Date: 26 August 2020 at 9:02:08 am AEST
Subject: Daily Links Aug 26
Post of the Day
Climate change and land use are accelerating soil erosion by water
Soil loss due to water runoff could increase greatly around the world over the next 50 years due to climate change and intensive land cultivation.
On This Day
Gaura Parva – Hinduism
Coronavirus Watch
Confirmed cases: 25,053. Deaths: 525
What powers do authorities have under a coronavirus state of emergency?
Victoria’s state of emergency may be extended by 12 months. You might be surprised how much power some state governments have over you during the coronavirus crisis.
Can the government force you to take a COVID-19 vaccine. And more importantly, will it? [$]
Michael Bradley
When (or if) a COVID-19 vaccine is available to the public, what are the rules set up around mandatory vaccination?
Flexible pandemic approach will keep community onside
SMH editorial
Governments need to show that they are sensitive and flexible to the needs of those for whom the lockdowns involve genuine privation.
Climate Change
Climate is taking on a growing role for voters, research suggests
Concern about global warming is steady despite other crises, a survey found, and the number of voters who are deeply engaged on the issue is rising sharply.
Earth was 130 degrees this week. It will be much hotter one day.
As temperatures spike ever higher, the world is predicted to just get hotter. But how hot could it get?
Researchers introduce new theory to calculate emissions liability
A new study questions conventional methods of calculating carbon emissions liability based on point source pollution by introducing new ‘bottleneck’ theory.
National
Don’t back a loser by [funding new coal-fired power]
Federal Labor, Greens and crossbenchers should block a Morrison Government proposal to funnel $3.3 million of public funds towards a feasibility study for a new coal-fired power station, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said today.
Australian researchers call for ‘Coal Elimination Treaty’ to slash emissions
Australian researchers have called for a ‘Coal Elimination Treaty’, arguing governments must be actively planning for a coal phase-out.
CEC warns against solar industry review becoming Abbott-style witch hunt
CEC warns against repeat of a Tony Abbott-style renewable energy witch hunt as federal Coalition announces a review of Australia’s rooftop solar industry.
Regulator backs away from big changes to how wind and solar bid into market
Regulator proposes compromise with wind and solar farms on mechanism to avoid sudden withdrawals of capacity during negative pricing events.
Australia’s chief scientist rejects experts’ letter warning him not to back gas
Alan Finkel’s support for an expanded role for gas-fired power is not consistent with a safe climate, 25 scientists say
Aldi greens up with wind, solar power [$]
The supermarket chain will buy wind power and install thousands of solar panels as it aims to reach 100 per cent renewable energy use by the end of 2021.
Lethal power: how coal is killing people in Australia
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Much of Australia’s population is in the grip of an air pollution crisis caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations. In the present study, we find that due to this toxic pollution, hundreds of Australians die every year, and even more suffer from other severe health impacts throughout their lives.
4 reasons why a gas-led economic recovery is a terrible, naïve idea
Samantha Hepburn
Investment in gas will not herald Australia’s economic recovery. It’s likely to hinder it.
John Quiggin
The Coalition Government favours fossil fuels at the expense of renewables, but Australia needs to get off coal to save both lives and money.
Electricity bills: it’s so easy to go green
Joel Gibson
You can now get 100 per cent Greenpower for about the same cost as the government’s regulated ‘fair price for electricity’.
There’s a lack of ethical banking products despite rising demand
John Collett
Consumers who want their savings managed ethically don’t have a lot of choice but that is expected to change along with public sentiment.
How Mitch Hooke axed the mining tax and climate action
Kevin Rudd
The ex-Mineral Council’s boss pretends to be a lifelong carbon price evangelist. But his real legacy is the destruction of the Rudd government’s emission trading scheme and profits-based mineral tax.
New South Wales
Sunraysia solar farm delay could last till March, legal battle a lot longer
Contractor on Sunraysia solar farm says delays could extend to March next year and the legal battle over costs for much longer.
Pesticide run-off affects the health of tiger prawns and oysters, study finds
A widely used agricultural chemical is found to affect the health and flesh quality of tiger prawns and Sydney rock oysters. The fishing industry is calling for a nationwide ban of the neo-nicotinoid, which has been banned in Europe since 2018.
Hazard-reduction burns to be compulsory in NSW under new bushfire rules
Firefighters will be able to enter private properties in NSW and start hazard-reduction burns under new powers to be introduced after an independent inquiry into last summer’s bushfires.
‘Expect worse’: NSW fire inquiry backs limited use of controlled burns
NSW must prepare for similar or worse years in the future as the climate continues to warm, with increased hazard-reduction burning offering only limited help, the NSW Bushfire Inquiry has found.
The NSW premier has admitted climate change played a major role in the summer’s fires, with authorities seeing things “they have never seen before in decades of firefighting”.
Government could go further than bushfire report recommends [$]
The NSW government says they could go even further than the inquiry into the bushfires of last summer recommends, with more development curbs a possibility.
NSW farmers cheated by irrigation failures in other states [$]
NSW is being cheated by every other Murray Darling Basin state as all have failed to properly monitor farmers’ water usage in compliance with a national agreement.
