Students and royals call for better climate action from our leaders and “greatest brains”

Thousands of students around the world, including in Australia, are taking the day off school to demand better climate policies from our leaders. The student-run initiative School Strike 4 Climate is holding more than 35 in-person and online events across regional areas and capital cities in Australia, calling on the federal government to take more action ahead of COP26.

Prince William has followed in his father’s footsteps in urging climate action while taking a thinly-veiled swipe at billionaires locked in a space race. "We need some of the world's greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live," he said.

The Nationals will convene on Sunday to debate the Morrison government’s plans for emissions reduction cuts, while Liberal MPs speak out in favour of more ambitious targets and mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest advises the Prime Minister to proceed with a net zero commitment even if it means splitting the federal Coalition.

These young Australians have an urgent message for Scott Morrison ahead of COP26
Thousands of students around the world are taking the day off school today to call on world leaders to take more action on climate change. Student-run initiative School Strike 4 Climate is holding more than 35 in-person and online events across regional areas and capital cities in Australia, encouraging students and their allies to put pressure on the federal government over its climate policies.

Prince William blasts space race billionaires finding 'new place to live' before repairing Earth
Britain's Prince William has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at the billionaires embroiled in a space tourism race, saying the world's greatest brains should instead be focused on solving the environmental problems facing the Earth. The prince warned that people could be "robbing from our children's future" if the climate crisis is not tackled in time.

Regional Liberals praise ‘upsides’ of climate action as some Nationals continue scare campaign
Ahead of a Nationals party room meeting on Sunday where MPs will consider the Morrison government’s plan for emissions reduction cuts, Liberal MPs are speaking in favour of more ambitious targets. Rowan Ramsey, the Liberal MP for the seat of Grey in South Australia, said “we can’t have our heads in the sand on this, we have to face up to what the world is doing and what our responsibilities are.

Andrew Forrest urges Scott Morrison to commit to net zero even if it means splitting Coalition
The mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has advised Scott Morrison to proceed with committing Australia to a net zero emissions target before COP26, even if that means splitting the federal Coalition. Forrest has been personally lobbying Nationals as Morrison attempts to persuade the junior Coalition partner to accept new climate commitments.

Ahead of COP26, Australia ranked among worst in G20 on climate action
Australia has again been consistently awarded some of the lowest scores amongst G20 countries for renewables uptake, the phase out of fossil fuels, and support for electric vehicles, according to an assessment published in the latest edition of the Climate Transparency Report.

Canadian energy giant advances 2,600MWh pumped hydro project near Bathurst
ATCO says it is making progress with a 2,600MWh pumped hydro project on private land near Yetholme, on Wiradjuri Country about 20kms east of Bathurst, which it hopes to gain a spot in the first renewable energy zone in NSW to go to tender.