Australian’s political view on climate change still far behind the ball

As our Climate Change forum comes to an end we hear from Gregory Mueller, who’s undertaking a Bachelor of Environment degree. Despite moments of despair that nobody cares what is going on, he still sees a glimpse of hope for a better future.

Australia – renewable energy superpower

We identify as a fossil nation whose revenue still depends significantly on coal and gas. Petra Liverani from Beyond Zero Emissions says the reasons to embrace renewables are compelling.

Samarco mine disaster in Brazil: the tragedy of the commons at work

The recent collapse of a dam in Brazil killed 11 people with a dozen still missing. Max Thomas says disasters like this will keep occurring while the desire for more of everything as cheap as possible exists.

Parents, grandparents and concerned adults: Sign the open letter

Climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a major health emergency, especially for our children. Dr Sallie Forrest from Doctors for the Environment Australia asks you to support their call for the Health Minister to attend the Paris climate talks this December and put the health of our children front and centre.

Seeing the forest for the trees

Not many people realise that one of most effective weapons against climate change is all around them. Brad Gray from Planet Ark explains how the use of responsibly sourced and certified wood as a building material can have a significant positive environmental influence.

Pacific Island Project wins United Nations Award

The United Nations has recognised the ‘Mapping Exposure to Sea Level Rise in the Pacific Islands’ Project as a leading initiative dealing with climate change. Jessica Purbrick-Herbst from CRC for Spatial Information explains.

Climate change conference: teamwork or tug-of-war?

We live in a globalised world, and therefore climate change is also a social justice issue. Australian social worker Megan Bonetti, volunteering in India, reports from a developing country having to figure out how to go green on the cheap.

What did the Bonn climate negotiations indicate about Paris?

Just over a month before the COP21, climate negotiations in Bonn were heated. So what does this mean about the level of success we could expect from the conference in Paris, where the successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol is to be produced? Erwin Jackson, Deputy CEO of The Climate Institute, explains.

Are you in?

In the last weekend of November, on the eve of the United Nations climate summit, people will gather in Australian cities and walk alongside millions of people in cities around the world to show that they want an end to fossil fuels and a transition to renewable energy.

Solar is good for humanity

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared while in office that coal was “good for humanity” and current Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg recently echoed the sentiment. Petra Liverani explains why renewable energy makes much more economic, environmental and democratic sense.

Australia’s apathy could wipe the Great from our Barrier Reef

Scientists claim that if the Carmichael coal mine in Queensland will be built, it will devastate our climate, our Great Barrier Reef and groundwater. Sherryl Caulfield urges us to protest where we can and act now before it’s too late.

Welcome back carbon pricing

Back in 2008, Labor and the Coalition agreed that an emissions trading scheme (ETS) was the appropriate policy to reduce green house gases. We are now on a trajectory where both will once again be in agreement. Kevin Parton explains why.