New research published in the leading international journal Nature Communications has added to the growing evidence that native forest logging in Australia is exacerbating wildfire risks. (more…)
Category: Climate
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Environment: WA addicted to producing, burning and exporting gas
Albanese government eager to support WA’s gas addiction. Tasmania’s natural environment trashed by deer and loggers. Globally, one square kilometre of trees cleared every 10 minutes. Ecological and spiritual values converge in Chinese temples. (more…)
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Go-ahead for new carbon bomb marks Australia as enemy of the region
In planning its future release of up to 80 billion tonnes of planet-heating carbon, Australia has committed itself to the destruction of nations and wrecking of big cities throughout the Indo-Pacific Region. (more…)
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Australia and Japan must link energy and emissions strategies
As the US retreats into industrial protectionism, Australia faces a sobering truth: our most reliable ally may now be our biggest source of volatility. (more…)
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Australia’s latest emissions data shows a giant fossil fuel problem
Without accounting for land use, Australia’s emissions have only decreased 3% since 2005, not 27%.
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Six more giant gas projects could join Labor’s latest carbon bomb
While Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant approval has led to a chorus of protest, there are at least half a dozen more projects in the pipeline that could add to Australia’s emissions. (more…)
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Dozens of big industries want to plug in to Australia’s first 100 pct net renewable (wind and solar) grid
The death of manufacturing? It’s a constant refrain among the conservative nut jobs on Murdoch’s Sky After Dark and within the far right elements of the federal Coalition, who insist that more wind and solar will be the death of industry in Australia. (more…)
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Inequality in an age of weather extremes
“In tropical climes there are certain times of day When all the citizens retire to tear their clothes off and perspire. It’s one of the rules that the greatest fools obey, Because the sun is much too sultry And one must avoid its ultry-violet ray…” (more…)
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A carbon tax and some key policy challenges
A carbon tax will obviously help reduce carbon emissions and achievement of the net zero target, but it will also help raise the revenue needed to fund essential government services and promote Australia’s economic development. (more…)
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Merchants of death
In extending the life of Australia’s North West Shelf gas project till 2070, the federal and WA Governments have knowingly signed the death warrants of four million human beings. (more…)
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Environment: Freshwater systems and grasslands, forgotten nature and climate heroes
Human activities are pushing many freshwater fish toward extinction globally and in Australia. (more…)
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‘A big deal’: Bowen says hosting COP31 will lift Australia’s standing and help accelerate renewables shift
Australia’s bid to co-host the United Nations COP31 climate talks in 2026 with Pacific nations has been described by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen as a “remarkable opportunity” to restore Australia’s international climate leadership and help shape the global clean energy conversation. (more…)
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Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070
In a decision surprising very few people, Australia’s new environment minister Murray Watt has signed off on an extension for the gas plant at Karratha, part of the enormous North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project. (more…)
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Australia is about to see a step change in its renewable transition strategy
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Or so said the actor Jimmy Dean. (more…)
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The drought is back – we need a new way to help farmers survive tough times
Australia in 2025 is living up to Dorothy McKellar’s poetic vision of a country stricken by “drought and flooding rains”. (more…)
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Environment: Australians must defend our right to protest
Dissent and protest are under attack across Australia. Thawing permafrost is a problem for everyone, not just Arctic-dwellers. LNG produces more emissions than coal, oil or gaseous natural gas. Renewables rollouts are up, but so are energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. (more…)
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The Coalition’s climate change wars: Costs and opportunities
There should be no surprise that the Nationals’ climate change denial-infected policy preferences have led to a rupture of the Coalition. (more…)
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Environment: Nations ignoring the need for a just transition to zero carbon
Eliminating greenhouse gas emissions is dangerously slow, but doing it in a fair, just and inclusive manner is all but non-existent. Climate change’s many harmful outcomes for women and girls includes more child marriages. Fishing doesn’t have to kill mammals and birds. (more…)
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From nuclear to nature laws, here’s where Ley stands on four energy and environment flashpoints
Sussan Ley has been elected Liberal leader after defeating rival Angus Taylor in a party room vote on 13 May. Now the hard work of rebuilding the party can begin. (more…)
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Bowen confirmed as climate and energy minister, Watt gets environment
Chris Bowen has been confirmed as climate and energy minister in the new Albanese Government, while Murray Watt has been appointed minister for the environment and water as part of a reshuffle announced on Monday. (more…)
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The US war on science
Sadly, largely due to the media’s lack of interest in science and the drop in the number of journalists able to cover such a round, one of the most important stories about science — the Trump destruction of science — is largely being neglected. (more…)
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Environment: Will Labor now protect our environment? If not now, probably never
The world is getting hotter, seas are rising more quickly, oceans are heating faster and freshwater is getting saltier, but Labor’s first-term environmental performance provides little optimism for its second, even though Australia leads the way with solar energy generation. (more…)
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The climate won’t change for the Liberals without more women and fewer oldies
If the Liberals have any sense, they won’t waste too much time blaming their shocking election result on Peter Dutton, Donald Trump, Cyclone Alfred, the party secretariat, an unready shadow ministry or any other “proximate cause”, as economists say. Why not? Because none of these go to the heart of their party’s problem. (more…)
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Thirteen things on Labor’s climate and energy must-do list to change the system
The thumping victory for Labor in the weekend’s poll means that it is likely to be in power for at least another six years. (more…)
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Australia lays out red carpet for rapid green energy transition. Can Labor seize the moment?
What an opportunity Australia has before it. (more…)
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Al Gore on climate and Trump – the whole speech
Readers may have seen mainstream media coverage of former US vice-president Al Gore’s speech at San Francisco Climate Week on 21 April. We think it is worth reading in full. (more…)
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The election and the social determinants of health
The Social Determinants of Health are the conditions in which we work, live, and play. We, as a society, choose these conditions and/or choose not to change them. They play at least as important a role in health outcomes as access to care. (more…)
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Fossil fuels blamed as 84% of world’s coral reefs hit by worst bleaching event ever recorded
“The magnitude and extent of the heat stress is shocking,” said one marine scientist. (more…)
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2025 is the crunch year in the scientific contest about accelerated warming
The record-breaking warming years of 2023 (1.5°C) and 2024 (1.6°C) were above expectations and shocked scientists. (more…)
