A handful of counties are holding a Global Plastics Treaty back

A proposal that would have required signatory countries to set a limit on and transparently report their global plastic production has failed to pass at a United Nations meeting in Canada due to a handful of nations, including the United States. This has stalled progress on the establishment of a global plastics treaty which 170+ countries - including Australia - have already stated their support for.

A Wirdi woman of the Birri Gubba nation in Central Queensland has been recognised with the Goldman environmental award, a major international prize for grassroots activism, in recognition of her leadership in challenging major fossil fuel companies Adani and Waratah Coal.

And In North America’s Yucatan Peninsula, scientists have identified what could potentially be the “deepest known blue hole” in the world. Extending at least 420m below sea level, scientists believe there might be an “intricate and potentially interconnected system of caves and tunnels” at its base, which may house undiscovered lifeforms. 

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More than 170 countries want a global treaty to reduce plastic. A handful are holding it back
Lack of support for a global plastics treaty from a small group of nations has stalled progress on the first international treaty to curb plastic pollution.

Wirdi resistance warrior recognised with international environment prize
Ms Johnson, a Wirdi woman of the Birri Gubba nation of central Queensland, has been recognised with the Goldman environmental award, a major international prize for grassroots activism.

Scientists potentially discover world’s ‘deepest known blue hole’
Scientists have identified what could potentially be the “deepest known blue hole” in the world, which extends so far down that the bottom has not yet been reached, and say this could harbour a multitude of undiscovered lifeforms.

Perth's hot, dry conditions blamed for 100 turtle deaths at Bibra Lake wetlands
Record-breaking heat and drying wetlands have been blamed for the death of more than 100 turtles native to Western Australia, with wildlife authorities now in a race to protect the reptiles.

Huge offshore wind turbines to power AGL’s shift from coal
AGL, the largest Australian electricity generator has secured one of six federal wind farm permits, authorising it to conduct feasibility studies off the Gippsland coast, where it wants to build one of the nation’s first offshore wind farms.

Shire of Exmouth to trial two-way electric vehicle technology to help energy grid stability
The trial will test whether electric vehicles can feed power back to the network after drawing it from the grid, using the cars as mobile energy storage solutions.

State Government creates new 100,000 hectare Jilgu National Park in the Mid West-Gascoyne
The Mid West-Gascoyne is home to a new national park following an agreement between the State Government and Jidi Jidi Aboriginal Corporation.