The folly of gas: Most new gas generators not viable, says Carbon Tracker
Australia is hitching its future to a “gas-led recovery”, but new report says gas plants are not viable because renewables and storage are cheaper, and cleaner.
On This Day
Buddhist Lent Ends (Thadingyut Full Moon or Boun Ok Phansa) _ Myanmar, Laos
Ecological Observance
National Annual Tree Loving Day – Thailand
Climate Change
Despite climate targets being ramped up, the world is set to increase the production of fossil fuels all the way to 2040 and beyond, producing nearly triple as much as is compatible with stopping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Kremlin says Vladimir Putin will not fly to Glasgow for COP26
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not fly to Glasgow to attend the COP26 climate summit, the Kremlin says, a setback for host Britain’s hopes of getting world leaders to agree a significant climate deal.
‘Tired of broken promises’: climate activists launch hunger strike outside White House
The protest comes a day after Joe Biden appeared ready to settle for a smaller environmental proposal ahead of the COP26 summit
Climate change needs to be tackled like COVID-19, says BlackRock boss
The chief executive of the world’s largest asset manager has called on governments globally to treat climate change with the same urgency as COVID-19 by supporting private capital investment in new technologies, but warned capitalism alone could not solve this crisis.
Barclays report calls for investor rethink on ESG [$]
As mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto escalate their efforts to become “net zero” by 2050, one of the world’s largest banks has backed a controversial policy which supports sticking with major polluters.
Fairer futures: financing global climate solutions
Oxfam Australia
How we respond to climate change over the next decade will determine the fate of billions of people globally, and the stability and prosperity of our region. Ambitious international climate finance pledges, alongside bold domestic emission reduction targets, is critical for successful and just global climate solutions.
Millions of people were evacuated during disasters last year – another rising cost of climate change
Jane McAdam
As world leaders prepare for the COP26 climate talks next month, it’s worth recalling a sobering line from the royal commission’s report into the 2019-20 Australian bushfires: “what was unprecedented is now our future”.
It may not feel like it but green politics is winning [$]
Guy Rundle
Climate denialists have been forced back into their coal-lined boxes and it’s time for we, the good people, to savour the sweet taste of victory.
Tim Blair
Pity the poor environmental activist who, after years of dutiful earnestness and scolding, finally scores an invitation to the biggest eco-shindig of them all.
Think big on climate: the transformation of society in months has been done before
George Monbiot
The astonishing story of how the US entered the second world war should be on everyone’s minds as Cop26 approaches
Jacinda Ardern’s climate summit problem is the opposite of Scott Morrison’s
Henry Cooke
Why is Ardern, who called climate change the nuclear-free issue of her generation, not making the trip to Glasgow?
Australia accused of helping to blow global carbon budget with fossil fuel plans
A new UN backed report finds Australia’s plans to expand fossil fuel production are massively out of step with global climate commitments.
The folly of gas: Most new gas generators not viable, says Carbon Tracker
Australia is hitching its future to a “gas-led recovery”, but new report says gas plants are not viable because renewables and storage are cheaper, and cleaner.
Australian water consumption drops in 2019-20
Drought conditions in 2019-20 created upwards pressure on water prices, leading to a 15 per cent drop in Australian water consumption according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The alliance promising to deliver a sustainable economy for Australia
“If we don’t take transformative action on climate change now, Australia risks missing out on the substantive economic opportunity, jobs creation and broader environmental co-benefits of a carbon neutral future.”
Australians are living in ‘glorified tents’ and it’s costing our wallets and the environment
Companies are developing lower carbon building materials, and voluntary standards offer a green rating for buildings and homes. But experts say a mandated, national definition of what green means could have greater benefits
Barnaby Joyce promises Nationals decision on net zero emissions plan by week’s end
The deputy prime minister has set up an advisory group within the Nationals Party to assess concerns about adopting a net zero emissions target by 2050.
‘Huge win’ for charities as Coalition declines to appeal landmark case
Decision gives sector greater freedom to engage with the political process without threat to funding, advocates say
Broadside comes as Rio Tinto announces ambitious new reduction target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030
Net Zero – what does it really mean for Australians? [$]
Net Zero means different things to people – so we have assembled a ‘dream team’ of experts to examine the issues.
