Latest green news
Tipping el Ninos harder as Pacific sensors' value 'collapses'
Peter Hannam 5:18pm The ability of forecasters and climate modellers to predict extreme weather patterns over the Pacific is being depleted by a “collapse” in the performance of a key array of floating sensors, scientists say.
Storm stretching 1600 kilometres causes chaos in US
5:03pm A swirling storm stretching 1600 kilometres has clobbered parts of the mid-Atlantic and the urban north-east of the US, dumping nearly a foot and a half (0.3 metres) of snow, grounding thousands of flights, closing government offices in the nation's capital and making a mess of the evening commute.
Emus turn heads at Monkey Mia to escape Western Australia's hot weather
NARELLE TOWIE 5:58pm A group of hot chicks really ruffled some feathers on a Monkey Mia beach this week after they were caught taking a quick dip to escape unusually hot weather in the Gascoyne.
Japanese fishermen kill 41 dolphins in Cove
4:03pm More than 40 bottlenose dolphins were killed during an annual hunt in Japan, the conservation group Sea Shepherd said, four days after US ambassador Caroline Kennedy criticised the slaughter.
Greg Hunt knocked back WA push for open sea shark cull
3:50pm The West Australian government raised the possibility of an open sea shark cull, or having the great white species removed from the protected species list, as it formulated its reaction to the state's latest fatal attack.
Another heatwave builds as prospects grow for a long fire season
PETER HANNAM 5:59pm Another spell of heat is headed for south-eastern Australia just as conditions ease for fire crews and communities following last week's record-breaking heatwave.
Perth heatwaves not always a sure thing for eastern states
Leanne Nicholson 9:50am When Perth has a heatwave, the eastern states brace for the extreme weather to follow through and hit and then some, but is that always the case?
2013 declared 4th warmest year on record: NOAA
8:28am 2013 was the fourth warmest on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a analysis based on 133 years of data.
CO2 Group boss Grant quits as carbon opportunities evaporate
6:11am CO2 Group, Australia's biggest carbon project developer, said its chief executive has resigned as proposed changes to the country's climate policy force the company to pursue new growth areas.
Climate change gives Greenland 'a new chance to survive': PM
6:06am Greenland will push ahead with a uranium and rare earths mine despite the objections of its former colonial ruler and main benefactor as the melting of the polar ice cap unlocks the country's natural resources, its prime minister said.
Drinking water: Extreme weather events threaten quality, says report
PETER HANNAM Australia's drinking water is highly vulnerable to weather extremes, and utilities need to act to limit the risks, a new study of Australian and US water suppliers shows.
Australian water supplies at risk from extreme weather, study finds
PETER HANNAM 7:07pm Australia's drinking water supplies are vulnerable to the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather.
Dolphin slaughter begins in Taiji as protests grow
ANDREW DARBY Blood flowed from beneath a shoreside tent as dolphins were killed at Taiji, Japan, on Tuesday.
Greg Hunt grants WA exemption for shark cull plan
TOM ARUP Environment Minister Greg Hunt has waved through the West Australian government's controversial plan to catch and kill sharks to protect swimmers, exempting it from national environment laws.
Environment Minister allows Western Australia to kill sharks to protect swimmers
TOM ARUP Environment Minister Greg Hunt has waved through the West Australian government's controversial plan to catch and kill sharks to protect swimmers, exempting it from national environment laws.
It's a snake-eat-snake world
Ben Westcott and Fleta Page Gavin Fletcher of Bonython got quite a surprise when the “ball of rope rolling around” on a walking track turned out to be two of the world's most venomous snakes locked in a deathly duel.
Heatwave heads to Queensland, adding to drought strain
Queensland is braced for yet another scorcher as the drought continues to take hold across the state.
EU's economic hard times to take toll on climate change ambitions
Seven years after it set some of the world's most stringent environmental targets, the European Union is about to revise its long-term goals to take more account of industry and changed economic circumstances.
