Gas only a 'short bridge' to a low-carbon future, climate group finds

Hopes gas will play the role of a so-called transition fuel towards a low-carbon future are dimming as costs of renewable energy dive and its emissions edge over coal is increasingly questioned, a new report by the Climate Action Tracker argues.

Luke Foley's solar plan eclipsed by NSW government

The NSW opposition leader Luke Foley has been caught out promising a policy that the Berejiklian government has already begun.

Days are lengthening - and not just because of the solstice

Winter's depths have been plumbed according to the clocks but the worst of the season's chill is almost certainly ahead.

If Finkel review isn't dead it's looking very sick

• ANALYSIS

Like the Pythonesque parrot, Alan Finkel's independent review into the future security of Australia's electricity market is merely sleeping.

Coal rebound tipped to bolster coffers for years

NSW's addiction to coal royalties shows no sign of easing after a surge in coal prices lifted expected royalties for the state by $839 million over four years.

'Remarkable' high pressure shielding much of Australia from winter's wrath

Farmers and ski resort operators are watching synoptic charts with growing anxiety.

Tropics in trouble as climate change turns deadly: study

Rising temperatures and humidity will make the world's tropics increasingly unliveable by pushing more people to the thresholds of their physical tolerance and beyond, a new international study finds.

'The perfect person to have in this place at this time'

The chief scientist is struggling to solve one of Australia's most intractable problems.

Emissions on wrong trajectory to hit Paris goal: report

Australia's greenhouse gas emissions could return to 2005 levels by 2030 without new government action, contrary to the scenario modelled by the Finkel review, according to a new report by respected analyst Hugh Saddler.