COP31 goes to Turkey

Australia has ceded next year’s United Nations climate conference – COP 31 – to Turkey, but has negotiated a fall back that gives Climate Minister Chris Bowen a prominent role.

Fear, uncertainty and doubt

Climate skepticism is often amplified by those with deep ties to fossil fuel interests. Many deniers are less motivated by ignorance than by ideology and self-preservation. Casting doubt on science conveniently protects industries and donors whose profits would suffer from robust climate policy.

What to expect from COP30?

The United Nations COP30 climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon city of Belém faces a new range of challenges, not least the open hostility of the Trump administration.

Climate justice is an intergenerational issue

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has acknowledged that “intergenerational fairness is one of the defining principles of our country” but the lack of political response to the recent Climate Risk Assessment Report suggests there’s little appetite for action.

Forest dump

Hopes that higher levels of atmospheric carbon would boost tree growth and lock carbon into biomass have been dashed by a new survey which suggests that drought and higher temperatures are turning tropical forests into carbon sources rather than sinks.

7 steps towards Australia’s new climate goal

The federal government has announced a 2035 emissions reduction target of 62-70% below 2005 levels but creating a safer climate needs more real-world action so which measures should be first off the rank?

Cutting the costs of net-zero

More efficient policies, faster infrastructure development and greater private investment in resilience can reduce unnecessary costs, maximise productivity growth and improve the wellbeing of all Australians as the country moves towards net-zero emissions.

Floods of climate action

Australia needs innovative approaches that support local leadership, build collaboration, and link private and public finance to local priorities to increase resilience in the face of climate change.

Shifting whale migrations point to global warming

Surveys reveal the peak of the southern migration of humpback whales down the east Australian coast is now three weeks earlier than it was 21 years ago, and a warming Southern Ocean may be the reason.

US cuts threaten Australian environmental monitoring

Climate change has altered Australia’s environment and biodiversity over the last 25 years, and access to the systems used to gather data and observe environmental changes is now coming under threat.

An Australia-Pacific COP31?

The Federal Government has chosen Adelaide to host the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) if Australia’s national bid is successful, creating a unique opportunity to drive a broader agenda for change and renewal.

Planning for weather disasters

Better planning for extreme weather in a changing climate means learning from Australia’s past mistakes and taking a tougher line on managing development.