Date: 7 January 2021 at 8:50:31 am AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Jan 7
Post of the Day
Can doughnuts save the planet?
Imagine a ring doughnut. This is the basis of an idea about how we could run the world in a way that gives everyone what they need – food, homes, healthcare and more – and save the planet at the same time.
On This Day
Nativity – Orthodox Christianity
Climate Change
Study: Warming already baked in will blow past climate goals
The amount of baked-in global warming, from carbon pollution already in the air, is enough to blow past international agreed upon goals to limit climate change, a new study finds.
Climate change is devastating Central American coffee farms, and spurring migration
With coffee production in other countries driving down prices and droughts and storms wreaking havoc, coffee farmers in Central America have had to make tough choices in recent years.
Climate crisis will cause falling humidity in global cities – study
Half the world’s population lives in urban areas but previous climate models have not produced data specific to cities.
The coronavirus effect: Germany achieves its 2020 climate targets
With coal power collapsing, air travel down and green power accounting for 50% of the national grid, Germany hit its 2020 climate targets. But that trend could easily be reversed.
Greens track deniers ahead of Biden climate push
A coalition of environmentalists is tracking online disinformation about climate change in response to a rising tide of conspiratorial thinking among the American electorate.
Will global warming bring a change in the winds? Dust from the deep sea provides a clue
Westerlies moved poleward in the past, as they are doing now
Geoff Russell
US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg knew a lot about activism and the fight for women’s rights. And like the current battle to arrest global warming, RBG also knew a bit about people ignoring the bleedingly obvious when it suited.
We are close to the point of no return
Inger Andersen
This year, we have a real chance to head off climate catastrophe. It may be one of the last we get.
National
Governments are using zero emission vehicles to drive a green recovery from COVID-19
Governments at the national, regional and city levels are finding that zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) can support them in a green recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Australian coal shipments to China at standstill amid unresolved trade tensions
No ships left the big ports in Queensland and NSW in December ahead of Beijing resetting coal import quotas for the new year
Australian wildlife 20 times more likely to encounter deadly feral cats than native predators
Researchers find invasive felines hunt with greater intensity, in broader environments and in greater numbers than equivalent native marsupial predator
Flatulent cows no longer on the nose with seaweed solution to climate problem
Australian scientists have begun rolling out a commercial solution to a major source of greenhouse gases with a seaweed feed to block livestock burps.
When rare birds’ trail goes cold, scientists turn to thermal imaging
Thermal imaging technology is making it easier to track down elusive endangered animals, such as the plains wanderer.
Solar panel fire season is all year round and it’s getting more intense in Australia
Timothy O’Leary and David Michael Whaley
2020 was a bumper year for solar power in Australia. More solar PV systems were installed in the first nine months than in all of any previous year. Almost one in four Australian houses now have rooftop solar panels. But the number of solar panel incidents reported by fire and emergency services has increased too.
New South Wales
Water released from Warragamba Dam as levels near full capacity
Authorities have started releasing water from Sydney’s largest dam after steady recent rains pushed the levels to almost full capacity with more showery days to come.
ACT
Extreme blue-green algae levels in Lake Burley Griffin central basin
Lake Burley Griffin’s central basin has been closed to swimmers and the Captain Cook Memorial Jet has been switched off due to extreme levels of blue-green algae.
Canberra’s experiment with rental e-scooters has failed
Clive Hamilton
Since late August last year, e-scooters have materialised in every street across the inner north, inner south and Belconnen, with other areas of Canberra expected to get them soon.
Queensland
We mustn’t forget pre-COVID ‘good habits’: Queensland set to ban single-use plastics
Single-use plastic containers are likely to be banned from September, but environment advocates say the push to eliminate harmful waste should start now, as the pandemic is no longer such a threat.
Platypuses disappear from five Brisbane waterways
Research has tracked the location of platypuses across Brisbane’s waterways, finding some creeks no longer house the mammals.
Disaster funding to flow for flooded north Queensland as warnings downgraded
Roads and train services across the region have been cut by floodwater, with hundreds of millimetres of rain — much falling in the space of hours — leading to major flooding south of Cairns.
Who should pick up the tab for the costs of climate change in north Queensland?
Richard Denniss
As climate risks continue to rise, the government is considering the idea of subsidising north Queensland homeowners
South Australia
Call for urgent action to prevent further dieback of Adelaide mangroves
Nearby brine ponds are believed to be leaking hypersaline water into the St Kilda mangroves ecosystem — threatening not only their existence, but that of several fish and migratory bird species.
Drone reveals shocking St Kilda mangroves dieback [$]
A salt miner is being blamed for dead mangroves around the St Kilda boardwalk as drone footage reveals how far the destruction has spread.
Echidna code cracked in spine-tingling breakthrough [$]
Secrets of one of the world’s most ancient living animals have been revealed by an Adelaide-led team.
