Island nation Vanuatu sends climate resolution to UN for court opinion

IThe island nation Vanuatu and 17 other countries on Wednesday published a draft resolution asking the world's top court to clarify what responsibilities governments around the world have to protect future generations from climate change. The resolution, which the United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote on early next year, will ask the ICJ for clarification on what the obligations of states are to protect the climate system and environment for present and future generations. It will also ask the court to define what the legal consequences under these obligations are for states, which through their acts or lack of action, have caused harm to the climate system.

Australia's progress towards net-zero emissions will be outlined in a major statement by Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen on Thursday will deliver the first annual climate change statement to parliament - part of the government's legislated pledge to cut emissions by 43 percent by 2030 and achieve the net-zero target by 2050.

Consumers are losing faith in an electricity and gas market that delivers prices a falling number of households and small businesses can afford. The latest energy consumer sentiment survey shows power price increases of up to 20 percent this year and expectations of greater bill shock to come are taking their toll.

Island nation Vanuatu sends climate resolution to UN for court opinion
The island nation Vanuatu and 17 other countries on Wednesday published a draft resolution asking the world's top court to clarify what responsibilities governments around the world have to protect future generations from climate change. The resolution, which the United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote on early next year, will ask the ICJ for clarification on what the obligations of states are to protect the climate system and environment for present and future generations. It will also ask the court to define what the legal consequences under these obligations are for states, which through their acts or lack of action, have caused harm to the climate system.

Parliament to hear first climate statement
Australia's progress towards net-zero emissions will be outlined in a major statement by Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen on Thursday will deliver the first annual climate change statement to parliament - part of the government's legislated pledge to cut emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 and achieve the net-zero target by 2050. The statement is expected to include a "comprehensive and transparent stocktake" of how Australia is tracking against the nationally-determined contribution it provided to the United Nations.

Energy consumers want price intervention
Consumers are losing faith in an electricity and gas market that delivers prices a falling number of households and small businesses can afford. The latest energy consumer sentiment survey shows power price increases of up to 20 percent this year and expectations of greater bill shock to come are taking their toll. On any measure, the leading indicators for the state of the energy system are truly concerning, Energy Consumers Australia chief executive Lynne Gallagher said.

Australians turn to interstate train travel amid soaring domestic airfares heading into holiday peak
Australians facing record-high domestic airfares are opting for cheaper overnight trains and coaches to travel interstate, with patronage between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane more than doubling in recent months as services are booked to capacity. Despite decades-old infrastructure on Australia’s east coast that makes train journeys several hours longer than equivalent car trips, fresh ridership statistics have exposed the dramatic effect of the reduction in flights and soaring airfares on summer travel plans.

Australian food organic waste target abandoned by the federal government
Australia has abandoned its goal of collecting food organic waste in kerbside bins by 2023, now aiming for all metropolitan households and businesses to be able to put food in their green bins by the end of the decade. The latest figures reveal only one-in-four Australian councils allow residents to mix food and garden waste for kerbside collection, despite the significant environmental benefits it can have and the demand for the compost. Food waste is a major problem in Australia, accounting for about three percent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions and costing the economy about $40 billion a year.

Curtin MP Kate Chaney throws support behind Bill to regulate vehicle fuel standards
Curtin independent Kate Chaney has thrown her support behind a private member’s Bill to legislate standards to improve fuel standards. The Bill was introduced by North Sydney MP Kylea Tinks, who is often branded a Teal independent, despite her campaign colour being pink. Ms Tinks said the Bill she introduced this week legislated “much-needed standards to improve the quality of cars on our roads, reduce transport emissions and help bring down fuel costs for Australian motorists”.

Goldenfields Water customers face highest level of restrictions despite widespread flooding
Major flooding in regional New South Wales has had an unexpected effect of putting some small communities on harsh water restrictions. Goldenfields Water County Council, which supplies water to 46,000 customers across southern and central NSW, last week asked about 300 farmers and residents around Weethalle, Tallimba and Naradhan to drastically cut their water consumption due to the inundation of a local bore field. The council placed level 5 restrictions on those customers, limiting water use to 100 litres per person, per day.