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Early life on land may have thrived in 3.5 billion-year-old Pilbara hot spring
Buddha's birthplace faces serious air pollution threat
Trump Tower rally demands divestment ahead of decision on Paris climate deal
Environmental activists seek to use Trump’s cabinet of fossil fuel millionaires to pressure New York City pension funds to divest
Environmental activists held a rally inside Trump Tower in New York City on Tuesday, ahead of an expected decision from the president on whether to leave the Paris climate change agreement.
About 90 people gathered in a public garden on the fifth floor of Donald Trump’s building in midtown Manhattan to encourage the New York City government to divest its pension funds from fossil fuel companies. Organizers from environmental group 350.org said individual states and local councils can still take action on climate change, even in the face of a government that seems ambivalent on the subject.
Continue reading...Fatal consequences of a lack of regulation | Letters
The government attributes 40-50,000 premature deaths each year to the effects of airborne pollution; there are some 1 million cases of foodborne illness, which result in 20,000 hospital admissions and 500 deaths a year; and up to 50,000 people die each year as a result of injuries or health problems originating in the workplace (Enemies of the state: the 40-year Tory project to shrink public services, G2, 9 May). Yet the rate of inspection and enforcement actions for environmental health, food safety and hygiene, and health and safety have all been falling. The statistically average workplace now expects to see a health and safety inspector once every 50 years.
In the name of cutting red tape, governments of all political persuasions have attacked independent regulation and enforcement. Budget cuts in the name of austerity have compounded the problem – especially at the level of local authorities. There is now a plethora of schemes to outsource and privatise wholesale some regulatory and enforcement activities. Private companies are increasingly involved in “regulating” either other private companies, or themselves, or both. Such changes mark the beginning of the end of the state’s commitment to forms of social protection put into place since the 1830s.
Steve Tombs
Professor of criminology, Open University
Climate change laws exceed 1,200 worldwide, finds LSE study
Legislation is ‘cause for optimism’ as big body of laws is hard to reverse
Nations around the world have adopted more than 1,200 laws to curb climate change, up from about 60 two decades ago, a sign of widening efforts to limit rising temperatures, according to a new study.
“Most countries have a legal basis on which future action can be built,” said Patricia Espinosa, the UN’s climate change chief, at an international meeting on climate change in Bonn, Germany.
Continue reading...Barack Obama: 'I made climate change a top priority' – video
Speaking at a global food convention in Milan on Tuesday, the former US president says he prioritised climate change while in office because it would be the issue that ‘defines the contours of this century more dramatically than any other’. His comments come as the Trump administration decides whether to keep the US in the Paris climate agreement
Continue reading...Biomass crop acts as refuge for brown hare - scientists
What is the best antidote for a jellyfish sting? (Clue: it's not urine)
A new study of the man o’ war jellyfish found popular remedies like lemon juice and shaving foam make stings worse. Vinegar followed by heat is most effective
What should you do if a jellyfish stings you? Scientists have found that applying vinegar is the best solution, and that popular remedies including urine, lemon juice, and shaving foam could make the situation worse.
A recent study in Toxins, which investigated the efficacy of various remedies for stings from the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) concludes that rinsing with vinegar before applying heat is the most effective treatment. The commonly recommended treatment of seawater and ice was found to cause more harm than good.
Continue reading...Budget 2017: government goes hard on gas and hydro in bid for energy security
Gas infrastructure and exploration attracted the lion's share of new energy announcements in the 2017 federal budget Sean Heatley/Shutterstock.comThe budget contains several measures designed to boost energy security, including:
A$90 million to expand gas supplies, partly through increased unconventional gas exploration
a potential Commonwealth buyout of an expanded Snowy Hydro scheme
up to A$110 million for a solar thermal plant at Port Augusta
monitoring of gas and electricity prices by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Below, our experts react to the measures.
Gas price problem far from solvedRoger Dargaville, Deputy Director, Melbourne Energy Institute, University of Melbourne
The budget contains a broad range of funding in energy-related areas, with a significant focus on gas resources, making A$78 million available for onshore unconventional gas exploration and reform in the gas markets, and A$7 million for studies into new gas pipelines to South Australia, from both Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Interestingly, there is A$110 million in equity available (but not guaranteed) for a solar thermal plant in Port Augusta. And most notably, the government has proposed purchasing the Snowy Hydro Scheme from the New South Wales and Victorian governments, ensuring that the scheme stays in public hands.
The budget also includes A$13 million for CSIRO to improve energy forecasting tools, and A$8 million for the ACCC to investigate consumer energy pricing issues.
Overall, the budget highlights the government’s desire to do something about gas prices, but offers little to make a significant difference to a very difficult problem. Gas market reform and new pipelines are unlikely to reduce the exposure of the domestic market to price rises driven by international exports.
