U.S. electric vehicle plan puts Australia in spotlight

Overnight U.S. President Joe Biden's administration unveiled new proposed auto emissions rules, aiming to accelerate the electric vehicle transition with a target of two-thirds of the new US car market by 2032. Greenpeace Australia Pacific says the policy decision shows what’s possible for the Australian government, and that fuel efficiency standards, together with clean energy investments, can bring Australia up to speed. 

Communities along Western Australia's Kimberley and Pilbara coasts could be hit with winds of up to 270 kilometres per hour tonight as Tropical Cyclone Ilsa makes landfall.

Meanwhile experts are warning that insurance is expected to become less accessible, with a 2022 Climate Council report predicting that one in every 25 homes will be uninsurable by 2030 due to climate change.

Biden admin unveils tough emissions rules to speed electric auto shift
President Joe Biden's administration unveiled new proposed auto emissions rules Wednesday, aiming to accelerate the electric vehicle transition with a target of two-thirds of the new US car market by 2032.

Tropical Cyclone Ilsa set to make landfall tonight as WA's Kimberley, Pilbara brace for damaging winds, rain
Communities along Western Australia's Kimberley and Pilbara coasts could be hit with winds of up to 270 kilometres per hour tonight as Tropical Cyclone Ilsa makes landfall.

The government needs to get involved in disaster insurance to protect more Australians
Insurance is expected to become less accessible, with a 2022 Climate Council report predicting that one in every 25 homes will be uninsurable by 2030 due to climate change.

The Australian town where water insecurity is felt more than some communities in Bangladesh
After years of drought and water shortages, Indigenous residents in the north-west New South Wales town of Walgett have been living off emergency bore water for roughly five years.

‘Underwater and overlooked’: number of critically endangered fish species in Australia doubles
Australia’s list of critically endangered fish has doubled in what conservationists say is a sign of the urgent need to tackle the problem of invasive freshwater species.

Solomon Islands electricity most expensive in the world, but its government says hydro energy is coming
Solomon Islands has the unwanted title of the world's most expensive electricity, just above fellow Pacific nations Vanuatu and Cook Islands. About 20 kilometres south-east of Honiara, the long-awaited Tina River hydropower project is getting closer to completion.      

Indonesians seeking climate justice take aim at Swiss concrete giant to save their island
Environmentalists have predicted Pari island could sink by 2050 because of rising sea levels. The island's residents are seeking justice, and are suing Swiss cement giant Holcim over its emissions and climate damage.

Court throws out Bob Brown Foundation challenge to MMG mine lease
An environmental group has lost its latest court battle with a mining company that's planning to build a controversial new tailings dam in Tasmania's west. 

Santos apologises for using image of Aboriginal elder Major 'Moogy' Sumner in corporate video
Oil and gas company Santos has apologised to an Adelaide Aboriginal elder, who asked for his image to be removed from its corporate materials in protest at the company's treatment of Indigenous people.

Victorian government urges more investment in renewables as revived SEC won’t be enough to reach target
Victoria’s energy minister has urged private companies to help do the heavy lifting in the state’s transition to renewable energy, saying the revived public State Electricity Commission (SEC) will not crowd out the market.