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US and China ratify historic Paris climate agreement … meanwhile in Australia
The United States and China – the world’s biggest economies and the largest emitters of greenhouse gases – announced they will ratify the Paris climate agreement over the weekend. The ratification of the COP21 deal reached in Paris last year was hailed as a significant advance in the battle against global warming. The Paris climate agreement The Paris climate…
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New government. Same fight. Saving the Reef from coal.
Monday afternoon the text came through: the Federal Court had upheld the Abbott Government’s environmental approval for the massive Carmichael mine. The court challenge, brought by our friends at the Australian Conservation Foundation, was defeated. It’s times like this when our movement can be at its best. Within hours, snap rallies were called and preparations…
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We brought the Great Barrier Reef to Canberra
We did it! We delivered our petition with 32,000 names to the new Environment Minister in a spectacular way at Parliament House. We did it! We delivered our petition with 32,000 names to the new Environment Minister in a spectacular way at Parliament House. Our message for the minister, and the new government, was clear:…
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A disappointing verdict for Queensland’s forests, trees and wildlife
Late last week, a narrow majority of Queensland MPs voted against protection for Queensland’s forests, trees and wildlife. What they didn’t count on was us. People like you and I, building something unstoppable: tens of thousands of people united to protect Queensland forests. It’s a huge disappointment. This legislation is desperately needed to reduce unchecked…
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6 amazing plastic bans from around the world
Good news! Plastic bans across the world have been hitting the headlines lately. From the US to India and Morocco, governing bodies are taking control of the plastic pollution problem, bringing in either complete bans on plastic, or bans on specific forms like polystyrene. By Fiona Nicholls 1. Karnataka, India In March this year, the…
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VICTORY in the heart of the Amazon!
I had barely had breakfast when I was surprised by some absolutely amazing news: the Brazilian environmental agency – IBAMA – announced it was cancelling the licence for the proposed São Luiz do Tapajós (SLT) megadam in the heart of the Amazon. Once my heart rate returned to normal, I started to call my colleagues and Munduruku…
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It only takes 1 plastic bag to ruin your whole day.
On a recent trip to the Sunshine coast, my 10 year old son asked if we could go to the Aquarium. I’m not usually a party pooper but my first thought was not excitement but trepidation and then concern for the animals living in the facility. Underwater image of a turtle with plastic on his…
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Fast fashion: Three tips to reduce your textile waste
Anyone who has recently walked past a clothing store knows: it’s sale time. The temptations are strong: an extra 50 per cent off, prospects of cheap chic, a risk of missing out on bargains. Fast fashion is popular. Hong Kongers love buying clothes and, apparently, throwing them away as well. Last year the region discarded 110,000…
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Plastic pollution: five easy tips to reduce how much plastic you use
Plastic is ubiquitous. It’s in our clothing, our shoes, our phone, our furniture. We store food in it, we eat and drink from it, we sit on it, we brush our teeth with it. It comes in all colours, shapes and sizes. The reason plastic is ever-present? It’s cheap, it’s convenient, and it lasts. But plastic…
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What just happened to electricity prices in South Australia? 6 things you need to know
In case you haven’t heard, power prices had a brief but sizeable jump in South Australia over the last few weeks. There has been a lot of heated, and often misleading, commentary this week about what happened and why – some of which has blamed the state’s high level of renewable energy. Here are the…