Importantly, there is little new funding in the budget directly relating to reducing carbon emissions and meeting the pledges made in the Paris Agreement (a 26-28% emission reduction relative to 2005 levels by 2030). Also noteworthy is the removal of funding for research into carbon capture and storage.
‘On energy this budget is small fry’Tony Wood, Energy Program Director, Grattan Institute
The budget does little more on energy than endorse the government’s deal with Senator Nick Xenophon on corporate tax cuts, complemented by modest commitments to energy security, more gas and better regulation.
Government facilitation of gas development and beefing up the energy capability of the Australian Energy Regulator and the ACCC are simple logic, and the one- off payment to pensioners to help with electricity bills will be welcomed by them.
Major public funding for further feasibility studies is a little more questionable. If the gas crisis can’t galvanise support from pipeline companies and gas consumers for pipelines, why would governments reach a different conclusion?
And finally, one can only speculate as to why the federal government is contemplating buying out the NSW and Victorian governments’ share of Snowy Hydro. Presumably it is because the feds are concerned about securing support for the proposed expansion.
In summary, on energy this budget is small fry ahead of major policy decisions that rest on the forthcoming Finkel Review of the National Electricity Market next month, and the climate change policy review later in the year.
A step towards radical energy reform?Hugh Saddler, Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University
Few announcements in the budget speech are more emblematic of complete policy reversal than the announcement that the Commonwealth would buy the shareholdings in Snowy Hydro Limited of the governments of NSW (58%) and Victoria (29%), to add to the 13% currently owned by the Commonwealth. This comes almost exactly 11 years after Prime Minister John Howard, responding to vociferous public opposition, pulled the plug on plans by all three governments for a public float of their entire shareholdings. What is more, Treasurer Scott Morrison has now announced that, once owned by the Commonwealth, Snowy Hydro would remain in public ownership.
This announcement of course accompanies the government’s Snowy 2.0 proposal, for a fivefold increase in the Snowy scheme’s current 500 megawatt pumped storage capacity (at Talbingo). This was used, after commissioning in 1974, to allow inflexible coal fired power stations to operate with constant output levels day and night, but is now almost never used. This presumably reflects commercial decisions by Snowy Hydro, as it trades in the National Electricity Market.
The rationale for Snowy Hydro 2.0 is to facilitate operation of a grid with a high share of renewable generation, by smoothing out variations in wind and solar supply. Does this announcement mean that the government envisages moving away from a strictly commercial approach to using the assets of the Snowy scheme? Is this a first step towards radical restructuring, or even dismantling, of the National Electricity Market?
Stronger legislation neededAlan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University
The detailed A$265 million energy package includes a number of useful measures to strengthen the weak regulatory culture of the energy sector that has allowed our energy crisis to evolve. But it is still limited: strong legislative reform and active support of emerging competitors will also be needed. It is a modest investment compared with recent multibillion-dollar energy cost increases. If it is successful, it will deliver vary large net benefits to the economy by limiting energy price increases. Unfortunately, past efforts to fix the energy situation have largely failed to deliver real outcomes: we need clear objectives for outcomes, and a mechanism to implement contingency strategies if they are not achieved.
In a context of increasing urgency for stronger action on climate, and the reality that the global “burnable carbon” budget is very limited, investment to encourage more gas development seems misplaced. More emphasis on energy efficiency, renewables and smart energy systems would make much more sense. Energy efficiency already saves billions on energy costs and could save much more, while renewable energy is becoming cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. They also help to achieve our climate targets. And fossil fuels are responsible for almost three-quarters of Australian emissions, so we need strong action to meet our international obligations.
The extension of the A$20,000 tax write-off for small business spending on equipment is a measure that, at least for small businesses, offsets a significant barrier to investment in energy efficiency. Firms will also be able to continue to claim the write-off to improve the economics of investments in on-site renewable energy and storage. Of course, the problem still remains for spending over A$20,000 by small businesses, and for larger businesses.
The energy security plan, which includes funding for ACCC to police energy industry behaviour is only a small step towards fixing the disastrous failures of energy policy and a transition to a 21st century energy policy framework. Much more will need to be done.
Hugh Saddler is a member of the board of the Climate Institute
Alan Pears has worked for government, business, industry associations public interest groups and at universities on energy efficiency, climate response and sustainability issues since the late 1970s. He is now an honorary Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University and a consultant, as well as an adviser to a range of industry associations and public interest groups. His investments in managed funds include firms that benefit from growth in clean energy. .
Roger Dargaville works with the consortium of EnergyAustralia and Arup that have been funded by ARENA to conduct the PHES feasibility study. He has previously received funding from ARENA to undertake energy system modelling studies.
Tony Wood holds shares in energy and resources companies through his superannuation fund.
Portfolio Budget Statements 2017-18
How 80 forgotten 1930s cycleways could transform UK cycling
Between 1934 and 1940 the UK built 280 miles of cycle paths with Dutch guidance. A Kickstarter campaign to rescue these lost cycle paths needs support
In September 2012 the Google Street View car drove slowly along a road in Twickenham, London. It had to reverse when the driver found three wooden bollards blocking its way. The road was not a road at all, it was a cycleway. A cycleway built in – wait for it – 1937.
