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Robyn Schofield

@robynschofield3.bsky.social
3K followers 1.2K following 79 posts

Prof Atmospheric Chemistry and A/Dean Environment and Sustainability at The University of Melbourne. All things air and climate and impacts on environmental & human health... Opinions my own (and others that I like).

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Reposted by Robyn Schofield
Tim Baxter @timinclimate.naruresearch.com.au · 05/10/2026
This, ladies, gentleman and others, is yet another reason that we do not support the billionaires behind Chemist Warehouse, Amcal and Discount Drug Stores (who are all the same people).
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Tim Guinee @timguinee.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Gas stove companies have known about dangerous emissions for decades. Here's hoping @governor.ny.gov signs the S1280b into law. New Yorkers deserve to know about dangerous emissions. #IndoorAirQualityAwarenessMonth @lizkrueger.bsky.social @solagesny.bsky.social grist.org/accountabili...
grist.org
The hazards of gas stoves were flagged by the industry — and hidden — 50 years ago
Utilities knew about the danger of indoor air pollution in 1972 and downplayed it, a DeSmog investigation found.
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Tim Baxter @timinclimate.naruresearch.com.au · 02/10/2026
We're being taken for chumps. Again. I'm sure the country's so-called leaders are up to the task. What was that Donald Horne quote, again?
ieefa.org
China’s resales of Australian LNG strengthens case for prioritising domestic users
With Australia’s two largest LNG buyers – Japan and China – both reselling large volumes of Australian gas, there is a strong case for prioritising domestic users when it comes to utilising eastern Au...
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Wrote this piece - the benefits of recapturing vapours is a low hanging fruit for urban air quality and health wins... energy.unimelb.edu.au/about-us/new...
energy.unimelb.edu.au
Recapturing the volatile vapours of our petrol: How Melbourne is falling behind
Recapturing the volatile vapours of our petrol: How Melbourne is falling behind
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Larissa Waters @larissawaters.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The biggest coal mine expansion ever proposed in NSW has been approved by the Minns government. It threatens to wipe out Australia's emissions reductions. This is a major test for Anthony Albanese and Murray Watt; they cannot provide federal approval to a project of this scale.
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Prof Helen Bostock @oceanhelen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Another reason to bring your own cup for those take away coffees. New research by my awesome colleague Dr Elvis Okoffo. Great to see this finally out. I have been telling people over the last year….
news.uq.edu.au
Takeaway cups release microplastics into your coffee
Single-use paper cups used for takeaway coffee and other beverages release millions of microplastic particles when exposed to hot liquid, University of Queensland researchers have found.
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Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf @rahmstorf.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Sommer 2026: 16.000 Hitzetote 🥵 alleine in 🇩🇪. Dürre. Brände. 🤯 Die Bundesregierung subventioniert jetzt mit 2.500.000.000 € von unseren Steuergeldern die Ursache der Hitze: fossile Brennstoffe. Unfassbar. 🤯🤯🤯 Das meiste Geld landet dann wieder bei den Ölkonzernen, der Lobby gegen Klimaschutz.
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Bob Berwyn @bberwyn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Four countries—the United States, Canada, Australia and Norway—have increased oil and gas production by 40 percent since the 2015 Paris Agreement, while the rest of world has reduced production (archive story) ...
insideclimatenews.org
‘Hurtling Toward Climate Chaos’ as COP30 Nears - Inside Climate News
Negotiators gathering for the global climate talks must acknowledge their failures and seek alternatives to spur action, scientists say.
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Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
"COVID vaccines no longer free for many Australians from next month" From October 1, Australia will end free COVID vaccines for most people. Free doses will remain for adults 65+, First Nations people aged 50–74 and severely immunocompromised adults aged 18–64. The cost for others is not yet known.
abc.net.au
COVID vaccines no longer free for many Australians from next month
Only some people will continue to get the COVID-19 vaccination for free after October 1. Here's what the changes mean for you.
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Nicolas Hénin @nicolashenin.net · 17/09/2026
Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!
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Marcus Kelson @marcuskelson.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
How Electric Cars Took Hold in Australia - because we’ve seen the writing on the wall… www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/w...
nytimes.com
How Electric Cars Took Hold in Australia
Rising oil prices helped push E.V. sales ahead of gas cars for the first time, even in a country that loves long road trips.
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
When Western Australia looks greener than the east coast (just)
Map showing electricity carbon intensity for Oceania - Sa and NZ good East coast of Australia bad.