Council renews its pledge towards a sustainable future
Shoalhaven City Council has advanced with its plans to reduce carbon emissions and transition away from fossil fuels, making five new pledges as part of its Cities Powers Partnership (CPP) to employ sustainable energy solutions for the future.
ACT
ACT election 2020: Greens leader Shane Rattenbury plans for ‘environment election’
Climate-conscious leadership will be at the forefront of voters’ minds when they head to the ballot box in October, according to ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury.
Queensland
Turning plastics into profit: unique program aims to protect wetlands in the Gulf
A new program to reduce marine pollution in Queensland’s Gulf country will train 20 Indigenous rangers and 30 community volunteers to recover and ‘upcycle’ plastic waste into ropes, fishing line and more.
Massive Clarke Creek wind farm inks deal with Queensland coal generator
The massive Clarke Creek renewable energy project is poised to move to the construction phase after signing a deal with the Queensland government owned Stanwell Corp to buy most of the output of the first stage – a 450MW wind farm.
Collinsville coal power plant will never proceed as renewables are cheaper, Liberal MPs say
Trent Zimmerman, Dave Sharma and Jason Falinski say feasibility study into Queensland plant should proceed but it doesn’t stack up economically
Labor-Greens threat to $3.3m power station [$]
The Federal Government has set aside $3.3 million to fund a feasibility study into a new coal-fired power station, but Labor and the Greens are launching an 11th-hour bid to block it.
South Australia
Drone technology reveals surprising sea lion colonies off the Great Australian Bight
The Bight is one of the last strongholds of the Australian sea lion, with 80 per cent of its population found in South Australian waters and now new technology is uncovering more than the eye can see.
Third bid to harness sun in APY Lands [$]
Taxpayers spent $3.7m on solar power in the APY Lands but the projects failed. Now, another $9m will be spent on a modern solar and battery array to save millions spent each year on diesel.
Fish battered by toxins but edible [$]
Fishers were not taking any chances at West Lakes on Tuesday as the latest warning of toxins spread through the community.
Northern Territory
National parks director James Findlay resigns after Kakadu traditional owners call for sacking
Kakadu’s board of management delivered a unanimous no-confidence vote against the park’s federal managers, in particular director of national parks James Findlay, saying the relationship was “irretrievable”.
Western Australia
Indigenous group to decide on multi-billion-dollar fracking, ports, oil pipeline project
Indigenous native title holders will vote on giving approval to an oil and gas fracking project, connected by pipelines to new and existing ports, which may become Australia’s biggest.
Volunteer litter hero keeping Australia beautiful for years wants government to lift its game
A retired septuagenarian, who has volunteered thousands of hours in the past 16 years keeping a premium WA tourist highway free of litter, says it is time for the State Government to pay someone to do the job.
Sustainability
The rise of environmental justice
In the midst of a pandemic and an uprising for racial equity, advocates for communities of color near industrial facilities seize the moment
Solar panels are starting to die. What will we do with the megatons of toxic trash?
Most solar manufacturers claim their panels will last for about 25 years. That means the solar e-waste glut is coming.
Plastics, waste and recycling: It’s not just a packaging problem
Discussions of the growing plastic waste problem often focus on reducing the volume of single-use plastic packaging items such as bags, bottles, tubs and films.
Why a UK ‘cycling and walking revolution’ won’t reduce car travel
David Metz
New bike lanes are a good idea for health and air quality, but the convenience of car travel for most journeys will remain.
Welcome to our roads, new lockdown cyclists! Please follow these rules to keep everyone happy
Gary Nunn
The cycling revolution has begun – but like all revolutions, there are teething problems
The US is in a water crisis far worse than most people imagine
Erin Brockovich
Our water has become so toxic that towns are issuing emergency boil notices and shipping in bottled water to their residents.
How giant human hair sausages could help fix an environmental catastrophe
It’s being swept up off salon floors around Sydney, but instead of the bin, these human hair offcuts are being stuffed into stocking sausages and sent to clean up a massive oil spill off east Africa.
New tool for identifying endangered corals could aid conservation efforts
A newly developed genotyping ‘chip’ — the first of its kind for corals — allows researchers to genetically identify corals and the symbiotic algae that live within the coral’s cells, a vital step for establishing and maintaining genetic diversity in reef restoration efforts.
Climate change and land use are accelerating soil erosion by water
Soil loss due to water runoff could increase greatly around the world over the next 50 years due to climate change and intensive land cultivation.
Restoring the world’s forests requires partnering with local communities
Global forest restoration is a critical strategy for removing carbon from the atmosphere but its success depends on empowering local communities, according to a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Estonia’s ‘holy forests’ threatened by demand for biofuels
Estonians struggle to reconcile their ancient forest-based religion with more and more stands of trees grown as a commodity for export.
How to reverse course on Trump’s environmental damage
The next president can undo some of the recent efforts to weaken environmental protections. But it’ll take work.
Fleeing the trolls for the grizzly bears
Nicholas Kristof
When “civilization” oppresses, wilderness is the best therapy.
This devastating spill is a big problem for oil
Julian Lee
The fuel leak from the MV Wakashio, which ran aground on a coral reef off Mauritius, shows the shipping and oil industries must clean up their acts.
Maelor Himbury
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