Category: <span>News</span>

Australian Government was ‘Blindsided’ by UN Recommendation to List Great Barrier Reef as In-Danger. But it’s no Great Surprise

Australian Government was ‘Blindsided’ by UN Recommendation to List Great Barrier Reef as In-Danger. But it’s no Great Surprise

The Australian government on Tuesday expressed shock at a draft decision to list the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger”. But the recommendation has been looming for some time. The recommendation, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), acknowledges Australia’s commitment to implementing...

South Australia Adds 150,000 Acres to its Protected Area Estate and Proclaims a New National Park

South Australia Adds 150,000 Acres to its Protected Area Estate and Proclaims a New National Park

South Australia has just added almost 150,000 acres (60,000 hectares) to its protected area estate thanks to the work and support of several environmental organisations. In 2019, The Nature Conservancy Australia facilitated the purchase of the 150,000 acre pastoral property located 600 km north of Adelaide – now proclaimed as Nilpena Ediacara National Park –...

5 Climate Takeaways From the G7 Summit in Cornwall

5 Climate Takeaways From the G7 Summit in Cornwall

Two weeks ago, the G7 world leaders, heads of state from seven of the world’s largest advanced democracies and economies, including Canada, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, gathered for the G7 Summit in Cornwall, England. The event was long-overdue and marked the first time the world leaders have met...

Consumer Goods Companies Are Developing ‘False’ Solutions to Plastic Pollution, New Report Reveals

Consumer Goods Companies Are Developing ‘False’ Solutions to Plastic Pollution, New Report Reveals

In its new report, non-profit organisation Break Free From Plastic reveals that leading fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are missing the mark with false solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. These companies also consistently rank as the world’s top corporate plastic polluters Break Free From Plastic have tracked the plastic solution initiatives and pilots of seven...

A Type of ‘Biodegradable’ Plastic Will Soon Be Phased Out in Australia. That’s a Big Win for the Environment

A Type of ‘Biodegradable’ Plastic Will Soon Be Phased Out in Australia. That’s a Big Win for the Environment

To start dealing with Australia’s mounting plastic crisis, the federal government last week launched its first National Plastics Plan. The plan will fight plastic on various fronts, such as banning plastic on beaches, ending polystyrene packaging for takeaway containers, and phasing in microplastic filters in washing machines. But we’re particularly pleased to see a main...

Queensland Tackles Plastic Pollution with Single-Use Plastics Ban Set to Commence on September 1

Queensland Tackles Plastic Pollution with Single-Use Plastics Ban Set to Commence on September 1

In a bid to tackle pollution and environmental damage, Queensland has become the second state after South Australia to pass bans on single-use plastics. From September 1 this year, the supply and sale of disposable plastic cutlery, plates, straws and expanded polystyrene takeaway food containers and cups will be banned in the state, making it...

The Trucking Industry Has Begun to Turn Electric — But Passenger Vehicles Will Take a Little Longer

The Trucking Industry Has Begun to Turn Electric — But Passenger Vehicles Will Take a Little Longer

Australia’s trucking industry is making moves to go electric. The latest development — a system for using swappable batteries instead of time-consuming recharge stations for long-haul trucks between Sydney and Brisbane — shows how this transition is gathering momentum. There will be clear socio-economic, environmental and health-related benefits from the switch to electric trucks —...

Experts Call for Effective Action to Decarbonise Aviation Ahead of COP26

Experts Call for Effective Action to Decarbonise Aviation Ahead of COP26

As momentum builds towards the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in November – also known as COP26 – experts are calling for effective action to decarbonise the aviation sector. According to Harold Goodwin, Responsible Tourism Advisor of leading global event organiser for the travel industry, WTM, “delaying real emission reductions is irresponsible.” Air travel is responsible for...

Social Media Giants Have Finally Confronted Trump’s Lies. But Why Wait Until There Was a Riot in the Capitol?

Social Media Giants Have Finally Confronted Trump’s Lies. But Why Wait Until There Was a Riot in the Capitol?

After the chaos in the US Capitol, stoked largely by rhetoric from President Donald Trump, Twitter has permanently suspended his account, which had 88.7 million followers, citing “risk of further incitement of violence”. After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due...

Net-Zero Emissions: The Countries and Corporations Working Towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Net-Zero Emissions: The Countries and Corporations Working Towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050

We have a problem. Earth is getting warmer. 2019 was the second hottest year on record at 1.15 degrees Celsius above the planet’s pre-industrial average. While the temperature change might seem small to most people, it takes one small increase in global temperature to have a great impact on living beings and ecosystems on earth.  Look at...