The two Queenslanders who will determine the fate of net zero [$]
Two Queenslanders have been revealed as the key to Prime Minister Scott Morrison landing his net-zero commitment.
‘Protectionist forces’: Dan Tehan warns Australian farmers face carbon border taxes
Australian farmers and miners face carbon border taxes if the nation doesn’t commit to net zero emissions, with Trade Minister Dan Tehan warning protectionism will hit home.
Cycling adds billions to economy as lobby group bridges political divide
A new report from the We Ride Australia in conjunction with Ernst and Young has found $3.4 billion was added in direct value to gross domestic product from cycling
Net zero: Emissions, low targets put Australia ‘dead last’ on climate action
Australia is ranked last on climate action in a report urgently calling for the nation to adopt more ambitious 2030 targets for reducing carbon emissions.
‘No glass beads’: Nats want protection for net zero deal [$]
The Nationals want regulatory changes as well as financial assistance in return for their support for net zero emissions by 2050.
Sussan Ley cannot avoid duty to protect kids from climate change: SC [$]
Environment Minister Sussan Ley is fighting to overturn a landmark decision finding that she had a duty of care to protect children from harm from climate change.
Mike Cannon-Brookes pledges $1.5b to climate initiatives ahead of COP26
As COP26 talks loom, Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brooks has pledged to invest and donate $1.5 billion to help keep warming to 1.5 degrees.
Net zero emissions: Large firms step up for carbon cuts [$]
Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce are on track to secure a 2050 net-zero emissions deal by early next week, as the nation’s biggest emitters declare they will unilaterally move to slash emissions by the end of the decade.
“Listen to us”: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership on climate and health
Melissa Sweet
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and knowledge must be at the forefront of national responses to the climate crisis, a landmark roundtable meeting will be told today.
Indigenous communities suffering most from Australia’s climate inaction
Joanna Psaros
While climate change is a threat to all Australians, it’s the Indigenous communities who will bear the burden of our Government’s ignorance the most.
Johanna Nalau and Hannah Melville-Rea
The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is widely discussed, but the other side of climate action is less often talked about: adapting to impacts already locked in. Even if we drastically reduce emissions, the cost of natural disasters in Australia will reach an estimated A$73 billion per year by 2060.
Net zero attracts net stupidity and net self-righteousness [$]
Peter Strong
A noisy minority continues to hold the country to ransom and it’s time the federal government bit the climate bullet.
Holding the country ransom while owning mining shares — guess who? [$]
Kishor Napier-Raman
The parliamentary register of interest reveals five of the 21 Nationals in government have more than a mere philosophical interest in the resources sector.
Melissa Clarke
There are performances worthy of a theatre show being acted out at Parliament House at the moment, but there are only a few more days before the house lights are turned on and voters can see beyond the stage in front of them.
Clive Hamilton
The party line of the bush ‘footing the bill’ for the nation’s emissions reduction is a false narrative
Climate change: Renewable energy costs have dropped faster than predicted [$]
Joe Hildebrand
Climate change has been argued about for years, but a major shift is underway that could finally end the climate wars that have divided Australia.
Why Australia is foolish to embrace net zero emissions [$]
Matt Canavan
Australia is looking a gift horse in the mouth, right when it should be capitalising on its coal and gas.
This net zero ‘debate’ is the Coalition at its worst
John Warhurst
Australia’s journey towards a target of net zero emissions by 2050 is showing the governing Liberal-National Coalition at its worst. Its brutal inner workings are on public display, unlike the private agreement between the two parties which is undertaken at the beginning of each Coalition government.
Net zero in 30 years is too little, too late
Harry Creamer
After years of climate change denial, delay and disinformation, the federal Coalition government has finally landed on a policy of ‘net zero by 2050’ to reduce greenhouse gas pollution across the nation.
Australia is running dead last among rich nations in the most important race humanity has ever faced
Tim Flannery
Ten days out from the global climate summit, Australia is again acting like a handbrake. No other developed nation has performed as badly in terms of past emissions or commitments to cut them.
Global warming a faith that hates facts [$]
Andrew Bolt
Paul Barry and the ABC would rather shame and mock those who refuse to give in to their climate cult than try to prove them wrong.
