GREENHOUSE GAS MITIGATION – AUSTRALIA

Coalition fury as former Liberal minister and new climate chair rejects nuclear power

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Original article by David Crowe
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 25-Jun-24

The federal government is under scrutiny after advising that Matt Kean will succeed Grant King as chairman of the Climate Change Authority. Kean is a former NSW Liberal treasurer and energy minister, who has expressed opposition to adding nuclear power to Australia’s energy mix. Kean says nuclear energy would have bankrupted his state due to the cost and length of time to build nuclear power stations. The federal Opposition is yet to disclose the likely cost of the seven nuclear power plants that it plans to build if it wins the next election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, LIBERAL PARTY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Telstra ditches carbon offset scheme for direct action

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Original article by Cameron England
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 14-Jun-24

Telstra is to abandon the federal government’s Climate Active carbon neutral labelling program in favour of direct action to cut emissions. The program sees companies, products, buildings and events paying an annual fee to call themselves carbon neutral with government support, although it was attacked by a Senate committee in April over claims it was being used to "greenwash" large companies by enabling them to claim carbon neutrality, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission refusing to endorse the program’s claims. Telstra says the telco’s decision to no longer be part of the program was not related to concerns about the program or carbon credits in general, but that its stakeholders had indicated they preferred a direct approach to emissions reduction.

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Dutton’s surprise climate policy proves he ‘can’t be taken seriously’, Albanese says

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Original article by Karen Middleton, Josh Butler
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 13-Jun-24

The Coalition’s stance on climate policy is under scrutiny after Opposition leader Peter Dutton indicated that its 2030 emissions reduction target will not be disclosed until after the federal election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised his refusal to commit to a firm emissions target; he contends that Dutton cannot be taken seriously as the alternative prime minister without a serious policy on energy and climate. However, the Coalition has emphasised that it remains committed to the Paris climate agreement and a net zero emissions target of 2050.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Dutton delays climate target, blasts teals

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Jun-24

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would scrap Labor’s legislated 2030 target to reduce carbon emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels. He contends that this target is not achievable and would result in higher power prices. Dutton adds that the Coalition will not release its alternative emissions reduction target until after the federal election, stating that it will take into account the "prevailing economic conditions" at the time. Dutton has also reiterated the Coalition’s support for a net zero emissions target of 2050. Meanwhile, he contends that teal MPs are out of touch with average families who are struggling to pay their power bills, and argues that some of them are essentially Greens.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Two of world’s biggest mining companies join forces to make unprecedented change in steel production: We must find better ways

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Original article by Jeremiah Budin
The Cool Down – Page: Online : 16-Apr-24

Iron ore rivals BHP and Rio Tinto are collaborating on the development of an electric smelting furnace in Australia. They contend that the technology could reduce the carbon dioxide pollution intensity of steel-making by 80 per cent compared with standard blast furnaces. Steel is one of the world’s most widely-used construction materials, but current production methods generate massive amounts of greenhouse gases. The International Energy Agency has warned that the steel industry is currently not on track to meet the net-zero emissions target of 2050.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

Teal demand 75pc emissions target by 2035

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 4 : 17-Jan-24

Teal MPs in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are pushing for a much more ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target than the federal government’s legislated policy of 43 per cent. Some of them want this target to be reset to around 50 to 60 per cent. The independent MPs contend that people in their electorate want "real "climate action" rather than "another decade of delay". Kylea Tink, Allegra Spender and Kate Chaney are among the teals who advocate stricter emission controls beyond the 2030 target, proposing a 2035 target of around 75 per cent. The government aims to set a 2035 target by February 2024.

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Carbon rules could drag in commuters

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Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 10 : 23-Oct-23

Australia’s new accounting standards for carbon emissions will initially apply to large companies, before they are progressively rolled out to smaller businesses over three years. Jo Gorton from Deloitte notes that unlike some countries, the new Australian standards will not be restricted to listed companies. In addition, 15 categories of Scope 3 emissions will be covered by the new reporting regime; amongst other things, they include the emissions generated via business travel, employees commuting to work and ‘fly-in, fly-out’ workforces.

CORPORATES
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED

Fortescue on track to hit 2030 greening target

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 18-Oct-23

Fortescue Metals Group director Larry Marshall says he agreed to join the iron ore producer’s board in August after being satisfied that the target of decarbonising its mining operations by 2030 is achievable. Marshall adds that the technology that is needed to decarbonise mining is in place and simply needs to be built. Solar and wind power will be a key focus of Fortescue’s decarbonisation strategy; the company estimates that it will require 1,000 megawatts of capacity of both forms of renewal energy.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

Gas not transitional but a ‘forever fuel’, Chevron exec declares

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Original article by Colin Packham
The Australian – Page: 17 : 9-Aug-23

Chevron executive Jeff Gustavson says the US oil and gas company is investing in new energy sources such as hydrogen. However, Chevron’s president of new energies emphasises that gas will continue to play a key role in the energy mix; he contends that it is a "forever fuel" rather than a transition fuel. Gustavson has also emphasised the importance of carbon capture and storage, and says Australia needs to embrace the technology in order to meet its carbon emission reduction targets.

CORPORATES
CHEVRON CORPORATION

Australia’s high-polluting utes spark calls to change fuel efficiency laws

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Original article by Elias Visontay
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 5-Apr-23

Sales of SUVs and dual-cab utes have risen strongly in Australia over the last decade. The Toyota HiLux and the Ford Ranger are the nation’s biggest-selling utes, but the Climate Council notes in a new report that they are among the most expensive to run and have poor tailpipe CO2 emissions. Jennifer Rayner from the Climate Council has called for the introduction of fuel efficiency standards, which would incentivise car-makers to supply low- and zero-emissions vehicles to the Australian market.

CORPORATES
CLIMATE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED