Europe’s climate warming at twice rate of global average

Temperatures in Europe have increased at more than twice the global average in the last 30 years, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Europe is a 'live picture of a warming world', says the organisation and commented that even well-prepared societies are not safe from the impacts of extreme weather events.

A majority of Australians, including Coalition voters, support taxing the super profits of the booming oil and gas industry, according to the latest Climate of the Nation survey. The research comes as the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, acknowledges ‘an appetite in the community’ to strengthen petroleum resource rent tax.

Meanwhile, the government's electric car election policy is still in the Senate. The Greens and David Pocock want the policy limited to zero-emissions cars, excluding plug-in hybrids and the industry wants it passed before Christmas, but worries time is running out.

Europe’s climate warming at twice rate of global average, says report
Temperatures in Europe have increased at more than twice the global average in the last 30 years, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The effects of this warming are already being seen, with droughts, wildfires and ice melts taking place across the continent. The European State of the Climate report, produced with the EU’s Copernicus service, warns that as the warming trend continues, exceptional heat, wildfires, floods and other climate breakdown outcomes will affect society, economies and ecosystems.

Majority of Australians back taxing fossil fuel companies’ super profits, survey shows
A majority of Australians, including Coalition voters, support taxing the super profits of the booming oil and gas industry, according to an authoritative annual survey. The latest Climate of the Nation survey of voters – now in its 15th year and managed by the progressive thinktank the Australia Institute – shows 61% of 2,691 respondents would back a windfall tax. The proposal captures majority support across all age, state, gender and voting intention demographics, except for One Nation voters.

Electric vehicle legislation stuck in the Senate as Greens and Labor debate what should be included
The federal parliament is being urged to prioritise and pass the Albanese government's "electric car discount" in the final sitting weeks of this year, which would reduce the cost of some of the most popular zero and low-emissions vehicles by thousands of dollars.

Volvo shocks with 2026 Aussie electric car deadline
Car giant Volvo has shocked the motoring industry, announcing plans to stop selling petrol vehicles in Australia by 2026, with a top executive calling the older technology a “shrinking business”. Volvo’s Australian deadline will come four years before its worldwide target to transition to electric vehicles, and comes one week after it launched its first electric car in Australia.

Environmental activist’s home visited by Queensland police ahead of planned protests in Sydney
Counter-terror police in Queensland have visited the home of an environmental activist following a request from New South Wales ahead of planned protests at a mining conference in Sydney. The activist is one of about 30 people across four jurisdictions to report visits from police in the past week ahead of the International Mining and Resources Conference, which started Wednesday.

Large dams may threaten survival of platypus populations, research finds
Scientists have found major genetic differences between groups of platypuses above and below dams which may lead to inbreeding and reduced adaptability.

Energy price relief plan before Christmas, Jim Chalmers tells ABC’s Q&A
Jim Chalmers says the government intends to have a plan for Australia’s rising energy prices before Christmas, as he was peppered with questions about the cost of living by everyday Australians demanding concrete answers. The treasurer said he was not going to rule out subsidies or changes to how energy companies were taxed in case the situation did not improve, but the current focus remained on changes to regulations, including price caps.

China to gift water cannon trucks, vehicles to Solomon Islands police days after Australian donation
China will today donate at least two water cannon trucks and a host of vehicles to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), in yet another sign that it is intent on entrenching its position as a major security partner in the country.

Two out of three Australians support a switch to cheaper electric vehicles, bikes. Here's why
A new study has found that two of three Australians support changes to speed up the switch to electric vehicles, including discounts to lower their prices and a fuel efficiency standard to see more models arrive in the country. More than 60 per cent of Australians also support a ban on new petrol car sales by 2035.

Australia is heavily reliant on carbon offsets. This is what it needs to bring to Egypt for COP27
As the world’s policymakers head to Egypt for next week’s crucial climate talks, offsets will be in the spotlight next to climate finance, loss and damage to vulnerable communities and 2030 emissions targets.

Global warming will reduce world agricultural production by 30 percent by 2050 if no action is taken
The effects of global warming will reduce global agricultural production by 30 percent by 2050, if appropriate measures are not taken; and, in the case of maize, wheat and other crops, the decline could be as much as 80 percent in southern Africa. This is reflected in the report 'Climate emergency, food production and Fair Trade' presented Thursday by the State Coordinator of Fair Trade on the occasion of the celebration of the Climate Summit that begins next November 7 in Egypt.