Latest environment news
Australia's quiet commitment to decarbonise the economy wins applause
Peter Hannam and Tom Arup 4:12 PM The Turnbull government has quietly committed Australia to support decarbonising the world economy as one of the goals for this month's global climate summit in Paris, a move that has drawn applause.
Record heat a chance as 'classic' set-up sears eastern Australia
Peter Hannam 6:44 AM Sydney in for scorching weather on Friday as a slow-moving high-pressure system steers a huge hot air mass formed over Australia's Red Centre to the country's south-east.
Analysis
The global temperature bet you have a 99.9 per cent chance of winning
Peter Hannam As global temperatures in this super El Nino year march ever higher, there's one certainty in the chancy world of weather prediction: 2015 will be the hottest year ever recorded.
Why we need more firefighters
Lucy Cormack Australia risks being under-prepared for longer, drier and more severe bushfire seasons, a report from the Climate Council says.
Gloucester council snubs AGL's gas project
Peter Hannam Gloucester Shire fears being treated as second class citizens.
Sydney weather: Fryday heatwave to challenge records
Eryk Bagshaw 1:19 PM Sydney is set for a scorcher as temperature records look set to tumble.
Where were you on Sydney's hottest November day?
Tim Dare 10:53 AM First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on November 26, 1982
Scorching forecast raises fire fears
Emma Kelly 9:41 PM As Canberra's temperatures rise, health and safety services are highlighting the risks of heat stress.
Kiribati President's challenge to Australians: do you care?
Tom Arup 7:16 PM President Anote Tong of Kiribati has a challenge for all Australians. "I challenge people, leaders in Australia to face the reality. Or let them say 'I don't care' and then go to church next Sunday."
Sydney to wilt in 41-degree heat as hot air keeps sea breezes at bay
Peter Hannam 5:25 PM Sydney will likely endure scorching temperatures into the 40s on Friday as powerful westerlies blowing from Australia's red hot centre block cooling sea breezes.
'Horrific' puppy farm wants 300 dogs
Eryk Bagshaw 5:15 PM A local council says that a farm where rotting dog carcasses were reported is now "in the public interest".
US ends the era of medical research on chimpanzees
Darryl Fears 4:57 PM A major medical facility quietly ended the United States' long and controversial history of using chimpanzees for biomedical research.
ACT frogs buck declining trend
Clare Sibthorpe 3:43 PM As frog numbers decline nationally and internationally, the ACT's frog population has proven healthy, despite the urban growth.
An orange tinge to Melbourne's sky, and state's north prepares to roast
Larissa Ham An unusual orange tinge in Melbourne's sky on Wednesday night is the result of the fires in Western Australia, almost 3000 kilometres away.
UK aims to close coal-fired power plants by 2025
Britain aims to close its coal-fired power plants by 2025 under plans announced on Wednesday, becoming the first major economy to put a date on shutting coal plants to curb carbon emissions.
Strong undersea earthquake strikes near Solomon Islands
Josephine Tovey A strong undersea earthquake has struck off the coast near the Solomon Islands, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Australia backs down in climate change stand-off
Adam Morton Standards set in deal on public funding of coal plants would make 80 per cent of plants funded in past decade ineligible, official says.
Sydney headed for top 10 November scorcher
Peter Hannam Only a fickle sea breeze is likely prevent Sydney recording one of its 10 hottest November days during the current heatwave sweeping across much of Australia.
Court fines Japanese whalers $1 million
Andrew Darby Japan's whalers have been fined $1 million over their hunt in the Australian Antarctic whale sanctuary, on the eve of ministerial talks between the two countries.
Hot, dry summer on the way for Canberra
Emma Kelly Canberra is set to sizzle this summer with the strongest El Nino weather event in 18 years.
Half the specimens in world's museums are probably mislabelled, study finds
Sarah Knapton, Errors hampering scientific study and harming conservation efforts.
Heat records smashed again as big El Nino rides on global warming
Peter Hannam 100 quadrillion kilojoules of heat in the central Pacific is helping to drive record world temperatures.
The suburbs with the cleanest air in Sydney
Lucy Cormack Residents of three inner suburbs can breathe easy - as long as they don't work in the city.
BP's bight drilling plan given a 'fail'
Andrew Darby BP's plans to drill deep in the Great Australian Bight have had a further setback, with a national regulator's decision rejecting the energy giant's environmental plan.
What a scorcher: Three-day heatwave to hit
Peter Hannam Eastern Australia will swelter for much of this week with Sydney set for a scorching 39 degrees on Friday - about 15 degrees above average.
Climate summit 'must' go ahead as planned in France: Frydenberg
Nick Miller Planned international meetings in Paris such as the COP21 climate summit "must" go ahead as planned or the terrorists will have won, Australian government minister Josh Frydenberg said during an emotional visit to one site of Paris' latest terror attack.
France to push on with UN Climate Conference despite Paris attacks
Reed Landberg and Ewa Krukowska The French government vowed to push on with the United Nations Climate summit in Paris this month and will boost security for the more than 120 world leaders travelling to the city.
Summer-like weather on the way for Sydney as inland regions bake
Peter Hannam Sydney will finally get to bask in some summer-like weather this week, with some significantly warmer days likely to dry out the damp start to November.
With just 770 rangers for 60 million hectares, more hands are needed
Lucy Cormack More Indigenous rangers must be appointed and funding increased, a report by an Australian non-profit says.
Household batteries still five years from making financial sense in Australia
Tom Arup There is a lot of hype about the flood of household battery options to store rooftop solar power that are hitting the Australian market - but do they make financial sense for a family home?
