Aussie banks' $13bn support of fossil fuels

Australian banks have poured $13bn into fossil fuels
Australia’s four big banks have loaned more than $13bn for fossil fuel projects over the past two years despite publicly advocating for emissions reductions, a new report suggests. Analysis by environmental activist group Market Forces has found that while Australia’s major banks largely avoid direct financing to new coal, oil and gas projects, they do fund corporate entities that develop them.

Second round of talks for UN Plastics treaty
A United Nations committee met in Paris on Monday to work on what is intended to be a landmark treaty to bring an end to global plastic pollution, though there is little agreement on the outcome so far. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics is tasked with developing the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. This is the second of five meetings due to take place to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024.

McGowan resigns as WA Premier
Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan resigned from his post yesterday, citing exhaustion as his main reason. He will finish up as WA Premier by the end of the week. As Labor looks to fill his shoes, candidates include Deputy Premier Roger Cook, Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

Free ANU climate course for farmers returns
The climate is changing and farmers are not letting it get ahead of them. On Wednesday (31 May) from 11 am to 4 pm, charity Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) will run a series of free online workshops on climate science and communication by leading global experts at the Australian National University. FCA represents more than 7000 Australian farmers who want the country to adapt to the coming decades of increasing environmental instability.

New research on the genetic purity of Australia’s native canid
Most dingoes in Australia are pure dingoes rather than hybrids, new research suggests. The finding has important consequences for dingo conservation and management, researchers say.

Suspected whale spy reappears
A beluga whale that turned up in Norway wearing a harness in 2019, prompting speculation it was a trained “Russian spy”, has reappeared off Sweden’s coast. The whale is not believed to have seen a single other beluga since arriving in Norway in April 2019.

Namibia targets 600 rhinos for ethical dehorning
Since the start of the year, at least six rhinos have been poached in Etosha National Park, home to the highest concentration of black rhinos in the world. Last week, the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism kicked off the annual dehorning campaign with a goal of removing the horns of 600 rhinos in the next 12 months.

Aluminium sector needs holistic action for sustainability
The aluminium industry must act urgently to curb rising emissions and achieve climate and human rights sustainability-related goals. Audience members at a global aluminium conference were urged to consider the interplay between climate resilience, circularity, human rights, and nature positive goals.