This Month
‘A heated room’: Earth’s solar energy regulator is broken, says UN
Under a stable climate, about the same amount of energy comes in from the sun as is reflected. However, heat-trapping greenhouse gases have upset this balance.
February
China’s top steel maker says Labor’s tariffs undermine climate goals
The intervention came as important duties on another Chinese steel product were raised, despite threats of a blowback on Australia’s lucrative iron ore exports.
Queensland delays emissions plans by up to five years
A rollback of climate policies in Queensland could require other states to find as much as 9 per cent of new emissions reductions to meet federal targets.
Australia will pay for its Darwin Port mistake
Readers’ letters on the Darwin Port sale, Chalmers’ efforts on inflation, Adelaide Writers’ Week, the RBA’s interest rate decision, and AI and climate action.
January
World records third-hottest year on record as fires, floods hit at home
Last year was the world’s third-warmest on record, underscoring a trend already fuelling destructive fires and floods in Australia in the early days of 2026.
December 2025
Westpac fends off concerns about its lending to gas
Shareholder opposition to the lender’s climate transition plan was less than the previous year, despite criticism that it has pared back its ambitions.
OpenAI, NextDC $7b data centre to drive green energy investment
A new data centre in western Sydney that will anchored by OpenAI will be the catalyst for renewable energy projects, says NextDC’s chief executive.
It’s evident which way bitcoin is headed
Readers’ letters on the bitcoin craze, investor diligence, psychological injury claims, the Nats’ views on renewables ‘costs’, and solutions to the energy crisis.
November 2025
Gina Rinehart puts blowtorch on Rio Tinto, BHP over net zero spending
Australia’s richest person has criticised her company’s joint venture partner, Rio Tinto, for torching shareholder value on the “green altar” of net zero.
G20 summit defies Trump, adopts declaration on climate, Gaza
Envoys from the group – which brings together the world’s major economies – have drawn up a draft leaders’ statement without US involvement.
COP30 climate summit reaches deal that leaves many unhappy
Many nations argued more must be done to counter climate change, while also conceding that an imperfect package was better than none.
Australia joins pressure pact to push fossil fuel phase-out
Annual climate talks in Brazil look unable to agree on a commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. Australia and other countries have protested.
ANZ, NAB bosses say risk settings are a brake on small business lending
Nuno Matos says small business lending is running hot, but he and NAB boss Andrew Irvine argue that capital risk buffers are restraining growth.
Trump trade wars keep Labor’s carbon tariff on ice
The Albanese government has delayed the release of a report that recommends the creation of carbon tariffs on some imported products.
Albanese dumps Adelaide COP bid to make play for Pacific summit instead
The Albanese government has offered to cede hosting rights to next year’s UN climate summit as long as a world leaders event is held in the Pacific Islands.
Westpac under fire for going too easy on big polluters’ climate plans
After analysing the major banks’ sustainability reports, institutional investor Australian Ethical says Westpac has slipped as NAB has toughened assessments.
‘Most likely outcome’: Labor faces up to COP defaulting to Bonn
Expectation is growing within the Albanese government that next year’s United Nations climate summit will default to the German city of Bonn.
Trying to out-Pauline Pauline risks becoming a fool’s errand
On climate and now immigration, the Liberal Party is chasing One Nation more than Labor. New poll numbers suggest that approach isn’t working as planned.
‘Lowest since Federation’: Dire poll for Liberals and Ley as One Nation surges
Voters are more disillusioned than ever with the Coalition after a week of infighting over climate policy, and as support for One Nation hits a new high.
Anti-net zero not helping the Libs hold the base
Reviving the carbon wars is a strategy that will have to do more heavy lifting than the Bulgarian Olympic team, the latest Accent/Redbridge poll suggests.