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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · 06/09/2026
Brown sky = bad. Blue sky = good. Air pollution seems simple, right?  Look a little closer and things get much more complicated.  From PM2.5 and smog to AQI and super pollutants, brush up on the key terms ahead of #CleanAirDay to better understand the air you breathe: bit.ly/4qY1And
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darren32359.bsky.social @darren32359.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
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Kon Karapanagiotidis @kkarapanagiotidis.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
To watch Albanese Gov consider cutting refugee & humanitarian intake by a 1/3 this week down to 13,750 places when the reality is it’s people from New Zealand - 736,500 to be exact, on bridging visas here (more than 10 times the number of people seeking asylum here) www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
theage.com.au
The visa class at the heart of Labor’s migration woes
The number of people on bridging visas has doubled in three years, indicating the migration system may be overwhelmed.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 28/08/2026
London Science Museum cuts links with BP after decades of partnership
theguardian.com
London Science Museum cuts links with BP after decades of partnership
Campaigners say ‘seismic shift’ follows years of pressure to sever ties with oil and gas firm The London Science Museum has ended its decades-long partnership with the oil and gas company BP in what has been described as a “seismic shift” for the museum. The Science Museum Group academy, which was established in 2018 to provide training and resources, announced on Friday that it would be ending its partnership with BP. In a statement, the director and chief executive of the Science Museum Group, Sir Ian Blatchford, said the partnership had “drawn to a close at the end of the current contract term”. Continue reading...
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The Australia Institute @australiainstitute.org.au · 27/08/2026
What will we get out of the AI boom? The data suggests lots of noisy, energy-hungry datacentres and not much else. Read more from Greg Jericho in The Guardian:
theguardian.com
What will we get out of the AI boom? The data suggests lots of noisy, energy-hungry datacentres and not much else
Booms in investment usually lead to economic growth. But this one looks unlikely to translate into better living standar
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Human activities have doubled the amount of mercury in our environment (fossil fuel burning predominantly, artisanal gold mining too). The atmosphere is actually the main transport pathway for mercury - so a few inaccuracies in this article. But the findings none the less interesting...
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Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀 @mackayim.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
"per capita, Australians use almost twice as much diesel as the United States." "..fix for this, where we won't have inflation built into all our groceries, where we aren't beholden to whatever's happening around the globe, is if we run on Australian-made electricity" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
abc.net.au
Fuel security or electrification? We've crunched the numbers
The war in Iran has drawn attention to something invisible to most Australians — we use a lot of diesel to keep this country running.
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Erik Nordman @eriknordman.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
"The EPA said if the power plants are not supplying electricity to the grid then they would not be subject to the federal Clean Air ​Act's Acid Rain Program, which has been key to the ​dramatic reduction of smog and soot pollution from industrial ⁠facilities." www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
reuters.com
EPA says power for data centers can sidestep pollution laws
Power sources providing electricity only to data centers and not the public grid may not be subject to ​federal pollution laws, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on ‌Monday.
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ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 28/07/2026
High breast density makes cancer harder to see on a mammogram, but it's not always reported to patients
abc.net.au
'Not good enough': Dense breasts halting life-saving cancer diagnoses
When Kate Clark's breast started leaking fluid, she knew there was something wrong with her body. And although both a mammogram and ultrasound came back negative for breast cancer, she felt she knew her body better.
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Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Scott Morrison was referred to the NACC over Robodebt and the Govt paid his $461K legal fees. I won an #AUKUS nuclear waste #FOI challenge and the Govt is threatening I’ll have to pay their $150K legal fees. @albomp.bsky.social thinks that’s fair play! #auspol
theguardian.com
Anger at Labor as Rex Patrick faces potential six-figure legal fee if he loses Aukus documents battle
Australian government insists legal costs should be paid by former senator as FoI fight escalates
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 27/07/2026
👋 Public Health Communicator from Australia here. One of the reasons Australia punches above its weight in sports is that it prioritizes sports science. It's no surprise that Aussie athletes like the swim team have been consistently masking to prevent themselves getting sick before competitions.
