This Month
As CEFC billions roll in, the green bank faces a political test
Extra funds of $2 billion for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation invite questions over its future, as the opposition’s Ted O’Brien says “the whole thing is absurd”.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Qld hits pause on wind farms, and big miners are among those worried
Resource-rich Queensland had become a poster child for the energy transition, but early signs from the new LNP government have created confusion about the state’s energy plans.
- James Hall
WA minister splits with Canberra on offshore wind
WA energy minister Reece Whitby said offshore wind may be better suited to the west coast after several developers dropped plans for WA projects, opening up a divide with his federal counterpart
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Tom Rabe
- Opinion
- Energy
How Trump’s war on green energy affects Australia
Donald Trump’s plans for an energy revolution will blow strong political winds across Australia’s energy market.
- Jennifer Hewett
Labor pumps $2b into green bank despite Trump’s fossil fuel push
The first extra funding for the country’s green bank since it was set up in 2012 contrasts with the pullback on clean energy under Trump 2.0.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Opinion
- Energy transition
Dutton’s nuclear plan to wipe out Australia’s aluminium smelters
The Coalition’s costings are predicated on large industrial facilities in the southern and eastern states of Australia halving their energy use by the end of 2030.
- Chris Bowen
- Opinion
- Climate policy
Corporate climate action was sidelined in 2024. This year may be worse
ESG and green concerns became relative afterthoughts last year. A Trump presidency may push them further into the weeds.
- Mark Wembridge
Husic blocks controversial NSW offshore gas drilling
The minister’s decision on the contentious drilling project known as PEP-11 comes as south-east Australia is facing the risk of gas shortages in the next few years.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Costs, delays threaten ‘new era’ for nuclear power: IEA
Small modular reactors have the potential to be a “game-changer” but only if expenses can be slashed, the International Energy Agency says.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Just 28pc of offices will meet major tenants’ climate needs
Government and blue-chip private sector tenants are pushing to move into green offices, but they are in short supply.
- Campbell Kwan and Michael Bleby
Taxpayer bet on rare earths plant depends on ‘non-China premium’
Foreign customers are expected to pay more for critical minerals from Arafura Rare Earths – a gamble that has placed almost $1 billion of government funds on the line.
- Mark Wembridge
‘Swayed by extremist groups’: Abetz slams bank in ESG stoush
A dispute over ESG requirements has emerged in Tasmania after a forestry company claimed its financing from Bendigo and Adelaide Bank was knocked back on environmental concerns.
- James Hall and Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Social responsibility
Climate heat is still on investors despite BlackRock’s net zero exit
Investor climate initiatives can and should play a role in stewarding the economy but have so far failed to bring real-world emissions into line with global goals.
- Will van de Pol
- Opinion
- The AFR View
LA burning a reminder that climate action matters to Australia
In a hotter world, the risk of more common, more extreme weather is part of the prudent economic case for improving the environment.
- The AFR View
The hottest year on record sparks fears of a ‘dangerous new era’
Temperatures broke another record in 2024 and experts warn this could bring faster wildfires, bigger storms and more extreme weather.
- David Gelles and Austyn Gaffney
Vic minimum solar tariffs to be slashed close to zero
Solar households in Victoria will hardly get anything for exports to the grid under a regulatory proposal that reflects the shrinking value of power on sunny days.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Green power scheme’s flaws emerge after making crucial progress
Action is needed to turbocharge the build-out of clean generation, but the shortcomings in Labor’s game plan mean 2030 climate targets remain in doubt.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Fire risk escalates as ‘sticky’ heatwave hits NSW, Vic
Pockets of NSW and Victoria are set to experience severe conditions until late Sunday as temperatures crack 40 degrees.
- Rachael Ward and William Ton
- Opinion
- Governance
Mandatory climate rules will stop investors groping in the dark
Investors need information about climate risk exposure to make investment decisions, just as they need financial statements and business plans.
- Toby Phillips and Andrew Hudson
Eastern states set for hot nights and a soggy rest of summer
Parts of Australia’s east coast will swelter in the tail end of the summer, and forecasters also predict above-average rainfall.
- James Hall
December 2024
Fire threat rises amid worst conditions since 2019 Black Summer
Damaging winds are fanning extreme fire danger as hot and dry weather envelops large parts of Victoria, south-west NSW and much of eastern South Australia.
- William Ton and Samantha Lock
Power findings show ‘failure of privatisation’: SA energy minister
Minister Tom Koutsantonis says the behaviour of large power generators reported by the Australian Energy Regulator is “extremely concerning”.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Energy security
Energy grid’s power imbalance could blow out bills, AER warns
In a review to be released on Friday, the energy regulator also said the government should consider the need to diversify ownership as it underwrote projects.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Nuclear costings put heat on uncosted renewables plan
Both sides of politics should end the charade of promising cheaper power prices while debating the least costly transition to a net zero economy.
- The AFR View