As at 23 July 2023 CO2 reading was 419.4 parts per million. Source NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Safe level is 350 parts per million
SOME GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED UK-based Lloyds of London insurance company Probitas 1492 will no longer insure Carmichael Mine – it had been funding the mine and rail line; NAB and other big Australian banks will not refinance their loans to Whitehaven Coal; Nature Repair Market Bill has been indefinitely delayed (see more details below) following Senate inquiry
AND SOME REALLY BAD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED
We are now in the era of global boiling with July probably being the hottest month in 120,000 years https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/27/scientists-july-world-hottest-month-record-climate-temperatures
The Gulf Stream could collapse by 2025 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/25/gulf-stream-could-collapse-as-early-as-2025-study-suggests
Antarctic sea ice levels have fallen (and not recovered) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-24/antarctic-sea-ice-levels-nosedive-five-sigma-event/102635204
WHAT’S ON
Fracking in NT an on-line Town Hall meeting will be held on 2 August that will discuss fracking projects in NT and what you can do to help stop them. Book by going to https://www.crowdcast.io/e/usaphyok/register
Moocooboola will be held on 6 August at Boronia Oval, corner Park and Ryde Roads, Hunters Hill 10am-4pm. We’ll be there so come and see us and send a postcard to a politician asking for action on climate change.
350.org is organising a Zoom meeting on 10 August on the campaign to stop CommBank lending to fossil fuels. To RSVP go to https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuc–vpzkuEtC00tCu3PST2oObzx5WOHEL
Rally to save forests nationwide will be held on 12 August 1pm – 2pm at Addi Road Gumbramorra Hall, Addison Road, Marrickville.
Getting off gas Renew is holding a number of free webinars on how households can do this. For information and to book go to https://events.humanitix.com/getting-off-gas-all-electric-homes-and-solar-evs-and-batteries
Useful website with links to issues relating to climate change. https://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/05/start-here/
Podcast on why we can’t face the reality of global warming. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2023/jul/21/newsroom-edition-why-cant-we-face-the-reality-of-global-heating-full-story-podcast
NEWS AND EVENTS
Offshore mining sign the letter asking federal resources and climate change ministers to stop offshore acreage releases. https://wilderness.good.do/mindlessrelease2023/kingbowen2023/
Seismic blasting in Southern Ocean is proposed between Victoria and Tasmania, which will have devastating effects on marine life. Fill in the easy submission form opposing it. https://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/actions/stopseismic/
COP28 and why fossil fuel companies shouldn’t be involved in developing climate policies. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/7/12/no-room-for-fossil-fuel-executives-at-climate-negotiation-tables
Australian governments continue to fail on climate change action
Queensland government is considering Clive Palmer’s application to open a new coal fired power station. Sign the letter asking it not be approved. https://brisbane.foe.org.au/reject_waratah_petition
NSW government is considering applications for three coal mine expansions in Mudgee area. Sign the letter to Chris Minns asking they not be approved. https://lockthegate.good.do/mudgeecoal/mca/
NSW government is allowing logging in the proposed Great Koala National Park. Use this easy form to write to Chris Minns asking for logging to stop immediately. https://www.koalapark.org.au/support-write
NSW government has not taken up the federal government’s offer to help subsidise installation of PV. Sign the letter asking it do so, like Queensland has. https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/nsw_heuf_action
WA government has approved 50 year extension to Woodside gas project https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/13/australias-biggest-contribution-to-climate-change-50-year-extension-woodside-burrup-fossil-fuels-lng-wa
Federal government rejected a plan proposed by previous NSW Liberal government to cease logging in native forests https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/20/nsw-liberal-plan-to-generate-carbon-credits-by-ending-logging-in-state-forests-snubbed-by-federal-labor
Federal government is paying consultancy giant KPMG to help shape its national health and climate strategy, raising concerns about the firm’s work with the fossil fuel industry. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/29/kpmg-consultancy-labor-government-hired-criticism-climate
Murray-Darling Basin Plan lagging behind in its scheduled targets. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-07-05/murray-darling-basin-plan-targets-advice-request-tanya-plibersek/102559824
Write to Federal and NSW environment ministers using this easy form asking for immediate action https://naturensw.good.do/theriversneedtheirwater/theriversneedtheirwater/
Watch this video on why buy backs are vital. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VZojUsEHK0 Read this article on how 140 species could be saved if the plan is implemented properly https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/12/murray-darling-basin-environmental-flows-found-to-be-key-to-saving-140-species-at-risk-of-extinction
When will politicians really act on climate change? No time soon based on recent decisions. Read this troubling article by a leading Australian scientist who worked on the most recent IPCC report. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/07/01/climate-crisis-deepens-with-el-nino
