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Climate policy

This Month

Nationals leader David Littleproud.

Pacific nations should lobby China on climate change: Littleproud

The Nationals leader said Australia pursuing an aggressive 2035 emissions reduction target would not shift the dial on global emissions.

Putting off action will only ensure more extreme weather and destructive events such as the fires that ripped through California earlier this year.

Megatrends that will trump any MAGA trend

Businesses, investors and the wider community in Australia and beyond can’t let short-term squalls blow us off our long-term course to cut carbon emissions.

February

A flooded South Pine River, north of Brisbane, in January. The ICA says of the estimated 225,000 Australian homes in the highest flood risk locations, only 23pc have flood cover.

Insurers call for $30b flood defence fund to protect properties

After Peter Dutton said he wanted to break up insurers, the industry wants to partner with governments to strengthen infrastructure and relocate the most vulnerable buildings.

Liberal candidate Andrew Constance says the Coalition will take Australia’s 2035 climate target “off the table”

Liberal hopeful says Paris climate target is ‘off the table’

Former state MP Andrew Constance, who is gunning for the coastal seat of Gilmore, says the Coalition will take a 2035 climate target “off the table”.

Coalition nuclear ‘policy’ just a bunch of words to grab attention

Readers’ letters on LNP attacks on Climate Change Authority chairman Matt Kean, ditching cash, Larry Fink’s mortgage idea, possible fuel shortages, and Donald Trump’s true goal.

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Andrew Horton, CEO of QBE, says to reduce premiums, you need to reduce risks.

QBE boss hits back: high insurance premiums are due to risk

Andrew Horton has issued the first response from an insurance industry boss since the opposition leader threatened to break up companies.

Once a climate change critic, former Nine News presenter and 2GB radio host Chris O’Keefe is the Clean Energy Council’s new national spokesman.

‘Worst in a decade’: Why the campaign against renewables is thriving

After a recent boardroom shake-up, Australia’s top renewables industry group wants to take the fight to its enemies.

Macquarie has become the first major Australian bank to withdraw from a global banking climate alliance.

Macquarie exits green banking alliance in first for local lenders

The company will follow JPMorgan, Citi and Bank of America out of the Net Zero Banking Alliance after the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Luxury and large vehicles such as the RAM ute are among types the motoring association will be hardest hit by user charges.

Why car prices could rise as Labor’s emission rules hurt manufacturers

The majority of manufacturers are unlikely to meet the government’s vehicle emissions standards.

January

The biggest financial backers of Climate 200 revealed

Two investors donated about $1 million each to the teal fundraising vehicle, while a 94-year-old grandfather matched donations up to $1000 for each year of his life.

WA premier lobbies federal Labor to kill EPA, miners cry foul

Roger Cook is pushing his federal counterparts to scrap a renewed move for a federal Environment Protection Agency – ‘If it’s not good for WA, I’m against it’.

Get moving on charging EV drivers for road use, politicians urged

Having helped kill a Victorian scheme in the High Court, the Commonwealth must step in with a solution for dwindling road-user revenue, says the nation’s peak motoring group.

Industry Minister Ed Husic and head of Alcoa Australia Elsabe Muller at the Portland Aluminium Smelter.

Husic bets big on making Australian manufacturing great

The Labor MP from Sydney’s inner-west thinks concern over climate change and the risk of global conflict will win out over traditional market fundamentals.

 Shemara Wikramanayake, Rob Scott, Alexis George, Damien Nicks, Leah Weckert, Anthony Miller.

Top CEOs reveal 17 ways to make Australia great again

The executives were asked to think big picture about the risks and opportunities we’re not sufficiently considering. Here are their ideas for a better nation.

Donald Trump has ignited a storm around ESG and DEI.

Investors should forget DEI and ESG wars and follow the money

Donald Trump’s war on woke has quickly washed up on Australian shores. But investors and companies would be smart to block the noise, and stay rational.

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Political events overseas, including the election of President Donald Trump (pictured) have made a political football of investor sustainability issues.

Big super still supports diversity despite Trump

While political shifts in the US have brought to prominence some loud voices, investments should not be subject to short-term and non-evidential noise.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth last week.

Labor plans more green metal industry subsidies

After a successful push for $2 billion to fund the switch from coal-fired power to renewable energy at four aluminium smelters, lobbyists say more support is needed.

Wall Street giants are walking away from green finance groups.

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.

Macquarie has previously announced lofty climate commitments. It would not commit to them this week.

Macquarie refuses to say whether it stands by climate commitments

Other major local financial institutions indicated that they remained committed to net zero goals amid a recent pullback by global financial firms.

ESG is out of favour as Donald Trump returns to the presidency.

Macquarie, IFM-backed net zero group suspends itself as Trump looms

The world’s biggest climate finance alliance cited “different regulatory and client expectations” in starting a review and making its membership list secret.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/climate-policy-1mpo