Queensland land-clearing controls face defeat with former Labor MP voting no
Former Labor MP Billy Gordon announces he will not support the measures, in surprise move that hands minority Palaszczuk government its first defeat The Palaszczuk government will suffer its first major legislative defeat after its former backbencher-turned-independent Billy Gordon revealed his opposition to tree-clearing reforms, just hours before a parliamentary vote on the bill. Gordon […]
Honeysuckle climbs for sunlight in the wood's deep shadow
Backstone Bank, Weardale Spring has given way to stillness – the gentle descent into autumn will soon begin It had been more than four months since we last walked through this woodland. Gone were the songs of wood warblers and blackcaps. Gone too the carpet of spring flowers, of woodruff, sanicle, primroses, wood sorrel and […]
Donations to restore Great Barrier Reef could dry up if land clearing continues, says donor
Exclusive: Australia’s biggest environmental philanthropist says private investment to clean up reef ‘doesn’t make sense’ with current land clearing Private investment in work to restore the Great Barrier Reef is likely dry up if the Queensland government fails to pass tighter land-clearing laws, warns Australia’s biggest environmental philanthropist. David Thomas, who has donated $30m and […]
Queensland shuts down 'inhumane' goat cull using poisoned dingoes
Environment minister orders all dingoes to be removed from Pelorus Island, where they had been introduced to kill goats An “inhumane” program that used surgically sterilised dingoes as a form of pest control for goats on a far north Queensland island has been shut down by the state government. The Hinchinbrook shire council had decided […]
Energy companies withholding supply to blame for July price spike, report finds
Analysis of temporary jump in prices in South Australia showed generation capacity far exceeded demand, pointing to market manipulation Fossil fuel electricity generators in South Australia withheld their supply to push up prices and reap bigger profits, according to an analysis of the causes behind the extremely high prices there in early July. Continue reading… […]
Majority of Victorians support urgent shift to renewable energy, poll finds
A ReachTEL poll commissioned by Friends of the Earth shows 68% of the state, including a majority of Liberal voters, want to see an end to reliance on coal The vast majority of people in Victoria – and even a majority of Liberal voters – support the state moving towards 100% renewable energy “as a […]
Louisiana floodwaters begin to recede but thousands remain in shelters
Massive recovery operation begins as Red Cross reports flood that left 11 dead and damaged 40,000 homes is worst US disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 Floodwaters in Louisiana have begun to recede, but the horror of the disaster continues to mount: on Wednesday afternoon more than 30,000 people had been rescued from the flood, […]
The Guardian view on the heatwave: still hope on climate change | Editorial
Ira Glass the radio show host says global warming may not be amusing or surprising but it is still the most important thing that’s happening The documentary broadcaster Ira Glass, the man behind the hit radio programme This American Life, is in Britain this week with his theatre show, Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio […]
Tidal energy support ebbs and flows | Letters
Steve Emsley is wrong when he compares tidal lagoons with Hinkley and asks why tidal energy is not even being discussed (Letters, 17 August). The latest estimated cost of the lagoon proposed for Swansea Bay is £1.3bn. Hinkley would produce 65 times as much electricity, all day, every day – true “baseload”. Tidal lagoons would […]
Pete Meyer on the health benefits of a circular economy
Keeping materials cycling throughout the economy is good, right? Perhaps not, if you haven’t considered exactly what materials you’ve got re-entering the loop. Unfortunately, we don’t know all the substances contained in the products and built environment around us, or understand the health impacts that can occur as a result of the accumulation of certain […]