A group of prominent environmental scientists devised this list of 5 things we must see in Australia’s new national environmental laws, if we are to avoid calamity and hasten recovery.
The Federal Court has essentially said it can’t act. But the decision certainly doesn’t mean the government can’t act. In fact, that’s exactly who the judges indicated must.
The critically endangered regent honeyeater.
Friends of Chiltern
New research finds the last 250 years has seen more than 100 million hectares of bird habitat destroyed on mainland Australia – that’s 15% of Australia’s landmass.
Litter after recent looting in Durban, South Africa. The city recently introduced a scheme that looks to protect biodiversity and associated ecosystems.
Shutterstock
The Brandy Hill Quarry expansion was approved under the weak environment laws of NSW. Now, the federal government must decide if it will proceed. The fate of many koalas is in Sussan Ley’s hands.
New research reveals how governments ignored decades’ worth of scientific advice on how the Adani mine threatened to damage precious water supplies.
Left, farmer Ian Turnbull being who was convicted of murdering compliance officer Glen Turner. Right, Mr Turner’s partner Alison McKenzie outside court. Tensions over land clearing can have tragic consequences.
AAP/DAN HIMBRECHTS
Politicians and the media often stoke tensions between the city and the country. Nowhere is this more common than on the issue of land clearing – and the consequences can be tragic.
A koala mother and joey seeking refuge on a bulldozed log pile near Kin Kin in Queensland. Federal environment laws have failed to prevent widespread land clearing across Australia.
WWF Australia
Environment Minister Sussan Ley has announced a review of Australia’s nature laws. The poor state of our biodiversity shows we must do a better job of protecting the places we love.
Koalas are among the threatened native species worst affected by habitat loss.
Taronga Zoo
A staggering 7.7 million hectares of critical habitat has been destroyed since environment laws were enacted - and 93% was not referred to the federal government for assessment.
West Coast opponents of fossil fuel exports have blocked industry plans for years.
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
The ‘thin green line’ of resistance against any new infrastructure for shipping oil, gas and coal abroad has won many battles.
Mining is a highly destructive endeavour towards our environment but demand for gems and minerals is non-stop; early colonial relationships continue to define these industries.
Shutterstock
Much of the devastation of our globe’s natural resources traces its origins to early colonialism. These relationships continue to define the extraction of resources that severely impact ecosystems.
The WA Environmental Defenders Office was a crucial part of the legal fight against the James Price Point gas hub proposal.
Nigel Gaunt/AAP
For more than 30 years, Environmental Defenders Offices around the country have worked to help people take legal action on environmental issues. They’ve notched some big wins along the way.
Land clearing, as seen here in a property near St George, Queensland, does not trigger Australia’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.
AAP
Australia’s federal environment laws are inadequate to halt Australia’s alarming rates of land clearing and species loss. A more robust set of laws are urgently needed.