The Federal Court’s decision to overturn the Adani Group’s federal environmental approval to build the A$16 billion Carmichael coal mine in Queensland highlights policy issues that have a significance…
The Liverpool Plains near Gunnedah in New South Wales where the Watermark coal mine would be built.
Tim J Keegan/Flickr
The controversial Shenhua Watermark coal mine in New South Wales recently cleared another hurdle along the way to being granted full approval to proceed. But there are major environmental risks which should still call the project into question.
Broadcaster Alan Jones said on Q&A that the cost of wind power far outstrips the cost of coal power.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
Broadcaster Alan Jones told the Q&A audience this week that coal fired power costs about $79 a kilowatt-hour, while wind power is about $1502 a-kilowatt hour. Is that right?
As the latest State of the Climate report reaffirms 2014 to be “the hottest on record”, the NSW Liberal Party is pressing ahead with plans for a “Carnival of Coal” in August. The party’s upper house whip…
Cattle on the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales. The new coal mine is to be developed in the hills nearby.
Image Library/Flickr
Federal environment minister Greg Hunt has claimed that he had no choice but to approve Shenhua’s controversial Watermark Coal Mine near Gunnedah in New South Wales. But the legislation suggests otherwise.
The latest coal mine approved in Australia is destined for exports.
eyeweed/Flickr
Shifting South Africa’s economy from energy intensive sectors to those with lower energy consumption will take more time, and even more funding. But the impact will be more permanent and sustainable.
To get to zero emissions, we’ll have to reform our energy sector away from fossil fuels.
ccdoh1/Flickr
To avoid dangerous climate change there is a finite amount of greenhouse gas emissions, in particular CO2, that we can add to the atmosphere - our global carbon budget. If we use our budget wisely, we have until about 2050 to transition to zero net emissions. But how do we get there?
While many people in India live without electricity, it is looking less likely that Australian coal will supply it.
Environmental Change and Security Program/Flickr
“India needs Australian coal” is a view promoted by government and industry alike. But is there really a case for Australian coal in India? The evidence suggests not.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has thrown his support behind coal mining, arguing coal is ‘good for humanity’.
Dan Peled/AAP
Despite looming legal challenges, states are devising plans to comply with limits on power plant carbon emissions – a crucial part of Obama’s climate policies.
South Australia’s wind farms have coped without baseload power before - they can do it again.
Fairv8/Wikimedia Commons
Coal closures announced this week in South Australia will cause employment pain, but could also help pave the way for the state to go 100% renewable - something that modelling suggests is eminently possible.
With the United Nations set to decide on whether to list the Great Barrier Reef as officially in danger, we look at the various threats to the reef’s survival, starting with the biggie… climate change.
The Tesla Model S - mean, and green?
Mariordo/Wikimedia
If we’re going to limit global warming to less than 2C, Australia will need to keep more than 90% of its coal reserves in the ground.
Safeguarding rainforests is an area where the United Nations has made great strides - hopefully the Paris summit can deliver more of the same.
Sze Ning/Flickr.com/Wikimedia Commons
In the final part of his essay on the Paris climate talks, Nick Rowley explains how a successful deal, whether binding or not, needs to influence directly the domestic policies of the world’s nations.