SA to spend $500m on Australia's largest battery storage and gas-fired power plant – as it happened
The South Australian government will spend $500m on energy plan, which includes building the nation’s largest battery storage and a state-owned gas-fired power plant. As it happened 3.24am GMT The main points of Jay Weatherill’s energy plan: 3.08am GMT And on the SA energy security target, South Australian energy retailers will have to get electricity […]
Gulf of Carpentaria's record mangrove dieback is a case study of extremes
Our investigation shows a combination of extreme temperatures, drought and lower sea levels caused the 2015-16 event One of the worst instances of mangrove forest dieback recorded globally struck Australia’s Gulf of Carpentaria in the summer of 2015-16. A combination of extreme temperatures, drought and lowered sea levels likely caused this dieback, according to our […]
Music to our ears: sustainability headlines Womadelaide festival
From encouraging bike riding and compostable plates to better recycling, organisers have diverted 98% of waste from landfill – and they want to do more For all the good vibes and communal spirit, when it comes to environmental sustainability there isn’t a great deal to celebrate about the average music festival. As anyone who has […]
NT gas pipeline approval puts fracking moratorium in question
Pipeline from Tennant Creek to Mount Isa could bring gas from the territory into the eastern states market amid power crisis An $800m gas pipeline from the Northern Territory to Queensland is one step closer after the federal government granted environmental approval for construction. The approval, which carries conditions to protect the native death adder […]
The fossil fuel industry's invisible colonization of academia | Benjamin Franta and Geoffrey Supran
Corporate capture of academic research by the fossil fuel industry is an elephant in the room and a threat to tackling climate change. On February 16, the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center hosted a film screening of the “Rational Middle Energy Series.” The university promoted the event as “Finding Energy’s Rational Middle” and described the […]
The west’s throwaway culture has spread waste worldwide | Waste packaging
Packaging – much of it single-use food wrapping – has created a rubbish problem that now pollutes every corner of the world. Manufacturers got us into this mess, but it’s up to us to dig ourselves out – and here’s how In 2003, I was told by a restaurant owner on a Thai island that […]
Turnbull under pressure as gas supply takes centre stage in power crisis
Competition watchdog will urge companies to sell to the domestic market, as South Australia reveals its plan to head off further power cuts The head of Australia’s competition watchdog will urge gas companies to support the domestic market to ensure struggling manufacturers don’t go to the wall, as the Turnbull government mulls options for boosting […]
Boaty McBoatface to go on its first Antarctic mission
Robot submarine, named after competition, will collect data from depths of Southern Ocean A small yellow robot submarine, called Boaty McBoatface after a competition to name a new polar research ship backfired, is being sent on its first Antarctic mission. Boaty, which has arguably one of the most famous names in recent maritime history, is […]
100 years ago: The horse, skilled labourer on the land
Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 17 March 1917 SurreyHoar frost turned to dew as the horses came out into the farm stable-yard this morning. They knew it was a strange hand that clattered the chain harness on the cobbles. Working for years in one place, they recognise even the footstep which goes to […]
Diesel emissions: the clues were there
For too long, no one suspected that any car manufacturer was cheating. Instead it was thought to be a weakness in the test It is amazing that the Volkswagen and diesel emissions scandal was not discovered earlier. In 2003 nitrogen dioxide alongside London’s Marylebone Road increased by around 20%. As we approached the 2010 legal […]