Beware of hot air from global warming profiteers [$]
Andrew Bolt
West Australian hustler Andrew Forrest will say anything when there’s a fortune to be made, so if he’s selling you a “clean energy” future, hold on to your wallet.
‘Population Ponzi’ no path to prosperity [$]
Terry McCrann
There’s been precious little to zero discussions about immigration numbers since the start of Covid and we must demand the tap doesn’t get turned back on until there is.
Now to the debate on actually hitting net zero by 2050 [$]
AFR editorial
Neither Australia’s main parties nor most of the 120 heads of government who will meet in Glasgow actually have a plan for reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
If we’d listened to climate maximalists we’d be broke now [$]
Greg Sheridan
Nothing is more ridiculous than the conventional wisdom among many politicians, activists and commentators that Australia has lost a decade in coming to grips with climate policy. It is widely proclaimed that this has cost us economic opportunities, jobs and export markets.
Climate gamble pivots on Labor sucker punch [$]
Simon Benson
Scott Morrison’s climate gamble pivots on a precarious belief that Anthony Albanese will do what the Coalition thinks he will do, and needs him to do.
Labor forced to cease fire on Scott Morrison and turn on Barnaby Joyce [$]
Dennis Shanahan
Scott Morrison has forced Anthony Albanese to change political and parliamentary strategy on the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.
Pretty fly [$]
Alice Workman
While the Coalition is holding out for a zero, we thought it was worth taking a look at our politicians’ own emissions.
Glasgow bandwagon careering out of control [$]
Peta Credlin
Before any of the Coalition’s MPs get too excited about supposedly ending the climate wars, they need to remember how they got into government and why they’re still there. They’re in government because Tony Abbott won a landslide election promising to repeal the carbon tax, giving them a big enough buffer of seats to survive the subsequent revolving-door prime ministership.
Peter Christoff
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is poised to take a 2050 net-zero emissions target to Glasgow. While this may seem like a milestone, Australia is still failing to abide by one of the core requirements of the Paris Agreement.
Vision, ambition and a solid plan to power the nation [$]
Anthony Albanese
Building a better Australia demands vision, ambition and a concrete plan. Thursday marks the 49th anniversary of the opening of the biggest nation-building project conducted in Australia – construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme.
Australian battery hopeful targets “surging” UK and EV markets, with London IPO
Gelion, whose non-flow zinc-bromide battery technology was spun out of the University of Sydney, is gearing up to become a publicly traded company – but not in Australia.
Critically endangered ‘Goldilocks’ birds gifted 13,000ha of habitat by farmers
About 25 private landholders and the NSW government have set aside conservation habitat across about 200 kilometres for one of Australia’s rarest birds, the plains-wanderer.
This regional NSW coal town faces an uncertain future as COP26 approaches
Singleton locals are wary of a “transition” away from coal, the town’s mayor says, as the Morrison government formulates its plan for a net zero target ahead of COP26.
Post bushfire research grant secured for rare flora
Wingecarribee Shire Council has successfully secured a grant from the State Government to help monitor the recovery of rare and threatened flora species across the Shire’s bushfire impacted areas.
Recycling polystyrene given big boost
Thanks to funding from the NSW Environment Protection Authority, recycling polystyrene has been given a big boost thanks to a new dedicated polystyrene recycling machine at the Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre.
Australia to receive UK nuclear waste shipment amid bitter dispute over national storage facility
Two-tonne load to be stored at Sydney’s Lucas Heights until national facility built in several years
Sydney rail network goes green with renewable energy deal
Sydney’s train network has become the first in Australia to transition to net zero emissions after the NSW government moved to power the massive transport system with renewable energy.
Queensland
Long term water solution for Mount Morgan step closer
The next step towards a permanent water solution to Mount Morgan is a step closer with tenders closing this week on the business case.
65 trains put Qld election promise on track, but NGR fixes slow to roll
In a $7 billion investment, the Premier announces “largest investment in train manufacturing in Queensland”.
South Australia
Seven women, one man charged after Extinction Rebellion protest stops Adelaide CBD traffic
Extinction Rebellion protesters glued their feet to the road in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD this morning, causing major traffic delays for morning commuters.