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Brenda Peters RN(NP), PhD 🇨🇦 @brenda-peters.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Small study, just published. Changing from gas to electric --> asthma improvement > medication treatment. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Asthma Control Before and After Changing Gas Stoves to Electric Stoves
Cooking on natural gas stoves is a major source of indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure and may contribute to asthma exacerbations.To assess asthma …
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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Need-to-Know: Climate change causes more lightning A 1C increase in temperature amounts to about 12% more lightning --i.e. 500k to 600K in Canada We know this because of lightning detection networks that use special sensors and satellites leahy.substack.com/p/yes-climat...
leahy.substack.com
Yes, Climate Change Causes Wildfires
Here's how
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Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 18/07/2026
Let's do some Canadian pipeline-wildfire math. The Canadian Energy Center says growing oil exports by 1.5M barrels/day **could** boost GDP by ~31B annually. Meanwhile, wildfire smoke health costs alone - just the health costs, nothing else - averaged 23B/year, past tense. And they're growing fast.
nowtoronto.com
Ontario hardest hit as wildfires cost Canada billions | NOW Toronto
A new report estimates wildfire smoke has cost Canada $231 billion since 2014. See how much each province has spent.
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🇨🇦Joe Vipond🇨🇦 @jvipondmd.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
"Engineers have continued to develop sophisticated systems to keep air healthy. High-end apartment buildings occasionally boast about the technology used to keep their tenants safe. But these systems are far from ubiquitous."
nytimes.com
Buildings May Soon Have ‘Immune Systems’ That Fight Airborne Disease
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The Conversation AUNZ @aunz.theconversation.com · 19/06/2026
Too many Australians affected by cancer are being financially ruined or receiving sub-optimal (or no) care, due to cost or distance – and it’s everyone’s problem.
theconversation.com
Friday essay: I had to crowdfund my cancer treatment in Australia’s ‘universal’ health-care system
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Excited this paper led by @camzachreson.bsky.social is out now! Room-return ventilation and N95 respirator policies for reducing airborne pathogen exposure on hospital wards www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Room-return ventilation and N95 respirator policies for reducing airborne pathogen exposure on hospital wards
Understanding interactions between the components of bundled mitigation measures can aid the prospective evaluation of hospital infection control prog…
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
If walking costs you $1, we all pay $0.01. If biking costs you $1, we all pay $0.08. If bussing costs you $1, we all pay $1.50. If driving costs you $1, we all pay $9.20. Via study that still underestimates climate cost. This isn’t about choice. It’s about who pays for your choice. #citymakingmath
Detailed math as referenced in the post on “how much does your commute cost or save society?” Source is Discourse Media.
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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · 07/06/2026
How is your country affected by air pollution? UNEP’s Pollution Action Note shows the global state of air pollution, major sources, the impact on human health & national efforts to tackle this critical issue. www.unep.org/interactives/air-pollu…
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Harald Klinke @harald-klinke.de · 07/06/2026
AI has an environmental footprint. A new UN University study highlights the energy use, carbon emissions, water consumption, and land impacts associated with large AI systems. As AI adoption grows, sustainability must be part of the conversation. #AI #Sustainability #ClimateTech
unu.edu
The Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence: Carbon, Water, and Land Footprints
AI’s rapid growth drives huge energy, water, and land use, raising environmental and equity challenges across its global infrastructure.
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Jaap Burger @jaapburger.eu · 04/06/2026
The Dutch branch of German discount supermarket Lidl is bringing forward its goal of achieving 100% electric transport by 2030 to 2027. From next year, all stores will receive deliveries exclusively by battery-electric trucks.
youtu.be
Lidl Nederland eerste retailer ter wereld die 100% elektrisch bevoorraadt!
YouTube video by Lidl Nederland
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AGU (American Geophysical Union) @agu.org · 29/05/2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting in Chiba, Japan! 🌏 Over the past week, scientists, students and leaders from around the world came together to share research, exchange ideas and strengthen global collaboration. 🔗 spklr.io/6186EMiQj #JpGU #AGU #GlobalScience
Conference photo at JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting in Chiba, Japan.Conference photo at JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting in Chiba, Japan.Conference photo at JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting in Chiba, Japan.Conference photo at JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting in Chiba, Japan.
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3wombats @3wombats.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
www.theguardian.com/world/commen...
theguardian.com
Australian taxpayers subsidise Big Mining’s use of fossil fuel to the tune of $4bn a year. It’s a strange way to tackle emissions | Adam Morton
Given the scale of its contribution to global heating, the world’s biggest miner has a duty to invest heavily in solutions that could have a global impact
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Making it ‘crystal clear’ would be a pathway to removing diesel tax incentives for big industries like BHP - $600m in incentives win for tax payers / government sure would help the rest of the economy move away from diesel reliance too… (win win)!!
