Post of the Day
The battle to get here was ugly, but the impact of Joe Biden’s climate plan will be huge
Jonathan Freedland
Yes, there have been compromises. But this is the biggest ever plan to curb emissions and, ahead of Cop26, will send a signal to the world
On This Day
Climate Change
Pope tells world leaders ‘radical’ action on climate change needed
Ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Pope Francis says world leaders must give hope to future generations.
US oil executives grilled by Congress over their climate ‘disinformation campaigns’
Leading oil companies are on the record as acknowledging climate change, but critics say the industry has been “greenwashing” and failing to match actions to public relations efforts.
Protesters demand action at climate summit
Activists in Glasgow called on global heads of state to go beyond words and make meaningful commitments to keep the world within 1.5 degrees of heating.
China has unveiled a renewed climate plan. Experts say it’s not enough
Analysts say Beijing’s new submission to the United Nations amounts to only minor improvements on an existing plan and is far from sufficient from the world’s largest polluter.
COP26: Here’s what you need to know about the UN climate summit
The United Nations climate summit is days away and Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to attend on behalf of Australia.
Cop26: Humanity 5-1 down at half-time on climate crisis, says Johnson
Prime minister on way to Italy says our civilisation could mimic the decline of the Roman empire ‘unless we get this right’
An island full of climate sceptics is sinking into the sea
Two thirds of the Virginian island of Tangier has disappeared. But the mayor doesn’t believe in climate change or the last election result.
The world’s leaders will reunite for the G20. Here’s where they stand on carbon reduction
The global push to substantially drive down greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century is facing significant diplomatic challenges.
The battle to get here was ugly, but the impact of Joe Biden’s climate plan will be huge
Jonathan Freedland
Yes, there have been compromises. But this is the biggest ever plan to curb emissions and, ahead of Cop26, will send a signal to the world
Big oil CEOs just lied before Congress. It’s time they’re held accountable
Jamie Henn
The top oil executives claim they never approved a disinformation campaign. That is simply not true
We know who caused the climate crisis – but they don’t want to pay for it
Vanessa Nakate
My country, Uganda, and much of Africa has been battered by climate-related disasters. Cop26 is a chance for the biggest polluters to set up a compensation fund
Glasgow COP26: Could short-term embarrassment lead to long-term loss? [$]
Ben Oquist
Sitting in Rome ahead of the G20 this week, got me wondering. It seemed unlikely that anyone – outside a handful of journalists and public servants – knew the G20 was about to take place. Certainly, as a nation, we seem to have forgotten that Australia helped build this integral piece of the world’s diplomatic architecture.
Two reasons why Glasgow climate summit will fail: China and America [$]
Greg Sheridan
COP26 in Glasgow will fail, in its own terms. It will not reach binding agreements that will guarantee that the world’s temperature does not rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times.
Fantasy climate policies promise a Utopian outcome [$]
Chris Kenny
Climate activists present two simple propositions, and they have been highly successful in having them adopted by politicians, media and the public.
Forget targets and just make green energy cheaper [$]
Bjorn Lomborg
In their bids to showcase climate leadership ahead of the UN COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this weekend, world leaders are once again talking of ambitious carbon-reduction targets.
Despairing about climate change?
Iderlina Mateo-Babiano et al
Education is playing a key role in inspiring cities and communities to create better, more resilient places for our climate future
National
‘Not all about doom and gloom’: Australia urged to adopt health focus in climate policy
As world leaders prepare to meet in Glasgow for COP26, 52 medical and health groups have backed a call for health strategies to be included in Australia’s climate policy.
Barnaby Joyce, billionaire clash on climate action
Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Australian tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes have clashed over the federal government’s net-zero emissions plan.
National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy
The Morrison Government has released a new National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy (NCRAS) ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow.
Australia’s 2050 net zero emissions plan relies on ‘gross manipulation’ of data, experts say
Estimates for carbon dioxide storage in trees and soil go far beyond upper bounds of what peer-reviewed science suggests is possible
The billionaire, the book and the PM: How Bill Gates convinced Scott Morrison on net zero
Scott Morrison underlined sections of Bill Gates’ book on how to beat climate change as he prepared to shift his government towards a net zero emissions target.
Australia joins India and China in resisting G20 call to phase out coal
Scott Morrison will not support a push by leaders of the world’s largest economies to set a date to end coal mining, joining China and India in objecting to a deadline.
It might be hard to fathom that a miner, a bank and a supermarket were able to come to the table on net zero by 2050 before the federal government could even commit to an emissions target.
Power play: The future of Australia’s energy starts here
Customers seek more transparency from energy retailers as the energy sector transforms and renewable sources grow.
Simon Holmes à Court: ‘If it works, the payoff will be enormous’
He has generated 4200 donors, $3.3 million and a whole lot of trouble for the government; What’s behind Simon Holmes A Court’s climate change-fuelled assault on Liberal seats.
