Woodside EPA extension would be a climate disaster
Friday, 14 July 2023
Fossil fuel giant Woodside is one step closer to being granted a 50-year extension for its gas processing facility in the Pilbara after the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) dismissed appeals arguing it should be stopped on climate science and cultural grounds. Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s Jessica Panegyres called on Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to conduct her own assessment stating “It’s a climate disaster, and too important to just leave to the state EPA.”
Meanwhile in Queensland, dugongs, dolphins and turtles will be given even more protection under expanded marine sanctuaries. Highly protected green zones in the Great Sandy Marine Park on the Fraser Coast north of Brisbane will be increased from 3.9 to 12.8 per cent.
And, the little eastern bettong has returned to the Yiraaldiya National Park for the first time in a century after foxes pushed the small hopping marsupial to extinction on mainland Australia in the 1920s.
Top stories:
Woodside LNG: Australia’s ‘biggest’ contribution to climate crisis a step closer to 50-year extension
One of Australia’s biggest fossil fuel developments is a step closer to having its life extended for nearly 50 years after Western Australian officials dismissed appeals arguing it should be stopped on climate science and cultural grounds.
Safety zones offer fin-tastic benefits for marine life
Gillnet fishing has been banned from yellow zones in the conservation park through waters on the Great Sandy Strait in an area of more than 60,000 hectares.
Why this little digger’s return to Sydney is so important
The little eastern bettong jumps out of a green canvas bag held by a National Parks and Wildlife Service officer before it bounds off into the bush. It’s the first time this small hopping marsupial has been in the western Sydney national park for more than 100 years.
Microplastics: Australian lake among world’s most polluted in landmark study
An Australian lake is among the most polluted of 38 tested across the world when it comes to microplastics, with an expert warning others are likely to be in a similar state. Researchers measured amount of tiny plastic particles in 38 freshwater lakes around globe including Brisbane’s Forest Lake.
Sydney’s driest start to winter in 85 years is a blessing for snow season
Sydney's winter is off to its driest start in 85 years, which is great news for snow bunnies. And it's all thanks to something called the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), a climate driver that measures the latitudinal extent of westerly winds circumnavigating Antarctica.
Toyota has promised an EV revolution, but experts have reservations
Car giant Toyota claims it has discovered a "technological breakthrough" that will allow its electric vehicles to travel more than twice as far as current models but questions remain about the technology itself and whether it will be ready for mass production within five years.
Death of Hobart's Larila the platypus a warning about the plight of a species
The death of a platypus found in a city suburb may reflect the fate of the entire species if we don't pay closer attention to how this Australian animal is faring.
Our Oceans Are Changing Color, And It Could Affect How Life Within It Thrives
Analyzing two decades of satellite imagery, researchers from the US and UK have found Earth's oceans are getting greener, potentially reflecting the impact climate change is having on phytoplankton populations as the world warms.
Market Forces accuses banks of human rights failure after concerns raised over Santos funding
Environmental lobby group Market Forces has accused 11 banks of failing in their responses to human rights concerns raised by traditional owner groups from the Tiwi and Larrakia communities, who claim they will be affected by Santos’ proposed $5.5bn Barossa gas project.
Iraq's marshes are dying, and a civilisation with them
Both the Mesopotamian marshes, and the culture of the Marsh Arabs have UNESCO world heritage status. But the marshlands have shrunk from 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 square miles) in the early 1990s to 4,000 (1,500 square miles) by latest estimates, choked by dams on the great rivers upstream in Türkiye and Syria and the soaring temperatures of climate change.