In today’s news, UNESCO may to decide to state the obvious and declare the Great Barrier Reef officially “in danger”. Infamous polluter and alleged tax dodger Woodside wants to drag and dump its disused oil rigs on the doorstep of the Ningaloo Coast Reef World Heritage Area in Western Australia. And the Federal Environment Minister is fighting against a court ruling that she has a duty of care to protect children from climate harm caused by coal.
On Friday, a committee of 21 countries will decide if it wants to listen to the advice of the UN’s science and culture organisation, Unesco, and put the Great Barrier Reef on its list of places that are “in danger”. But whatever happens at the meeting, there appears to be no scenario left where the threat of an “in danger” listing disappears for Australia.
Australia's biggest oil and gas company plans to dump part of an oil rig it failed to properly maintain on the seafloor to create an "artificial reef", less than two kilometres from the Ningaloo Coast Reef World Heritage Area in Western Australia.
Environment Minister appeals ruling she must protect children from climate harm
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has argued in an appeal against a landmark court ruling that she does not have a duty of care to protect Australian children from climate harm caused by the potential expansion of a coal mine.
Australia’s reliance on gas exports questioned as Japan winds down fossil fuel power
A Japanese pledge to wind down gas and coal-fired electricity much faster than previously planned has sparked warnings Australia needs to speed up a transition away from fossil fuel exports.
How the dynamics of a heating planet are driving extreme weather
The heatwaves and deluges that have inflicted misery on millions of people in the northern hemisphere’s extreme summer reveal just how little is understood about how a heating planet will drive weather change.
New bank loan to beef business linked to meeting targets on emissions and animal welfare
The amount of interest paid on a bank loan by a Queensland beef business will be charged according to how it reduces greenhouse gases, meets animal welfare targets, and provides a safe workplace for its staff.
Cockatoos learn how to flip open garbage bins by copying each other
In recent years, there have been reports of cockies flipping open the lid of household waste bins to steal leftover food. And it turns out cockies pick up these lid-flipping skills by copying each other, allowing the behaviour to quickly spread