Latest environment news
Mother Earth, yoga, Gandhi and climate change: 10 things you need to know about the Paris summit
Tom Arup On Monday the Paris climate summit kicks off, with delegates arriving from all corners of the globe hoping to stitch together a new international deal to tackle greenhouse gases.
Businesses say: Green is good
![Green groups question whether some of the commitments constitute much more than 'greenwashing'.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/7/6/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl5fuv.11u395.png/1448634276876.jpg)
Angela Macdonald-Smith As the 40,000-plus attendees to the Paris climate summit congregate, a surprisingly large chunk of Australian big business will be cheering them on.
Between a rock and horse stud: coalmine verdicts divide communities
![The location of two stud farms close to Anglo American's Drayton operations in the Hunter Valley could stymie expansion plans.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/2/5/5/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9sck.11u395.png/1448623026949.jpg)
Peter Hannam The Baird government has been accused of ranking the health of horses above humans after a coal mine near famous studs got knocked back but another near a Hunter village won approval.
Meet Micah. Is he a climate change refugee?
![Micah Puia at Lord Howe Settlement in Honiara. Is he a climate change refugee?](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/f/1/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl96d3.11u395.png/1448773534963.jpg)
Adam Morton and Tom Arup, in Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Marshall Islands 12:15 AM Micah Puia lives in a shanty town on a dirty beach in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. He is 11-years-old, and has lived here all his life. According to some here, Micah has spent his whole life as a climate change refugee. And he will soon be forced to move.
Labor to beef up climate fight with commitment to steeper emissions cuts
![Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will unveil Labor's commitment to steeper emissions cuts on Friday.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/7/o/c/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8xwv.11u395.png/1448578601394.jpg)
Mark Kenny Bill Shorten will take significantly steeper emissions cuts to the 2016 election than the Turnbull government, ensuring climate change policy will once again be a key battleground issue for voters.
Pope Francis urges Paris climate change deal to avoid catastrophe
![Pope Francis is greeted on his arrival at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya this week.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/8/7/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9bkb.11u395.png/1448576665599.jpg)
Paul Richardson Pope Francis urged world leaders preparing to meet at a United Nations conference on climate change to agree an accord that transforms current development models and focuses on the need to adopt low-carbon energy systems.
'Bad news for the planet' as temperatures heat up
![The planet is racing towards another global heat record.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/3/n/y/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl7bmf.11u395.png/1448519041808.jpg)
Peter Hannam The past five years have been the hottest on record.
Expert questions 'smart' drumlines for sharks
![A bull shark, which is notorious around the Ballina area.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/a/8/f/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl7psj.11u395.png/1448439304209.jpg)
Lucy Cormack GPS buoys will allow sharks to be hooked, tagged and released. But experts have raised concerns.
Paris 2015: Australians back deeper carbon cuts as climate summit looms
![Australian environment ambassador Peter Woolcott speaking in Melbourne on Tuesday. He will lead Australia's negotiating team at the Paris climate negotiations, starting next week.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/6/s/6/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl6qx5.11u395.png/1448367328324.jpg)
Tom Arup Australia will head to the Paris climate summit next week with majority public support for adopting deeper cuts to greenhouse gas emissions if it helps reach a global deal to tackle the problem, according to a new poll by the Lowy Institute.
Car-free housing encouraged in London
![Richard de Cani rides a city tram.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/0/1/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glasre.png/1448794051487.jpg)
Lucy Battersby 9:47 PM Car-park free apartments should be actively encouraged in big cities to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, as long as there is other transportation available, according to the man who plans London's transportation system.
Protesters rally for change
![Religious group the Josephites at Sydney's climate change rally.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/q/z/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glaqrs.png/1448781004419.jpg)
Deb Snow, Michael McGowan 7:52 PM Thousands of protesters have gathered in Sydney to urge leaders to take action on climate change, with environmentalist Tim Flannery declaring the event the "biggest climate march this country's ever seen".
Optimism as 140 world leaders gather for change summit
![Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/a/6/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glaw2c.png/1448794520058.jpg)
Adam Morton 6:05 PM Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is coming from the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, where he lobbied other Commonwealth leaders and criticised Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's uncosted pledge on greenhouse gas emissions.
Analysis: Is this Malcolm Turnbull's moment to stand up on climate change?
![Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/a/6/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glapwj.png/1448794182229.jpg)
Tom Arup 4:00 PM For a political figure once defined by his strong stance on climate change, Malcolm Turnbull has kept his powder remarkably dry on the issue since becoming Prime Minister
Thousands march for climate change action
![Crowds at the People's Climate March through Brisbane.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/i/6/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glahpd.png/1448767998391.jpg)
Drew Creighton 2:33 PM Thousands marched upon the Brisbane CBD for the People's Climate March, ahead of the Paris climate talks next week.
Turnbull dismisses Shorten's emissions target as both head to Paris
![Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/a/6/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glani6.png/1448773971272.jpg)
Lloyd Jones, AAP 12:39 PM Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed Bill Shorten's 45 per cent emissions reduction target as a "heroic offer" that is too expensive, as he prepares to fly to Paris for key climate change talks.
Momentum for climate deal grows as Obama joins Xi at UN talks in Paris
![President Barack Obama said Turkey had the right to defend its borders and air space. He encouraged Russia to focus its attacks on Islamic State to reduce the likelihood of future clashes.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/7/5/d/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glannv.png/1448761749553.jpg)
Alex Morales, Bloomberg 12:33 PM More than 140 world leaders including US President Barack Obama and Xi Jinping of China are gathering in Paris for France's biggest diplomatic event since 1948, striving to reach the first truly global deal to curb greenhouse gases.
