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.
environmental pollution
Plastic chemicals doing untold human harm: scientists
Scientists say humans are suffering untold harm from plastics, ranging from cancer and reproductive damage to the loss of intelligence that defines humanity.
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
global warming
health
natural disasters
natural resources
‘This can be done’: UN’s message on net-zero deadlines
The UN secretary-general says developed nations like Australia must bring forward their net-zero timelines by a decade, given the latest climate change report.
Recycler hungry for Australia’s stinky old shoes
As Australia transitions to a circular economy, more and more niche recycling programs are popping up and shoes are no exception.
Unquenched Aussie thirst for world’s most costly water
Aussies are among the top consumers of bottled water globally and we are paying the most for it, a new UN report shows.
Pile of poo ’19 times heavier than Harbour Bridge’
Pet owners are turning to eco-friendly methods to dispose of pet poo in an effort to minimise the environmental cost of picking up after our furry friends.
Funds accused of ‘greenwashing’ by market lobby group
The environment-focussed lobby group Market Forces has criticised five super funds for not doing enough to challenge the fossil fuel firms they invest in.
Long wait to unwrap soft plastics recycling disaster
Coles and Woolworths hope to ship mountains of stockpiled soft plastic offshore and warn it will take time to replace the failed REDcycle recycling scheme.
Toyota faces ‘greenwashing’ claims over car emissions
Greenpeace has accused Australia's largest car maker of 'greenwashing' over its advertising and net-zero goals in a complaint lodged with the ACCC.
coal
environmental pollution
mining
politics (general)
regulatory policy and organisation
water pollution
water supply
Future coal plan requires Bravus groundwater ‘re-run’
Coal miner Bravus admits it has more work to do to ensure planned underground mining at it's Carmichael site dosen't impact nearby Doongmabulla Springs.
The healing powers of Australia’s Clean Up campaign
Aussies will rally this weekend for Clean Up Australia Day but it's more than just a boost for nature. It's also a lesson in the restorative power of community.
Scientists urge focus on new tech to capture emissions
Scientists say Australia must pour effort into scaling up new technologies that can suck emissions out of the atmosphere, while it also works to cut them.
REDcycle’s parent company to be wound up
The company behind Australia's failed REDcycle recycling scheme will be wound up after it left stockpiles of soft plastics across the country.
Trust on the line in battle over plastic stockpiles
Coles and Woolworths have offered to deal with mountains of soft plastic stockpiled by a failed recycling scheme amid a push to have it wound up.
Car pollution kills 11,000 Aussies, hospitalises more
More than 11,000 Australians are dying prematurely each year from vehicle pollution, according to a new study that calls for more cuts to car emissions.
REDcycle wound up by court over stockpiled plastic
Failed plastics recycler was REDcycle, which was given millions in support by supermarket giants to recycle soft plastics, is being wound up.
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.
Rise in plastic trash reflects worrying consumer trend
An annual report that details what clean-up volunteers are finding in the environment is further proof that Australia's plastics crisis is worsening.
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.
Global plastics crisis deepens despite rising concerns
The world's plastics crisis continues to worsen as manufacturers pump out vast amounts of new, single-use items and shun more costly recycling, a report says.
Lab leads nanoscopic hunt for plastic in human bodies
Aussie scientists are hard at work trying to determine if the world's plastic pollution crisis extends to the innermost reaches of the human body.
Fireworks deliver long-term hit for wildlife: study
Fireworks can cause breeding and other long-term problems for wildlife and it's time to move to lower-impact spectacles, a new study says.
disaster and accident
emergency incident
environmental issue
environmental pollution
hazardous materials
health
nuclear accident
Radioactive capsule hunt a tough gig
A high-stakes hunt for a capsule of radioactive material won't be easy or quick, experts say.
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.
New way to rid water of toxic chemicals
University of Queensland researchers have worked out how to harness the power of magnets to strip toxic PFAS chemicals from contaminated water.
Adelaide rivers dump microplastics in sea
Adelaide's rivers and creeks are acting as conveyor belts for microplastic pollution and fast fashion could be a big part of the problem, a study has found.
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.
Warehouses found chock-full of plastics
About 3000 tonnes of soft plastics have been discovered in six Melbourne warehouses after the REDcycle recycling program was halted a month ago.
Firies fearful over water contamination
Firefighters who drank contaminated water at a major Victorian airport have elevated levels of toxic chemicals in their blood.
Queensland mulls gas wells near leak site
The Queensland government says a decision on plans to drill for gas near the contaminated site of Linc Energy's failed coal project is up to the regulator.