Latest green news
Cyclone Dylan moves towards Queensland coast
Marissa Calligeros and Cameron Atfield 8:01pm Boats are being ripped from moorings and washing up on beaches as north Queensland battens down for a huge tropical storm.
Hot weather burns across Canberra
BEN WESTCOTT 5:14pm It's the second day of another potentially record-breaking heat wave and Canberrans are already sweating in the heat.
Tropical cyclone frequency falls to centuries-low in Australia – but will the lull last?
Jonathan Nott, James Cook University 12:25pm The number of tropical cyclones hitting Queensland and Western Australia has fallen to low levels not seen for more than 500 years, new research published in Nature shows.
AGL moves to keep rights over Latrobe brown coal
Tom Arup Energy giant AGL has applied to retain the rights over an estimated 2 billion tonnes of brown coal in the Latrobe Valley allocated to a lower-emissions power plant that was never built.
We're failing to protect the reef, activists claim
Tom Arup Australia is failing to meet United Nations' conditions to better protect the Great Barrier Reef and keep it off a list of world heritage sites deemed 'in danger', an assessment by environment groups has found.
Red Zone residents warned of tidal flooding, storm surges
King tide due to hit as tropical low crosses coast.
Sweet sound of ice cream still rings through Canberra
BEN WESTCOTT The old, neighbourhood Mr Whippy might increasingly be a thing of the past but there's still at least one ice-cream van patrolling Canberra ready with an cool treat - even if they've had to mix things up a bit.
Solar PV jobs to crash if renewable energy target is scrapped, report finds
PETER HANNAM The recent decline of demand for solar photovoltaic panels would accelerate sharply if the Abbott government scrapped the renewable energy target (RET), potentially halving jobs in the industry, new research finds.
While Melbourne chills, northern Victoria bakes again
CAROLINE ZIELINSKI While Melburnians can look forward to relatively comfortable temperatures in the coming week, Victoria's north and north-west will be sweltering through seven straight days of intense, 40-degree heat.
Robotic floats to detect ocean heatwaves, other changes in the Indian Ocean
PETER HANNAM Australian and Indian scientists have teamed up to identify the causes and impacts of so-called marine heatwaves such as the devastating pulse of warm water that swept down the West Australian coastline in 2011.
Heatwave sparks record-breaking water use in Melbourne households
Rachel Wells Melbourne households used a record amount of water earlier this month, when daily average consumption reached 255 litres a person - the highest since Melbourne Water began reporting daily per head use in 2009.
Indonesian feathers left unruffled after 'Galahgate'
PETER HANNAM Another potential cockfight between Indonesia and Australia has been resolved with barely a screech.
Fight breaks out in queue to pat koalas
A wildlife park visitor has been accused of assaulting another man and threatening him with a knife after complaining that it was his turn to pat the koalas.
Shark cull: 80% of Australians opposed, poll finds
Philip Dorling Most Australians don't fear shark attacks, feel safe in the sea and don't support killing sharks to make beaches safer.
Anti-mining blockade steps up a notch at Maules Creek
PETER HANNAM More than 100 protesters have blocked access for work crews in the Leard State Forest as the campaign to block construction of the Maules Creek open-cut coal mine expands.
Heat returns to Melbourne, persists in northern Victoria
Beau Donelly, Stephen Cauchi and Nick Toscano Cool relief has finally come for Melburnians, with the city’s temperature plunging 10 degrees in 15 minutes.
Potential Cyclone Dylan could reach the Queensland coast late Wednesday
Kristian Silva Residents in northern Queensland are readying themselves for days of heavy rain as a potential tropical cyclone moves towards the coast.
Solar jobs on the rise in the US
U.S. solar companies added 20 per cent more jobs in the 12 months through November, the biggest climb since an industry-funded group began its survey four years ago.
Climate change debate shifting to what it means for business
Barry Ritholtz It's time to throw out any preconceptions of climate change as a fight between green hippies and Big Oil.
