---
title: Australians consumers lead first ever phone amnesty
description: Australia will lead the first-ever World Phone Amnesty, a global movement to transform mobile phone ownership behaviour, curb carbon emissions, and reduce the number of devices being discarded every year – billions.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Australians consumers lead first ever phone amnesty
Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Australia will lead the first-ever World Phone Amnesty, a global movement to transform mobile phone ownership behaviour, curb carbon emissions, and reduce the number of devices being discarded every year – billions. Approximately 83% of a phone’s carbon emissions come from manufacturing, shipping and first-year usage. Keeping a smartphone in use for an extra two years can reduce its CO2 impact by 43%.
High Court to deliver landmark ruling on EV road user tax.Australian motorists will find out how they could be taxed for driving electric and hybrid vehicles when the High Court rules on a case involving Victoria’s road user tax on low-emission vehicles, Australian Associated Press reports.
Wildlife rescue organisations in New South Wales have warned a new disaster response plan hasn't been completed almost four years after the Black Summer bushfires, leaving native animals at risk as summer approaches.
**Top stories**
[**AUSTRALIAN CONSUMERS LEAD FIRST WORLD PHONE AMNESTY**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedianet.news.com.au%2Frelease%2F994529&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=as1IL7hi5_lC33RfAi-HIq7Z2UY&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Im1lZGlhbmV0Lm5ld3MuY29tLmF1In0.g1-UedB77E-RX9pwauR6cQKtTKBUmPTGp_2t9NYSAt31WTZOpT-7MJXMDnMFpCHlQuww_kLvEfk3Sl59K_uVGw)
Australia will lead the first-ever World Phone Amnesty, a global movement to transform mobile phone ownership behaviour, curb carbon emissions, and reduce the number of devices being discarded every year – billions.
[**High Court to deliver landmark ruling on EV road user tax**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2023/oct/18/australia-politics-live-high-court-ev-road-user-tax-victoria-question-time-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-indigenous-voice-to-parliament)
Australian motorists will find out how they could be taxed for driving electric and hybrid vehicles when the High Court rules on a case involving Victoria’s road user tax on low-emission vehicles, Australian Associated Press reports.
[**Wildlife rescuers warn of 'catastrophe' as key groups omitted from national disaster summit**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2023-10-17%2Fwildlife-rescues-concern-omitted-from-national-disaster-summit%2F102982216&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=3yZ1NcNFADF5VDEdvJH3XVW_Ieo&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
Wildlife rescue organisations in New South Wales have warned a new disaster response plan hasn't been completed almost four years after the Black Summer bushfires, leaving native animals at risk as summer approaches.
[**Australia must urgently adapt to extreme weather or face soaring premiums, insurers warn**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/18/australia-must-urgently-adapt-to-extreme-weather-or-face-soaring-premiums-insurers-warn)
Global insurers say Australia is running out of time to reduce its vulnerability to the climate crisis and [f](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/14/single-parents-face-higher-health-insurance-premium-increases-than-other-families-analysis-shows)aces higher premiums for households and businesses.
[**Labor’s EV strategy ‘hamstrung’ by delayed fuel efficiency standard, advocates say**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/18/labors-ev-strategy-hamstrung-by-delayed-fuel-efficiency-standard-advocates-say)
Climate and transport advocates say the Albanese government’s showpiece electric vehicle strategy has achieved little and remains “hamstrung” six months after its release as the industry continues to wait for details of a fuel efficiency standard.
[**Australia's industries get behind decarbonisation, but urgent action is needed**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedianet.news.com.au%2Frelease%2F994509&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=pxyQU2tdjboOOzvyl9rdjeRy6PA&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Im1lZGlhbmV0Lm5ld3MuY29tLmF1In0.g1-UedB77E-RX9pwauR6cQKtTKBUmPTGp_2t9NYSAt31WTZOpT-7MJXMDnMFpCHlQuww_kLvEfk3Sl59K_uVGw)
New national research demonstrates that Australian businesses, especially those in manufacturing, retail, and financial services sectors, recognise the imperative of achieving net zero emissions as a key driver for economic competitiveness and climate resilience, but indicates many companies are not acting quickly enough to address this urgent challenge.
[**Company invents first-of-its-kind system for powering cars: ‘Like having a gas station with your own oil well’**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fau.lifestyle.yahoo.com%2Fcompany-invents-first-kind-system-150000052.html&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=nN2pgcOtIFb-CrIJInjf3MmngaE&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6ImF1LmxpZmVzdHlsZS55YWhvby5jb20ifQ.ykOVUlN5XGA4N1vxn68SQrcaN1tVM2f-Qi1Xb-_wLLnU3ZP5MDHtojgsxifZHkwed2AfI6DH8-RJ6__lVqWrYA)
The aptly named Wind & Solar Tower — which harvests energy from the wind and sun to power EVs — has been in development since 2007, initially as an energy source for farms. But its inventor, Jim Bardia, later pivoted to make it into a “self-powered high-capacity electric vehicle charging system that operates without adding to grid load.”
[**Keeping cool, Swedish style**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmosmagazine.com%2Ftechnology%2Fkeeping-cool-swedish-style%2F&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=J28dJ9QiC3IMFoKMajgNT7A1_oQ&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6ImNvc21vc21hZ2F6aW5lLmNvbSJ9.fjrM77SDCjwFEw1JrBVlBksTyK8FQVbmEDdF-zygrfLuhOvoW9oaJ-6Fo_j_HoRfqh_2ncZr4y8qXyO4VxXQZg)
It’s a good question, say the battery suppliers to the Swedish institutions racing in this month’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, when asked how electric vehicles should be optimised to work in Australian conditions. Many EV batteries operate best at temperatures below 45°C.
[**Major Study: Diet Choice May Alleviate Climate Crisis**](https://www.miragenews.com/major-study-diet-choice-may-alleviate-climate-1104480/)
In a major new study, prominent scientists from around the world have developed a new strategy for addressing climate change. The study demonstrates that climate change solutions must include a shift to a more fundamentally plant-based diet and a global phaseout of industrialized animal farming..
[**Charles Sturt University falcon project offers global audience a glimpse into peregrines' private life**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2023-10-17%2Fcharles-sturt-university-falcon-livestream-grips-global-audience%2F102943516&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=BVU12XNmNNxVO4Z9Lc8rYm0Pf64&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
A lone water tower standing tall above a regional city may not look like much but its inhabitants have captured the attention of bird lovers across the world. The brick tower in Orange, in Central West New South Wales, is home to a family of peregrine falcons
[**Calls for the dugong to be made Brisbane's 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascot**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2023-10-17%2Fdugong-mascot-2032-brisbane-olympics-paralympics%2F102983848&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=3HJJDhvBlDpy237Rl8VIbKnpSSY&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
The dugong could be Brisbane's mascot for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games if a push from local community groups to put the marine mammal on the world stage is successful.
[climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [Electric vehicles](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/electric-vehicles), [renewables](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/renewables), [net zero](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/net-zero), [bushfires](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/bushfires)
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