January
Coalition will set 2035 climate targets, but only if in government
Peter Dutton has confirmed he would not follow Donald Trump and withdraw Australia from the Paris climate accords.
- Phillip Coorey
Trump takes charge and starts to upend geopolitics
In his first hours in the White House, the new president withdrew the US from climate and tax agreements, and threatened tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico.
- Andrew Tillett and Michael Read
A rundown of Trump’s executive actions
The new president wasted no time in announcing steps to implement many of his campaign pledges, including on immigration, energy, the military and federal workforce.
- Stephanie Lai, Skylar Woodhouse and Hadriana Lowenkron
Banks stand firm on ESG after Dutton ‘woke’ jibe
Banks and their shareholders reject the claim “wokeness” is stopping them lending to fossil fuel and forestry businesses, arguing that commercial reality drives loan decisions.
- John Kehoe
- 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
Albanese seizes on Los Angeles fires to argue case for climate action
As some of the world’s wealthiest enclaves are destroyed, the PM says Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plan will delay action to address climate change.
- Andrew Tillett
December 2024
Calls grow for Westpac to reveal energy transition plan thinking
Australian Ethical and Market Forces have put forward a resolution for a second year seeking more detail on the bank’s assessment of borrowers’ transition plans.
- James Eyers
How accountants will help save the planet
The once humble accountant will be key to supporting the transition to net zero.
- Sally Patten
Andrew Forrest-backed wind farm gets taxpayer revenue guarantee
Energy Minister Chris Bowen will on Wednesday announce 19 projects to get the guarantee, but a new report says environmental laws are causing major project delays.
- Ronald Mizen
November 2024
Emissions fell at one-fifth rate needed to achieve 2030 target: CCA
Emissions fell by 20 per cent of the 15 million tonnes the Climate Change Authority says is needed to achieve Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target.
- Ronald Mizen
- Updated
- Climate policy
Australia left in limbo after fight to host global COP talks falters
Australia is vying with Turkey to host the annual climate summit, but a discordant meeting in Baku deferred the decision until June – after the federal election.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
‘Prosecutors will be prosecuted’: Trump’s A-G sets her targets
Pam Bondi has always been a staunch defender of Donald Trump; Scott Bessent was a fund-raiser for Al Gore before switching to Trump; the COP29 meeting secured a last-minute deal. Here’s how the day unfolded.
- Updated
- Andrew Hobbs
Don’t dump corporate climate targets because of Trump, CFOs say
Big business is locked in to its decarbonisation path given commitments made in other countries, and to investors, senior executives said.
- Amelia McGuire
The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think
Analysts have for decades severely overestimated energy demand and underestimated the speed of technological advances.
- Analysis
- Energy transition
No-shows and early exits make climate talks a sideshow
The world leaders who skipped Baku last week are all in Brazil now. While COPs are always fraught and fractious, this one feels at risk of sliding into irrelevance.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
Forrest makes ‘dollars and cents’ appeal to climate sceptic Trump
The US president-elect has already reached out to the Fortescue boss, who has switched from environmental rhetoric to the language of economic rationalism.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Oil and gas are ‘a gift of God’: COP29 leader
The Azerbaijan president’s opening speech was a striking start to the climate summit, already marred by uncertainty and absenteeism.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Carbon trading deal struck despite likely US exit from Paris accord
Carbon trading could help raise some of the cash developing countries need to adapt to the effects of climate change, and enable big polluters to cut emissions.
- Kenza Bryan, Attracta Mooney and Aime Williams
Why no one is turning up to this year’s climate summit
COP29 is meant to land a $US1 trillion deal to fund poor nations’ fight against climate change. But political and business leaders are a widespread no-show.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Pressure on other countries to lead on climate after Trump win
Experts say Trump’s election means countries will need to engage with US businesses and states to ensure the energy transition continues.
- Hannah Wootton