Anti-coal move by giant Norway fund gathers support
An opposition proposal to prohibit Norway's $US815 billion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, from investing in coal companies has won the support of two minority parties whose backing the government needs.
Down the tubes? Barack Obama's legacy may hinge on Keystone XL pipeline decision
President Barack Obama will lay out an agenda on jobs, the economy and the environment during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday.
Heavy rain ahead as possible cyclone approaches Queensland
Communities in Queensland's north are braced for days of heavy rain as the state's first cyclone of the season threatens to form.
El Nino tracking system in Pacific Ocean faces collapse
PETER HANNAM The Abbott government says it has no plans to help fund a Pacific Ocean system of buoys monitoring extreme weather patterns that is now facing collapse.
Marine parks: overfishing concern if O'Farrell government overturns line-fishing ban
ANNA PATTY Marine conservationist Attila Kaszo fears for the survival of some fish species if the state government pushes ahead this week with a decision to lift a ban on recreational fishing in protected marine sanctuaries.
Mercury and fire dangers to rise as new burst of heat looms
PETER HANNAM Much of Victoria will again face heatwave conditions and elevated fire risks in coming days, with temperatures in some towns in the state's north-west likely to exceed 40 degrees for at least six days in a row.
Solar PV giant predicts big firms will get bigger as costs slide
The pace of consolidation in the solar manufacturing industry will accelerate in the next three years as the cost of the technology declines and installations surge, the founder of the fourth-biggest solar-panel maker said.
China has 'serious concern' about US solar PV trade probe
China's commerce ministry called on the United States on Sunday to stop anti-dumping investigations into imports of solar power products from China, expressing "serious concern" and vowing to defend its producers.
Cyclone likely to form in Coral Sea, head for Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology says a low in the Coral Sea may develop into a cyclone and head for the Queensland coast.
Anger over spike in deaths during record Victorian heatwave
JULIA MEDEW Doctors and public health experts are calling for the Victorian government to urgently review its management of heatwaves as the death toll from this month's record-breaking period appears to climb.
Animal destruction takes heavy emotional toll on carers
Kelly Hayward Workers at Australia's animal shelters are being left emotionally scarred from witnessing the deaths of thousands of pets and wild animals destroyed each year, according to a recent study.
Government to seek independent review of the health impact of wind farms despite earlier findings
PETER HANNAM The federal government will press ahead with "an independent program" to study the supposed impact on health of wind farms as it emerged a report on the issue has been handed to government but withheld from public release.
Logging increases but revenue drops
KIRSTY NEEDHAM The amount of native forest cut down in NSW increased by 36 per cent last year but revenue from native forests fell by $11 million, new figures show.
Surfers put hopes in shark repellents
Audrey McAvoy, Lenny Ann Low A surge in shark attacks on Maui in the past year, including two fatal attacks, has not stopped people from surfing and swimming in the warm ocean waters that surround the Hawaiian island.
Cape York World Heritage nomination delayed not dumped, Greg Hunt says
PETER HANNAM The federal government says it remains committed to a World Heritage nomination for the Cape York Peninsula despite missing a February 1 deadline to submit a proposal to UNESCO.
Whaling fleet found after Hunt tip
ANDREW DARBY The Japanese whaling fleet is said to be on the run again in the Antarctic after being found by activists who followed up a tip from the Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt.
Rare Carnaby's cockatoo lets chicks starve
PETER HANCOCK WA's endangered Carnaby's cockatoo lets its chicks die from neglect.
The king of camel lot
CONRAD WALTERS A program to preserve a rare breed of camels has its roots in Australia.
Retailers unaware of responsibilities for toxic tyres
PETER HANNAM A crackdown on NSW tyre retailers found half of those inspected were unaware of their responsibility to ensure used tyres were handled by legal operators.
Perfect weather forecast for Australia Day
Stephen Cauchi Australia Day is shaping up to be an excellent day weatherwise, as is the holiday on Monday.
Turn back the sharks: a better way to protect people?
