Native logging ban in Tasmania could save the state $72m

An analysis by think tank Blueprint Institute has recommended that the Tasmanian government immediately stop subsidising its forestry arm and announce logging will end in mid-2025 in a move which would not only value the state’s centuries-old trees as carbon storage but also save the state at least $72m.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has warned that Australia’s national security faces a growing threat from climate change, including climate-induced political upheaval in the Indo-Pacific. This alert comes as Australia’s Pacific neighbours face existential threats from climate change with sea level rises threatening to contaminate soil and water supplies, and whole nations facing potential inundation underwater.

And representatives from Newcastle based climate group Rising Tide say that its successful 30 hour blockade of Newcastle Harbour, which called on the federal government to stop all new fossil fuel projects and ended with 109 arrests of activists last weekend, has now gone down as one of the biggest civil disobedience protests for climate action in Australia's history.

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Native forest logging ban in Tasmania could save state $72m
Ending native forest logging in Tasmania and valuing the state’s centuries-old trees as carbon storage could save the state at least $72m, according to a report by a pro-market thinktank.

Chris Bowen sounds alarm on national security threat of global warming
Australia’s national security faces a growing threat from climate change, including climate-induced political upheaval in the Indo-Pacific, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has warned.

Blockading world's biggest coal port a vision for Newcastle climate group Rising Tide since 2005
Rising Tide’s 30 hour blockade of Newcastle Harbour last weekend, which called on the federal government to stop all new fossil fuel projects, is now one of the biggest civil disobedience protests for climate action in Australia's history.

Victorian government to repay electric vehicle owners over unconstitutional tax
The state government has agreed to pay back electric vehicle taxes paid by drivers, with interest, after the High Court’s recent ruling that this tax was unconstitutional in what was a win for Australia’s transition to electric vehicles.

Global climate negotiations marred by revelations COP28 president planned to use his position to push oil trade deals
Leaked documents have revealed that the man in charge of this year's global climate negotiations planned to use his position to push fossil fuel deals with foreign government officials.

Moodja 'fire tree' flowering signals early start to bushfire season with fireys already fatigued
Local Aboriginal people on the south coast say the early flowering of their spiritual "fire tree" is a sign that bushfire season in southern Western Australia has come early, with authorities acknowledging climate change is playing a role. 

Hopes recycled concrete injected with CO2 will help builders cut carbon emissions
Recycled concrete made from demolished buildings could slash emissions and prevent construction waste from going to landfill, its inventor says.

Endangered bird species spotted in animal refuge almost four years after Kangaroo Island bushfires
Wildlife experts were surprised to see some bird species re-emerge across Kangaroo Island after the devastating bushfires in 2019-2020.

Audio search engine for Australian wildlife could help researchers better understand environmental changes
It's hoped the new tool will help track where some animals end up after bushfires or other natural disasters, and inform conservation decisions about species and ecosystems.