Coal mine tracker This lists all the coal mines waiting for approval in Australia and what their emissions will be. It is a rather terrifying list. https://australiainstitute.org.au/initiative/coal-mine-tracker/
Sign the letter asking Tanya Plibersek to stop approving new coal mines https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/stop_new_coal_mine_approvals
What will El Niño mean for Australia, particularly in terms of fire management? Our current methods are failing us. https://theconversation.com/its-official-australia-is-set-for-a-hot-dry-el-nino-heres-what-that-means-for-our-flammable-continent-209126
Tanya Plibersek’s Nature Repair Market is oh so wrong for so many reasons. Private companies should not be doing the government’s job to protect the environment and habitats.https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/green-wall-street-will-crash/
Marine Engineering what is it, can it damage the environment and why has the government introduced legislation to make it happen? https://theconversation.com/new-australian-laws-for-engineering-the-ocean-must-balance-environment-protection-and-responsible-research-209036
Santos watch this documentary about Traditional owners and their fight with Santos’ Narrabri and Barossa gas projects. https://www.marketforces.org.au/walk-with-us/
Santos’ retired gas wells are leaking https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/14/retired-santos-gas-wells-off-western-australia-coast-leaking-for-a-decade-regulator-says
Australia joining the G7 climate club Will we have real action on climate change or is it just more marketing spin? https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/12/australias-admission-to-the-g7s-climate-club-could-offer-real-change-or-just-more-marketing-spin
Dumping carbon emissions the government’s plan to allow fossil fuel companies to dump their carbon dioxide overseas is not a good one. https://theconversation.com/australia-has-introduced-a-new-bill-that-will-allow-us-to-ship-carbon-emissions-overseas-heres-why-thats-not-a-great-idea-208456
Climate change and our ability to produce crops Australia will be vulnerable. https://theconversation.com/climate-change-threatens-to-cause-synchronised-harvest-failures-across-the-globe-with-implications-for-australias-food-security-209250
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Using the wind to pull cargo ships A French company shows how shipping companies can reduce their carbon emissions by an average of 20%. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/30/travel/airseas-giant-kites-ships-slash-carbon-emissions-scn-climate-spc/index.html
Renewable Energy for Australia’s First Nations people and what we can learn from overseas. https://www.re-alliance.org.au/first_nations_leadership
Transmission lines are they the only way to transmit energy? Or could batteries and virtual storage be used as well? https://theconversation.com/new-transmission-lines-are-controversial-for-nearby-communities-but-batteries-and-virtual-lines-could-cut-how-many-we-need-208018
Rooftop PV installations in Australia still breaking records. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/12/australia-nearing-record-amount-of-solar-panel-uptake-to-beat-rising-power-prices-analysts-say
Offshore wind farm zone has been announced by federal government. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/climate-council-welcomes-new-offshore-wind-project-873800857
Renewables and Critical Minerals watch this video of Webinar held by Smart Energy Council in May 2023. https://smartenergy.org.au/learning/renewables-and-critical-minerals-superpower/
RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Building industry produces 18% of our emissions and 40% of our landfill. https://theconversation.com/building-activity-produces-18-of-emissions-and-a-shocking-40-of-our-landfill-waste-we-must-move-to-a-circular-economy-heres-how-206188
Reusing rubber in roads a number of councils are trialling this. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/news/recycled-rubber-asphalt-project-aims-to-improve-sustainability-of-local-roads-374655242
Large polluting cars like SUVs and utes. There has been an 80% increase in the sale of them leading to a call for an advertising ban on them. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/06/carmakers-double-spending-on-ads-in-australia-for-suvs-and-utes
Termites masters of sustainable air conditioning in their mounds. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/sustainable-air-conditioning-inspired-by-termites-674121038
Synthetic turf playing fields not good for the environment and not suitable for Australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-20/synthetic-turf-no-moratorium-chief-scientist-knowledge-gaps/102497698
International shipping has set higher emissions reduction targets. Have a look at the real-time map showing the extent of international shipping. https://theconversation.com/why-the-shipping-industrys-increased-climate-ambition-spells-the-end-for-its-fossil-fuel-use-209321
(Not) sustainable salmon and trout farms in Tasmania. There are international calls for the sustainability certifications to be revoked. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/25/global-calls-to-revoke-misleading-sustainable-farming-certification-for-salmon-in-tasmanias-macquarie-harbour
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Used EVs – a way to purchase an EV https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2023-07-27/heres-when-used-second-hand-electric-vehicles-evs-get-affordable/102610276
EV sales were 9.4% in June. Plug-in hybrids no longer dominant.https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2023-07-06/how-clean-are-plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles-phev/102555428