Landowners could be hit with wind, solar wind-up costs
Landholders could be left with huge bills to dismantle wind and solar power infrastructure unless they sign the right deals with developers, an expert warns.
environmental politics
Electric trucks spark debate about road restrictions
Electric trucks are finally rolling out of factories and into showrooms but many will not hit Australian roads unless weight and width rules change.
Economist tells leaders to rethink green evolution
Australia must think bigger if it's serious about morphing into a renewable energy superpower, economist Ross Garnaut says.
Threatened species dudded by planting scheme: study
Simplistic concerns about cost trumped outcomes for imperilled species under a high-profile program to plant 20 million trees across Australia, researchers say.
Environmentalists launch another Qld coal challenge
Environmentalists have launched a fresh legal challenge against Queensland's New Acland coalmine expansion on the Darling Downs.
Queensland’s ecotourism plans ‘poorly defined’: report
A report by Queensland's auditor-general has found the state's ecotourism plan to be lacking coherent policy and poorly defined.
Toyota faces revolt in its ranks over electric vehicles
Australia's biggest car brand is being urged to reveal its climate lobbying efforts amid claims the company is missing opportunities with electric cars.
Reef island purchases protect sensitive habitats
Leases on two Great Barrier Reef islands are now in the hands of the Queensland government and will become protected areas for native habitats.
Federal budget to ‘turn the tide’ on nature destruction
Animals and plants at risk of extinction will be overseen by two powerful agencies as the federal budget outlines funding for a range of environmental measures.
Budget boosts cash for climate infrastructure
The federal government has set aside hundreds of millions of dollars in the 2023/24 budget to shore up efforts to deal with the consequences of climate change.
Electric vehicle ad campaign claps back at ex-PM’s jibe
A new advertising campaign for electric vehicles makes fun of former prime minister Scott Morrison's election claim that Labor's policy would "end the weekend".
Toyota says it’s too early for electric car transition
Australia's top-selling car maker says it is too early for electric vehicles to replace all cars, arguing some motorists could be left behind in the move.
Aussie motorists might miss out on cheap electric cars
Thousands of cheaper electric vehicles are being stopped from entering Australia due to parallel import laws, experts warn.
Why the fight for cleaner cars is about to get dirty
A new policy will limit pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles in Australia but debate over where that limit should be set is expected to become heated.
Going with the flow to charge a clean energy revolution
Non-lithium batteries may be needed for the next era of cutting-edge energy and a local firm has already done the hard yards on making them safe.
Electric car innovations win $70 million charging boost
Innovative ways to charge electric cars at home, work and in public areas are the focus of a new $70 million fund designed to fuel the transport transition.
Govt to spend $150 million on reef water quality woes
The environment minister has announced a $150 million program to address poor water quality on the reef, one of the key threats identified by UN inspectors.
Packaging industry won’t meet its own targets on waste
None of the waste-busting targets the packaging industry set for itself five years ago will be met, a long-awaited review has confirmed.
New electric vehicle discount to cut $2500 off loans
A $40 million program will cut the price of electric vehicle loans for some buyers in a new national scheme.
New policy hits accelerator on electric car sales
Automakers will be encouraged to bring more electric and low-emission vehicles to Australia after the government committed to placing a limit on car pollution.
Calls mount for SA to expand Aboriginal ranger program
Key Indigenous groups have stepped up their calls for SA to follow other states and establish a wider program of land management by Aboriginal rangers.
Methane worry for Qld river ‘bubbling like a broth’
Environmental activists hold concerns for a Queensland river and surrounding areas after gathering footage showing methane bubbling close to a local weir.
Electric car changes needed to stop ‘going in reverse’
Policy changes in the United States and Europe will make it harder to buy a petrol or diesel vehicle – a move lobby groups say should be mirrored in Australia.
Australia should catch more electric buses, study finds
Less than one per cent of all buses on Australian roads are electric models, a new study has revealed, prompting experts to call for a faster adoption.
Mayors and councillors call for electric car change
Local government figures are urging the federal government to change Australia's electric vehicle policies to improve access to zero-emission cars.
Australia risks being dumping ground for ‘gas-guzzlers’
New policies to boost electric vehicle adoption in the US mean Australian policymakers must introduce new laws quickly, lobby groups warn.
Renewable projects promise ‘cheaper, cleaner’ energy
An investment boost in Australia's renewable energy sector has resulted from the federal government's net-zero plan, but rising power prices still loom.
Locals disappointed after mining project given approval
Community members say their concerns have been ignored after a NSW mining project was given the green light despite more than 1000 letters of opposition.
Coal seam gas waste plan worries farmers and activists
Activists and farmers have raised concerns about a plan to allow coal seam gas companies to store their waste salt in lined landfill sites.
Pollution crackdown hits biggest emitters as laws pass
Changes to the safeguard mechanism putting a hard cap on pollution from big emitters have passed the parliament.
Coalition senators fight Labor climate bill to the end
Debate on the safeguard mechanism is heating up with the government forcing a vote on the climate legislation, angering the opposition.