International: All stories
SEE YOU IN COURT: Activists get ready to fight Trump
11 Apr 2017
Environmental campaigners have promised to wage fierce and protracted legal battles against “outrageous and wrong-headed” Trump administration moves.
HIGH TIDE: Rising waters threaten China’s rising cities
11 Apr 2017
In China's Pearl River Delta, breakneck development is colliding with the effects of climate change.
Beating the heat for apartment dwellers
11 Apr 2017
Heatwaves could be deadly for many Australian apartment dwellers if the grid fails, so architects are coming up with ways to manage temperatures passively.
Three Australian banks review exposure to fossil fuels
10 Apr 2017
Three of Australia’s big four banks are reviewing their exposure to fossil fuels, including their lending practices to households and farmers, in response to climate change.
Complacency threatens climate change action
10 Apr 2017
The world is “meandering into a failed future” because of its unwillingness to take decisive action on climate change, a leading UK academic has warned.
Arctic meltwater ponds feed climate concerns
10 Apr 2017
Even in the white-out world of ice, the Arctic is growing greener. Plankton blooms below the frozen ocean and in Greenland’s icy mountains meltwater ponds become little ecosystems that will eventually enrich the ocean.
Nine-year-old sues over climate change inaction
10 Apr 2017
A nine-year-old girl has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government for failing to take action on climate change.
States gang up to challenge Trump over climate actions
7 Apr 2017
A coalition of 17 US states has filed a legal challenge against efforts by President Trump’s administration to roll back climate change regulations.
Debbie shows up dangers of concentrated cropping
7 Apr 2017
The damage wrought by cyclone Debbie raises broader questions about the resilience of Australia’s fresh vegetable supply, much of which comes from a relatively small number of areas that are under pressure from climate and land use change.
Open letter urges Turnbull to deliver energy reforms
7 Apr 2017
Former Australian Liberal party leader John Hewson and sustainable energy entrepreneur Simon Holmes à Court are among the signatories to a new open letter urging Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to implement three urgent reforms to the energy market.
Memo Australia: There'll be many more Debbies
6 Apr 2017
Climate change will continue to amplify extreme weather events in Australia, including intense heavy rainfall and flooding, like that triggered by cyclone Debbie.
Britain seeks to abandon green goals
6 Apr 2017
Britain is looking for ways to scrap its 2020 clean energy targets while maintaining everyday trade in Europe’s energy market.
After 25 years of trying, why aren’t we more sustainable?
5 Apr 2017
In 1992, more than 170 countries came together at the Rio Earth Summit and agreed to pursue sustainable development, protect biological diversity, prevent dangerous interference with climate systems, and conserve forests.
Extreme heat threat rises for megacities
5 Apr 2017
The area of the world, and the numbers of city dwellers, exposed to serious risk from extreme heat will multiply later this century even if the world’s nations keep their promise and contain global warming to 2deg or less, according to new research.
Australia in ‘disaster alley’ for climate refugees
5 Apr 2017
Australia could be on the frontline of a new wave of climate refugees displaced by extreme weather events, droughts and rising seas.
EU takes next step in reform of trading scheme
5 Apr 2017
The next step in the European Emissions Trading Scheme reform process is under way.
Australia looks at benefits of social impact investing
4 Apr 2017
Governments, communities and industries are grappling with issues such as climate change, inequality and social justice – and how to mobilise more funding to tackle these issues. One possible solution is impact investing.
Rush for sapphires wrecks Madagascar rainforests
4 Apr 2017
A “sapphire rush” has brought tens of thousands of people into the remote rainforests of eastern Madagascar, disfiguring a protected environmental area and prompting calls for military intervention.
Brazil halves environment budget
4 Apr 2017
The Brazilian government is cutting its environment ministry budget by 51 per cent as part of a bid to limit the country’s spiralling deficit.
South Australia gets billion-dollar solar farm
3 Apr 2017
A huge $1bn solar farm and battery project will be built and ready to operate in South Australia’s Riverland region by the end of the year.
Trump names May for decision on Paris pact
3 Apr 2017
President Donald Trump is planning to decide by late May on whether the US should stay in the Paris climate change agreement.
Singapore gets tough to meet environment goals
3 Apr 2017
SINGAPORE is set to introduce a series of new regulations in a bid to speed up progress towards the city-state’s environment commitments.
