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.
environmental pollution
Electric vehicles surge ahead as petrol car sales stall
Diesel and petrol-powered vehicle sales are slowing as figures show more Australians are getting behind electric and hybrid cars.
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.
Electric charge: petrol giant plugs $225m into EV deal
Australians are buying electric cars in record numbers and one fuel retailer has announced a deal to expand its coverage.
Tenfold surge in EV sales needed to meet climate goals
Australian drivers are buying electric vehicle sales in record numbers but even more will need to hit the road for the nation to meet its climate target.
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.
‘Desert rangers are deadly’: Aussies up for world prize
Indigenous desert rangers caring for an area the size of Argentina will compete for a prestigious environmental award and worldwide attention.
Aussie mining giant to hit the track in Formula E debut
An Australian team could join the world's biggest electric racing series, with the company behind its rapid-charging technology preparing to step onto the grid.
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.
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.
Electric car surge strains Australia’s charging network
Motorists are adopting electric vehicles in record numbers but the nation's public charging is struggling to keep pace with demand.
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.
Sustainable jet fuel project moves closer to take-off
A multimillion-dollar project designed to produce green fuels is a step closer to launch after securing a $30 million investment.
Electric U-turn: ‘everyone knows someone with an EV’
Six months after fuel price spikes, electric cars make up almost one in every four new cars sold but experts are divided over whether the trend will continue.
Electric cars outsell petrol rivals for the first time
Fuel prices are up and so are electric vehicle sales, with Australian drivers now buying more battery-powered cars than either petrol or diesel models.
‘Bloody dangerous’: world to exceed 1.5-degree warming
Earth is on track to exceed 1.5 degrees of warming within years, the United Nations has warned, exposing communities to more extreme weather.
Short-term carbon credits used for long-term pollution
Australia's carbon credit scheme is working, according to a review, but some of the nation's biggest polluters have become its biggest customers.
Cheaper, smarter and tougher: $105m bet on Aussie solar
Twenty Australian solar research projects will attract a record investment to improve the technology and help to lower costs.
Australia’s coral reefs retreat as heatwaves intensify
Marine heatwaves are threatening coral reefs, including those in Australia, but research shows they could recover if given a break between bleaching events.
Aussie emissions down but pace must pick up for 2030
Record levels of solar, wind and battery use are pushing down emissions in Australia but bigger cuts will be needed to meet its climate goal.
A shot of microplastics a jolt for coffee drinkers
Takeaway coffee drinkers are getting more than they bargained for with their caffeine, new research shows.
Solar scourge: rules make it cheaper to dump old panels
Australia's solar boom will create a significant waste problem, experts have told an inquiry, with tough rules needed to keep panels out of landfill.
Ditching diesel could save Pacific nations almost $1b
Replacing fuel imports with renewable power could save Pacific countries millions of dollars if they can secure enough investment to make the switch.
Environment rules promise protection but raise concerns
Tougher rules to protect Australia's environment have been welcomed by developers, but conservation groups say they fall short of the changes needed.
No free rides: cheap e-scooters fail to win commuters
Providing e-scooter and e-bike riders more convenient parking options could make more of a difference than cutting the price of a ride.