These laws, and their hurried legislation, have been criticised by civil society groups for attempting to undermine the ability for anyone to exercise their freedom to protest. Australia is witnessing a new surge in civil disobedience as a form of climate activism. Earlier this month, protestors from a new activist group called Fireproof Australia obstructed… Continue reading While Australians are joining radical climate activism, the government is designing new laws to stop them
Tag: Australia
Why a ‘one-in-a-thousand-year’ flood could become the norm in Australia
Notwithstanding the Australian government’s sub-par climate policies, Australia has created a government agency for recovery and resilience, a disaster risk reduction framework, and national adaptation guidance. The east coast of Australia is experiencing one of its worst floods in recent history. Catastrophic weather conditions over parts of south-east Queensland and the north coast of NSW… Continue reading Why a ‘one-in-a-thousand-year’ flood could become the norm in Australia
Australia pledges billions to save its Great Barrier Reef. Is it enough?
However, the reef is dying. Climate change, driven by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, is the biggest culprit with the reef going through five mass bleaching events in the past 25 years On the 28th of January 2022, the Australian government pledged $1 billion of funding for the conservation of its iconic Great Barrier Reef, spread… Continue reading Australia pledges billions to save its Great Barrier Reef. Is it enough?
Australian Government cuts aid in the middle of the pandemic
Stephen Howes So far, Australia has contributed 0.6 of one percent to the global fund to respond to COVID-19 Yesterday, I set down on Twitter three tests by which I said I would judge Australia’s 2021-22 aid budget. They were: Will there be any further increases in aid next year? Will the government sustain any… Continue reading Australian Government cuts aid in the middle of the pandemic
The news – good, bad and uncertain – on NGO donations in Australia
Terence Wood Most Australian development NGOs actually did quite well with donations amid the very difficult year that was 2019 with stagnant domestic economy, droughts and bush fires. In one way, 2019 was a good year for Australia’s Development NGOs. The Development Policy Centre analyses financial data, collected annually by the Australian Council for International… Continue reading The news – good, bad and uncertain – on NGO donations in Australia
3 Billion Animals Died or Displaced by Australia’s Bushfire Crisis
Nearly three billion animals – mammals, reptiles, birds, and frogs – were killed or displaced by Australia’s devastating 2019-20 bushfires. It’s almost three times an earlier estimate released in January. The breakdown is 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds, and 51 million frogs. Those figures are revealed in an interim report entitled Australia’s… Continue reading 3 Billion Animals Died or Displaced by Australia’s Bushfire Crisis
Oxfam Australia’s woes: a sign of the times?
Stephen Howes & Sherman Surandiran Recently, public donations to Australian development NGOs have been falling since 2015. Oxfam has not escaped this general trend; to the contrary, it has been experiencing an extreme version of it. Oxfam Australia is a very important part of this country’s international development sector. It is one of Australia’s oldest development… Continue reading Oxfam Australia’s woes: a sign of the times?
Australia not to hit its 5% 2020 emissions reduction target till 2030
Stephen Howes A report released last month by the Department of the Environment and Energy shows that Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 are estimated to be just 1.6% below their 2000 level. This means that, come June (when the 2020 fiscal year ends), we will have missed Australia’s decade-long, bipartisan and treaty commitment to reduce emissions… Continue reading Australia not to hit its 5% 2020 emissions reduction target till 2030
How to monitor the bushfires raging across Australia
Amanda Gearing, Queensland University of Technology As I write this, fires are consuming huge swathes of Australia and conditions are expected to worsen. The situation is attracting global interest, and reporting has been extensive. But it isn’t always easy to find reliable information on how the situation is developing in specific areas that are home… Continue reading How to monitor the bushfires raging across Australia
Kiwis way ahead of Aussies on climate policies
An analysis by the Pacific wing of the Global climate campaign NGO 350.org of Trans-Tasman rivals show that Kiwis are indeed more forward thinking than their neighbours Trans-Tasman rivalry has predominantly existed in the sporting arena – rugby, cricket and netball. Off the field, however, where the stakes are much higher as humanity faces the … Continue reading Kiwis way ahead of Aussies on climate policies