UN slams COP28 ‘posturing’ amongst nations

Pressure is mounting near the end of the first week of the UN negotiations hosted by the oil-rich UAE, with Europe's climate monitor confirming that 2023 will be the hottest year in recorded history. The fate of oil, gas and coal -- the main drivers of human-caused planet heating -- has been the biggest sticking point on the agenda, with the European Union calling for the event to "mark the beginning of the end" of planet-warming fossil fuels and the UN slamming COP28 'posturing' amongst the nations in attendance. 

The Albanese government has announced at the COP28 climate summit that it has joined 40 other countries in signing up to the clean energy transition partnership, which will see us phase out our offshore support for coal, oil and gas within 12 months. This has now prompted renewed calls for Australia to reconsider polluting subsidies on the domestic front.

And closer to home, the Victorian government is planning to offer financial incentives for households to switch from natural gas to electric cooktops. This will come as part of imminent major changes to the state’s energy upgrade program designed to help industry and over 2 million households to transition away from the use of natural gas.

Top stories:

UN slams COP28 'posturing' as fossil fuel debate sizzles
UN climate chief Simon Stiell on Wednesday accused nations of "posturing" at the COP28 talks in Dubai, raising the temperature on negotiators sparring over the thorny issue of fossil fuels.

Australia ends finance for fossil fuel expansion overseas – now focus turns to local subsidies
The Albanese government has announced at COP28 that it will phase out offshore support for coal, oil and gas within a year, prompting renewed calls for it to reconsider polluting subsidies at home.

Victoria eyes discount scheme to get people cooking without gas
Victoria expected update to its gas substitution road map in coming days is anticipated to feature a discount scheme as well as greater detail on how Victoria plans to transition industry and 2 million+ households away from natural gas.

Anger at record fossil fuel attendees at Cop28: ‘You don’t bring arsonists to a firefighting convention’
Climate campaigners have expressed their anger at the record number of delegates with links to fossil fuel producers in attendance at this year’s COP28 summit.

COP28: Electric vehicles accelerating end of oil age
The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), a grouping of 29 industrialised nations, expects world oil consumption to hit its zenith at the end of this decade, and has pointed to accelerated policy support for the shift to electrification as the key game-changer.

Nature repair bill passes after Greens agree to deal
The Greens agreed to support the nature repair market, which will see landowners paid to improve the environment on their properties in exchange for the government agreeing to assess the impact of all new gas projects on water resources, providing a way to stop some of these projects.

Double-action solar tower promises clean energy all day and night
Researchers in Jordan and Qatar have come up with a remarkable design for a "twin technology solar system" (TTSS) capable of generating clean energy 24/7. 

Blind, Sand-Swimming Golden Mole Rediscovered Alive After 86 Years
De Winton's golden mole was feared extinct for almost a century - but scientists have rediscovered them on the west coast of South Africa for the first time since 1936.