Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
Budget announcements for green industry and nature protection fall short as climate costs mount and opportunities to extract more fossil fuel income go missed.
Environmental Issue
Noisy, smelly and thirsty: call to pause data centres
Australia is on track to become a world leader for data centres powering the AI revolution but experts say their approvals need greater scrutiny.
Australia’s data centre dilemma: energy boom or bust?
Tech giants are spending billions of dollars to make Australia an artificial intelligence destination but its impact on the nation is up for debate.
Stalled methane fight risks climate, energy security
Concerted efforts to curb methane from fossil fuel production in Australia and around the world could benefit both the climate and energy security.
How we can fight China rare metal monopoly: mining boss
A retiring chief executive has recounted how Lynas Rare Earths endured early challenges to help break China's monopoly on processing the crucial materials.
Search to shore up fuel security strikes ‘liquid gold’
A renewable diesel project has been unveiled as a state government shores up fuel security after butting heads with the commonwealth over a proposed oil field.
Caveat empty: car buyers beware fuel and range promises
Road tests show most vehicles are using more petrol, diesel or electricity than advertised, with one hybrid SUV using almost 30 per cent more fuel.
‘Peddling lies’: gas sector vents as tax pressure rises
The minister responsible for gas in Australia has poured cold water on calls for an export tax as industry figures insist they pay their fair share.
Trial could boost Australia’s bid to be battery leader
A multimillion-dollar pilot program will test whether Australia can produce more materials for electric vehicle batteries with less impact on the environment.
Coast clear as response to toxic algal bloom eased
Improved water quality has triggered the scaling back of a state's multi-million-dollar response to a toxic algal bloom but fishing closures remain in place.
Global Shift to Green Power Leaves Coal in the Shadows
For the first time in modern history, renewable energy sources have overtaken the world’s growing demand for electricity. Led by a record-breaking year for solar in China and India, clean power now makes up more than one-third of the global electricity mix. For a sun-drenched state like Queensland, this global shift offers a promising blueprint for our own energy future.
Smelly spawning heralds new life on fragile reef
Scientists have harvested millions of coral babies in a bid to help a bleached reef regenerate after it was lashed by a destructive cyclone.
Green advocates urge reset on food security goals
Australia's future food security priorities need to be redefined when a third of the country is going hungry, a conservation group says.
Electric vehicle fee could throttle record adoption
A road user charge for electric vehicle drivers could stall record-breaking sales, a study has found, with households in outer suburbs the hardest hit.
Discount loans to rev up Aussie electric vehicle market
A $100 million scheme designed to cut the cost of buying an electric vehicle will launch during a period of record demand.
Superb wrens could be canaries in the coalmine
A three-decade study of superb fairy wrens in a botanic garden has led to predictions the common birds could be extinct within 50 years.
Electric car race speeds up as fuel crisis drags on
The global fuel crisis could be a turning point for electric vehicle sales in Australia, with one subscription service reporting record adoption.
Fake news on everything from whales to wind farms: Australia is flooded with climate misinformation
Australia is facing a wave of misinformation and disinformation on climate change and energy. This is being fuelled by the growth in artificial intelligence and allowed to spread freely on social media, according to the findings of a Senate inquiry.
Shock at the petrol pump sparks electric vehicle surge
Enquiries about new and second-hand electric cars are setting records as motorists look for ways to avoid the rising price of petrol and diesel.
‘Flashing red’: climate imbalance reaches all-time high
Energy in must equal energy out for a stable climate, but the balance is increasingly off kilter with troubling, long-lasting consequences.
Battery recycling could power a $6.9b industry by 2050
The number of depleted batteries is expected to rise dramatically but the trend represents an opportunity for Australian industry and jobs.
Australia risks being lapped in the race for green fuel
Neighbouring countries including Indonesia and Malaysia could beat Australia to lead the sustainable aviation fuel market despite its potential.
Snow gum dieback raises fears for largest river system
The snow gum forests of Australia's high country are dying, and it could have profound consequences for the nation's largest river system.
Aussie firm to roll out AI-in-a-box in regional areas
A network of portable data centres could be installed throughout Australia's regions as part of a plan to power artificial intelligence with renewable energy.
‘Hyper-Australia’: Nationals leader targets One Nation
The new leader of the Nationals has outlined his plan to take on One Nation after being elected to the top job following David Littleproud's shock resignation.
More electric trucks, motorbikes to deliver carbon cuts
It boasts Australia's largest fleet of electric vehicles but one company plans to put even more electric trucks and motorcycles on the road to lower emissions.
Car sales slow down but electric vehicles charge ahead
Electric vehicles have broken sales records in Australia even as the larger automotive market stalled, with sales of petrol and hybrid models falling.
Tax cut could help more drivers dodge petrol price hike
More Australians could turn to electric vehicles to avoid rising fuel costs if governments keep tax cuts for their purchase and consider new incentives.
Fossil wonderland submitted for World Heritage listing
A 58,000-hectare Australian expanse containing some of the world's oldest evidence of animal life could be included on the prestigious World Heritage list.
How mirroring nature might just save the humble oyster
Oyster reefs are already a restoration priority and Australian research could boost survival rates of the water-filtering, habitat-providing species.
Green groups slam ministerial exemption for Alcoa mine
Conservationists are outraged that a minister has used national interest provisions to continue strip-mining a forest ecosystem.