Scientific experts 'extremely concerned' by plan to stop extinctions.

Australia’s blueprint to save animals and plants from extinction is inferior to that of developing nations such as Rwanda and Myanmar, according to scientists who warn the strategy “falls far short” of addressing a crisis in species loss.

There are less than 1000 numbats left in the wild. The
species is threatened by loss of habitat and feral predators.

The draft proposal has also prompted questions over why humans, urban areas and industrial landscapes have been included in the official definition of “nature”.

The federal government says the document is still a draft and “not government policy”.

The Department of the Environment and Energy released a draft plan in December titled Australia's Strategy for Nature 2018-2030.

The 17-page document aims to protect biodiversity – which includes plant and animal species, habitats and ecological communities – against threats such as climate change and urban development. Critics derided it as a “global embarrassment”.

Read Nicole Hasham’s story from The Age - “Scientific experts 'extremely concerned' by plan to stop extinctions.”

Unpacking the Finkel Review

On Friday, Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, released the findings of a review into the future of the National Electricity Market.

The Finkel Review was tasked with developing a “blueprint” for the national electricity market (NEM) that:

◦ delivers on Australia’s emissions reduction commitments

◦ provides affordable electricity, and

◦ ensures a high level of security and reliability.

It's a hefty 212 page document so we've put together an explainer to help explain the content.

Read the story by the Climate Council - “Unpacking the Finkel Review.”

Experimental solar battery in Queensland's Lakeland could lead other remote towns off the grid

A world-first solar project in remote far north Queensland could provide the blueprint for regional Australian towns to go it alone in the event of power failure.

The Lakeland project will comprise
41,440 solar panels and generate
up to 13 megawatts of power.

The Lakeland Solar and Storage Project, located 70 kilometres south west of Cooktown, will feature the first large-scale battery storage connected to a fringe-of-grid solar project.

Conergy, the company building the $42.5 million project, hopes to use Lakeland as a test case for 'grid-to-islanding' functionality — whereby the far north Queensland town could be powered directly from the battery for up to five hours in the event of a power failure.

Read the ABC story - “Experimental solar battery in Queensland's Lakeland could lead other remote towns off the grid.”

Ministers agree to energy security review after 'wake-up call' in South Australia



Chief scientist Alan Finkel will lead
energy security review.

Energy ministers met in Melbourne on Friday, where they agreed to an independent review of the nation's energy security, to be led by chief scientist Alan Finkel.  Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said the meeting had been a "productive and constructive airing of views", and the review would produce a blueprint for energy security across the national electricity market.

The recent power blackout in South Australia was a "wake-up call", he said.

The one-in-50-year storm had caused the blackout in South Australia, he said, but energy security also needed to be protected amid higher uptake of "intermittent" forms of power, including wind and solar

Read the story by Benjamin Preiss in today’s Melbourne Age - “Ministers agree to energy security review after 'wake-up call' in South Australia.”