The crazy story of airline food and why so much is dumped
3 Apr 2017
Airlines generated 5.2 million tonnes of waste in 2016, most of which went to landfill or incineration – and it cost them more than $NZ700 million.
Wildlife reshuffle will have huge impact on humanity
31 Mar 2017
Mass migration of species to cooler climes has profound implications for society, pushing disease-carrying insects, crop pests and crucial pollinators into new areas.
Exit Hazelwood ... and the myth of cheap fossil fuels
31 Mar 2017
Australia's giant Hazelwood brown coal generator shut down the last of its eight units at 4pm yesterday, the latest and the most powerful symbol of the vast and rapid change in the nation's energy system.
Only three EU states on track to meet Paris goals
31 Mar 2017
Only three European countries are on course to achieve the Paris Agreement targets, according to research which ranks the UK in fifth position on its progress towards the landmark climate treaty.
KILLER TOYS: How thousand die for Western consumers
31 Mar 2017
Western consumers who buy cheap imported toys, clothes and mobile phones are indirectly contributing to tens of thousands of pollution-related deaths in the countries where the goods are produced.
Europe readies to take global lead on climate efforts
30 Mar 2017
The European Union has led criticism of Donald Trump’s effort to unravel Barack Obama’s measures to combat climate change, suggesting that Europe will now take the lead in global efforts.
Sydney looks at 2050 to be carbon neutral
30 Mar 2017
Sydney has a plan to be carbon-neutral by 2050.
EU countries abuse forestry credits loophole
30 Mar 2017
European Union countries exploited loopholes in United Nations forestry rules to pocket carbon credits worth €600 million and the equivalent of global-warming emissions from 114 million cars.
Debbie could teach us a thing or two
30 Mar 2017
Despite knowing, approximately, where cyclones tend to occur, we've never thought about adjusting our cities to their effects.
Wildlife changing to keep up with climate
30 Mar 2017
Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing Australia’s wildlife, plants and ecosystems, a point driven home by two consecutive years of mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.
Trump climate moves undermine Paris Agreement
29 Mar 2017
President Trump has launched an all-out assault on Barack Obama’s climate change legacy with a sweeping executive order that undermines America’s commitment to the Paris agreement.
Communities retreat as oceans swell and coasts erode
29 Mar 2017
Erosion, rising seas, ferocious storms and other coastal perils have prompted the resettlement of more than one million people worldwide.
Trump about to undo Obama's clean power plans
28 Mar 2017
President Trump is set to sign a sweeping executive order today aimed at promoting domestic oil, coal and natural gas by reversing much of his predecessor’s efforts to address climate change.
BILL McKIBBEN: Adani mine is the line in the sand
28 Mar 2017
There is nowhere else on the planet right now where the dichotomy between two potential futures is playing out in such a dramatic and explosive way as Australia.
Changing climate damages world's reefs beyond repair
28 Mar 2017
The Great Barrier Reef might never fully recover from the combined effects of global warming and an El Niño year, according to a new study.
UN acknowledges retreat on climate campaigns
27 Mar 2017
The United Nations is acknowledging that some countries might be retreating in the effort to fight climate change, recognising an emerging fissure in the landmark Paris Agreement as US President Donald Trump moves forward with plans to gut environmental programmes.
YUK! How disgust stops us from living sustainably
27 Mar 2017
Imagine, for a second, that the slice of delectable cake melting in your mouth was made with flour ground from insects not grains.
Oil theft provides billions for terrorists and drug cartels
24 Mar 2017
Oil theft is fuelling terrorist groups and drug cartels around the world, according to a new analysis.
Australia to shut big-polluting power station
24 Mar 2017
Australia's most polluting power station, Hazelwood, is set to become the ninth coal-fired power station to close its doors, as the nation’s transition from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy continues.
Arctic ice falls to record winter low
24 Mar 2017
The extent of Arctic ice has fallen to a new wintertime low, as climate change drives freakishly high temperatures in the polar regions.
Getting smarter could add $2 trillion to economy
22 Mar 2017
More sustainable use of materials and energy would not only cover the cost of keeping global warming below 2deg, but also add an extra $2 trillion to the global economy by 2050, says the United Nations.
Overheated world heads into uncharted territory
22 Mar 2017
The record-breaking heat that made 2016 the hottest year recorded has continued into 2017, pushing the world into “truly uncharted territory”, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.
