SOME GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED France will ban short-haul domestic flights where there is an alternative rail service of less than two and a half hours; Glencore has withdrawn plans for Valeria Coal mine (one of the 18 projects Tanya Plibersek is considering for approval); Federal, State and Territory Energy Ministers endorsed a Renewable Energy Storage Target (see below for more details) which means the Coalition’s ‘CoalKeeper’ proposal that would have supported aging coal stations is gone; the generation of electricity by burning native forest wood waste will no longer be counted as renewable in Australia; single use plastics to be banned in UK; there have been some climate breakthroughs https://www.businessinsider.com/3-climate-breakthroughs-give-us-hope-for-2023-sustainability-2023-1#countries-sign-plastic-pollution-biodiversity-deals-1 and some positives around the world https://www.vice.com/en/article/88qj5p/positive-climate-change-news-2022
WHAT’S ON
The Great Koala National Park There is a petition calling for the establishment of this park and the logging within the park be halted. If 20,000 signatures are secured, the petition can be tabled for debate in the NSW parliament. Closing date is 11 April 2023. Please sign and pass on to friends and family.
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/epetition-details.aspx?q=xWiyh7QOALBaYGLc6X91XQ
Murray Darling Basin Plan Sign the petition asking the NSW government to get on board and support the plan. https://www.nature.org.au/deliver_the_murray_darling_basin_in_full_and_on_time
NEWS AND EVENTS
Adani sign the letter asking the latest insurer, Probitas, to stop insuring Carmichael Mine’s rail line and haulage operation. https://www.stopadani.com/probitas
Aluminium production here’s how its emissions could be reduced by up to 98% https://arena.gov.au/blog/alumina-roadmap-plots-a-path-to-slash-australias-emissions/
Green hydrogen production in Australia https://arena.gov.au/blog/cop27-australia-thinking-big-about-renewable-hydrogen/
Government is using your taxes to subsidise fossil fuels, fisheries and farming – the world’s most destructive industries.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/30/amazon-public-money-earth-destruction-fossil-fuels-subsidies
Queensland still loves coal More coal mines approved and some to remain in operation past 2050. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/28/queensland-will-continue-coal-exports-as-long-as-the-market-dictates-despite-emissions-targets
Climate change is negatively affecting coal mining and making it more expensive to mine. https://reneweconomy.com.au/coal-driven-climate-change-is-becoming-a-big-problem-for-coal/
Agrivoltaics farming and renewable energy combined https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/agrivoltaics-solar-panels-agriculture.htm
Australian banks and super funds abysmal number have polices to mitigate environmental risks https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/13/abysmal-number-of-australian-banks-or-super-funds-have-policies-to-mitigate-environmental-risks-report
Australian companies and greenwashing the CPRC has found two thirds of companies’ “green” claims are misleading https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/two-thirds-of-companies-in-misleading-greenwashing-claims-20221209-p5c50i.html
Australia will have a new EPA Samuels report. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/08/tanya-plibersek-confirms-new-environmental-protection-agency-to-enforce-conservation-laws
There are still some major failures https://theconversation.com/complete-elation-greeted-pliberseks-big-plans-to-protect-nature-but-hurdles-litter-the-path-196287
Putting a price on nature might sound good but it’s not the way to go. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/16/the-call-to-put-a-price-on-nature-can-be-appealing-but-it-misunderstands-whats-at-stake
Sign the letter to Tanya Plibersek asking her to get it right. https://envirojustice.org.au/blog/onlineaction/call-on-our-environment-minister-to-ensure-our-new-nature-laws-really-work/
Taxing your PV export what three networks want to do from 2024. https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/sun-tax-how-three-network-companies-propose-to-tax-rooftop-solar-exports/
Australian governments federal and state are finally taking action on climate change https://theconversation.com/in-2022-australias-governments-finally-got-moving-on-climate-heres-how-195729
Rewiring Australia is a step closer. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-18/rewiring-australia-plan-electrify-households-cars/101786102 A suburb in Wollongong is a pilot programme to electrify every aspect of living. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-13/plan-to-electrify-illawarra-postcode-gains-momentum/101532016
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable Energy Storage Target to fast track big batteries and long duration storage https://reneweconomy.com.au/energy-ministers-agree-to-fast-track-big-batteries-and-long-duration-storage/
Offshore wind farms what are they and how do they work. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/11/offshore-wind-farms-future-renewables/
Renewables to overtake coal by 2025 as predominate energy source https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/12/renewables-coal-energy-crisis-iea-2022/
Ultra thin solar cell which can turn any surface into an energy source https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/12/thin-solar-cell-surface-energy-source-technology-science/ Here’s a short video about it https://www.weforum.org/videos/these-ultra-thin-solar-cells-can-turn-any-surface-into-a-power-source
Fusion energy breakthrough what does it mean for energy production in the future? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/12/breakthrough-in-nuclear-fusion-could-mean-near-limitless-energy
What’s the best site for wind and solar? A new report shows where they are. https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-much-more-solar-and-wind-power-but-where-are-the-best-sites-we-mapped-them-all-196033
RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Food recycling coming to your green bin despite government delays https://theconversation.com/despite-government-delays-food-waste-recycling-bins-are-coming-to-your-kitchen-sooner-than-you-think-195734
Disposable nappy recycling trial to stop 1.5 billion disposable nappies going into landfill. https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/news/closing-the-loop-on-nappies-an-aussie-trial-758380075
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Why EVs aren’t being made in Victoria a tale of a lost opportunity https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/11/26/seas-electric-vehicles-v-the-state
New electric cars coming to Australia this year will see a range of EVs available in Australia https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/03/new-cars-charging-into-australias-electric-vehicle-market-in-2023
1 Million Women organisation is raffling a 100% electric Polestar car. Money raised from the tickets will fund the organisation’s advocacy work on climate change. For details go to https://www.raffletix.com.au/1millionwomenelectriccar