‘Christmas lump of coal’: Long summer of fuel price pain looms
Motorists are in for a long summer of soaring petrol prices that are now almost certain to hit $2 a litre before Christmas and remain at historically high levels until Easter.
COP26: Block on business carbon farm buy-ups
Big business would be barred from buying up large tracts of productive agricultural land exclusively for running carbon offset schemes such as tree-planting to meet pledges of net-zero emissions by 2050, under a Coalition plan.
Macquarie shows it’s primed for a green bonanza [$]
Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake has released a half-year profit and cap raising that shows the organisation is geared up to capitalise on the world’s decarbonisation.
Q&A: BT Group on electric fleets, ambitious targets and smart climate solutions
The Climate Group
Ahead of COP26 this Sunday, we are pleased to speak to Climate Group’s RouteZero COP26 Sponsor, BT Group, to discuss what actions it is taking to make the biggest difference to a bright, sustainable future.
Scott Morrison’s nerves showed as he squibbed net zero target and staged a climate farce
Katharine Murphy
The PM should be taking a higher 2030 emissions reduction target to Cop26. No ifs, buts or maybes. Yet he squibbed it
Praying for costless climate change: Lord, send down a miracle
Ross Gittins
The Prime Minister reassures us we have a plan to reach net zero at no perceptible cost to anyone or anything. Funny thing is, it has the feel of Amateur Hour.
Zero sum game may reward Libs at the ballot box
Peter Hartcher
After all the angst, the Coalition has managed to shift its carbon-reduction policy by just one word – and yet that may be enough to sandbag its most vulnerable Liberal seats and save it from defeat at the forthcoming election.
Scott Morrison has given the green light for the ‘Australian Way’ on climate [$]
Paul Kelly
This week, the Morrison government drove conservative politics to the edge of breaking point to win new advances on climate change goals – yet these outcomes will satisfy neither the markets nor global leaders, guaranteeing Australia stays under permanent pressure into the future.
Morrison’s climate plan is a tale of bland ambition [$]
Jacob Greber
Weak on detail, analysis and explanation, Morrison’s climate plan is ultimately designed to be forgotten.
MPs’ climate revolt all about self-interest
Letters
The federal government’s backbencher revolt exemplifies self-interested political expediency.
We must reject huge financial demands at UN climate conference
Jay Lehr and Tom Harris
In the 1996 award-winning film Jerry McGuire, pro football player Rod Tidwell had a single demand of his agent: ‘Show me the money!’
How the gas lobby captured Morrison’s Glasgow response [$]
Marian Wilkinson
A close relationship with the head of Santos has seen the Morrison government pursue a policy built around unproven carbon capture and storage.
How it happened: the Nats and net zero [$]
Karen Middleton
The Coalition’s commitment to net zero does not come with new laws, but the nature of the agreement embeds the target in at least two pieces of legislation.
A steaming pile of nothingness [$]
Paul Bongiorno
When Scott Morrison flew out of Canberra in his VIP Airbus on Thursday night for the Glasgow climate summit, Labor’s Anthony Albanese wasn’t on board. He wasn’t even on the tarmac waving goodbye.
Why feeding cattle seaweed is a bum steer [$]
Vikki Campion
A plan to feed cattle seaweed to save the planet shows why we can’t focus solely on net-zero outcomes without considering the consequences.
Net zero by 2050 is just snake oil. We need an actual hold-it-in-your-flippers zero
First Dog on the Moon
Brenda the Civil Disobedience Penguin says it’s time to crush the net zero con that puts cash over people’s future
Victoria
Councillors call for ambitious COP26 emissions target
In the lead up to the upcoming COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Councillors from across Melbourne’s south east have called on the Australian Government to commit to an ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target and a clear plan to achieve it.
Indigenous farmers ‘doing the hard work’
Cultural burns have been around for tens of thousands of years. But in the northeastern Victorian town of Mallacoota what will soon be new is a centre for people to learn more about Indigenous fire management.
‘Widespread’ destruction after ferocious storms batter Victoria
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed after ferocious storms hit Victoria.
How 1.9km longer North East Link cost us $2bn [$]
A decision to alter the tunnels for the mega North East Link project has come with a staggering new price tag.
New South Wales
Far West graziers say an enormous land acquisition by the NSW government is turfing out generations of families who have called the land home.
‘Keeping this species going’: Largest ever NSW release of critically endangered birds
There are only about 300 regent honeyeaters left in the wild and, in a bid to save them from extinction, a large number of captive-bred birds have just been released on Wonnarua Country in the Hunter Valley.
Council calls for action on Sweltering Cities
Inner West Council is calling on the NSW Government to use planning and building regulations to help keep Sydney cool.
