Aussie Enviro

Australia has some of the best biodiversity data in the world. This is because the Australian government has invested in ecologists from around the country, allowing them to closely study endangered species.

However, what we’re missing is a commitment to use this information. So far, we’ve largely measured progress using one blunt metric: total area protected. This metric is easy to communicate but is dangerously misleading. It tells us very little about whether protected areas are in the right location or are being managed well.

If we’re serious about halting species extinctions within the next five years, we need to...

• urgently protect areas of highest biodiversity value, especially the habitats of species on the brink of extinction
• prioritise under-protected ecosystems instead of those which are easiest to conserve
• start measuring success in terms of outcomes, not just area.

The annual State of the Climate report, just published by the World Meteorological Organization, suggests we’re still too reliant on fossil fuels. And that’s pushing us further from our goal to decarbonise.

So what is happening to our climate? And how should we respond?

Good rainfall across much of Australia in the past year has kept the vegetation green and rivers flowing. For the fifth year in a row, our national environment scorecard for Australia’s landscapes in 2025 rated them as “above average”...

But underneath the ocean waves, it was a different story. Marine heatwaves and the algal bloom in South Australia were a disaster for Australia’s underwater ecosystems and their unique animals and plants.

Date: 31 March (register beforehand)

Description

Solar Citizens CEO, Heidi Lee Douglas on:

• The findings of our ‘Unlock Solar for Renters’ PolIs Conversation

• Revealing the 3 top policies that renters and landlords agree on

• Why energy efficiency standards are vital for renters

• The bold new idea that would make our cities and towns energy self-sufficient and provide clean affordable rooftop solar power to renters

Multicultural Leadership Initiative CEO, Rathana Chea

Why energy equity is imperative to share cost of living savings and reduce emissions

Smart Energy Council A/CEO, David McElrea

New technology solutions to save energy costs for renters

If you’ve ever done school drop-off on a hot day, you’ve probably thought about the classrooms our kids sit in all afternoon.

Or wondered how schools and childcare centres cope as power bills keep rising?

That’s why more communities are looking to solar and batteries, helping schools and childcare centres:

• cut energy bills
• keep classrooms cooler during heatwaves
• stay powered during outages

Time and time again, educators, energy experts, and community leaders tell us the same thing: solar and batteries for schools and childcare is a no-brainer.

On April 1, Parents for Climate will hold our first ever event at Parliament House in Canberra, sharing stories from communities already making it happen. Members of Parliament and Senators from across Australia are invited - and adding your name helps show them that families in their electorate want solar and batteries, which could encourage them to attend.

For more info and to sign the petition: https://www.parentsforclimate.org/power-our-schools-now--

The State Government announced yesterday, Friday, that it will no longer consider applications for new mines or allow new coal exploration, BUT, extensions to existing mines will still be considered.

To read more: https://thepoint.com.au/news/260321-nsw-bans-new-coal-mines-in-landmark-shift-towards-fossil-fuel-phase-out

This is a great project that could be replicated in hundreds of places in Australia and address various challenges at once: food waste, locally made stock feed, compost and fertiliser plus create more regional employment and reduce greenhouse emissions.

For our USA friends, you will have heard of the wombat, but, have you ever heard of the NUMBAT? It is another of our unique marsupial species (only eats termites) and critically endangered.

Here's a site that will explain more if you're interested: https://www.numbat.org.au/thenumbat

And here's a video to share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkmk3AU5QHo

No doubt you all know that forests provide critical habitat for threatened wildlife, support clean air and water, and store enormous amounts of carbon so if you can, celebrate them by going for a walk in a forest this weekend and enjoying its presence. Or, take part in planting or sponsoring tree planting.

You can also take a small advocacy action by signing some or all of these petitions from the Wilderness Society: https://wilderness.org.au/get-involved/sign-a-petition

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/35539332

Climate Council senior advisor Ben McLeod said the decision was difficult to reconcile with Australia's emission reduction commitments.

"To see that they had approved it until 2081 — more than three decades after Australia should be reaching its net zero targets — is shocking," he said.

Australians deserve an honest account

This new report confirms... weaknesses extend to Australia’s self-assessment, which lacks the rigour and ambition the nature crisis demands.

The reforms of Australia’s nature laws, passed in late 2025, are the most significant in a generation, and we welcome them. But legislation without implementation, adequate funding or a delivery plan is not enough.

This important report – with its hidden subsidies, inflated spending figures, missing implementation plan, and a definition of “on track” that mistakes promises for progress – is not worthy of a nation with both the means and the obligation to lead.

