Greenpeace slams Toyota over EV delays

Toyota boss loses it at 'electric car extremists' after Greenpeace report ranks car company last. One of Toyota Australia's most senior executives has let fly at 'electric car extremists' in a rare speech, arguing their tunnel vision risks other beneficial technologies being ignored. Toyota sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley went on the rant as he wrapped up his carefully scripted presentation for the Australian debut of the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid SUV in Sydney this week. 

Switching from gas to electrical appliances could save Australian households almost $1900 year on their power bills, according to new research from Climate Counsil.

One hundred religious leaders from a range of faith communities have signed an open letter calling on the Albanese government to stop approving new coal and gas projects. The letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls for no more public subsidies for fossil fuels – which totalled $11.6 billion last financial year – and for support for coal and gas workers to transition into more sustainable industries.

Toyota boss LOSES it at 'electric car extremists' after Greenpeace report ranks car company last
One of Toyota Australia's most senior executives has let fly at 'electric car extremists' in a rare speech, arguing their tunnel vision risks other beneficial technologies being ignored.

Greenpeace slams Toyota over EV delays

A war of words has erupted between environmental group Greenpeace and Australia's leading car manufacturer after heated comments about electric vehicles at a Sydney event.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing vice-president Sean Hanley told attendees at a car launch the company did not oppose "battery electric vehicles" but disagreed with current proposals about "how and when you get there".

But Greenpeace Australia Pacific senior campaigner Lindsay Soutar said Mr Hanley's comments showed Toyota "clearly doesn't get it" and called on the car maker to "up their game" on environmentally friendly battery-powered vehicles.

Give up the gas: switching to electric appliances could save Australians up to $1,900 a year, report says

Switching gas-fuelled home appliances such as cooktops and water heaters to electric versions could save Australians between $500 and $1,900 a year in energy bills, a new report says.

The cost of buying new electric appliances would be recouped in as little as five years depending on location, according to the report from the not-for-profit Climate Council. The council says state governments should incentivise the switch from gas with low- or zero-interest loans, as upfront costs of new appliances are stopping families from going electric. “Whether it’s on emissions, savings on your bills, or for your health, we hope Australians will realise [switching from gas] is a win, win, win,” said Dr Carl Tidemann, the lead author of the report.

Wholesale prices for gas and electricity have been rising sharply due mostly to the increasing costs of gas in international markets, pushed higher after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.


Greta Thunberg urges Germany to keep nuke plants running

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has given her blessing for Germany to delay plans to shut down its last remaining nuclear power plants by the end of this year, saying the loss of their output amid Europe's energy crisis would lead to more environmentally harmful alternatives. "Personally, I think that it's a very bad idea to focus on coal when this [nuclear power] is already in place, but of course, it's a very infected debate," the 19-year-old Thunberg told German public broadcaster ARD in an interview that's set to air on Wednesday.

‘Cries of anguish’: Faith leaders urge Labor to dump fossil fuels

More than 100 religious leaders from Australia and the Pacific have urged federal Labor to block approvals for new coal and gas projects and end taxpayer subsidies to fossil fuel companies.

Urging a dramatic increase in efforts to stem climate change, senior Catholic, Anglican, Jewish and Uniting church leaders, Australia’s grand mufti and Indigenous groups have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister.

NT gas breakdown adds to east coast energy woes

An indefinite shutdown of the only gas pipeline link between the east coast gas grid and the Northern Territory has further constrained energy supply in the eastern states, adding further stress to prices already under pressure due to coal power plant outages.

Shell, Foresight in $700m WA renewables push

Energy giant Shell has teamed with Foresight Group, the UK-based firm that snapped up Australia’s Infrastructure Capital Group, to buy a $700 million renewable energy development project in Western Australia that will involve both wind and solar power and battery storage. The deal, which paves the way for a major new source of clean energy generation in WA’s eastern Wheatbelt region, further rounds out the rapidly growing portfolio of Foresight/ICG in Australia.