In today’s news, documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal the Morrison government directed the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to rush the release of a major scientific report on the Great Barrier reef and assist in "leaking" it to selected media outlets as part of a government push to avoid the Reef being listed as a World Heritage site “in danger”.

Australia’s leading scientists and engineers have told the Morrison government the technologies needed to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions already exist – and the Coalition should immediately implement a national net zero policy.

And energy minister, Angus Taylor, and resources minister, Keith Pitt, have been asked to explain their dealings with the Liberal-linked firm Empire Energy before it received $21m in federal grants, after email records showed it asking for information on “eligibility criteria” and the “application process” well before the program guidelines were released.

Government directed science agency to release report early ahead of Great Barrier Reef decision, documents show

The federal government directed the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) — an independent statutory authority — to rush the release of a major scientific report and assist in "leaking" it to selected media outlets, documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws show.

‘Landmark’ court case pits Greenpeace against government over BP oil drilling licence, ahead of Cop26

The UK government is facing a “landmark” legal challenge over the 2018 approval of a permit which allowed BP to drill for 30 million barrels of oil in the North Sea, with Greenpeace arguing no consideration of the climate impact was made.

‘Get on with it’: Australia already has low-carbon technology and Coalition should embrace it, scientists say

Australia’s leading scientists and engineers have told the Morrison government the technologies needed to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions already exist – and the Coalition should immediately implement a national net zero policy.

Angus Taylor and Keith Pitt asked by Senate inquiry chair to explain dealings with firm awarded Beetaloo gas grants

The energy minister, Angus Taylor, and resources minister, Keith Pitt, have been asked to explain their dealings with the Liberal-linked firm Empire Energy before it received $21m in federal grants, after email records showed it asking for information on “eligibility criteria” and the “application process” well before the program guidelines were released.

Buried Queensland government report found Adani plan to protect black-throated finch was ‘superficial’

The Queensland government commissioned, mostly ignored, and then tried to keep secret the findings of an independent scientific panel that concluded Adani’s conservation plans for the endangered black-throated finch were “superficial” and not backed by evidence.

How Spain is shutting down its coal industry to transition to renewables

Three years ago, Spain's Socialist Workers' Party government signed an agreement with trade unions and energy companies to shut down the entire coal industry in return for early retirement and investment in replacement industries.Known as Transicion Justa, or "Just Transition", it's become the model for rapid transition from fossil fuel production. 

Here's what south-east Queensland councils are doing about climate change

Across south-east Queensland, local governments are part of a grassroots push to help decreasece and adapt to the impacts of climate change.