Do our governments care? Do we care? It seems to me that unless we take the bother, the amazingly grand natural marvels that are all around us but diminishing day by day will be a paltry show in curated reserves and wildlife parks.

ACF Investigates is a citizen science project that brings together a community of nature-loving digital sleuths who help uncover deforestation by classifying satellite imagery and gathering data on their phone or desktop.

Australia is a world leader in nature destruction and every day iconic Australian animals, like the koala, are pushed closer to the brink of extinction. We’re also a big country which unfortunately makes it easy for bulldozers to destroy the forests and bushland we love unseen and undocumented.

That’s where ACF Crowd Sourced Investigations comes in!

By taking some time out of your day - whether on your daily commute or during your lunch break - to help us analyse satellite imagery for signs of land clearing, you’re joining a community of people who want to uncover this destruction and stand up for nature!

This would also be a great alternative to doom scrolling or hypnosis scrolling.

This is quite a long article but beautifully illustrated. Our own Bogong moths are the star navigators the title refers to. We really need to join and get vocal to save so many amazing species that are in danger.

Please sign letter to Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm.

After massive public pressure and a decade of campaigning by conservation groups, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has finally listened to the mounting evidence and strengthened its federal recommendation to classify SGARs rodenticide as a restricted chemical, removing them from retail sale.

If approved and implemented, this would mark one of the biggest conservation wins for Australian wildlife in recent years. To make this restriction a reality, Minister Collins and the DAFF need to accept the reforms urgently. Tell them to take the final step to protect wildlife and pets.

https://birdlife.org.au/protect-aussie-birds-from-deadly-sgar-rat-poisons/

Time out from the heavy stuff. This video is not only interesting but will put a smile on your face. It is not rude so can be shared with children (but not young ones as they may not understand) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXjfz0N_JXg

Sophie 's bought a 7.5 hectare property in SA which is classified as arid to semi-arid, with less than 350mm of rain a year. It’s baking hot and dry in summer and freezing in winter but she likes the challenge and intends on planting thousands of native plants in an area which was badly degraded by farming practices. By this, she will counteract some of our continual biodiversity loss.

https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/dawn-of-shingleback-farm/106451554

ALL OF US can take small to large actions. Even if you just have a balcony, by planting a few native plants which are sympathetic or endemic to your area you may make the difference to an invertebrate species and with that, make a difference to local native birds and reptiles. If you have a small garden you can do more, and on and on. If you are not the gardening type you can donate to organisations which are restoring habitats and landscapes. You can get involved with landcare groups or support native and vegetable gardens in your local schools and communities, physically, financially or by helping with admin tasks.

With all our climate challenges, plus now war in our midst and possible food shortages in the future, we have to think ahead and do whatever we can to protect those who bear the brunt of a situation they have not caused

No one here seemed to be interested in the petition to support a National Framework. This is not pie-in-the-sky thinking.

The Greens proposed a $20 million-a-year wildlife rescue strategy in March 2025 and are again urging their Canberra colleagues to back the plan.

“Wildlife rescue services across the country are struggling to keep their doors open,” said Greens spokesperson for the environment, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

“Our environment is in crisis, and as a consequence our wildlife are paying the price. We are seeing decreasing native wildlife populations and a number of species, including the koala, are facing extinction...”

Senator Hanson-Young said increasing threats to wildlife meant Australia had a responsibility to act.

“Habitat destruction, motor accidents, all of the other dangers … that humans bring onto them, we’ve got a responsibility to look after them...”

https://thepoint.com.au/news/260312-hanson-young-backs-wildlife-recovery-call-for-urgent-funding-to-save-injured-native-animals

Australians get few benefits from fossil fuel exports.

• High levels of foreign ownership mean most of the profits from fossil fuel exports from Australia go to foreign owners of global energy giants exporting Australia’s resources.
• Big Gas gets more than half the gas they export from Australia for free.
• Australian Treasury revealed that as of 2023, no gas export project had ever paid petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT), the main tax on the oil and gas industry, which has been in place for nearly40 years.
• Gas export companies often pay little if any company tax. For instance,
• Santos have Santos Limited has racked up a 10th straight year of zero corporate tax payments from a total of nearly $47 billion in sales.
• Inpex operated Ichthys LNG Pty Ltd pays no royalties, effectively getting the gas it exports for free, has never paid PRRT, and paid zero corporate tax for the 6th year running, from a total of $43 billion in sales.

https://thepoint.com.au/explainers/260314-make-polluters-pay-why-australia-needs-a-climate-disaster-levy