US budget aims broadside at climate change
22 Mar 2017
If anything, it’s worse than expected: sweeping cutbacks to environmental programmes; an abandonment of efforts aimed at cleaning up air and water pollution around the US; and, most worrying for the world in general, an end to multimillion-dollar funding for satellite launches and other science projects aimed at tackling climate change.
SAHARA SAGA: If humans did this they could do it again
22 Mar 2017
Once upon a time, the Sahara was green. There were vast lakes. Hippos and giraffe lived there, and large human populations of fishers foraged for food alongside the lakeshores.
Nappies and tampons set to fuel power stations
22 Mar 2017
One of the UK’s trickiest waste problems is being tackled by turning the undesirable into the combustible – tampons and incontinence pads are being converted into dry, burnable bales.
Global emissions stay same for third year in row
21 Mar 2017
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy have not increased for three years in a row even as the global economy grew, the International Energy Agency says.
Kenya places complete ban on plastic bags
21 Mar 2017
Kenya has announced a ban on the use, manufacture and import of all plastic bags which will come into force in six months.
Pressure mounts on Finkel to consider pricing carbon
20 Mar 2017
The Liberal New South Wales government, major energy users, manufacturers and businesses have urged the Finkel review of the electricity market to consider a price on carbon or a market mechanism.
Australian governments subsidising fossil fuel use by more than $30,000 a minute, analysis finds
Fri 13 Mar 2026
Australian federal and state government subsidies that encourage fossil fuel use and help drive the climate crisis will reach $16.3bn this year after leaping by nearly 10%, according to a new analysis.
Trump administration sues California over the state’s nation-leading vehicle-emission rules
Today 11:00am
The Trump administration ramped up a battle with California over the state’s nation-leading vehicle-emission standards Thursday, suing air regulators over rules aimed at curbing pollution from cars.
What does China’s 15th ‘five-year plan’ mean for climate change?
10 Mar 2026
China’s leadership has published a draft of its 15th five-year plan setting the strategic direction for the nation out to 2030, including support for clean energy and energy security.
Germany misses climate targets as emissions barely fall in 2025
Today 11:00am
Greenhouse gas emissions in Germany have again missed targets set by the Climate Protection Act and barely fell at all in 2025.
UK emissions fall 2.4% in 2025 as coal hits 400-year low
9 Mar 2026
The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.4% in 2025 to their lowest level in more than 150 years, according to new analysis.
Mark Carney just picked his lane on climate change
17 Feb 2026
COMMENT: Mark Carney's time as prime minister has been defined in part by his decision to roll back Trudeau-era climate policies.
'The situation is dire': War on Iran squeezes India's cooking-gas supplies
Mon 16 Mar 2026
The shockwaves of a war being fought nearly 3,000km away are now reaching India's kitchens.
Vanuatu moves forward with UN climate resolution despite Trump opposition
9 Mar 2026
The Trump administration’s attempt to sink a UN resolution demanding countries act on the climate crisis has caused cuts to the proposal but hasn’t entirely killed it, according to the tiny Pacific island country spearheading the effort.
Limiting warming to 2C is ‘crucial’ to protect pristine Antarctic Peninsula
24 Feb 2026
Keeping global warming to less than 2C above pre-industrial temperatures is “crucial” for limiting damage to the Antarctic Peninsula’s unique ecosystems, according to a new study.
'Blackwater' lakes and rivers in the Congo Basin are now emitting ancient carbon into the atmosphere
Mon 16 Mar 2026
Carbon that has been buried in the Congo Basin's peatlands for millennia is seeping into lakes and rivers. Why this is happening remains unclear, but researchers warn that tropical peatlands could be nearing a tipping point.
Companies – including Blackrock – retired 2 million carbon credits after Verra suspended project
Thu 12 Mar 2026
Verra suspended the Pacajai REDD project in Brazil in September 2023, pending an investigation into the project’s validity. That didn’t stop Mastercard, BlackRock, Philip Morris International from retiring carbon credits from the project to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.
Summit aims to revive stalled UN talks on phasing out fossil fuels
Wed 11 Mar 2026
Colombia and the Netherlands have set out three priorities for a conference on phasing out fossil fuels they will co-host in Colombia in April.
