From: Maelor Himbury <M.Himbury@acfonline.org.au>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 at 7:48 am
Subject: Daily Links Sep 29
To:
Post of the Day
We can finally measure the damage each new coal, gas or oil project will do to people and nature
Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick et al
We have long known every tonne of carbon dioxide matters to the climate. But governments keep approving new fossil fuel projects – even as climate change worsens.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
Climate Change
Climate change legal precedents begin to unravel Pacific culture’s emerging rights
Rising seas and environmental degradation are disrupting traditional Pacific practices, eroding Indigenous cultural connections and severing their relationships with ancestral lands and oceans accordi…
September’s ozone hole was the biggest in 20 years. The warning signs appeared months ago
Hannah E Kessenich et al
The area covered by the Antarctic ozone hole peaked at more than 27 million square kilometres in September, the second-largest ever observed for this time of year.
New tool directly links carbon emissions to amount of environmental and economic damage caused
Graham Readfearn
Carbon Impacts Tracer can be used to estimate climate impact from emissions across eight different factors, including lost food production
Natasha Lindstaedt
Authoritarian regimes have a history of keeping information about escalating disasters secret, even when it could harm their own citizens.
National
Electric switch slashes Australia’s energy use by 5pc [$]
The growth of renewables and EVs over the past decade have helped cut economy-wide energy use by 302 petajoules – equivalent to filling up 160 million cars.
Bowen takes a big stick to coal over power plant outages [$]
Chris Bowen says there hasn’t been a day in the past four years a coal-fired power plant hasn’t broken down without notice, proving renewables are more reliable.
The off-grid mines leading the charge towards 100 pct renewables – Energy Insiders Podcast
Zenith Energy’s Michael Buzzard on the remarkable energy transitions achieved in off-grid mines, and plans for the future.
David Leitch
I first realised there was a problem with coal productivity when looking at diesel consumption, which is up about 70% per saleable tonne.
Larissa Waters steps down as Greens leader due to health reasons
Michelle Grattan
Greens leader Senator Larissa Waters has quit the party leadership in a surprise move due to ill health. Waters, who has been leader since former leader Adam Bandt was defeated at the 2025 election, is managing a “pre-existing kidney disease” that has “declined significantly” in recent months.
Whyalla’s blast furnace is dead but green steel moonshot worth it
Tony Wood
It is in our strategic national interest to develop a domestic green iron/steel industry, and the Whyalla steelworks can be an ideal first-of-a-kind project.
IGR policy based on Labor’s net-zero fantasy world [$]
Greg Sheridan
Countries responsible for more than half the world’s emissions have no net-zero commitment – yet our Intergenerational Report treats the goal as settled fact.
While the Coalition fiddles, the world burns
Peter Boyer
The timing was exquisite, if unintentional. On the day the United Nations’ retiring leader urged a distracted world to focus on combatting climate change, Australia’s formal Opposition withdrew its support for its country’s “ideology-driven” 2050 goal of net zero carbon emissions.
Victoria
Government delays Upfield line upgrades until 2033 with duplication promise
Ben Carroll says his government will spend $80 million on a study and will duplicate the Upfield line, if re-elected.
Free daily power on offer for Vic homes — but there’s a timing twist [$]
Millions of Victorians will be able to enjoy free electricity from October 1 under a new state government scheme. But it will only be available for a certain time each day. Here’s when you can plug in without cost.
New South Wales
Controversial Sydney data centre project pulled amid community anger
A controversial proposed data centre has been withdrawn by its developer after it became a flashpoint amid growing opposition to the AI infrastructure development across the country.
Homes invaded by ‘millions’ of migrating bogong moths
Bogong moths might be endangered, but there have been hundreds of sightings reported across NSW in recent days as they migrate to the Snowy Mountains.
The fightback begins: Bold ideas to crack Sydney’s housing wall [$]
Ben English
Sydney’s housing crisis has left a generation feeling locked out for good. It affects how we live, feel and plan. It fosters frustration and resignation.
Queensland
Miles stares down internal Labor revolt ahead of key meeting [$]
Steven Miles is ‘confident’ of leading Queensland Labor to the 2028 state election, as he flags plans to rip up the LNP’s energy policy.
Feds dismiss koala habitat appeal against Brisbane 2032 venue [$]
A community appeal to force a full environmental review of the Redland Whitewater Centre has been dismissed, paving the way for Olympic construction to start in 2027.
South Australia
Deadly bird flu threat looms large over Kangaroo Island – video
The presence of H5N1 bird flu in Australia is likely “here to stay”, according to health authorities. It’s been spreading across the country with the number of confirmed events now surpassing 620. South Australia accounts for more than half. SBS World News reporter Tom Stayner has been to Kangaroo Island, where the deadly virus is threatening a wide range of species.
Hot take: Build a permanent speedway in the park lands [$]
Ryan Kirley
It’s time to stop beating around the bush and make the temporary speedway in the parklands … permanent
Western Australia
Hail, storms and rain set to drench WA as warning issued [$]
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of WA as lightning and hail continue to batter the State.
Sustainability
Trump administration to slash clean car rules aimed at cutting climate emissions
Environmentalists decry move that relaxes requirements on automakers to control pollution from gas-powered cars
Heat pump sales soar across Europe after states cut electricity taxes, data shows
EU to push member states to cut tax rate below duty on gas, with 11% surge in sales also put down to fallout from Iran war
Building Asia’s future must embrace the limitations of people and planet
Nancy Yao Ji et al
East Asia is responding to a post-growth world – one reshaped by population decline, shrinking cities and economic stagnation. Now it’s changing how they build
Nature Conservation
‘Contract between humans and river’: Bristol Avon’s rights enshrined in charter
River charters part of wider movement establishing ‘moral’ framework to protect nature and hold institutions to account
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
1800 223 669
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