Lawyer in class action over forever chemicals leaked in waterways calls deal bittersweet as people ‘still dealing with irreparable damage to their land’
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Indigenous people affected by firefighting chemical contamination on traditional cultural lands have reached a $22m class action settlement with the federal government.
The settlement, revealed in a federal court hearing on Thursday, will result in $17m, minus administration costs and further legal costs, going to those affected when firefighting foam containing toxic Pfas – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals” – leaked into sacred waterways.
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Breaking Waves: Ocean News
05/25/2023 - 01:09
05/25/2023 - 00:00
International Energy Agency says investment will hit $1.7tn this year, well ahead of fossil fuels
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has helped ignite a boom in clean energy investment which will significantly outpace spending on fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency.
A report from the IEA has found that clean energy investment is on track to reach $1.7tn (£1.4tn) this year as investors turn to renewables, electric vehicles, nuclear power, grids, storage and other low-carbon technologies.
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05/24/2023 - 23:48
Tanya Plibersek confirms regional forestry agreements will be covered by upgraded federal environment laws, hinting government may follow Victoria’s lead
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Tanya Plibersek has said that regional forestry agreements will be covered by upgraded federal environment laws, raising hopes the Albanese government will follow Victoria in banning native forest logging.
The environment minister made the comment in question time, after the forestry union and the New South Wales Nationals said they will continue to back native forest logging in the state despite a report by the previous Coalition government that found the industry could be ended without hurting the budget.
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05/24/2023 - 20:00
Go behind the curtain of The Coastal Society with Genevieve, Tom Bigford, and Jeff Flood. They talk about the beginnings of the society, how it has evolved over the years, and brought together countless marine scientists and coastal practitioners. The trio also discusses the importance of mentorship and how one idea can lead to global recognition.
05/24/2023 - 19:00
Carbon neutrality of low-cost telco Belong relies almost solely on buying overseas offsets, and how an Institute of Public Affairs fellow misread the Great Barrier Reef
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Telstra’s low-cost mobile and internet company Belong is in the middle of a nationwide advertising campaign that is memorable for its imagery of a sliced-off bloodless thumb crawling up a snow-driven mountain.
“The average Australian is estimated to scroll the height of Everest on their phone every month. That’s why we proudly offset our network emissions,” the advert declares.
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05/24/2023 - 18:16
The clean-up begins after catastrophic flooding that has left tens of thousands of people homeless in north-east Italy. Rising waters swallowed houses and landslides isolated hamlets
‘Roads have disappeared’: Italy begins cleanup after catastrophic floods
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05/24/2023 - 17:19
Species known as marine habitat-forming species -- gorgonians, corals, algae, seaweeds, marine phanerogams, etc.-- are organisms that help generate and structure the underwater landscapes. These are natural refuges for other species, and provide biomass and complexity to the seabeds. But these key species in marine ecosystems are currently threatened by climate change and other perturbations derived from human activity. Now, a study warns that even in the marine protected areas (MPAs) the genetic diversity of structural species is not protected, although it is essential for the response and adaptation of populations to changes that alter the natural environment.
05/24/2023 - 10:00
‘We are not going to allow the lights to go off,’ state energy minister Penny Sharpe vows
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New South Wales’ two main renewable energy zones will be delayed for as long as two years and cost more to build with landholder opposition to new transmission lines partly to blame, the energy minister, Penny Sharpe, has said.
The Minns government briefed journalists about its network infrastructure strategy on Wednesday, revealing that the central-west Orana zone would not hit its “energisation date” until 2027-28, compared with an initial 2025 target. Similarly, the New England zone will now start in 2029 compared with an initial 2027 goal.
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05/24/2023 - 10:00
Exclusive: ‘Ready-to-be-activated’ roadmap adds pressure to Minns government to follow lead of other states in ending controversial practice
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The Perrottet government found native logging could be ended in New South Wales without costing the budget but opposition from the Nationals blocked the proposal.
A plan to end the controversial and loss-making practice of timber extraction from native forests was prepared by the environment department by October 2022.
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05/24/2023 - 07:52
Firm pledges record-breaking investment over next decade as earnings from gas-fired power plants surge near-fourfold
SSE has set out plans to invest £40bn in clean energy over the next 10 years as it reported a near-doubling of its annual profits compared with the year before thanks in part to its fossil fuel power stations.
The Perth-based FTSE 100 company said it would carry out its record-breaking green energy plan by investing “far in excess of its earnings” after making an adjusted pre-tax profit of £2.18bn for the 12 months to the end of March, up from almost £1.16bn the year before.
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