Around The Web

Is climate change an existential risk to Australian society and the world community? It's not a difficult question, but one that climate minister Frydenberg has failed to answer.

LNP's call for more coal-fired power stations, and government ownership of the railway line to the Adani coal project were largely symbolic, as were resolutions to "protect Christmas" and save the "Lord's Prayer". But they underline why a NEG won't end the climate and energy policy wars.

A farmers' market goes plastic free in July; drovers hit the road as the big dry bites; Lorna Driscoll is a veteran water diviner; and Tathra's bushland rises from the ashes.

We should be repurposing old industrial or electricity generation sites for more sustainable activities.

New program to design standards that will enable consumers to compare performance of household battery storage between different brands and manufacturers.

Hundreds of thousands more charge points could be installed under plans from the transport secretary.

The Palaszczuk Government is looking for an energy partner to deliver solar energy right into the homes of low income Logan families living in public housing.

Spot price for energy efficiency certificates rises despite increase in supply.

While the NT accounts for only one percent of the total population, it is about a sixth of Australia's total land mass and with world class solar resource.

On-the-ground investigation finds use of banned CFC-11 is rife in China’s plastic foam industry

A mysterious surge in emissions of an illegal ozone-destroying chemical has been tracked down to plastic foam manufacturers in China, according to an on-the-ground investigation published on Monday.

The chemical, trichlorofluoromethane or CFC-11, has been banned around the world since 2010 and is a potent destroyer of ozone, which protects life on Earth from UV radiation, and strong greenhouse gas. A shock rise in the gas in recent years was revealed by atmospheric scientists in May, but they could only narrow the source to somewhere in East Asia.

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Chris Grayling to unveil plans to increase take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles

Plans to install hundreds of thousands of additional charging points for electric vehicles are to be announced by the transport secretary.

Chris Grayling will unveil proposals aimed at making it easier to recharge electric vehicles than refuel those running on petrol or diesel, in an attempt to increase the take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles.

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DNA sequencing means a scientist can take a bucket of seawater and ID every fish in the area. Now we need a universal 'biobank' of samples to make a truly powerful environment monitoring tool. Simon Jarman, Associate professor, Curtin University Michael Bunce, Professor, Head of Trace and Environmentl DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, Curtin University, Curtin University Oliver Berry, Leader Environomics Future Science Platform, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Forestry industry and Barnaby Joyce have been pushing to downgrade species’ status

Conservation groups say the Leadbeater’s possum should retain its conservation status as a critically endangered Australian species, based on new advice from the government’s scientific advisory body.

In a draft consultation document, the threatened species scientific committee says the Victorian possum meets at least one of the criteria to make it eligible for listing as critically endangered.

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Chinese state-run firm eyeing up multibillion-pound deal for majority share in eight sites

The Chinese government has emerged as a potential buyer of a multibillion-pound stake in Britain’s nuclear power plants.

The talks will reignite debate about China’s involvement in the UK nuclear power industry. Two years ago, the government paused approval for the £18bn Hinkley Point C project because of security concerns over China’s stake.

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Chief executive James Cross defends the organisation and Norwich Green councillor Denise Carlo takes it to task

George Monbiot (4 July) should be assured that Natural England retains its strong voice for nature, along with its statutory role and driving mission to protect and enhance the country’s wildlife, geology, habitats and landscapes. Our independence from government is firmly set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, which gives Natural England the powers to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations.

Like all public bodies we have met the challenge of reduced budgets by reducing our reliance on public funding and instead increasingly working in partnership with organisations and individuals that share our commitment to the natural world – such as the Back from the Brink partnership that has helped save 20 species from the threat of extinction. Furthermore, in recent years we have made great progress in creating the world’s longest continuous coastal footpath and helped establish a “blue belt” of 50 marine conservation zones around England, with more in the pipeline. With the publication of the government’s 25-year plan for the environment, Natural England has a key role to play in delivering this ambitious agenda to leave the environment in a better state.
James Cross
Chief executive, Natural England

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Radical new scenarios from UK's Committee on Climate Change include much more wind and solar.

This NAIDOC week, we hear from Dr Rose Elu, an elder from Saibai Island who shares her concerns about the impact of climate change on the Torres Strait Islands. And, Sister Gail Worcelo from Green Mountain Monastery in Vermont, USA stresses the importance of caring for the earth as she reflects on the work of the late eco-theologian, Thomas Berry.

An exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum looks at how animals move, hunt and feed in places where no light ever shines

The pale-throated sloth, from the northern Amazon forests, has evolved in an unusual way to survive the dangers of swinging through trees in total darkness. The nocturnal bear-like creature has developed a sense of smell so sensitive it can tell whether branches nearby are emitting whiffs of sap or not.

“That allows them to swing only on to branches that are healthy,” said Professor Geoff Boxshall of the Natural History Museum in London. “They can avoid grabbing one that is sapless and dead, which might break, causing them to fall out of a tree and injure themselves. Thus they can swing safely through forests in complete darkness.”

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Even those who campaign against the overuse of plastic, argue for a more nuanced understanding of its role in our lives. Future Tense looks at these nuances.

Australia is drowning in a tsunami of plastic pollution and excessive packaging is one of the culprits. Boomerang Alliance asked supporters to send in pictures of the worst examples

• Send us your best worst examples

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