Policymakers aren't aware of threat to farming from climate change, World Bank says
Climate change will play havoc with farming, and policy makers and researchers aren't fully aware of the significance on food supply, according to the World Bank.
MIT researchers eye potential of 80% solar PV efficiency
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are seeking to increase the efficiency of solar cells by helping them take advantage of more of the sun's rays.
Saudi Arabia picks partner as $US100 billion solar program dawns
Abdul Latif Jameel, a Saudi Arabian company, has teamed up with a European partner to build projects in the Arab nation's $US100 billion solar program.
Government to sell surplus environmental Murray-Darling Basin water to farmers
Tom Arup, Jonathan Swan For the first time water bought by the federal government to restore the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin will be sold to farmers, with up to 10 billion litres to be put to tender in the Gwydir Valley in northern NSW.
Ads to stay on weather bureau website
Alana Schetzer Commercial advertising will be a permanent feature of the Bureau of Meteorology website and the federal government has refused to rule out running ads on other publicly funded websites.
Wine grape growers escape heavy harvest losses from heatwave
TOM ARUP Wine grape growers across Victoria and southern NSW say early estimates of the damage caused by last week's scorching heatwave suggest a loss of 5 to 10 per cent of harvests - but it may have been worse.
Water restrictions not yet on the (dusty) horizon
BEN WESTCOTT Canberra is a long way off water restrictions even though last week's heatwave and a dry start to the year have the bush capital's gardeners reaching for their hoses.
Minnimbah bushfire destroys hectares of pine plantation
ESTHER HAN Monstrous plumes of smoke climbed hundreds of metres into the air as the out-of-control Minnimbah fire destroys hectares of a pine plantation.
Heatwave 'one of the most significant' on record, says Bureau of Meteorology
PETER HANNAM Last week's heatwave that baked most of south-eastern Australia rivalled the intensity of the searing temperatures that preceded the Black Saturday bushfires almost five years ago, according to analysis by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Tyre industry divided over how to handle toxic waste
PETER HANNAM A federal government plan to tackle tyre waste has gained only lukewarm support from some big retailers and environmental groups.
US ambassador intervenes in Taiji Cove dolphin hunt
ANDREW DARBY The intervention of United State Ambassador Caroline Kennedy sharply raised the focus on Japan's dolphin hunts, as the best known at Taiji came under live scrutiny.
Earthquake rocks New Zealand lower North Island
A sizeable earthquake has struck the lower half of New Zealand's North Island.
Spearfisherman fined for killing six blue groper
Spearing NSW's official state fish has landed a fisherman $3660 in fines and court costs after he was convicted of killing six blue groper on the north coast.
Environmental flows sold to farmers for first time
Tom Arup, Jonathan Swan, James Massola For the first time water bought by the federal government to restore the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin will be sold to farmers, with up to 10 billion litres to be put to tender in the Gwydir valley in northern NSW.
Live Q&A; with bushfire expert Dr Trent Penman
How can you protect your home from bushfires? Ask our expert in a live question-and-answer session.
Whales beach again despite rescue efforts
Almost 50 pilot whales have restranded at Farewell Spit in New Zealand despite volunteers trying for days to save them.
Netherlands reduces gas output after tremors increase
The Netherlands will cut gas production at Groningen, the largest gas field in western Europe, by about a quarter over the next three years, after public concerns over earth tremors in the area.
Germany eyes cuts of a third to renewable energy support by 2015
Germany's economy minister wants to cut the support price paid for electricity from solar and wind power generators by about a third by 2015, according to a draft proposal for Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government.
Germany eyes cuts of a third to renewable energy support by 2015
Germany's economy minister wants to cut the support price paid for electricity from solar and wind power generators by about a third by 2015, according to a draft proposal for Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government.
