
Rama Navami – Hinduism
Ecological Observance
International Bat Appreciation Day
Climate Change
US Climate Action Summit Events Program: Convening for climate and uniting for a sustainable future
For the first time since its launch in 2021, the US Climate Action Summit is broadening its program to include a calendar of events happening in Washington D.C from April 22-28, 2024.
Most countries struggle to meet climate pledges from 2009
Nineteen out of 34 countries surveyed failed to fully meet their 2020 climate commitments set 15 years ago in Copenhagen, according to a new study by UCL researchers.
Deciphering the deceptive tactics of the fossil fuel industry
Investigative journalists delve into the intricate strategies deployed by the fossil fuel industry to sow doubt and misinformation, urging the public to remain vigilant amidst mounting climate crises.
Former US climate chief criticizes leaders for slowing climate action
Todd Stern, former U.S. climate envoy, criticizes political leaders for their cautious approach to climate change, claiming it jeopardizes global safety.
National
Critical minerals projects to receive $585 million in federal government loans
Critical minerals projects in Queensland and South Australia will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal government loans as part of the government’s plan for a “future made in Australia”.
New environmental enforcer on the way, but little progress on promised overhaul of environment laws
Plans for a new national environmental protection body have been revealed, but broader reform of the nation’s environmental laws has been deferred indefinitely.
Australians choose hybrids over EVs as sales of conventional cars decline
Hybrids outsold pure electrics in the past three quarters, according to new figures, while petrol and diesel sales fell 8%
Innovation boost a must for our future farm success [$]
The CSIRO says greater innovation in Australian agriculture is needed to remain competitive in export markets and meet climate change challenges.
Change of national enviro law put off, as Dutton warns of ‘death of mining’ [$]
The Albanese government’s national environmental law change has been criticised from two-sides, with Peter Dutton saying it will be the “death of mining” while environmentalists are urging Labor to go further and faster to protect nature.
Adam James Loch
Water is one of Australia’s most valuable commodities. Rights to take water from our nation’s largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, are worth almost A$100 billion.
Albanese’s promised clean economy act has been a long time coming, but it’s the right place to start
Adam Morton
The challenge for a resource-rich, medium-sized economy such as Australia is to identify the right green industries to focus on, while minimising the risks to taxpayers
Why does Australia want to be so suicidal?
Philip Huggins
Australian leadership is no longer an embarrassment at UNFCCC COPs. Nonetheless, Australia’s participation in the fossil fuel industry, including through new projects, is not putting us on the fastest path to net zero. Will we miss our “brief and rapidly closing window” to secure a liveable future?
Plibersek’s new enviro laws ‘a toothless tiger’ [$]
Sarah Ison
Labor’s next tranche of the Nature Positive Plan will not touch existing environmental standards, sparking allegations from environmentalists of weakness.
Where Australia is getting it wrong on critical minerals [$]
Jennifer Hewett
A new report argues that the government’s focus on domestic production and exports is failing to adequately help develop a secure network of supply chains with other countries.
Sustainable aviation fuel has been a talkfest for far too long [$]
Ayesha de Kretser
For a government that has flagged its commitment, there is surprisingly little policy. Australia still produces no SAF – and has no fully funded projects.
Nuclear power in Australia is a really bad idea. The ban ensures that is all it is
Rod Campbell
You can’t prevent people from having bad ideas. But sometimes, a piece of legislation can prevent bad ideas from taking up large amounts of money and time.
Victoria
Victoria’s Environment Minister has revealed the legal frameworks that enabled land to be taken from Indigenous people excluded First Peoples from the economic benefits those lands produced.
Proposal for First Peoples landcare [$]
Steve Dimopoulos has signalled his ‘aspirations’ to enable more joint and sole management of land for First Peoples.
Renewables objectors facing ‘stacked deck’ [$]
One of Victoria’s foremost planning experts says the state governments new renewables fast track will entrench a conflict of interest for the Planning Minister.
Cranbourne park caught up in asbestos contamination probe [$]
Small pieces of asbestos have been discovered at a park in Melbourne’s southeast, as the list of sites impacted by contamination continues to grow.
Duck hunting protesters leave grim display outside Premier’s office [$]
Dozens of dead birds have been left on display outside Jacinta Allan’s office as protesters push for an end to duck hunting in Victoria.