Tasmania
Aboriginal group threatens action over lack of Marinus Link consultation
An Aboriginal group says a Tasmanian government business has failed to properly consult on a multi-billion dollar project planned to run through an “incredibly sensitive” area subject to a native title claim.
‘A dumpling on legs’: Native mouse thought extinct found on Flinders Island
A native species of mouse that was last seen in Tasmania’s north-east 17 years ago has been caught on camera on Flinders Island — sniffing a stick dipped in peanut butter.
Cassy O’Connor
It’s National Water Week – an important opportunity to reflect on the genuine threat posed to Tasmania by over-exploitation and mismanagement of the State’s life-giving rivers.
Northern Territory
Traditional owners and climate advocates slam NT’s approval of more fracking in Beetaloo Basin
Empire Energy says drilling will start before the end of this month, while climate groups have accused the NT government of throwing “petrol on a burning house”.
Origin Energy faces climate push as investors dial up the heat
Origin Energy has faced a large investor push to align its spending strategy with stronger goals to arrest global warming and fielded questions about its plan to drill for more gas in the Northern Territory.
Tech & tradition support rangers
The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) has joined forces with Northern Territory Ranger groups and partners for a landmark Caring for Country partnership.
Elders ‘cut off’ by Origin Energy after raising fracking concerns at AGM
Origin Energy has been accused of dismissing Traditional Owners at a virtual meeting, who were asking why they weren’t consulted about plans to frack the Beetaloo Basin.
Rio Tinto plans massive 7GW wind and solar for smelters and iron ore mines
Rio Tinto plans up to 7GW of wind and solar to power smelters and iron ore mines as part of $7.5 billion plans to slash emissions by 2030.
Contractor announced for biggest battery installation in Western Australia grid
Synergy awards $155 million contract for what will be biggest battery in W.A., and which could be expanded.
Response to reports of Indonesian fishing boats close to Australian mainland
Following reports of illegal Indonesian fishers in Australian waters, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) assures the Australian community, that Australian authorities have zero tolerance for such illegal activity.
A way forward: Final report into the destruction of Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge
Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia
The destruction of the Juukan Gorge Aboriginal heritage sites by Rio Tinto on 24 May 2020 was an event that shocked the nation. Australians were further disturbed to learn that the destruction was permitted under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA).
Juukan Gorge recommendations will help protect First Nations’ culture
Jamie Lowe
The Commonwealth must rise to the challenge set by the Juukan Gorge recommendations and co-design heritage protection laws with our First Peoples.
Sustainability
1.5 billion people, living with soil too salty to be fertile
Between 20 to 50 per cent of irrigated soils in all continents have grown too salty to be fully fertile, creating significant challenges for more than 1.5 billion people trying to grow their own food.
Cities can be potential drivers for sustainable development of an economy
The relation between economic development and energy usage is a closely knit one. We cannot imagine one without the other.
China coal hits record high amid tight supplies
China coal prices hit a record high on Tuesday buoyed by a widening power crunch and cold weather despite Beijing’s efforts to bolster supply.
Your green credentials may be linked to your genes, study says
Identical twins have more similar views on environmental issues than non-identical ones, research finds
Fuel cells vs batteries: The future of EVs has space for both
Ultimately, the EVs of the future are likely to be powered by a combination of fuel cells and batteries. They each have their own advantages (and disadvantages) as well as scenarios that they are ideally suited to.
Green fuels to power Adani Enterprises’ petrochemicals business
For each fuel, Adani is planning to reach out to different sets of buyers
Adani to invest $50-70 bn in green energy over next decade: Gautam Adani
Adani said 70 per cent of the group’s planned capex until 2030 will be in sustainable technologies.
We need to stop buying stuff – and I know just the people to persuade us
Adrian Chiles
Our ridiculous addiction to acquiring more possessions is stuffing up the planet, so it’s time to call in the experts
Microplastics are in the air we breathe and in Earth’s atmosphere, and they affect the climate
Laura Revell
Microplastics are found in the most remote places on land and in the ocean as well as in our food. Now several studies around the world have confirmed they are also present in the air we breathe.
Joel dresses up as a polar bear in the Arctic and waits for wildlife to charge at him
Joel Berger studies animals that live at the edges of the world, often getting dangerously close, in order to understand the impacts of climate change.
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