From: Maelor Himbury <M.Himbury@acfonline.org.au>
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2026 at 8:53 am
Subject: Daily Links Sep 16
To:
Post of the Day
Here’s what the science really says about the health and climate risks of carbon pollution
Simmone Shah
The Trump Administration on Monday repealed carbon pollution rules for coal- and gas-powered plants. And at the heart of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) explanation for its move is the long-debunked idea that, as the agency claims, “emissions from power plants have no material impact on global climate change” and that “the targeted emissions are global in nature, and any potential public health harms are too uncertain, conjectural, remote, and convoluted to tie specifically to the U.S. power sector.”
On This Day
Owain Glyndŵr Day – Wales
Ecological Observance
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Climate Change
Firms manage $7.3tn in assets and could afford to transition away from fossil fuels yet invest in natural gas and coal-fired plants to power datacenters
Slashing fossil fuels is ‘life and death’ for Pacific
Major fossil fuel-producing nations including Australia must stop expanding coal and gas developments to prevent climate change devastating Pacific nations and forcing people to leave their homes.
Scientists stunned as volcano cloud starts destroying methane
The Hunga Tonga eruption may have triggered a surprising chemical reaction that destroyed some of the methane released into the atmosphere. Scientists say the discovery could reshape estimates of methane pollution and inspire new methods for slowing near-term global warming.
The incoming ‘super’ El Niño will create chaos around the world – and we are far from ready for it
Bill McGuire
One of the biggest upheavals in a millennium is on its way, strengthened by the climate crisis. We need leaders who make things better not worse
National
Rubber mask helps to track cattle methane emissions in real time
A wearable mask that tracks the methane output of individual cattle in real time promises to help quantify the livestock sector’s contribution to national emissions.
A new report from the Water Services Association of Australia has found that more than 6,500 First Nations people living in remote communities were supplied with water that did not meet the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines at least once over the past two years.
Green goal in doubt as Victoria pauses $1.5b cable [$]
Only 12 per cent of the new wind and solar projects needed to meet the federal government’s 82 per cent end-of-decade renewables goal have begun construction.
Green goal gutted as Bowen faces COP reality check [$]
Bowen’s 82 per cent renewable goal by 2030 looks out of reach while Turkiye has flexed its muscle on making final climate calls at COP31.
Annabel Ellis et al
Have you ever found your lawn riddled with holes or heard a little sneeze from your backyard bushes?
Australia needs a population policy built around capability
Stewart Sweeney
Australia’s population debate should move beyond arguments over growth and migration to a larger question: what population can a capable, inclusive and ecologically sustainable country support?
The financing market for wind and solar projects is nearly dead: Here’s how to turn the corner
David Leitch
The financing market for wind and solar assets is comatose, and super funds would rather invest in an offshore data centre, a big oil company or big tech than a wind or solar asset.
Six steps to stop the data centre boom from sending power prices through the roof
Jonathan Upson & Tristan Edis
How will the federal government make sure that the boom in data centres doesn’t blow out electricity prices and the national carbon budget? These six steps will help.
Victoria
Western Renewables Link passes planning hurdle as cost review ordered
The Victorian premier orders a cost assessment of the controversial Western Renewables Link hours after the planning minister approves its environment effects statement.
How this state’s pothole problem exposes a national blind spot
Victoria’s deteriorating roads are in the political spotlight, with defects outpacing repairs across the state.
New South Wales
Why Australia’s most attractive renewables state is almost $1b behind
NSW needs to dramatically increase the amount of renewables projects it commissions in order to meet its legislated 2030 targets.
Two massive wind and battery projects in the south-west of New South Wales have become the latest to be referred to the state’s Independent Planning Commission because of the number of mostly long distance objections.
NSW Aboriginal Land Council hits back at ‘land grab’ media narrative
A contentious land rights bill is expected to pass the New South Wales Parliament this week amid growing media coverage over the state’s 44,000 unresolved Aboriginal land claims, which the peak body r…
New Hope dividend defies profit slump as coal rally extends [$]
Coal prices have soared over the past month, giving New Hope managing director Rob Bishop the confidence to double dividends despite a 63 per cent profit slump.
Coalition pushes fast-track fossil fuel projects to save manufacturing [$]
Approvals for gas, coal and crude oil projects would be fast-tracked in a proposal the Coalition argues would save struggling industrial manufacturing following a spate of Commonwealth bailouts of smelters, and the Whyalla steelworks.
ACT
Water price shock: Canberrans could pay extra $400 for improved services
Icon Water is asking Canberrans if they are willing to pay up to $400 more a year to fund improvements to water and wastewater services and protect the environment.
Queensland
Bilby capital of Australia turns mascot into 300kg cement sculptures
Six artists have decorated large bilbies for the first of three releases in a new public art trail. They were unveiled in Charleville on National Bilby Day.
Flying fox influx overruns Mount Isa suburb ‘like a cloud coming over’
Residents of the Mount Isa suburb of Sunset say a huge influx of flying foxes is damaging trees, coating homes and cars in droppings, and leaving them desperate for action.
Thousands of Queensland homes to receive essential energy upgrades
The almost $100 million joint federal and state initiative has already improved energy efficiency across more than 15,000 social homes.
Tooth decay crisis sparks demand for Qld water fluoridation mandate [$]
A major new study has found Queensland children who grow up in regions that don’t fluoridate the water have the worst rates of tooth decay.
South Australia
Peter Hannam
It may come down to who you know. Recyclers wonder why the government poured money into Whyalla steel yet backflipped on promises to support their industry.
CDU defends claims of ‘bias’ in buffel grass report [$]
Charles Darwin University has defended its NT Government-commissioned buffel grass report from ‘bias’ claims, saying critics have misunderstood its focus on expansion costs, not existing pastoral benefits.
Western Australia
High seas and low fuel: Energy-efficient ship officially launches in Fremantle
KCC has launched a new vessel that aims to use wind technology the company believes will not just reduce emissions, but also improve fuel efficiency on its voyages between China and Australia.
WA’s wildflower season was the ‘best in recent memory’. Here’s why
An abundance of rainfall in the state’s Mid West has created a spectacular show of colour and variety that hasn’t been seen since 2008.
WA’s mining culture had a light shone on it. It’s time to see how much has changed
Lucinda Iles
Efforts to overhaul mining culture represent a significant commitment of time, money and attention – but an essential question remains unanswered: have they worked?
Sustainability
Sodium batteries to upend lithium dominance in storage: CATL
Batteries based on cheaper and more abundant sodium instead of lithium could revolutionise the market as soon as next year, according to an industry leader.
Kenya: A small village takes on an oil giant
More than 50 years after oil drilling was carried out, Kenya’s Kargi community is suing BP, alleging contaminated water contributed to cancers and livestock deaths.
How Zimbabwe’s regime is fueling a dirty lithium boom
Oppressive tactics seek to suppress information and dissent, while communities face poisoned air and water.
Explainer : Could AI really wipe out humanity – six experts spell out the risks
We examine claims and counterclaims about the risks and calls to slow down the pace of AI development
Nature Conservation
Indonesian wildfires threaten leading orangutan research site in Borneo
Critically endangered Bornean orangutans flee forests as staff at Cabang Panti work round the clock to stave off blaze
A coral reef thought dead for 60 years is teeming with life
A coral reef presumed dead for more than 60 years has been found alive and seemingly healthy off the coast of Benin.
Thousands of sea turtles reach Mexico in yearly migration threatened by climate crisis – video
More than 330,000 sea turtles arrived in southern Mexico in a mass nesting phenomenon known as an ‘arribada’.
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
1800 223 669
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