Originally surfaced with red concrete, the cycleway has faded to light pink but the granite kerbs are still in situ and, fooling the Street View navigation algorithms, it looks like a narrow road instead of the normal kind of “crap cycle lane” we are so unhappily used to in the UK.
Continue reading...LFIA Forum ADL 2017 - Sally Modystach & Deborah Davidson | Promoting Health & Wellbeing
/ PRESENTER BIO
Sally Modystach | Director of Healthy Environs
Sally is the Director of Healthy Environs, a sustainability and community wellbeing consultancy. Her work focuses on promoting healthy communities through projects and partnerships at the local level. Sally holds a Masters in Public Health and has wide-ranging skills in community health strategy, health promotion and corporate social investment.
Deborah Davidson | Director of dsquared Consulting
Deborah is an ESD Consultant with over 15 years of experience in sustainable design, rating tools and environmental management. She is a Director of dsquared Consulting, a local consultancy with a reputation for assisting clients in minimising their environmental impact and improving sustainable outcomes on projects.
Deborah is currently working on projects that combine energy efficiency, indoor environment quality and wellbeing, in commercial office, education and healthcare sectors.
/ EVENT SPONSORS
Adelaide City Council | City Switch
/ MEDIA PARTNER
Environmental Science Media
/ ORGANISING GROUPS
Living Future Institute of Australia - living-future.org.au
Adelaide Sustainable Building Network - adelaidesbn.com.au
Cast: AdelaideSBN
Tags: sustainability, green cities, healthy building and wellbeing
LFIA Forum ADL 2017 - Stephen Choi | Delivering the Living Building Challenge
/ PRESENTER BIO
Stephen Choi | Executive Director of Living Future Institute of Australia
Stephen Choi is a UK-qualified Project Architect and Australian-qualified Project Manager. He has led sustainable design teams at small and large practices before founding a not-for-profit environmental building consultancy and becoming the Living Future Institute of Australia's Executive Director. Stephen’s work has included the development of global environmental assessment methods, designing and managing building retrofits, and embedding sustainable development into educational curriculum. Several of his projects – both private and public sector – have been recognised in the industry for progressing “green building”.
/ EVENT SPONSORS
Adelaide City Council | City Switch
/ MEDIA PARTNER
Environmental Science Media
/ ORGANISING GROUPS
Living Future Institute of Australia - living-future.org.au
Adelaide Sustainable Building Network - adelaidesbn.com.au
Cast: AdelaideSBN
LFIA Forum ADL 2017 - Darren Bilsborough | Biophilic Design & Cities
/ PRESENTER BIO
Darren Bilsborough | Studio Leader, Hames Sharley
Darren Bilsborough is Director of Hames Sharley and the Adelaide Studio Leader. Darren is highly regarded for his understanding of the economics of sustainability and creating competitive advantage in the development of city precincts and commercial buildings. A former Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University in WA, he is widely acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of the green building movement in Australia.
Darren’s has built deep trust in Government over many years as represented by a direct appointment from the South Australian Minister of Environment to the Premier’s Round Table on Sustainability in late 2003 which allowed Darren the opportunity to provide input to State Government policy.
/ EVENT SPONSORS
Adelaide City Council | City Switch
/ MEDIA PARTNER
Environmental Science Media
/ ORGANISING GROUPS
Living Future Institute of Australia - living-future.org.au
Adelaide Sustainable Building Network - adelaidesbn.com.au
Cast: AdelaideSBN
Amazing haul of ancient human finds unveiled
The Bornean orangutan's world – in pictures
The critically endangered orangutan is under threat from hunting and habitat deforestation. A new book, The Orangutan’s World, is a photographic celebration of this great ape and its rainforest home in southern Borneo
Continue reading...Achieving our 2030 emissions reduction target: it’s all about energy
Birdsong warms a frosty Sussex morning
Waltham Brooks, West Sussex The golden reed along the river’s edge vibrates with the pulsing, chattering songs of the warblers
It’s a cold morning, and a glistening coating of frost clings to the green surfaces of the vegetation that is still in the shade. The sun is reaching through the trees, and plumes of mist rise from the river’s surface as it warms.
The golden reed along the river’s edge vibrates with the pulsing, chattering songs of reed warblers and sedge warblers – the sound of a wetland summer. They began to return to Waltham Brooks about a month ago, and now I count more than 30 singing around the reserve. I hear a whirring from a sedge warbler in the brambles next to me, and I turn to watch as it inches up to the top of the bush.
Continue reading...A year on from coal closure in Port Augusta it’s time for Premier Weatherill to back solar thermal and a new future
Coalition backtracks on Paris deal, ABC cuts corners on energy
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