---
title: Labor unveils watered-down fuel efficiency standard
description: The Albanese government has watered down flagship new laws aimed at disincentivising the use of high-polluting cars and hastening the importation of cleaner vehicles.
---
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# Labor unveils watered-down fuel efficiency standard
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Labor unveils watered-down fuel efficiency standard that eases emission rules for large SUVs. The Albanese government has watered down flagship new laws aimed at disincentivising the use of high-polluting cars and hastening the importation of cleaner vehicles amid pressure from the auto industry.
Surge in WA emissions puts Australia’s net zero targets in doubt. Western Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are rising with little sign that the main power grid can decarbonise rapidly, leaving other states to make bigger cuts if Australia’s legislated carbon reduction goals are to be met.
Climate-conscious investors put nuclear dead last on list of desirable Australian ventures.Nuclear energy ranks last on the list of climate technologies that big institutional investors want exposure to, according to a survey of climate conscious investors with $37trillion under management.
TOP NEWS STORIES
[Labor unveils watered-down fuel efficiency standard that eases emission rules for large SUVs](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/26/labor-new-vehicle-fuel-efficiency-standard-emission-rules-suvs)
The Albanese government has watered down flagship new laws aimed at disincentivising the use of high-polluting cars and hastening the importation of cleaner vehicles amid pressure from the auto industry.
[**Surge in WA emissions puts Australia’s net zero targets in doubt**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/25/surge-in-wa-emissions-puts-australias-net-zero-targets-in-doubt)
Western Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are rising with little sign that the main power grid can decarbonise rapidly, leaving other states to make bigger cuts if Australia’s legislated carbon reduction goals are to be met.
[**Climate-conscious investors put nuclear dead last on list of desirable Australian ventures**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/25/climate-conscious-investors-put-nuclear-dead-last-on-list-of-desirable-australian-ventures)
Nuclear energy ranks last on the list of climate technologies that big institutional investors want exposure to, according to a survey of climate conscious investors with $37trillion under management.
[**Labor’s chance to protect youth over fossil fuels**](https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environment/2024/03/23/labors-chance-protect-youth-over-fossil-fuels)
Catherine Pendrey is sitting on a panel of four medical professionals, giving evidence to the Senate Committee for Environment and Communications. She’s 38 weeks pregnant and everyone in the room feels the significance of what she is saying. “It’s absolutely the case,” Dr Pendrey says, “that the health of a child born today will be defined by climate change.”
[**'Climate fast' protest enters third week as thousands demand action in freezing temperatures in India**](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-25/thousands-protest-in-ladakh-demanding-climate-action-and-rights/103626414)
Thousands of people in a remote part of India have begun a third week of protests in freezing conditions, demanding constitutional provisions from the government to protect their territory's fragile ecology and to have autonomy over land and agriculture decisions.
[**Reported plan to move Rosehill racecourse to endangered bell frog habitat surprises conservationists**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/26/rosehill-racecourse-sale-plan-olympic-park-bell-frog-habitat)
The colony is now one of the [largest populations of the endangered species](https://conservationvolunteers.com.au/community-environment-program-2021/green-golden-bell-frog-cep/) remaining in NSW.
[**Industry shutdowns are messy and painful: 4 lessons Australia’s coal sector can learn from car-makers about bowing out**](https://theconversation.com/industry-shutdowns-are-messy-and-painful-4-lessons-australias-coal-sector-can-learn-from-car-makers-about-bowing-out-226011)
The Holden experience offers lessons for the coal-fired power industry. The car industry’s experience can guide governments and the private sector in how to minimise disruption for regions, communities and workers.
[**Labor dissent sees Plibersek’s veto on offshore gas project rules restored**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/25/labor-dissent-sees-pliberseks-veto-on-offshore-gas-project-rules-restored)
The Albanese government has kept a lid on dissent over changes to the approval process for offshore gas projects, but a late internal push has seen the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, regain a power to prevent consultation rules being watered down.
[**Julian Assange extradition appeal: what you need to know before the UK high court’s ruling**](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/mar/26/julian-assange-extradition-appeal-uk-high-court-ruling-details)
Julian Assange will learn whether he can fight to stop his extradition to the United States at 9.30pm AEDT (10.30am UK time) on Tuesday when two senior judges of London’s high court hand down their ruling.
[Electric vehicles](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/electric-vehicles), [Biodiversity](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/biodiversity), [activism](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/activism)
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