Australia remains behind on emissions targets

The federal government on Thursday delivered Australia's first annual climate change statement. It also released an emissions projection report, part of Australia's new Climate Change Act. The Albanese government says despite being behind on its promised target of a 43 percent emissions reduction by 2030, Australia is on track to achieve a 40 percent reduction. Although scientists say that for Australia to do its fair share in stopping global warming at 1.5C, it should cut emissions by about 74 percent by 2030.

Along with Victoria's promises to close all coal-fired power stations and replace them with renewable energy, Labor also pledged to cut carbon pollution by up to 80% by 2035. This flew under the radar during the election campaign, but it’s actually among the most ambitious climate targets of any jurisdiction in the world. It’s worth outlining what it means for Victoria because achieving it would transform our society in profound ways.

In international news, climate change activists and experts are calling on the Biden administration to swiftly deploy a series of executive actions to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels now that Republicans are set to retake control of the House of Representatives, effectively blocking new climate legislation from being passed.

Federal government releases first 'climate change statement', but Australia remains behind on emissions targets
Yesterday, the government's 2022 emissions projection report was released, along with the climate change statement, both of which are required under Australia's new Climate Change Act. The Albanese government says despite being behind on its promised target of a 43 percent emissions reduction by 2030, Australia is on track to achieve a 40 percent reduction. Scientists say that for Australia to help stop global warming it should cut emissions by about 74 percent by 2030.

Victoria’s bold emissions target could be a turning point. Now here’s what we have to do
Along with promising to close all coal-fired power stations and replace them with renewable energy, Labor also pledged to cut carbon pollution by up to 80% by 2035. This flew under the radar during the election campaign, but it’s actually among the most ambitious climate targets of any jurisdiction in the world. It’s worth outlining what it means for Victoria because achieving it would transform our society in profound ways.

Activists pressure Biden to quickly issue new executive actions to fight climate change
Climate change activists and experts are calling on the Biden administration to swiftly deploy a series of executive actions to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels now that Republicans are set to retake control of the House of Representatives, effectively blocking new climate legislation from being passed.

States are waiting for a solid plan to lower Australian energy bills, but fear an excuse
With less than a week before the Albanese government is due to reveal its “comprehensive plan for energy price relief”, the states might be satisfied with one that is merely comprehensible.
Energy Ministers are set to meet again on 8 December, a day after the federal government now says it will reveal its solution to electricity bills forecast to rise 56% this financial year and next, and gas about 43%.

Insects captured by Australian school students could help scientists uncover new species
Hundreds of insects captured by Australian students are headed to the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics in Canada for DNA barcoding, as part of a quest to discover new species. Scientists enlisted the help of 50 schools in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia as part of the Insect Investigators citizen science project. Over four weeks, the students set tent-like malaise traps on their school grounds to capture as many insects as possible. If the species are unknown, the students will play a role in naming the new critters.

Adelaide's disappearing tree canopy the subject of new parliamentary inquiry
Adelaide's shrinking tree canopy will be the subject of a new parliamentary inquiry, with environmental groups set to push for stronger protections. The parliamentary inquiry follows comparison data from aerial imaging company Nearmap, released earlier this year, which showed that most of Adelaide's residential suburbs have significantly less tree coverage than they did 10 years ago.

Mount Ballow mountain frog faces extinction despite living in World Heritage rainforest
Scientists are warning a species of mountain frog only discovered this year could be extinct by 2055 despite residing in a rainforest with the same World Heritage status as the Great Barrier Reef. Six of the seven species of mountain frogs lived solely in the cool, upland mountain rainforests within the Gondwana World Heritage-listed national parks around the New South Wales/Queensland border. Up to 91 per cent of the mountain frogs' habitat could be lost in a worst-case climate change scenario.

Biofertiliser granulator machine could unlock cheaper fertiliser
A unique fertiliser-processing machine, which was recently fired up in Queensland, could hold the key to cutting fertiliser costs and greenhouse gasses while improving crop quality. University of Southern Queensland's Toowoomba campus recently commissioned a lab-scale granulator - the first of its kind in Australia - which turns nutrient-rich animal waste and mineral fertilisers into an organomineral fertiliser.