Welcome back to a new year of The Canopy

Welcome back to The Canopy 2023! We’ve kicked off the new year with some changes to Australia’s environmental policies, including new pollution caps - you can read our statement on that development here. This week, concerns are being raised about Australia’s warming oceans and rate of land-clearing, climate protesters have been arrested in South Australia and there’s a call for more EV charging stations.

Researchers from the University of Western Australia are warning some kelp forests have not recovered from an extreme heatwave more than a decade ago. WA’s oceanic hotspots are being studied to help plan for recovery action around the world. 

Meanwhile, the federal government is investigating potentially unlawful land-clearing for cotton crops in the Northern Territory. Satellite images obtained by the ABC show huge areas of savanna have been flattened to make way for cotton and agriculture. The federal environment minister has labelled the reports “very concerning”.

And the Prime Minister says he believes he has struck “the right balance” on climate change policies, saying concerns from both the Greens and the Liberals proves the policies are good. 

Warming ocean waters in Western Australia are a 'sentinel of climate change', UWA researchers say
Some of WA’s kelp forests have not recovered from an extreme marine heatwave in 2011, with researchers from the University of Western Australia saying that studying ocean hot spots in WA is helping plan recovery action around the world.

Federal environment department investigating allegations of unlawful Northern Territory land clearing
The federal government is investigating potentially unlawful land clearing in the Northern Territory, where satellite images obtained by the ABC suggest swathes of unique savanna have been flattened to make way for cotton crops. 

PM defends climate laws, suggests he can’t meet Greens demands
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the fact the Coalition and the Greens are raising concerns about the government’s new climate laws shows it has achieved the right balance between reducing emissions and not punishing heavy industries.

Graves sink, fisheries shrink and relocation looms as climate change hits Fiji
The sea has already swallowed the village graveyard in Togoru, Fiji, and long-time resident Lavenia McGoon is dreading the day it claims her house.

Charging queues set to drive change as EV road trips surge
This holiday season was the first in which there were enough electric cars on the road to cause congestion at regional charging stations, with advocates saying it presents an opportunity in the form of real-world data to inform the need for more charging infrastructure.

Household solar boom back on track after severe weather and supply disruptions lead to 14% drop in capacity
After setbacks in 2022, the solar panel industry regained its footing at the end of the year as the prospect of more power price rises stoked demand.

Protesters fined for Woodside blockade, police seeking $33,000 in costs
Two protesters used a caravan to block access to obstruct access to the Burrup Peninsula near Woodside's operations, demonstrating against the gas giant's $16.5 billion Scarborough gas project.

Three women arrested in Adelaide after protest against Santos's sponsorship of Tour Down Under
Video footage shows partly naked women among a group of protesters standing on the side of the road holding signs and singing as cyclists and cars rode past, protesting the gas giant’s sponsorship of the event.