How excessive tweeting lets dad off the hook
![Two zebra finches.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/f/x/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8y6f.png/1448690445993.jpg)
Bridie Smith 12:15 AM Ever get annoyed that you're carrying more of the parenting load than your partner? You're not alone. Birds do too.
Japan gives green light to its whalers
![Minke whales aboard the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru in 2014. Japan is to resume whaling this summer.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/d/1/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glacwl.png/1448677665938.jpg)
Andrew Darby Japan has finally confirmed it will commence whaling in the Antarctic this summer, despite the weight of court decisions and scientific opinion against it.
Smell at school so bad children can't eat their lunch
![Local residents try to block the smell emitting while waiting for a train at Mulgrove Station](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/r/p/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8uge.png/1448755212797.jpg)
Natalie O'Brien 12:15 AM It is like standing next to a bin of three-day-old prawns only worse
Gates to start multi-billion-$ clean energy fund
![Bill Gates, philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, hopes to turbocharge the Paris climate talks with a massive investment.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/2/t/p/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glacw0.png/1448673195668.jpg)
Coral Davenport World's richest man is expected to announce creation of biggest ever clean energy fund at the opening of the Paris climate summit.
'It's time for Coca-Cola to pack up and leave'
![Indian villagers have accused Coca-Cola of exploiting scarce local water supplies.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/a/6/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glaa6d.png/1448644301711.jpg)
Nita Bhalla Village councils in northern India are demanding a local Coca-Cola bottling plant be banned from extracting water from the ground, claiming its over-use has led to water scarcity.
Ocean warming worsened 2011 floods: researchers
![The 2011 Queensland floods could have been worsened by warming oceans around Australia.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/5/4/8/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla6zb.png/1448612485009.jpg)
Cameron Atfield Researchers have found long-term warming in the Pacific and Indian oceans played a role in making Queensland's 2011 floods far worse than they otherwise would have been.
200th numbat set to be released
![The 200th numbat is set to be released in the South West.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/1/v/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla212.png/1448612092995.jpg)
Kristie Lim Western Australia's dwindling numbat population will get a boost next month when 15 of the captive-bred marsupials are released into the state's south west.
Australian National Botanic Gardens granted eco certification
![Australian National Botanic Gardens volunteer guide Jocelyn Fitzhardinge, General Manager Peter Byron and President of Friends Lesley Jackman are pleased that the gardens have received and eco certification from Ecotourism Australia.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/1/r/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9mek.png/1448604324487.jpg)
Nicola Sheville The Australian National Botanic Gardens has been granted eco certification from Ecotourism Australia making it only the second botanic gardens in the country to receive the achievement.
Tasmanian devils escape disease, to be killed by cars
![Road-killed. Another Tasmanian devil lost to vehicles.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/t/x/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9tjn.png/1448599071469.jpg)
Andrew Darby Up to eight captive-bred Tasmanian devils released as part of a re-wilding program have been killed on the island's roads.
Hot weather to continue as Canberra heads into summer
![Ivy Lu's photo of a Canola field which has been enterted in the Canberra Times spring photo competition.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/4/9/r/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8dt9.png/1448494993116.jpg)
Nicola Sheville Canberra has enjoyed a run of beautiful sunshine and light breezy weather this week and those hoping for a clear weekend may be in luck with a forecast of gradual heating over the next five days.
Attacks on Labor's climate plan 'nonsense': expert
![Bill Shorten announced Labor would seek substantially tough cuts to emissions.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/8/k/p/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9oid.png/1448599051920.jpg)
Nicole Hasham It is a "nonsense" to claim deep emissions cuts would smash the economy while ignoring the economic cost of floods, heatwaves, and other climate change fallout, an expert says, as the Turnbull government and industry attacked Labor's plan to dramatically slash greenhouse gas pollution.
Say hello to Nangua, Taronga Zoo’s little 'pumpkin'
![Nangua, a baby Francois Langur, one of the world’s rarest monkeys, with his mother, Meili.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/8/y/f/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9pub.png/1448597554228.png)
This newborn monkey has been garnering plenty of attention as he begins to explore his exhibit.
'You can run pretty fast in an angel costume'
![The carnival atmosphere of street acts and political activists that has accompanied previous global climate summits is threatened by the current state of emergency in Paris.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/h/j/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9hj1.png/1448588894734.jpg)
Larissa Dubecki Hundreds of thousands of climate activists descending on Paris ahead of the UN Climate Conference are preparing to defy a French government ban on street protests in the wake of the recent terror attacks.
Energy companies' risky $3 trillion bet
![The oil industry faces the biggest risk of unnecessary investment as growth in demand is abating, the think tank says.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/e/8/o/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl7rdk.png/1448583780692.jpg)
Rakteem Katakey In Australia alone, more than $140 billion in fossil fuel projects are at risk as producers invest in projects with a doubtful future, non-profit think tank warns.
Make surfers pay for shark protection
![shark generic](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/z/2/r/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8gvh.png/1448548904757.jpg)
Rory Callinan Surfers should bear the cost of shark protection measures by having to purchase shark repellent devices, a scientist has told a symposium on shark management.
Stalled southerly buster draws out another sweltering day for Sydney
![North Cronulla woman's boat crew took to the seas early on Thursday.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/8/c/g/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8wiy.png/1448524020045.jpg)
Peter Hannam A much-anticipated cool change took its time making it to Sydney, dragging out another unseasonably hot day.
Little relief for commuters as Sydney's temperatures soar again
![La Perouse beach - one place to be on this hot day.](/web/20151129111709im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/5/r/u/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8a1f.png/1448515266601.jpg)
Peter Hannam Many of Sydney's commuters are in for a sweltering journey to and from work today as temperatures soar towards the high 30s ahead a late afternoon cool change.