‘Worst of both worlds’: sparse support for gas changes
Labor's gas reservation has raised more questions than answers for industry groups pushing for numerous changes to limit overreach and to maintain investment.
environmental politics
Bushfire bill blows out to $6b a year as climate warms
Researchers have put a figure on the growing toll of bushfires in Australia but say better preparation could prevent billions of dollars in losses.
‘No surrender’: UN urges action as 1.5C goal slips away
Global temperatures are on track to rise by 2.8C by the end of the century unless nations make deep emission cuts, including those from coal, oil and gas.
Multimillion-dollar bid to make electric fleets pay up
A fleet of more than 100 electric vehicles will be put to the test over three years to find out if vehicle-to-grid technology can cut costs and make money.
Ill winds: calm weather puts Great Barrier Reef at risk
Australian researchers have identified weather patterns that can raise the risk of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, and winds play a key role.
Greens divided over under-fire senator’s leave claims
The leader of the Greens has hit back at one of his senators, insisting it is appropriate he takes leave while allegations he mistreated women are investigated.
Australia should ‘roll out red carpet’ for data centres
Clear rules and less 'green tape' are needed to ensure tech giants don't abandon Australia and take investments elsewhere, a climate leader warns.
Over-tyred: inquiry calls for a recycling overhaul
Fewer end-of-life tyres would be buried in the ground and more recycled into new roads under changes recommended by a parliamentary inquiry.
Warming seas threaten billion-dollar salmon industry
Climate change could cost Tasmania's salmon industry millions of dollars in revenue and force major changes to farming operations, a report has warned.
Pacific head rebukes Australia’s focus on pre-COP costs
Tuvalu's climate minister says he was "very happy" with pre-COP attendance, but alarmed by new fossil fuel projects being green-lit in Australia.
‘Long memory’: Pacific faces decades of global warming
Cutting all greenhouse gas emissions will not immediately reverse the effects of climate change on the world's largest ocean, a study has found.
Coalition seeks to shield mines from climate activists
Angus Taylor has pledged to tighten protections for coal and gas projects after environmentalists successfully challenged a major coal expansion.
Rain fails to dampen climate mission at pre-COP31 event
The government has defied critics and bad weather to highlight climate threats to Pacific nations but pre-COP31 also turned the spotlight on its commitments.
Coal demand set to plunge as the world goes electric
Increasing global use of electricity is set to be a major focus at the COP31 summit in Turkey, but a report finds progress is falling short.
High Court ruling in coal court case spooks miners
Australian miners are worried investments could dry up after a critical High Court finding on coal mining emissions that could be felt globally.
Besieged nation warns COP31 can’t be climate talkfest
The tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu has hosted presidents and prime ministers to demonstrate the starkest impacts of rising sea levels before major climate talks.
Australia backs energy as it cops heat at climate talks
Australia has pledged millions of dollars to boost renewable energy in the Pacific but faces criticism from other nations over fossil fuel exports.
Fossil fuel phase-out, climate funds top pre-COP agenda
A Pacific event will set the agenda for the United Nations' global climate summit and groups are calling for Australia to push ambitious goals.
Australian tech giant taps into community solar farm
One of Australia's largest technology companies has signed a decade-long deal with a community-owned solar farm to help power a landmark building.
Antarctic blind spot emerges as major sea-level threat
Australia could lead an international research mission to go where no ship has gone before: an enormous ice basin capable of raising global sea levels.
Counting the cost: tool estimates fossil fuel impacts
From additional heat to the loss of coral and glaciers, an online tool promises to calculate the effect of coal, oil and gas developments.
Data centres power up debate on environmental red tape
Concerns about how to power data centres are at the fore as the clock ticks for hold-out jurisdictions to agree to take on environmental assessments.
‘Stuck’: enough energy projects planned, too few built
Australia could miss its 2030 climate targets unless more renewable energy projects move from the planning phase into construction.
Health hazard: doctors say it’s time to run out of gas
Australia should stop approving new gas projects and phase out use of the fossil fuel to protect public health as well as the environment, a report says.
Multimillion-dollar boost to create ‘climate unicorns’
Artificial intelligence firms might be dominating headlines but a $30 million program aims to put renewable energy start-ups in the funding spotlight.
Slashing fossil fuels is ‘life and death’ for Pacific
New gas and coal developments should not go ahead if the world is to stop climate change forcing Pacific islanders out of their homes.
Electric switch could save households $5000 a year
More than 30 organisations will urge the federal government to do more in backing electric appliances, equipment and vehicles to cut costs and emissions.
No coal power, no new petrol cars by 2035 for net zero
Australia needs to phase out coal, gas and oil faster than planned to meet its climate commitments, a report says, with changes in energy, transport and mining.
Rising sea levels threaten more than 267,000 properties
Rising seas and storm surges could cost Australia more than $855 billion, endangering homes, businesses, infrastructure and land.
Renovation nation: Aussies plan $85b in energy upgrades
Spending on home energy upgrades such as insulation and solar panels is on the rise but renters and younger households may be left behind.
Hard deadline: call for coal plants to pay to stay open
Keeping coal-fired power stations operating past their deadlines is delaying renewable energy projects, an industry group says.