THE CONVERSATION What if there was a way to protect people and sharks? Well, there is: you just tow big sharks out to sea and let them go.
Un-Australian to eat kangaroos on Australia Day
Elise Burgess During this time of celebration for all things Australian, we are being urged to eat our national emblem in the name of patriotism.
Trapped joey rescued by Queanbeyan firefighters
BEN WESTCOTT A tired and wet joey who had fallen into an abandoned dam was rescued by Queanbeyan rural firefighters near Wagga Wagga on Tuesday.
Stressed trees continue to die across Perth Hills
NARELLE TOWIE Large trees in the Perth Hills are continuing to die off and scientists fear the area will again be ravaged by plagues of pests as summer heat takes its toll.
China's carbon market may remain a solo one as companies get rights to offset pollution with non-CO2 credits
China will allow big emitters to use offset credits from nitrous dioxide (N2O) destruction to meet domestic climate targets, potentially limiting the ability of China's markets to be joined with other carbon markets.
China's solar PV installations soared to record in 2013
Developers in China installed a record 12 gigawatts of solar panels last year, almost matching the total amount of solar power in operation in the US, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
EU move to drop mandatory renewable energy target for 2030 irks wind, solar industries
Wind and solar power producers said they’re at risk of losing investment after the European Union’s executive arm scrapped proposals for a mandatory target on renewable energy use in 2030.
Bid to change Tasmanian wilderness heritage listing
ANDREW DARBY Environment Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed the Abbott government will seek to wind back the World Heritage listing of Tasmania's forests, less than a year after it was approved.
Expert wants climate change study introduced in younger school years
Tom Arup, Benjamin Priess Climate change should be taught to all students from middle primary school and be embedded in a range of subjects, a senior science curriculum authority says.
Science
Study of African fish helps scientists crack the origin of breathing
BRIDIE SMITH The overlooked 'nose' of an African fish forces scientists to look at the fossil record with new eyes.
Tyre crackdown finds widespread ignorance of waste-handling laws
PETER HANNAM A crackdown on NSW tyre retailers found half the outlets inspected were unaware of their responsibility to ensure used tyres were handled by legal operators.
Ricky Gervais joins opposition to WA shark cull
Hollywood star Ricky Gervais has lent his considerable Twitter celebrity to the campaign against Western Australia's controversial shark kill policy.
Brisbane weather: Flash floods hit city
CAMERON ATFIELD Parts of Brisbane have been hit by flash floods as a large storm system set in on Thursday afternoon.
We're seeking $2.4m costs for Antarctic rescue: Greg Hunt
ANDREW DARBY Environment Minister Greg Hunt has underscored the government's determination to pursue the abortive Akademik Shokalskiy expedition for the full costs to Australia of its Antarctic rescue.
Move to evict anti-mining protesters blocked
PETER HANNAM A last-minute intervention by a councillor has thwarted moves to remove protesters from two mining areas in the Leard and Pilliga state forests.
Greg Hunt seeks to wind back World Heritage protection for Tasmanian forests
ANDREW DARBY Environment Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed for the first time that the Abbott government will formally seek to wind back World Heritage listing of Tasmania's forests, less than a year after it was approved.
Encroaching desert stokes religious tensions in Nigeria
The Sahara is moving south at 15 km a year, increasing the struggle for scarse land betweenn Christian and Muslim farmers in Nigeria.
EU curbs climate ambitions as economy gets priority
The European Union scaled back its long-term climate and energy ambitions, proposing less stringent targets than in the past, because of tougher economic conditions and the need to curb rising energy costs.
China's fair share to halt global warming won't come cheap, Beijing report says
China must increase spending on emission cuts and clean technologies by 2 trillion yuan ($A373 billion) to do its fair share to halt climate change, a report by Beijing's Central University of Finance and Economics said.
World continued its warming trend in 2013, US scientists say
The average temperature of Earth maintained its warming trend in 2013, despite seasonal and regional variations that included a shrinking ice cap in the Arctic and a massively growing one in the southern hemisphere, U.S. scientists say.
