Seismic testing reapproved at risk of deafening whales

Woodside Energy has once again been given the all-clear to carry out seismic testing for its massive Scarborough project off the Pilbara coast after an earlier approval was ruled invalid by the Federal Court. Greenpeace Australia Pacific senior campaigner Sophie McNeill says the organisation is deeply concerned by this development given that seismic blasting can deafen whales, who are dependent on sonar to find food and survive.

Meanwhile, more than 50 doctors and other health professionals have rallied outside West Australia’s parliament, urging the Cook government to do more to combat climate change. Doctors for the Environment Australia says that hospitals are already seeing the impacts of climate change and that the government needs to prioritise the health and wellbeing of the community over the fossil fuel industry.

COP28 in the United Arab Emirates is also now underway and so far, more than half of all nations have signed up to a commitment to triple global renewable capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. Clean power advocates have welcomed the commitment but say it must be accompanied by the phaseout of dirtier forms of energy.

Top stories:

Woodside wins approval for seismic blasting off Pilbara coast for massive Scarborough gas project
Woodside has once again been given the all-clear to carry out seismic testing for its massive Scarborough project off the Pilbara coast after an earlier approval was ruled invalid by the Federal Court.

‘Say no to gas’: WA doctors rally at Parliament House
More than 50 doctors and other health professionals have rallied outside West Australia’s parliament, urging the Cook government to do more to combat climate change.

Nations rally behind renewables at COP28 climate talks
Nearly 120 nations pledged to triple the world's renewable energy within seven years at UN climate talks on Saturday.

Australia has duty to pay for climate damage: experts
As one of the world's biggest fossil fuel exporters, Australia must pay its debts to the developing nations on the frontline of the climate crisis, politicians and researchers say.

​​COP28 puts spotlight on state oil giants
The future of fossil fuels is at the heart of the two-week conference, with countries under pressure to agree to phase out oil, gas and coal in order to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

New research finds advertisers are regularly making meaningless claims that their products are 'clean', 'green' and 'sustainable'
Consumers are increasingly considering the environmental impact of a product when making purchasing decisions, and marketers know it.

Environmental group accuses VicForests of more threatened species breaches
A community group that says state-owned logging company VicForests has failed to properly survey for threatened species in a harvesting area has expanded its case to allege breaches in multiple western Victorian forests.

Conservationists, scientists demand answers over prescribed burning of important swamps
Conservation groups are demanding the federal environment minister step in to stop the prescribed burning of ancient peat swamps in southern Western Australia.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023: Fighting crabs and friendly turtles round out People's Choice finalists
Two Australian photographers have made it to the finalists list for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 People's Choice award.