Pacific deep-sea mining deadline looms

As a crucial deadline looms for a new frontier of mining in the deep Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islanders are worried that deep-sea mining could go ahead before proper regulations are in place. Residents say any damage to ocean ecosystems would be devastating for their countries, where the sea is central to life.

The temperature of the world’s ocean surface has hit an all-time high and is “headed off the charts”, climate scientists say. Heat rising from the ocean’s surface could lead to marine heatwaves around the globe, including a potential El Niño pattern in the tropical Pacific later this year. 

Meanwhile new US data shows record temperatures, devastating floods and superstorms are causing death and destruction across the planet, but humans are failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions fuelling the climate emergency.

A crucial date for deep-sea mining in the Pacific is just around the corner, but is the world ready?
As a crucial deadline looms for a new frontier of mining in the deep Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islanders are worried the controversial practice could go ahead before proper regulations are in place.

Headed off the charts’: world’s ocean surface temperature hits record high
The temperature of the world’s ocean surface has hit an all-time high since satellite records began, leading to marine heatwaves around the globe. Climate scientists said the average temperature at the ocean’s surface has been at 21.1C since the start of April – beating the previous high of 21C set in 2016. 

Greenhouse gas emissions rose at ‘alarming’ rate last year, US data shows
Record temperatures, devastating floods and superstorms are causing death and destruction across the planet but humans are failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions fueling the climate emergency, new US data shows.

Coal seam gas waste plan risks washing ‘5m tonnes of salt into the Murray-Darling Basin’
Local landholders and advocacy groups in southern Queensland have criticised the state government’s plans to store millions of tonnes of coal seam gas waste in lined landfills, saying it risks contaminating the Murray-Darlin Basin.

El Niño could arrive at a dangerous time for the Pacific. Here's how local farmers are preparing
With up to 85 per cent of the population involved in agriculture, PNG is especially vulnerable to climate events. Local farmers say the seasons are changing, due to climate change.

El Niño forecasting a hard task during unpredictable autumn, climate scientists say
Autumn's susceptibility to unpredictable weather has the likelihood of an El Niño hanging in the balance, according to climate scientists, with climate change making it more difficult for scientists to predict weather events.

Foreign-owned mine Griffin Coal bills WA taxpayers $7.3 million to move dirt, fix machines
West Australian taxpayers have spent millions of dollars propping up a failed foreign-owned coal mine at the centre of the state's energy woes, paying for costs such as repairs to broken machinery. 

Value of Australian lithium exports tipped to match thermal coal in five years
Exports of Australian lithium – a key metal used in batteries – are expected to earn as much as sales of thermal coal within five years, as the world increasingly embraces clean energy and the market value of fossil fuels falls.

Japanese-funded $500m project to extract hydrogen from Victorian coal is at risk, sources say
A multi-billion dollar Japanese plan to extract hydrogen from Victoria’s brown coal is at risk of failing due to demands for extra subsidies and a lack of willingness from Japanese customers to sign up for long-term deals.

Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney on how to keep the lights on
Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada and green energy financier, says Australia will reach its emissions targets without interruption to energy supply.

Amazon forests save $2bn in pollution healthcare: study
Rainforests on Indigenous lands in Brazil's Amazon protect millions of people from heart and lung diseases by absorbing pollution and save $2 billion a year in healthcare costs, researchers said in a study published Thursday, urging increased protection against deforestation.

Opinion: The listing of more Australian bird species as ‘threatened’ is alarming – but also cause for hope
There will be more birds added to the threatened species list as the federal environment department plays catch-up after years of delays, but a listing should not be seen as a tragic conclusion, writes Sean Dooley.

Baby bilby at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary a beacon of hope for Central Australia
Ecologists are forecasting a "big year" at a Central Australian wildlife sanctuary following the discovery of a baby bilby in December and the announcement of a federal Recovery Plan on Thursday.

Greater bilby numbers double in latest Australian Wildlife Conservancy census
The population of greater bilbies in protected areas throughout Australia has more than doubled in the past year, according to the results of a national census.