Albanese’s Controversial Decision: Choosing Tasmanian Votes Over Marine Conservation

Prime Minister Albanese is giving support to salmon farmers despite severe environmental issues. The year 2025 presents a chance for nations to take action for ocean health. There’s been significant growth in global battery storage. Most greenhouse gases we see today were produced by people alive now.

Albanese’s Support for Salmon Farmers

Salmon farming in Tasmania is causing serious environmental damage. There’s pollution in the harbors from chemicals and excess feed. The water is losing oxygen, and seal populations are affected, along with the endangered Maugean skate pushed closer to extinction. Also, krill is being overharvested to feed the salmon. Recently, hundreds of thousands of farmed salmon died, resulting in their carcasses being disposed of improperly.

The Prime Minister wants to give the salmon industry $37 million and change laws to exempt it from some environmental rules. Why does this industry need extra money when it’s made $4 billion in sales during the past four years without paying any taxes? If he knows about the environmental issues, how can he think these companies will fix them? It raises questions about his understanding of the situation.

To put it simply: salmon and skates can’t vote, so it seems this support is politically motivated.

The practices of the main Tasmanian salmon producers are considered unsustainable. An independent guide, GoodFish, advises consumers to steer clear of their products.

While you may not be able to change government policies overnight, you can choose not to buy Tasmanian farmed salmon. Every bit counts.

A Critical Year for Oceans

Oceans are facing many threats, including climate change, pollution, overfishing, and biodiversity loss. Surprisingly, despite covering over 70% of the Earth, oceans often receive less attention than they should. They hold 97% of the planet’s water and are home to the most diverse life forms.

In 2025, several important events will focus on ocean health:

• A new treaty, the High Seas Treaty, aims to protect marine resources outside national waters. It’s expected to be ratified at the UN Ocean Conference in June.
• The WTO’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies targets payments leading to illegal fishing. It needs ratification from 22 more countries to take effect.
• Plastic pollution is a major issue, with 8 to 10 million metric tons entering oceans each year. Efforts to finalize a Global Plastics Treaty failed in 2024, but discussions will continue in 2025.
• Deep-sea mining poses significant risks to marine ecosystems. The International Seabed Authority will meet to discuss regulations.
• Presidents of Brazil and France are connecting climate change and ocean conservation efforts with upcoming conferences.

Let’s hope these discussions lead to real change instead of empty promises.

Fun Facts About Marine Life

• What animal glows in the dark and is about 5cm long?
• Which creatures have a combined weight equal to 8 billion humans?
• Who is threatened by climate change yet captures tons of carbon each year?

Curious about the ocean’s tiny superheroes? Check out this three-minute video on krill.

Growth in Battery Storage

The demand for battery storage is on the rise. In 2016, only 1GW was added globally. By 2022, that number jumped to 18GW and doubled to 42GW in 2023! This rapid growth is crucial if we want to meet climate goals, and new annual capacity needs to rise by 25% until 2030.

Electric vehicles currently dominate the battery market, making up 80% of demand. Between 2022 and 2023, battery usage for EVs increased by 40%, adding nearly 45 million new EVs on the road.

Despite newer battery tech emerging, lithium-ion batteries remain the top choice due to ongoing advancements and price drops. As they improve, electric vehicles will become more affordable.

However, the International Energy Agency warns of risks that could slow down renewable energy growth:

• Inadequate supply of key minerals for battery production.
• Slow development of battery storage can prolong reliance on fossil fuels, leading to more pollution and health issues.

Policymakers need to develop sustainable supply chains and support infrastructure to ensure the growth of renewable energy.

Emissions in Our Lifetime

Most fossil fuel emissions have occurred during our lifetimes. Since 1751, between 70% and 90% of all CO2 emissions come from people alive today. Unlike past generations, we cannot claim ignorance. We’ve known about global warming for years, yet we continue to make choices that harm future generations.

The views expressed here are those of the author.