Cop28 draft climate deal criticised as ‘grossly insufficient’ and ‘incoherent’

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A draft deal to cut global fossil fuel production is “grossly insufficient” and “incoherent” and will not stop the world from facing dangerous climate breakdown, according to delegates at the UN’s Cop28 summit. Some countries, including Samoa and Pacific Island states, are despairing that the text does not require a full phase-out of fossil fuels.

The Australian climate change minister, Chris Bowen, has declared phasing out fossil fuels globally is central to Australia’s push to become a renewable energy superpower, and named Saudi Arabia as a block to agreement on the issue at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai.

A protester from the Disrupt Burrup Hub group has had to be cut free from underneath a car in Perth after chaining himself to the vehicle as part of an anti-Woodside Energy demonstration. The protest took place on the street housing Federal offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA, as well as chemical and fertiliser company Perdaman, both of which are involved in projects on WA’s Burrup Peninsula, alongside Woodside Energy.

Cop28 draft climate deal criticised as ‘grossly insufficient’ and ‘incoherent’
A draft deal to cut global fossil fuel production is “grossly insufficient” and “incoherent” and will not stop the world from facing dangerous climate breakdown, according to delegates at the UN’s Cop28 summit. Some countries, including Samoa and Pacific Island states, are despairing that the text does not require a full phase-out of fossil fuels.

Chris Bowen says agreement on global fossil fuel phase out central to Australia’s renewable energy plans
The Australian climate change minister, Chris Bowen, has declared phasing out fossil fuels globally is central to Australia’s push to become a renewable energy superpower, and named Saudi Arabia as a block to agreement on the issue at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai.

Anti-Woodside Disrupt Burrup Hub protesters block major Perth street
A protester from the Disrupt Burrup Hub group has had to be cut free from underneath a car in Perth after chaining himself to the vehicle as part of an anti-Woodside Energy demonstration. The protest took place on the street housing Federal offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA, as well as chemical and fertiliser company Perdaman, both of which are involved in projects on WA’s Burrup Peninsula, alongside Woodside Energy.

Weather tracker: temperatures hit 43.5C in Australia as 2023 on track to be hottest year
Parts of south-east Australia have been experiencing extreme heat over recent days. Temperatures hit 43.5C at Sydney airport on Saturday. This was the highest temperature recorded at this station since records began in 1929, and is about 15C above the December average.

Tuvalu ex-foreign minister seeks Australia pact changes
The Tuvalu politician who stood knee-deep in water to focus the world's attention on the threat of rising seas to his Pacific atoll country says a climate migration treaty with Australia should be revised after next month's general election.

Floods and environmental flows a boon for south-east Australia’s waterbirds, survey shows
Widespread floods and environmental flows have been a boon for waterbirds with annual surveys in eastern Australia recording more than half a million birds. But researchers say long-term declines in populations persist and the effects of the current El Niño and drying across eastern Australia are showing, with the total area of surveyed wetland habitat decreasing over the past year.

NSW: Thousands of bats likely wiped out after soaring temperatures smash starving colonies
High branches around NSW have been left littered with the bodies of dead grey-headed flying fox pups after soaring temperatures above 40 degrees coincided with a mass starvation event. 

Used EVs will soon become much easier to get. This is how to choose a reliable one
After a slow start, the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia has been surging over the last year as supply constraints ease and motorists look to make the switch from petrol cars.