New carbon emissions plan launched by NSW environmental watchdog

The New South Wales environmental watchdog has released a plan to regulate carbon emissions, which will require firms to show how they will hit net zero by 2050 and encourage them to improve. The Climate Change Policy and Action Plan 2023-26 was released today by the Environment Protection Authority, and will identify what progress is already underway by companies covered by pollution licences.

‘Teal’ candidates in New South Wales have blasted the state government for refusing to back a proposed 300,000 hectare koala national park. It comes after the premier, Dominic Perrottet, dismissed Labor’s plan to create a new “great koala national park” on state forest land between Kempsey and Coffs Harbour.

Meanwhile, a woman has been arrested after spray-painting over an iconic Australian painting in a Western Australia art museum, in protest of Woodside Energy’s multi-billion dollar gas project in the Burrup Peninsula.

NSW environment watchdog to require big polluters to show how they will hit net zero
New South Wales’s environmental watchdog has released what it calls Australia’s “most comprehensive plan” to regulate carbon emissions, requiring firms to show how they will hit net zero by 2050 and nudging them to improve. The Climate Change Policy and Action Plan 2023-26, released today by the Environment Protection Authority, has outlined mandatory surveys to licensees to show how they are contributing to the state’s climate change objectives.

Koala preservation opens new front for NSW teals as they seek to win Coalition seats
‘Teal’ independents facing off against moderate Coalition MPs in the New South Wales election have blasted the government for refusing to back a proposed 300,000 hectare koala national park, accusing it of failing to protect the endangered species.

Iconic Frederick McCubbin painting defaced in Woodside protest at Art Gallery of WA
An iconic Australian painting by Frederick McCubbin has been spray-painted over by activists in a protest against Woodside Energy's $16.5 billion gas project in the Burrup Peninsula. Woodside's Scarborough gas project in the Burrup Peninsula, near Karratha, has been the target of multiple protests over concerns it will damage Aboriginal rock art in the area.

NSW to intervene in coal market to ‘even playing field’ among producers
New South Wales will demand thermal coalminers set aside as much as 10% of their output for domestic users in a bid to make price cap impacts more equal across the sector.

Globe At Night citizen science program reveals rapid increase in light pollution around world
Data collected by citizen scientists around the world over the past 12 years shows that the night sky is disappearing due to rapid increases in light pollution. The data, reported today in the journal Science, indicates the change in visibility reported is equivalent to an average increase in sky brightness of 9.6 per cent per year.

Greenland temperatures the warmest in more than 1,000 years, new data show
A sharp spike in Greenland temperatures since 1995 shows the giant northern island is 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than its 20th-century average, the warmest it has been in more than 1,000 years, new ice core data show.

Greta Thunberg accuses energy firms of throwing people 'under the bus'
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has called on the global energy industry and its financiers to end all fossil fuel investments at a high-profile meeting in Davos with the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA). Thunberg, who was detained by police in Germany earlier this week during a demonstration at a coal mine, joined with fellow activists from Ecuador, Uganda and Germany to speak with Faith Birol on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting.

Botanical artist documenting species on 8-metre scrolls to raise environmental awareness
A botanical artist committed to documenting plant species on 8-metre-long scrolls of paper has generated tears overseas as she works to raise environmental awareness. Sharon Field, who has been creating art portraying Australia's flora for more than a decade, is drawing species from across New South Wales and the world, including some that are endangered, threatened, or at risk from climate change.