Environment
Climate change
Barrier Reef doomed as up to 99% of coral at risk, report finds
Unless immediate “transformative action” is taken to drastically reduce global warming, Australia is set for the destruction of its reef and more storms and floods, the Australian Academy of Science says.
- by Nick O'Malley and Mike Foley
Latest
Australian emissions fall again due to renewables and COVID-19
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions continued to decline at the end of 2020 as an acceleration of the decarbonisation of the electricity sector outweighed a revival of pollution from transport and industry, according to analysis by consultants Ndevr Environment.
- by Peter Hannam
Updated
Emissions
Turnbull named head of NSW government’s climate advisory board
The former prime minister will head a new board to advise the NSW government’s long-term climate policy in his first major political post since being toppled three years ago.
- by Peter Hannam
Exclusive
Renewables
Victoria’s grid runs on 50 per cent renewable energy for first time
State powers itself with renewables for the first time as cool summer put coal-fired electricity on the back burner
- by Noel Towell
Exclusive
Electric cars
NSW Environment Minister opposes electric car tax backed by Treasurer
Matt Kean wants to encourage electric car users while Dominic Perrottet wants to tax them. It’s a disagreement playing out across the country.
- by Nick O'Malley
Opinion
Electric cars
The world’s electric cars are leaving Australia for dust
While Volkswagen describes Australia as “an automotive Third World”, the US, Britain, Europe and China are seizing the opportunities of the electric vehicle revolution.
- by John Hewson
Opinion
Renewables
Why charge solar homes for sending energy to the grid while coal generators get off scot-free?
Charging solar owners to export electricity isn’t about fairness, it’s about keeping the power in the hands of the few.
- by Ellen Roberts
Opinion
Renewables
Fixing Australia’s solar traffic jam will make selling sunshine two-way street
Households will lose unless we fix the way energy flows from their solar panels to the electricity grid. Here’s a plan, writes the head of the Australian Energy Market Commission.
- by Benn Barr
Opinion
Emissions
Resistance is futile: Why technology is key to Australia’s green energy future
In this extract from his Quarterly Essay, Australia’s former chief scientist writes that achieving zero emissions will be hard but that technology can make fossil fuels obsolete.
- by Alan Finkel
Exclusive
Sydney
Sydney plans tree-planting blitz to curb heat
The City of Sydney will spend $377 million over the next decade to boost tree cover, adding about 700 trees a year to parks, lanes and roads.
- by Peter Hannam
Electric vehicles should get tax breaks and free tollways says Liberal MP
One Liberal MP is calling for the governments to subsidise rather than tax electric vehicles as the industry ships its products to more welcoming markets.
- by Nick O'Malley