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Calls for government to electrify households, wean off gas

 

The Canopy, Friday 24 March

The federal government is facing calls to use the upcoming budget to kickstart efforts to electrify Australian households and wean them off gas to help fight global warming.

As debate over Labor’s key climate policy - the Safeguard Mechanism - continues this week, the Guardian Australia has revealed the Greens and the government could agree to treat existing non-fossil fuel industries differently to new coal and gas.

And one of the world’s most recognisable airlines has been hit with a complaint to Australia’s consumer watchdog, accused of greenwashing. Etihad has been accused of misleading customers through its ‘net zero’ advertising. It comes amid a spate of greenwashing complaints to the ACCC, including Greenpeace’s referral of Toyota over its environmental claims.

Top stories:

Billion-dollar plan to electrify Australia's homes would 'slay inflation and slash bills', group says
Rewiring Australia has called for $2.5 billion over five years to get the electrification of Australian homes underway. The group also wants to enshrine in legislation before the next election an extra $10b for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to amplify the work.

Labor and Greens could agree to compromise on non-fossil fuel industries in safeguard mechanism
Labor could agree to treat existing non-fossil fuel industries – such as cement, aluminium and steel – differently to new coal and gas developments in a bid to reach agreement with the Greens on a signature climate policy, according to the Guardian Australia. Meantime, ex-Greens leader Christine Milne says Labor would be to blame if the reforms falter over new gas and coal.

Etihad accused of misleading customers with greenwashing
Etihad has been accused of misleading customers through advertising that spruiked its emissions reductions plans, with Australia’s consumer watchdog now considering action against the airline amid its crackdown on greenwashing.

Climate change science pioneer Claude Lorius dies aged 91
Leading glaciologist Claude Lorius, whose discoveries in Antarctica in the 1980s helped prove humanity's role in global warming, has died at 91.

Report finds fracturing under Sydney drinking water catchment
A former WaterNSW hydrogeologist has found rock beneath Woronora Reservoir south of Sydney is cracking in "unrecognised" ways because of continued coal mining.

Now we know the Voice to Parliament question, what's next for the referendum?
The question Australians will be asked to vote on at the Indigenous Voice referendum has finally been revealed, as the government prepares to introduce a bill altering the constitution to parliament.

Endangered regent honeyeater spotted in Hunter Valley backyard
The small native bird, one of an estimated 300 left in the wild, has surfaced after being released as part of a breeding program.

Why bioplastics won't solve our plastic problems
Bioplastics aren’t ready for prime time, according to researchers. Australia does not have widely available pathways to compost or process them at the end of their lives. Nearly always, they end up in landfill.



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