Temperatures leap 40 degrees above normal as the Arctic Ocean and Greenland ice sheet see record June melting

Ice is melting in unprecedented ways as summer approaches in the Arctic. In recent days, observations have revealed a record-challenging melt event over the Greenland ice sheet, while the extent of ice over the Arctic Ocean has never been this low in mid-June during the age of weather satellites.

Steffen Olsen, an Arctic researcher with the Danish
Meteorological Institute, and dogs set out to retrieve
 oceanographic moorings and a weather station over
 meltwater topping sea ice in northwest Greenland on Thursday.

Greenland saw temperatures soar up to 40 degrees above normal Wednesday, while open water exists in places north of Alaska where it seldom, if ever, has in recent times.

It’s “another series of extreme events consistent with the long-term trend of a warming, changing Arctic,” said Zachary Labe, a climate researcher at the University of California at Irvine.

And the abnormal warmth and melting of ice in the Arctic may be messing with our weather.

Read the story from The Washington Post by Jason Samenow -  “Temperatures leap 40 degrees above normal as the Arctic Ocean and Greenland ice sheet see record June melting.”

Coal-fired power plants disrupt rainfall and threaten human health, study shows

Coal-fired power plants can pose a bigger threat to human health and the environment than cars, a groundbreaking long-term global study has revealed.

Barnaby Joyce has called for the Morrison government
to bankroll a new coal plant, despite health and
environmental concerns.

Modern coal-fired power stations emit higher levels of dangerous pollutants known as “ultrafine dust particles” than urban road traffic, and can even redistribute rainfall patterns, researchers from Australia and Germany have found.

While road traffic has long been considered the main source of ultrafine particles (UFP) in urban areas, the 15-year study showed that coal-fired power stations clearly emit larger amounts of UFPs through filtering technology of exhaust gas.

Read the story from The New Daily by Isabelle Lane - “Coal-fired power plants disrupt rainfall and threaten human health, study shows.”

Nearly 30 megacities announce massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in defiance of Trump at California summit

Some of the world’s largest cities, including London, Paris and New York, have revealed they are no longer increasing their climate-harming carbon emissions — and pledged to cut them further.

Protesters gathering outside the Global
Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.

Greenhouse gas pollution from 27 of the world’s largest cities has been on a downward trajectory for five years thanks to a switch to renewable energy and cleaner transportation systems, it emerged at the Global Climate Action Summit, an event being held in San Francisco to encourage “deeper worldwide commitments” to save the environment.

Read the story by Josh Gabbatiss from the Independent - “Nearly 30 megacities announce massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in defiance of Trump at California summit.”

Trump golf resort wrecked special nature site, reports reveal

The spectacular dunes system picked by Donald Trump for his golf resort in Aberdeenshire has been “partially destroyed” as a result of the course’s construction, documents released under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed.

Donald Trump at his Aberdeenshire course, which includes
the fragile Foveran Links, at its opening in 2012. 

Scottish Natural Heritage, which has been under pressure for years to speak out on the issue, now acknowledges that serious damage has been done to the site of special scientific interest (SSSI) at Foveran Links on the Menie estate, north of Aberdeen, since the course opened in 2012, the documents show.

As a result, Foveran’s SSSI status – given because of its unusual shifting sands and diverse plant life – now hangs in the balance.

Read the story from The Guardian by science reporter, Robin McKie - “Trump golf resort wrecked special nature site, reports reveal.”

Human race just 0.01% of all life but has eradicated most other living things

Humankind is revealed as simultaneously insignificant and utterly dominant in the grand scheme of life on Earth by a groundbreaking new assessment of all life on the planet.

A cattle farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil. 60%
of all mammals on Earth are livestock.

The world’s 7.6 billion people represent just 0.01% of all living things, according to the study. Yet since the dawn of civilisation, humanity has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of plants, while livestock kept by humans abounds.

The new work is the first comprehensive estimate of the weight of every class of living creature and overturns some long-held assumptions. Bacteria are indeed a major life form – 13% of everything – but plants overshadow everything, representing 82% of all living matter. All other creatures, from insects to fungi, to fish and animals, make up just 5% of the world’s biomass.

Read the story by The Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington - “Human race just 0.01% of all life but has eradicated most other living things.”

‘Big issue': Turnbull government's energy plan may curb state ambition

The Turnbull government is set for showdown with states and territories over its signature energy policy after new details of the plan revealed any additional efforts by the states to curb carbon emissions would not count towards the national target.

The emissions intensity of the power sector is on the increase.

A key policy design paper circulated among the states at the weekend and obtained by Fairfax Media appears to  recommend a review of the emissions reductions target only every five years and provides for exemptions of trade-exposed companies that constitute as much as a fifth of demand.

The exemption will be welcomed by manufacturers such as steelmaker Bluescope, but critics of policy regard aspects of the plan including the five-year reviews as inflexible at a time when the energy market is changing quickly.

Read Peter Hannam’s story from The Age - “‘Big issue': Turnbull government's energy plan may curb state ambition.”

Rooftop urban farm revealed at Frasers’ Living Building Challenge retail site

The Burwood Brickworks retail centre, designed to be the world’s most sustainable shopping centre, has revealed it will house a 2000-square-metre urban farm and restaurant on its roof.

The Burwood Brickworks retail centre.

Teaming up with environmentalist Joost Bakker on the project, building developer Frasers Property Australia is now calling for expression of interest from tenants wanting to take over the rooftop space.

Last year, Frasers executive general manager, retail Peri Macdonald revealed to The Fifth Estate intentions to create an urban farm that would be a financial boon for the developer.

Read Cameron Jewell’s story on The Fifth Estate - “Rooftop urban farm revealed at Frasers’ Living Building Challenge retail site."