Climate activists to fight conspiracy charges

A group of climate activists will fight conspiracy charges in court this week after counter-terrorism police intercepted them as they arrived at Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill’s home on 1 August with an ABC camera crew.

A new Climate Council poll has found more than half of Australians support a Fuel Efficiency Standard, believing it will lower fuel prices as two-thirds ditch the car regularly to avoid soaring petrol costs. 

And finally, the enduring legacy of Greenpeace lives on as journalist Chris Pash reflects on the end of commercial whaling in Australia 45 years ago this week.

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Climate activists to fight conspiracy charges over protest outside home of Woodside boss
A group of climate activists will fight conspiracy charges in court this week, stemming from a protest outside the Woodside Energy boss’s family home.

Australians driving less to dodge soaring fuel prices, Climate Council poll shows
More than two-thirds of Australians are ditching the car more often to avoid paying for soaring fuel costs, and more than half feel the federal government’s long-awaited fuel efficiency standard would save them money at the bowser.

Forty-five years on from the last day of operation at the whaling station in Albany
Journalist Chris Pash looks back on the end of commercial whaling in Australia as Greenpeace made waves in 1970s Western Australia.

Ongoing oil and gas seismic surveying off Tasmanian coast has fishers worried, with questions about federal approval processes
Fishermen are concerned for the cumulative impact of multiple seismic surveys, as more energy companies investigate the potential for drilling in the ocean basins surrounding Tasmania. 

Energy modeller Rystad says accelerated transition to clean technologies puts global climate goals 'within reach'
One of the world's foremost energy modellers has forecast that temperature rises are set to be kept within 2 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels thanks to the rapidly advancing efficiency and affordability of clean technologies. 

Antarctica's ozone hole may not be mending as well as we thought: study
Since ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were banned from manufacturing in 1987, it's been thought the ozone layer has been slowly but surely bouncing back, but a new study casts doubts.

Bowen defends ‘incremental’ climate progress but flags tougher curbs
Tougher curbs on greenhouse emissions are needed to deliver on Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement goal of halting global warming at 1.5 degrees, says Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who used a major speech to defend progress to date.

Endangered Victorian dolphins found with 'highest known' levels of toxic chemicals
A population of critically endangered dolphins off the coast of Victoria have been found with a surprisingly high level of toxic chemicals commonly found in food packaging, a new study has shown.

Scheme for climate insurance for vulnerable countries
Wealthy nations could provide the world's most vulnerable countries with a combined $25 billion in annual protection against climate disasters, for as little as $10 million per donor nation, UK research shows.

Environment minister’s koala photo op sparks surprise backlash
Sour comments began flooding across Twitter moments after Tanya Plibersek shared a selfie showing her posing with a koala under a caption reading “No one wants to imagine a future without koalas”. While that's a message most Aussies could get behind, the post inadvertently drew attention to Australia's crumbling biodiversity and the lack of strong laws to protect it.

UN chief leads Antarctic expedition to witness scale of climate impacts ahead of Cop28 summit
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres will travel to Antarctica this week with Chilean president Gabriel Boric to observe the impact of rising temperatures caused by climate crisis on the continent.

When people move out, wildlife moves in: 10 abandoned places reclaimed by nature
Please enjoy this collection of abandoned buildings that nature has taken back.