New South Wales
Teenager accused of church attack received good behaviour bond for knife crime
The teenager who allegedly attacked a bishop at a church in Sydney was placed on a good behaviour bond after being convicted of a knife crime three months ago, the ABC can reveal.
‘I found I was more comfortable in the forest’: The scientist who took on the logging industry
Nick O’Malley
Professor David Lindenmeyer looked neater than you’d expect from man who has spent years in Australia’s oldest forests, locked in political battles with the industries that depend on cutting them down.
Queensland
Coal, gas giants on notice over methane plume
Harmful plumes of methane have escaped from an open cut coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, according to satellite images.
Labor picks $400m transition ‘winner’ [$]
Labor will inject $400m to help develop a green alumina processing facility in Queensland in its first cash-splash under the Future Made in Australia policy banner.
First look: $13m building to create apartments for homeless youth [$]
A massive $13m project has been approved by council to create homes for struggling young people amid a staggering warning that they make up a quarter of the homelessness crisis.
South Australia
Anger and disgust as human poo piles up in and around iconic SA swimming hole
Little Blue Lake attracts thousands of tourists and cave divers from across the globe, but has no toilet facilities. Appalled residents say it’s high time something is done to prevent people from relieving themselves in the water and car park at the site.
Calls to support SA businesses with energy bill relief and more
The SA Business Chamber has released its full state budget submission and called on the government to help small businesses, including support for rising energy costs.
Western Australia
‘Villainous appearance’ spurs researcher to name ant species after Harry Potter antagonist
The ants with slender, ghostly bodies now bear the name of Voldemort, the iconic villain, after being discovered recently in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Juukan Gorge artefacts ‘cultural and scientific discoveries’
More braided human hair, the tooth of a Tasmanian devil and quartz artefacts held together by resin are among finds underneath what remains of ancient WA caves that were blasted for iron ore in 2020.
Sustainability
The important step to take before wiping down your ceiling fans
For appliances that spend a lot of their time moving, ceiling fans have a tendency to gather a surprising amount of dust. What are the most effective ways to clean them?
Technology denial: Columbia Law School debunks 33 biggest myths about solar, wind and EVs
Columbia Law School researchers identify 33 of the most pervasive myths about solar, wind and electric vehicles and rebut them using transparent, fact-based responses.
Biodiversity is key to the mental health benefits of nature
New research has found that spaces with a diverse range of natural features are associated with stronger improvements in our mental wellbeing compared to spaces with less natural diversity.
Researchers can help shipowners achieve ambitious climate targets
Ammonia could help bridge the gap between today’s shipping fuels and tomorrow’s zero-carbon shipping
Fracking’s role in Argentina’s increased earthquakes
Residents of northern Patagonia are enduring increasing earthquakes caused by intensive fracking, with little action from Argentine regulators despite clear evidence linking the two.
Nature Conservation
Endangered Bornean orangutan born in US zoo
An endangered Bornean orangutan baby has been welcomed into the world at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida.
Grizzly bear conservation is as much about human relationships as it is the animals
Montanans know spring has officially arrived when grizzly bears emerge from their dens.
Greece becomes first European country to ban bottom trawling in marine parks
The law will come into force in national parks within two years and in all of the country’s marine protected areas by 2030
Tropical forests can’t recover naturally without fruit-eating birds
Natural forest regeneration is hailed as a cost-effective way to restore biodiversity and sequester carbon. However, the fragmentation of tropical forests has restricted the movement of large birds limiting their capacity to disperse seeds and restore healthy forests.
Light pollution affects coastal ecosystems too – this underwater ‘canary’ is warning of the impacts
Kathleen Laura Sterup and Abigail M Smith
In the early 20th century, canaries were used as early warning systems in coal mines to alert miners to rising levels of carbon monoxide. A small unremarkable fish may fill a similar role in coastal ecosystems around Aotearoa New Zealand.
Monumental folly and needless greed: how nature is suffering the consequences of climate change
John Woinarski
Set aside the apple and the snake. Set aside the unforgiving God. The loss of Eden is a story about the consequences of monumental folly and needless greed. Having soiled paradise, we live now in a harsher, bleaker world.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
1800 223 669
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