Environment

Scientists find eastern Australian humpback whales benefited from a reduction in human activity on the ocean during the first year of the pandemic, recording lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 

From the cost of living and transport to housing and the environment, we want to know what's impacting you or your community.

Residents in the regional Victorian community are concerned a proposed 665-hectare solar farm would change the microclimate of the renowned grape-growing region and drive away tourism.

Car buyers looking for low-emission options are choosing hybrid vehicles over fully battery-powered EVs, according to latest sales figures.

The marine park that includes the subantarctic Heard and McDonald Islands is set for a massive expansion, with the federal government planning to protect an extra 300,000 square kilometres of ocean.

Energys Australia will source green hydrogen from Victoria for the fuel cells, which allow communities to stay connected for 72 hours even when the power is out.

The worst sewage spill in Queensland history was caused by corrosion and a local government’s over-reliance on the public and another council to detect leaks, an independent investigation has found.

The federal government will go to tender next month seeking the rights to up to 70 gigalitres of water from farmers in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, through the first major water entitlements buyback program since new laws were introduced last year. 

With distinctive characteristics, Split Fin and Bent Tip are part of an orca family that has thrilled South Coast residents since being spotted more than 20 years ago.

The abnormal pressure is having a significant impact on the nation's weather, including extreme low overnight temperatures over south-east states and a lengthy stretch of showery days along the eastern seaboard.

Taiwan's coast guard says the squid fishing boat was near the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands but in Chinese waters when it was boarded and seized. 

A national research effort aimed at saving Australia's iconic sea lions will look at cat faeces, heavy metals, microplastics, and climate change as possible culprits for the species' continued decline.  

A Queensland underground coal mine is on fire up to half a kilometre below ground. Remote control technology is helping in an around-the-clock race to seal the mine and avoid further explosions.

Tip shops, sometimes referred to as resale sheds or treasure chest shops, can be found at dozens of locations around the country. And as Australians continue to grapple with the rising cost of living, some operators say they're seeing new customers.

Australian homes are notoriously cold in winter — draughty, with poor insulation, thin glass and inadequate heating. But there's a growing movement of people retrofitting their homes to make them cheaper to run and more comfortable year-round, while also reducing emissions. 

Beryl is expected to reach Jamaica at midday local time, causing an expected storm surge of 1.8 to 2.7 metres above typical levels.

Environmental activist group Blockade Australia plans to continue protests, which have already stopped passenger trains and coal movements into one of the world's biggest coal ports for more than a week. 

Traralgon residents fear the Coalition's proposal to build a nuclear plant nearby will drive down property prices, but some also see it as a chance for an economic boost when the coal power station closes.

The group says it reported the distressed whale in waters off the Sunshine Coast to authorities but when no-one had arrived almost an hour later, they took action fearing it was "drowning".

Northern Territory traditional owners whose land contains one of the world's most valuable untapped deposits of uranium are calling on the NT and federal governments not to grant a mining company a lease extension, as the Coalition's nuclear policy peaks interest in the resource.

Energy experts — and even Greenpeace — underestimated solar power's rapid global growth. Now many believe solar is set to become the world's biggest power source within the next decade. But it is falling prices — rather than environmental benefits — that might be driving that change.

Atticus the five-year-old staghound was found dumped on a pile of rubbish before being taken to the Lost Dogs' Home in Melbourne. He is just one of many surrendered pets that comes through their door.

Plenty of high-profile figures, including Queensland Premier Steven Miles, have been snapped cuddling the sanctuary's residents, but as of this week those days are over.

A loophole in the government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard could be exploited by car makers seeking to import higher-polluting vehicles, and would undermine the first three years of the new climate laws.

An online petition for the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol is closing in on 1 million signatures, leading to delays and disruptions of the website.