UN levy on global shipping industry sets sail

After mammoth negotiations led by Pacific Island nations the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands, the global shipping industry is set to have an emissions levy imposed. It comes after gruelling United Nations negotiations ended with an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, a new report has found that the plastics consumed yearly by Australians have a greenhouse emissions impact equivalent to 5.7m cars – more than a third of the cars on Australia’s roads. The plastics consumed nationally in the 2019-20 financial year created 16m tonnes of greenhouse gases which is projected to double by 2050.

And, Nauru wants permission to mine the ocean floor for critical minerals used to make batteries for the global transition to net zero, saying it would give the tiny Pacific nation the chance of economic survival with the end of offshore processing.

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Australia’s annual plastic consumption produces emissions equivalent to 5.7m cars, analysis shows
Quantifying the footprint of the production, transport and waste management of plastics consumed in Australia, the report projected that these emissions would more than double to 42.5m tonnes annually by 2050.

After mammoth negotiations, the world adopts a plan to cut shipping emissions
To reach the targets, the group proposed to introduce a mandate to use cleaner fuel and introduce a levy on greenhouse gas emissions from ships starting at $100 per tonne.

Going broke and sinking, Nauru wants to mine the ocean floor
Around 30 countries, including Nauru, were granted exploration contracts by the UN agency that governs deep-sea mining, the International Seabed Authority, in 2011. But since then, there has been no progress on authorising the exploitation of the minerals with the international community divided over the idea.

Larrakia traditional owners pause land clearing at Lee Point on cultural grounds
Land clearing has paused at a controversial housing development in Darwin after 11 people were arrested and an emergency injunction was sought.

Women, young people take up beekeeping in Solomon Islands to diversify incomes and fight climate change
While bees are proving their worth as an effective side hustle, they're also helping communities in Solomon Islands in the fight against climate change.

Antarctic ice deficit grows to size of Western Australia as 2023 shatters more climate records
This week has seen Earth break or equal its record for the hottest day on four occasions and set new July highs for ocean temperatures. While in the Antarctic, the amount of sea ice is well below that recorded in previous years.

The battle to save the endangered fish that prefers to walk instead of swim
On two tiny patches of reef in Tasmania, a bizarre walking fish with over-sized jazz hands and a fluffy pom-pom on its head is barely hanging on. With just 100 or so left in the wild, the aptly named red handfish makes Australia’s other critically endangered species seem positively abundant.

‘It gives me chills’: Dams are brimming and towns devastated by flooding are again on edge
Australian National University water expert Jamie Pittock said communities would come under increasing threat from floods in riverine and urban areas “it’s going to get worse in a changing climate.” 

‘Russian roulette’ for Great Barrier Reef as El Nino heats up coral-bleaching risk
Scientists warn that high sea surface temperatures driven by an El Nino weather system coupled with the ongoing effects of global warming make mass mortality on Australia’s living natural wonder increasingly likely.

Twenty years after Save Ningaloo, WA’s next cultural reckoning is here
Twenty years ago this week, then-premier Dr Geoff Gallop stood on the beach at Coral Bay, Ningaloo surrounded by TV crews and announced that the government had ruled against a controversial marina resort.

Rare chubby-cheeked rodent unexpectedly discovered
A detection dog has unexpectedly discovered a new population of rare native rodents in Melbourne's outer east. The previously unrecorded broad-toothed rat population was found by a four-year-old labrador called Moss who was searching the Coranderrk Bushland near Healesville Sanctuary.

Anxiety grows across Asia Pacific nations ahead of planned Fukushima wastewater release
Anxiety is rising among Japan's neighbours ahead of a plan to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. Some Pacific Island nations opposed the water release over concerns about the threat to the marine environment and public health.