Australia a ‘powder keg’ for grassfires after big wet
Every time Australia has had prolonged periods of wet weather, deadly fires have followed. Experts say the death of this La Nina will likely end the same way.
environmental politics
Santos wins approval for 116 gas wells in western Qld
The federal government has given Santos approval to drill 116 new coal seam gas wells in Queensland's Surat Basin with an operational life of 30 years.
economy, business and finance
energy
energy and resource
environmental politics
industrial production
iron and steel
metal and mineral
mining
natural gas
politics
Industry maps net zero pathway with safeguard uncertain
Industry, government and financiers need to invest more than $20 billion per year for the Australian economy to expand without dangerous levels of pollution.
Qld govt’s gas well approvals slammed by activists
The Queensland government's decision to approve dozens of new coal seam gas wells on the Darling Downs has been slammed by environmental activists.
Qld govt approves 55 gas wells near contaminated site
Queensland's environmental watchdog says there are "strict conditions" on its approval for Arrow Energy to drill 55 gas wells near a contaminated site.
Negotiations on cap for big polluters heat up
The government is locked in negotiations with the Greens and cross bench as it attempts to pass new climate legislation that some argue doesn't go far enough.
Axe falls on Australia’s last white paper manufacturer
Dwindling timber supplies have been blamed for Australia's last white paper manufacturer shutting its eastern Victorian plant, with 200 jobs to go.
Senators air concerns on signature emissions measure
The government is yet to secure Senate support from key Greens and independents for its signature emissions reduction policy known as the safeguard mechanism.
Signing off: Job losses as Australia’s last white paper plant closes
Dwindling timber supplies have been blamed for Australia's last white paper manufacturer shutting its eastern Victorian plant.
Mess still unfolding after plastic recycling scandal
The catastrophic failure of Australia's soft plastics recycling scheme shocked customers. Months on, the mess is unfolding as a fight brews over the clean up.
Push to wind up company behind plastic recycling scheme
A court will be asked to wind up the company behind a soft plastics recycling scheme that's left mountains of waste across the country.
Wife of Qld integrity review boss in court for protest
A group of climate change protesters including the wife of the man who led a Queensland government integrity review have appeared in court for the first time.
Winter on death row as climate warms
Winter could vanish as a season for much of Australia, according to a new tool that shows what climate change might mean for cities, suburbs and towns.
Federal laws fail at-risk species: report
Federal laws that are supposed to provide greater protection for the habitats of threatened species simply do not, a new analysis shows.
Doubts over Qld coal mine’s water licence
Queensland's water department erred in granting New Hope's Acland coal mine a licence and a review of its decision is needed, activists say.
agriculture
coal
environmental politics
global warming
mining
politics (general)
regulatory policy and organisation
water
water supply
Review may send Acland mine back to court
Queensland's water department is reviewing a decision to grant a licence to the controversial expansion of New Hope's Acland coal mine.
Carbon scheme changes to boost confidence
The federal government has pledged to make changes to improve public confidence in Australia's carbon credit scheme.
coal
conservation
economy (general)
economy, business and finance
environmental politics
finance (general)
global change
mining
politics (general)
Palmer seeks coal climate ruling review
Clive Palmer's Waratah Coal wants a review of a Queensland court's advice that its proposed coal mine should be rejected due to climate change impacts.
Plibersek fights Great Barrier Reef in-danger listing at summit
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has lauded Australia's progress from environmental "laggard to leader" as nations agree on a nature protection framework.
Nature pact a win despite flaws: minister
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says Australia can be proud of its role in negotiating a landmark pact to address the global nature crisis.
Fight ramps up over Barrier Reef listing
Australia's environment minister has used a nature summit in Canada to tell UNESCO the Great Barrier Reef does not deserve an in-danger listing.
Australia promises more cash for nature
Australia has promised ongoing funding to help developing countries protect nature as the environment minister heads to a biodiversity summit in Canada.
Aust, US work on dollar value for nature
Australia and the United States have inked a new deal to develop new systems to measure the vast contribution nature makes to the global economy.
Waste grows as recycling stagnates: report
A new report says the mountain of waste Australia produces is continuing to grow but the proportion of what's recycled is not, compounding the landfill problem.
Energy price cap compensation in jeopardy
The Greens are expected to vote against a plan to compensate coal and gas companies for temporary price caps, as the industry wants to meet the prime minister.
Surging energy prices are really going to hurt. What can the government actually do?
Picture this. You’re in government for the first time in more than a decade. And within six months, you’re facing a diabolical problem: skyrocketing energy prices. To your constituents, it doesn’t matter that the root cause is a war in Europe. What they’ll see is pain – electricity and gas bills climbing and climbing.
Farmers want gas pipeline for ‘bully’ axed
The NSW energy minister has been asked to reject an oil and gas giant's plans to enter farming land as part of a 400-kilometre underground pipeline project.
Developments to face independent umpire
Labor has detailed how it will fix Australia's nature laws with green groups welcoming moves to shift development decisions to an independent adjudicator.
Glencore reviews Qld coal mine plan
Swiss multinational Glencore is reviewing how its plan for a new $2 billion coal mine in central Queensland fits with its aims to cut emissions to net zero.
NSW coal mine expansion challenged
A community group has started legal action to stop the Mount Pleasant operation in the NSW Upper Hunter becoming the biggest open-cut coal mine in the state.
Queensland beef farms responsible for deforestation: report
A report by two conservation groups says Queensland beef farmers cleared about 1.53 million hectares of land to create pastures between 2014 and 2019.