Entire state of South Australia powered solely by solar in a world first
The state of South Australia for a short period earlier in October met 100 percent of its energy needs from solar power – a world-first for a jurisdiction of its size.
Australia
This archive collects solutions-journalism stories and milestones from Australia — covering advances in conservation, public health, Indigenous rights, clean energy, and more. Each entry highlights progress worth knowing about.
Australia to complete world’s new largest solar farm ever by 2027
The solar farm, which is three times larger than the world’s current largest solar farm in northern China, is also expected to provide thousands of jobs related to construction and hundreds of jobs once construction is done.
Cancer breath test detects 80% of cases in early trial
The team from Australia’s Flinders University has developed a breath test that can detect exhaled breath profiles associated with head and neck cancers, with the tool demonstrating a high degree of accuracy in early trials.
Australian scientists create seaweed supplement for cows that reduces methane emissions by 80%
If only 10% of global cattle herds consumed the supplement, created by FutureFeed Ltd, it would be the same as taking 50 million cars off the roadways.
South Australia becomes first Australian state to ban single-use plastics
The law, which is expected to come into force in 2021, means that selling, supplying or distributing a “prohibited plastic product” will be illegal. The list of banned items includes plastic straws, cutlery, and drink stirrers, as well as polystyrene cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers.
Greenery-covered high-rise will have more trees than a nearby park
With over 1,000 trees and 20,000 plants on its exterior, the Urban Forest will boast more trees than a nearby park in Brisbane, Australia. The project is hailed as one of the world’s most densely-forested greenery-covered buildings by designer Koichi Takada Architects.
Honeybee venom found to be “extremely potent” against breast cancer
The team from Australia’s Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research found that a certain concentration of honeybee venom could be used to induce death in 100 percent of the cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells largely unharmed
Queensland becomes first Australian state to ban gay conversion therapy
Queensland has become the first state in Australia to criminalize gay conversion therapy, after state politicians voted to make the “highly destructive and unethical” practice illegal. Practitioners found guilty will now face up to 18 months in jail.
City of Sydney now runs on 100% renewable energy
Central Sydney, Australia is now entirely powered by renewable energy. By using locally sourced clean energy from wind and solar farms, the region will now see CO2 emissions reduced by around 20,000 tonnes each year. The move will save an estimated A$500,000 per year over the next decade.
Ambitious ‘cloud brightening’ experiment launched to restore Great Barrier Reef
Results from the trial were “really, really encouraging”, the project’s lead scientist Daniel Harrison from Southern Cross University said.