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
And Australia….
Australian car fleet make up from 2020 to 2025 - EVs just 17% of new cars in April 2025
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Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution @dsawsp.org · 12/05/2026
“A study released today has found a direct link between air pollution and hospitalisations in Australia. It has recommended banning wood fires and phasing out the sale of new diesel vehicles.”
abc.net.au
Diesel cars, wood fires contributing to pollution sending people to hospital
A new study has found a clear link between air pollution exposure and the risk of ending up in hospital. It's a battle Julia Ovens knows only too well.
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Madrid closed its central business district to cars for the first time during the 2018 Christmas period. The result was a 9.5% increase in retail spending on Madrid’s main shopping street, the Gran Vía. Plus there was a 71% drop in air pollution. Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #UrbanTruth
forbes.com
Closing Central Madrid To Cars Resulted In 9.5% Boost To Retail Spending, Finds Bank Analysis
City of Madrid significantly boosted the takings of its shops and restaurants last Christmas by banning cars from the CBD, finds an analysis by Spain's second largest bank.
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Wow - what a backward step
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Royce Kurmelovs @roycerk2.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
It's also worth keeping in mind that Australia was, historically, glacial to phaseout leaded petrol. Everyone else started in the 1970s, but it wasn't until 2002 Australia banned it partly because govt kept asking industry its thoughts, which replied "but leaded petrol is cool and change is hard."
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Where’s Australia’s roadmap to exit?!
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EDF Energy Transition @edfenergyex.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
ICYMI: the University of Maryland @ctrglobsust.bsky.social released a greenhouse gas inventory and analysis for the U.S. 🔗EDF wrote about why its important they stepped up to do so: blogs.edf.org/energyexchan...
blogs.edf.org
The University of Maryland steps up to develop a U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Analysis - Energy Exchange
Taxes aren’t the only thing due today– April 15th is also the deadline for signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to submit their national greenhouse gas (GH...
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DrSinBin @drsinbin.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
I'm not joking when I say mRNA technology is more important than "AI" and it's a tragedy we're throwing billions into one while our government is aggressively defunding the other.
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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 14/04/2026
New @stand.earth: Microsoft's 3 new gas data centres will - Increase Microsoft's emissions 160% - Have higher emissions than power sectors of each of Greece, Ireland, Sri Lanka, NZ etc... - Have higher emissions than pwr sector of 15 lowest-emitting countries combined stand.earth/press-releas...
a chart showing 3 msft gas data centres vs countriesa chart showing 3 msft gas data centres vs countries
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Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
When the Iran war started and fuel prices went up, Labor ministers were telling the Parliament and public that the ACCC was cracking down on fuel price gouging. But the ACCC wasn’t, because it couldn’t. The Govt knew it, but were engaging in deceit. #auspol
michaelwest.com.au
Fuel price gouging. War profiteering and government dissembling - Michael West
Greedy fuel companies are taking advantage of war, while politicians tell us they’re going to deal with greedy fuel companies, but don't.
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Prof Ray Wills @profraywills.futuresmart.com.au · 31/03/2026
Excise relief socialises cost nationally while privatising direct benefit to fuel users Public transport relief socialises both cost & service access for those who actually depend on collective transport Aus to spend ~$850M/month on fuel-tax relief that omits non-drivers & EV owners from benefit
Comparing the number of people as pedestrians, versus travelling on a bus, versus riding bicycles, versus the number of people in cars 
The lowest users of fuel are pedestrians and cyclists, followed by those on a bus, versus private car use
https://danielbowen.com/2012/09/19/road-space-photo/
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Time to tax fossil fuel exports and cut subsidies for producers (and secure affordable national supplies while we transition to clean energy quickly). War profiteering is not a good look….
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Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Let’s not waste this crisis, and finally electrify for a resilient and clean future. The best time was 5 years ago the second best time is now!!
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Dr. Dawn Wright @deepseadawn.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Meanwhile, this animated map explores the elevation at birth of every athlete who has earned a gold medal in the Winter Olympics. It uses data from Olympedia and Esri’s World Elevation Service to track birthplace elevations across athletes in 8 categories. #gischat www.maps.com/winter-olymp...
maps.com
Peak Athletes: Mapping the Elevations of Gold Medalists in the Winter Olympics
Could where you’re born influence your chance of becoming a decorated Winter Olympian?
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