Companies’ compliance to the Paris Agreement revealed

More than half of the world’s top fossil fuel producers will fail to meet climate targets unless they ramp up decarbonisation plans, according to an international team led by The University of Queensland. In partnership with the Climate Accountability Institute, researchers have tracked the companies’ compliance with the Paris Agreement using publicly available data, now available to the public eye.

Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart has declared her support for Australia to become nuclear powered arguing it’s a better pathway for reducing emissions than “upsetting farmers” with renewables. Ms Rinehart made her high-profile intervention in the energy debate at the Australian Bush Summit in Perth.

Australia's chief scientist Cathy Foley has issued a stark warning on climate change during an appearance on Q+A. Foley pointed towards the wildfires in Hawaii, a place not usually prone to fire, as proof of what could come this bushfire season. She also stated that carbon production needs to be cut by eight times the current rate to curb climate change.

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New study shows which companies have stuck to the Paris Agreement
“Phrases like ‘Paris aligned’ and ‘Paris compliant’ are being thrown around everywhere right now,” Dr Rekker said, “But if we don’t have a robust and reliable way of assessing progress, those phrases don’t actually mean anything”. In partnership with the Climate Accountability Institute, researchers have tracked the companies’ compliance with the Paris Agreement using publicly available data, now available to the public eye. Dr Saphira Rekker from UQ Business School said more than 60 per cent of the top 142 oil, gas and coal companies weren’t aligned with targets to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Gina Rinehart declares support for a nuclear powered Australia
Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart has declared her support for Australia to become nuclear powered arguing it’s a better pathway for reducing emissions than “upsetting farmers” with renewables. Ms Rinehart made her high-profile intervention in the energy debate at the Australian Bush Summit in Perth.

Cathy Foley tells Q+A carbon reduction must increase by eight times to curb climate change
Australia's chief scientist Cathy Foley has issued a stark warning on climate change during an appearance on Q+A. Foley pointed towards the wildfires in Hawaii, a place not usually prone to fire, as proof of what could be to come this bushfire season. "At the moment the requirement is we need to be reducing by 16 megatons of carbon a year, we are doing two, we need to increase by eight times," she said.

Tasmanian ski fields hit hard as warmer winter affects snowfalls
The record high temperatures this winter have resulted in the lack of snow all over Australia, with the mainland alpine resorts pumping snow machines to cover ski runs. The main mountain for skiing in Tasmania hasn't operated ski lifts for weeks, despite it being peak season.

Older people among the worst affected by climate change
While we are all affected to some extent by extreme weather, it is older adults, especially older women and those with disabilities, who tend to be the most vulnerable. Who struggles most is partly determined by age but also pre-existing health conditions, mental wellbeing, and social and economic circumstances.

Montana judge rules in favour of young activists in US climate trial
In a landmark win for young activists, a judge has ruled that Montana’s failure to consider climate change when evaluating new energy projects was causing harm, thereby violating the plaintiffs’ right to a healthy environment.

NASA Unveils Launch Service for Arctic Warmth Study
NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to provide the launch service for the agency’s PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission, which aims to give researchers a more accurate picture of the energy entering and leaving Earth.