‘Heartbreaking’ fires give rare opportunity to witness koalas’ survival and recovery
With a decision about listing koalas in the eastern states as endangered looming, scientists ramp up efforts to understand how the marsupial survives after bushfires.
Daily Telegraph Bush Summit 2021 In Conversation – Towards Net Zero [$]
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Co-Founder/Co-CEO of Atlassian Mike Cannon-Brookes speak with Clare Armstrong at the 2021 Daily Telegraph…
To pave our parks with gold, put up a parking lot (or convention centre)
Elizabeth Farrelly
The Greater Sydney Parklands Bill presents a clear and present danger to the green spaces bequeathed to the city by our wiser and more generous forbears.
ACT
As lockdown restrictions ease in the ACT, Fast Cities Australia will accelerate the rollout of its nine promised electric vehicle fast charger sites across the territory under an $8.8 million funding deal from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
Queensland
New protection for Queensland coral
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley has imposed strict new limits on the amount of coral that can be harvested from the Great Barrier Reef, rejecting a Queensland Government proposal to allow the unconstrained harvest of up to 200,000 kilograms of live coral to be exported to the world’s aquariums each year.
$35m ‘legal’ industry ripping coral from our Reef faster than ever [$]
Harvesting of specialty corals including from the Great Barrier Reef, has almost tripled in the past 15 years, with warnings the activity is compounding environmental pressures such as bleaching events.
‘Thunder and apocalyptic’ dust storms cause chaos in south-west Queensland
‘Apocalyptic’ scenes as thick layer of dust coats streets of Thargomindah and ‘tornado-like’ storm devastates cattle station in south-west Queensland.
Government should be park land custodians, not land agents
Jane Lomax-Smith
Straw man accusations of anti-progress NIMBYism mask a concerted effort to develop and commercialise a large area of Adelaide park land on both sides of the Torrens
Tasmania
‘Great for ducks’: Tasmania gets a bucketing, but spared damaging winds
It has been a very wet day in Tasmania, with authorities watching river catchments closely — but the threat of damaging winds has passed.
Huon Aquaculture shareholders back JBS takeover
Brazilian meat processing giant JBS’ takeover of Huon Aquaculture is clear to go ahead.
Island Fisheries details thousands of dollars in fines
Tasmanian authorities netted nearly $50,000 from fisheries compliance breaches and offences last financial year.
Craig Leeson awarded 2022 Tasmania Australian of the Year [$]
Burnie-born journalist, documentary filmmaker, and climate campaigner Craig Leeson is the 2022 Tasmania Australian of the Year.
Hungers strikers complete week of protest
The 7-day hunger strike for climate action ended with a feast on the steps of parliament in Hobart. The hunger strikers were demanding the Australian government stop taxpayer subsidies for and approving new coal and gas projects, and the Tasmanian government declares a climate emergency to reflect the urgency of the climate crisis.
Andrew Forrest’s salmon run lures investors [$]
Other investors are looking to follow Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest in developing land-based fish farming, amid warnings Tasmania risks losing its $1bn salmon industry unless it embraces the trend.
Liberals’ promised record infrastructure blitz a $471m fizzer [$]
The state government short-changed voters by half a billion dollars last financial year — while claiming credit for boosting the economy with unprecedented stimulus.
Feedback sought on draft Deer Management Plan
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) has released the draft Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan for public consultation.
Northern Territory
As gas companies gather in the Top End, Indigenous leaders plead for climate action
At a major oil and gas conference in Darwin this week, days out from the Glasgow climate talks, governments and gas companies discussed plans to expand the industry. Larrakia elder June Mills fears the promises to offset emissions will be too little, too late
Western Australia
International scientists condemn a “disastrous” WA mining industry-commissioned report that says industrial pollution is no threat to 1 million ancient Aboriginal petroglyphs.
Only one month after a state ban on native forest harvesting was announced, West Australian furniture-makers are looking to imports to replace iconic native hardwoods.
UK nuclear-powered submarine visit to Perth
A Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine will conduct a port visit to Perth, demonstrating the strong existing naval partnership between Australia and the United Kingdom.
McGowan should be red-faced after greenwashing Woodside’s hydrogen plan
Peter Milne
To see through the smoke you need to know a little bit about hydrogen, and government and company spin doctors hope you do not, so please read on.
Sustainability
France and Britain on course to escalate bitter fishing war
Australia isn’t the only nation at odds with France, with cross-Channel neighbour Britain threatening to board French fishing boats in a deepening row over post-Brexit fishing rights.
The second session supported by United Nations for Training and Research, New York office, in collaboration with Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy discussing part 2 of Looking Towards COP 26: The Role of International Organizations, International Financial Institutions and Governments in Energy Efficiency, Food Security and Just Transition in Rural Areas.
—
return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.