Feeding the world's population getting tougher as climate changes, other threats mount
Efforts to rid the world of hunger face 'immense challenges' as farmers deal with resource scarcity, climate change and loss of soil fertility, agriculture ministers from 65 countries said.
Major El Nino events likely to double in next century
TOM ARUP The worst El Nino weather events, which are linked to devastating natural disasters and reduced Australian rainfall, will double with dangerous climate change, research has found.
Science
Material of the future
Multitalented graphene is wowing scientists the world over. Lisa Clausen reports.
93 fires scorch much of NSW
Alex McConachie, Georgina Mitchell At least three properties were destroyed by an out-of-control forest fire in Minnimbah, near Wagga Wagga, on Sunday.
Adherence to fire standards has to be checked, experts warn
Alexandra Smith Homes built on Sydney's vast bushfire-prone land should be monitored to ensure they continue to meet safety standards, to give them the best chance of surviving a fire storm, experts are urging.
Risk inevitable living in line of bushfires, but steps can be taken to minimise damage
It is unrealistic to reclaim developments in high-risk areas, writes Trent Penman.
Greens Minister Shane Rattenbury blamed for delay on ACT roo anti-cull plan
MATTHEW RAGGATT An animal welfare group says Greens minister Shane Rattenbury has been uncooperative in a bid to end kangaroo culls.
Bright sparks scoop top award for cutting cost of solar power
PETER HANNAM Australia's world-leading efforts to drive down the cost of solar energy have been recognised.
New Zealand whales refloated
More than 60 pilot whales stranded at Farewell Spit at the top of New Zealand's South Island have been refloated but experts say it's too early to say they won't strand again.
73 whales beached in New Zealand
A group of 73 whales have stranded on Farewell Spit at the top of New Zealand's South Island and 20 have died.
Leafy suburbs put 1 million homes at risk from fires and embers
Alexandra Smith As many as 1 million homes in Sydney face a serious risk from bushfires because the city expanded into leafy suburbs that are so bushfire prone many areas would be no-go zones if developed.
Memories of 1994 bushfire: 'my lawn was igniting around my feet'
Lane Sainty Ian Kearns knows the dangers of living in a bushfire-prone area better than most.
Lifeguards kept busy with big wave of surf rescues
BEN GRUBB Sydney lifeguards are facing their toughest conditions in years, with mass rescues and huge spikes in the number of people needing help as holidaying Sydneysiders flock to the beach.
Fantail's shifty shades of grey
PETER HANCOCK The perky grey fantail is the acrobatic little hunter of our woodlands.
Whales strand again at Farewell Spit
Pilot whales are stranding again at the top of New Zealand's South Island after being refloated at high tide.
40 whales stranded in New Zealand
At least 40 pilot whales are stranded at New Zealand's Farewell Spit, the third mass stranding of the summer.
Glebe residents without water
Ben Grubb A broken main is preventing water supply to a number of Glebe residents, Sydney Water says.
A very heated debate
DAISY DUMAS As players struggle with soaring temperatures at the Australian Open, the argument rages about how hot is too hot.
Scorchers: the reality of a sunburnt country
PETER HANNAM As searing temperatures swept across the country this week, Australians got a strong indication of summers to come. Peter Hannam asks if we are prepared for hotter days.
Emily's days as a nipper are nearing an end after nine years
DAISY DUMAS The arc of yellow sand is too hot for bare soles and Emily Hockley bounces from one foot to another, attempting to out-dance the mid-afternoon sun.
Frequency of ship engine noise 'almost the same' as that of whale calls
Ships passing by the Great Barrier Reef could disrupt whales' ability to call out to one another, a study has found.
Heatwave: Grape growers watch their fortunes wither
Black frosts, hail and now the heat. Griffith's farmers are hurting, writes Peter Munro.
One person killed as bushfires blaze across Victoria
Peter Hannam The worst fire conditions in Victoria since the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires left one person dead near a popular tourist area, while blazes elsewhere in the state threatened as much as half a million hectares.
