Environmental Policy

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.

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.  

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.

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.

CSIRO CEO Dr Doug Hilton is urging politicians not to undermine scientists in the energy debate, after finding himself in the political firing line.

External consultants advised the NSW government in 2023 that the Paris Agreement climate targets, which the state has committed to, won't be achieved, in its report on the best way to reduce coal mine emissions and obtained under FOI laws.  

Peter Dutton has pledged to build nuclear power plants in these teenagers' regions if the Coalition wins the next election. Some are excited by the prospect of a new industry but others want to keep the focus on renewables.

After years awaiting compensation, Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation has called for an inquiry into the lucrative Solomon Hub iron ore mine claiming the it operates "below the current standard of industry regulation".

The federal opposition has proposed Port Augusta could host one of the nuclear power plants it plans to build if elected, but the announcement has drawn mixed opinions from the community.

Peter Dutton has broken every single rule when it comes to unveiling radical policy as opposition leader, tearing up the script and gambling with his party's chances at the next election with his nuclear policy. Can he pull it off?

Parts of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula are elevated to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list, but experts warn what many regard a coup, could be a double-edged sword.

Coalition promises that nuclear power will make for cheaper electricity prices don't stack up, according to an energy analyst, who says there was no evidence anywhere in the developed world to suggest new reactors were pushing down prices.

The Coalition has put its cards on the table, unveiling its plan to build nuclear plants to secure Australia's energy future. But one thing was missing — what will it cost?

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has labelled the Coalition's decision to rule out setting a 2030 climate target as a move that will increase Australian energy bills and risk further Chinese influence in the Pacific. 

Beaches around Australia are at risk of disappearing. As climate change brings about more severe storms and the sea level rises, many communities are looking to solutions such as sand nourishment to address the issue.

The Maldivian government says controversial land reclamation projects are necessary to fight rising sea levels and land scarcity. Experts say tourism is trumping the environment.

Peter Dutton says the Coalition will wait until it has returned to power and looked at "the prevailing economic conditions" before it sets a 2030 climate target.

The Coalition insists it supports the global Paris Agreement but it wants to dump Australia's short-term emissions reduction target. Is that allowed under the rules?

The Coalition's energy spokesman suggests if failing to cut emissions by 43 per cent before 2030 will fail Australia's promise under the Paris Agreement, then Australia will be in breach regardless of who is in power.

This one-time Greens candidate, who is waging war on wind turbines, has found an unlikely ally — and a receptive audience — in Queensland's coal country.

Away from the sunburnt beaches, hot dusty gums, and red deserts, news for Australia's ski fields hasn't been good for years. But new research shows while the snow season is getting shorter, there's hope to turn things around.

With the WA Liberals facing an uphill battle to regain relevance ahead of the state election next March, will their newly announced policy of tackling a backlog in the state's environmental approvals process get them on their way?  

A plan by oil and gas giant Chevron to leave five decommissioned oil platforms off Western Australia's Pilbara coast draws the ire of unions and green groups.

Passengers on a flight that experienced significant turbulence as it travelled from London to Singapore last week are still coming to terms with what happened.

Premier Steven Miles says his government will legislate to permanently ban carbon capture and storage activities within the expansive region.