Climate activists halt Newcastle coal train

Dozens of climate activists linked to the climate defence group Rising Tide have been arrested after shovelling coal from a train bound for Newcastle, the world’s largest coal export port. The activists say civil disobedience is the only option while NSW was significantly expanding its coal production. 

Australia’s long-awaited national electric vehicle strategy is expected to be released this week, finally detailing the introduction of pollution standards that should accelerate the uptake of electric cars.

Energy and environment ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy nations have vowed to work to hasten the shift toward cleaner, renewable energy, but set no timetable for phasing out coal-fired power plants.

Labor’s ‘quite ambitious’ electric vehicle strategy expected to be released this week
Australia’s long-awaited national electric vehicle strategy is expected to be released this week, finally detailing the introduction of pollution standards that should accelerate the uptake of electric cars.

LGIM to vote against Macfarlane’s re-election to Woodside board
LGIM, one of Europe’s largest asset managers, will vote against former resources minister Ian Macfarlane’s re-election to the Woodside Energy board, citing its disappointment over the oil and gas producer’s “lack of commitment” to emissions reduction targets.

Dozens of climate activists arrested after shovelling coal from train bound for Newcastle
Dozens of climate activists linked to the climate defence group Rising Tide have been arrested after shovelling coal from a train bound for Newcastle, the world’s largest coal export port. Those involved said civil disobedience was the only option while NSW was significantly expanding its coal production. 

G7 vows to step up transition to renewable energy
Energy and environment ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy nations have vowed to work to hasten the shift toward cleaner, renewable energy, but set no timetable for phasing out coal-fired power plants.

Big super funds in spotlight over fossil fuel exposure
The nation’s largest superannuation funds still hold huge exposure to companies expanding oil, gas and coal projects, with a green group calling for the investors to use their influence to force big polluters such as Woodside Energy, Santos and Chevron to cut their emissions.

Turning out the lights: what is the legacy of the Liddell power station
Hundreds of current and former staff, community members and artists will attend the closure of the AGL Energy coal-fired facility on 29 April, marking the end of what was Australia’s biggest power plant when it was built 52 years ago.

Western Australia's biggest emitters increase carbon output 5 per cent year on year
Carbon dioxide emissions from Western Australia's largest emitters increased by 5 per cent last year. Gorgon has still been the nation's highest emitting project in the past six years ahead of the second-placed Woodside-operated North West Shelf Project.

Green bank needed for carbon storage to hit net zero goal
The Climate Change Authority has recommended a far-reaching series of initiatives for scaling up and accelerating Australia’s approach to the capture and storage of carbon, known as sequestration.

Opinion: Sequestration essential to challenge of climate change
“As a nation endowed with land, sun, wind and a geologically stable land mass, sequestration presents economic opportunities for Australia in a low-emissions world through the reshaping of existing industries and the creation of new enterprises,” write Lesley Hughes and Grant King.

AFR Editorial: Liddell shutdown a test of Australia’s orderly energy transition
Fingers are crossed that the electricity grid will hold together through the biggest decarbonisation test yet when AGL’s coal-fired power plant at Liddell in the NSW Hunter Valley begins to power down for the final time on Wednesday. 

Greens to push Labor for $94.5b gas tax expansion
The Greens will push Labor to dramatically expand revenue from energy companies through the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT), adding onshore projects and abolishing lucrative gas industry deduction credits.

Close coal faster to hit climate goals: green investors
Clean energy investors including BlackRock, Macquarie, Snowy Hydro and Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy want a faster phase out of coal-fired power even as the looming closure of one of the largest coal plants in NSW exacerbates price concerns.

Glencore digs in for battle as momentum shifts against Teck
Teck Resources chief executive Jonathan Price began last week on a blistering note, declaring a $US23 billion ($34.3 billion) takeover bid from Glencore a “non-starter” and slamming his mining rival’s history of bribery and risk.

EQT, Gina Rinehart leading race for Alinta Energy’s WA assets
Private equity firm EQT is believed to be lining up to buy Alinta Energy’s West Australian assets, while the interests of billionaire Gina Rinehart are also believed to be considering a tilt.

‘Like a boiling broth’: concerns after video of gas seep in Queensland river emerges
New video showing Queensland’s Condamine River “bubbling like a boiling broth” has raised alarm that methane seeps into the waterway are more widespread than previously revealed, amid the continued ramp-up of coal-seam gas drilling in the Darling Downs.

Analysis: Net zero is the goal, but will chaos in the regions delay energy transition goals?
What will make the next few years truly revolutionary, however, is the scale of private and public investment following climate and environment policy changes. Estimates vary on the total spend needed, but it is estimated that over $20b per year will need to be invested in the Australian climate transition over the coming decades. 

Europe's largest nuclear reactor enters service in Finland
Hours after Germany closed out its atomic era by turning off its last three nuclear reactors, the largest single reactor in Europe entered regular production in Finland, its operator said Sunday.