Tasmania
Why are Chinese investors buying up Tasmania’s wind farms?
More and more foreign-backed wind turbines are popping up across Tasmania. But with the majority of the state’s power already generated by hydro-electricity and investors banking on an expensive cable proposal to the mainland, some are questioning whether it’s worth it.
Northern Territory
Santos to commence $300m drilling program to extend Darwin LNG [$]
The momentum towards the sanctioning of the $5 billion Barossa gas infill project 300km off the coast of Darwin has gathered pace with Santos’ announcing its $300 million Bayu-Undan infill drilling program Final Investment Decision yesterday.
Western Australia
Major bushfire continues to burn north of Perth as firefighters brace for ‘challenging’ days ahead
Firefighters in Western Australia are continuing to battle a major bushfire north of Perth, with severe conditions over coming days adding to the fire risk.
Sustainability
Mexico City begins 2021 with ban on single-use plastics
One of the world’s biggest cities has prohibited the use of single-use plastic materials including plastic forks, straws and cups. Mexico’s capital is striving to revamp its image as an eco-friendly, sustainable city.
Can doughnuts save the planet?
Imagine a ring doughnut. This is the basis of an idea about how we could run the world in a way that gives everyone what they need – food, homes, healthcare and more – and save the planet at the same time.
How Dutch cities are creating more green space
Removing the Netherlands’ ubiquitous tiles from front gardens is part of a broader initiative to expand green space in several cities.
Is Canada betting big on small nuclear reactors? Here’s what you need to know
Small modular reactors are variously described as a clean energy solution, a waste of time and a new danger. So, what’s the deal?
Researchers turn coal powder into graphite in microwave oven
The University of Wyoming team created an environment in a microwave oven to successfully convert raw coal powder into nano-graphite, which is used as a lubricant and in items ranging from fire extinguishers to lithium ion batteries.
First global study shows uneven urbanization among large cities in the last two decades
In the first-ever study on the characteristics of urbanization in large cities around the world, researchers at the University of Hong Kong analyzed cities’ urban built-up areas (BUAs) expansion, population growth and greening BUA changes, and revealed a hugely uneven pace of urbanization in those cities in the last two decades. They warn against major challenges posed to sustainable development if the urban problems are not dealt with in a timely manner.
Businesses stand to benefit from sustainable restructuring
Is it profitable for a company to switch to sustainable production? Researchers conclude that it probably often is.
It’s getting hot in here: Warming world will fry power plant production in coming years
During the year’s hottest months, many people rely on electricity-generated cooling systems to remain comfortable. But the power plants that keep air conditioners pushing out cold air could soon be in a vicious cycle in a warming world-not able to keep up with growing demands on hotter days and driving up greenhouse gas emissions to dangerous levels.
The middle east needs to wake up to renewables
Vanand Meliksetian
The oil and gas reserves of the Middle East are unmatched. It has been the region’s most important source of revenue and wealth for the past decades. Although it is widely accepted that the fossil fuel era will end eventually, some pundits didn’t expect such a serious change in the short term. Recent developments, however, sow doubt as to whether oil and gas-dependent countries can withstand the coming changes.
The future of cities is walkable, healthy, resilient places
Brooks Rainwater
COVID-19 will reshape the city, but the bounce back could make them more livable.
Severe climate-driven loss of native molluscs reported off Israel’s coast
Mediterranean study finds subtidal populations of cockles, whelks and other species have collapsed by 90%
Pakistan′s Arabian Sea islands risk environmental disaster
Pakistan’s federal government is planning to build modern cities on the Bundal and Dingi islands, which could ease pressure on Karachi, the country’s financial hub. Experts say it would be an ecological catastrophe.
Midnight rush: 6 ways Trump trashed the environment during the holidays
Protections for endangered species, disaster assistance and conservation were all targets of the most recent round of attacks on the environment.
What COVID has taught us about the wildlife trade
Wildlife trade is the third largest illegal market in the world behind drugs and munitions – so the fact that COVID-19 may have emerged from this trade tells us more regulation is vital
How Earth’s oddest mammal got to be so bizarre
Often considered the world’s oddest mammal, Australia’s beaver-like, duck-billed platypus exhibits an array of bizarre characteristics: it lays eggs instead of giving birth to live babies, sweats milk, has venomous spurs and is even equipped with 10 sex chromosomes. Now, an international team of researchers led by University of Copenhagen has conducted a unique mapping of the platypus genome and found answers regarding the origins of a few of its stranger features.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro deploys military to Amazon, fails to curb fires, deforestation
As the coronavirus consumed Brazil, the rate of destruction continued its grim ascent.
In the future, the Antarctic could become a greener place and be colonized by new species. At the same time, some species will likely disappear.
David Attenborough explains how humans jeopardize ‘A Perfect Planet’ for life
Sir David Attenborough and executive producer Alastair Fothergill talk about their new documentary series “A Perfect Planet.”
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