Climate News: Europe roasts in heatwave - Rhine may split in two; Electric car emissions benefits are far greater than first thought; ‘Climate whiplash’ is not simply a buzzword

Former Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, refused to acknowledge climate change when the country was ablaze in 2019/20, and now the present PM, Anthony Albanese, follows the same path despite UN warnings and the collapse of the "third pole" in Nepal."The shift is now absolute’: China’s BYD says Australia just passed its EV tipping point";"Many Italians Long Resisted Air-Conditioning. Then Europe Got Hotter.";"We’re In Deep Shit, But Not Because of El Niño";"Australia called out as world hurtles past 1.5 degree warming goal";"Urgent Global Response Needed to Prepare for ‘Literally Off the Charts’ Supersized El Niño, Says UN";"Australia cannot deny its share of the climate catastrophe";"It’s Not Just You. America Has Gotten Much Hotter.".

Australia's Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, has described plans to go ahead with the Beetaloo Basin project as "bat-shit crazy"."Nepal knows only too well the devastating dangers of climate change";"Melbourne records its warmest winter on record, as bushfire season looms";"End Times Fascism and the Fight for the Living World.";"This company has built a solar car. I took it for a drive".

Here in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, the climate conversation is rather mute; people know it is happening, want something done about it, but rarely speak about the dilemma.Here at "Climate Conversations", it was decided that an attempt would be made to provide the discussion with some oxygen.Subsequently, it was decided we would ask 10 basic questions about climate change to 500 people in 50 weeks - that is 10 each week for the best part of a year.Overly optimistic? Maybe so, but it is worth a try in the hope that the project might encourage some people to think more deeply about the issue, talk about it with friends and family and demand more action from our decision-makers at all three levels of government: Local, State, and Federal.Thanks, especially, to the first 10 interviewees - Sue, Jennifer, Michael, Kirsty, Dave, Graeme, Lauren, George, John and Jemima.The interviews happened in a variety of environments, and so the quality of the audio varies, something I intend to sharpen up as time passes.

Kirsty Bishop-Fox chairs the group behind Victoria's "Zero Waste Festival" and, as the event's director, talks about the Saturday, September 12, event.The program has many highlights, among them the Rewear Runway (a fashion parade revolving around used clothing), appearances by the Climate Choir Melbourne, the Riff Raff Radical Marching Band Melbourne, and a session providing advice on how to read your bills, a fabric swap, a Repair Cafe & Mending Circle, a Clothes Swap and a chance to share your home energy story.There will be a book swap, a chance to become a super eco-warrior, a No-sew Upcycled T-Shirt Bag Workshop and a host of other events to help you reduce your waste.The festival opens with Australia’s favourite garden gnome, Costa, for the Melbourne launch of his new book, Costa’s Garden: Fruit, with stories, laughter and plenty of gardening inspiration. Dress in your fruitiest outfits (adults and kids alike!) as Costa shares the awe and wonder of the natural world with young readers, budding gardeners and fruit lovers of all ages.Immediately after that, those attending can hear about "Rethinking Plastic: The Good, the Bad, and the Biodegradable", then it is "Everyday Sustainability: Progress Over Perfection" and then "The Rise of Data Centres and the Hidden Footprint of AI".

Nepal floods - "Tsunami of dirt: what caused Nepal’s deadly glacial flood?";"What probably triggered the Nepal flood, and why it could happen more often";"Australia’s backdown on data centres allows them to use energy from coal and gas. Here’s what that means";"The fight over AI data centres is becoming Australia’s next Indigenous policy challenge";"$900 million from a canceled wind deal will benefit a Trump donor";"The US military’s fatal stance on climate change";"Data center backlash is preventing cities from learning how to handle them".

About 30 people gathered recently at Geelong's Cellar Door Wine Bar for the launch of Mik Aidt's new book, "Man of Earth".Mik has been a truly active climate activist for more than a decade, and that lively approach has seen him involved in a range of processes, allowing him to exercise his journalistic skills through podcasting, radio and now, the authorship of a book.Mik is known to many through "The Sustainable Hour" and "The Geelong Connections Cafe".

Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis is excited about the Tatura Transitions event coming up on Sunday, August 23, at both the town's Cussen Park and the Italian Social Club. GV Community Energy is supporting the event, as are Zero Carbon Tatura; The Goulburn Valley Tree Group; Cussen Park; the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority; Tatura Rotary; Landcare; Sustainability Victoria; and The City of Greater Shepparton.There has been a rush for tickets for this free event, and even though it recently reached capacity, a few additional spots have been added, and they can be secured through Humanitix.

Europe heatwave sees continent roast - "Germany’s Rhine River may ‘split in two’ as new heatwave roasts Europe";"Electric car emissions benefits are far greater than first thought";"‘Truly Devastating’: Trump Ends Federal Funding for Key Arctic Climate Report";"When fuel prices rise, who picks up the pieces?";"‘Climate whiplash’ is not simply a buzzword, but a symptom of a warming planet";"These 5 charts show how far rooftop solar and home batteries can take us – and why we still need the grid";"Reef relief: how a late summer monsoon helped cool the Great Barrier Reef at just the right time".

Harry Rosson delivered the latest in the Public Money, Public Good lectures, titled "An economy that puts people & planet first: What it looks like & how to get there".In this lecture, Harry shows how we have been tricked into a destructive growth agenda, and how we can move beyond it for our and our planet's sake.

Monty Don tours the gardens of the River Rhine, wondering frequently about the impact of climate change - "Monty Don's Rhineland Gardens";"Earth Overshoot Day" – the date when humanity has consumed everything the planet can regenerate during the entire year. In 2026, that date arrived on 30 July;"What is climate gentrification? Why house prices are rising outside of Europe's city centres";"Fire, flood and wishful thinking: Why we’re not ready for Victoria’s climate future".