Land & water
Australia’s Mining Rush for Green Energy
Australia is leading a mining boom to provide resources for the ‘green energy transition’ - a transformation in energy and infrastructure which the Paris Agreement (2015) stipulates must occur to avoid perilous levels of global heating. Within Australia and globally, this mining expansion is affecting already stressed environments and communities, with impacts likely to dramatically increase as mining projects are pushed through to meet industry demands.
Indigenous Land & Rights
Citizens Declare Protection of Whale Songline Country
This year on World Environment Day, Gunditjmara Whale Dreaming Custodians and Local Gunditj community of the Warrnambool area invited the general community to come together and share in ceremony and the story of Koontapool, the Southern Right Whale, in celebration of their annual return to Gunditjmara Sea Country. This was a special, profound, and unique event for the Warrnambool community.
Economics for Earth
What is Extractivism?
The extractivist development model has been in place and perpetuated since colonial times. But what do we actually mean when we say something is "extractivist" or "post-extractivist"? Natalie Lowrey and Anisa Rogers provide an overview of the terms for Chain Reaction #143.
Climate & Energy Justice
The Workers on the Frontline of Climate Impacts
The Climate Impacts at Work report details that workers are already heavily impacted by climate change - from poorly ventilated kitchens, to accessible housing in heated-surburbia. Anna Langford writes for Chain Reaction #142.
Land & water
Protecting our Native Forests for Climate and Public Health
Forests can help us mitigate climate impacts - yet Victoria's native forests are being logged and burned, writes Alana Mountain writes for Chain Reaction #142.
Climate & Energy Justice
Climate Change and Natural Disasters
We know that climate change is already making natural disasters worse. And, we know that action now means less pain later. Cam Walker presents some of the impacts climate change is currently having on natural disasters, in Chain Reaction #142.
Land & water
COVID was just a practice run
The Lismore floods show that radical action needs to be taken now, writes Zianna Faud for Chain Reaction #142 - "...although I have trust in spontaneous and unpredictable social transformation, the truth is, there is no such thing as ‘normal’ anymore."
Land & water
The Lismore Floods: A Reflection
Tessa Campisi shares a heartfelt reflection on the Lismore floods, for Chain Reaction #142.
Climate & Energy Justice
Climate bill passed in House of Representatives, sent to Senate
August 4, 2022. The House of Representatives has passed the Climate Change 2022 bill. After nine years of delay and denial by the Coalition government, Friends of the Earth Australia welcomes the rapid action by the Albanese government to enact it’s signature climate commitment.
The Labor government, the Greens, community independents and Liberal MP Bridget Archer all voted to support the bill. Sadly, the Coalition opted to remain on the wrong side of both the science and history and voted against the bill.
Land & water
2022 State of the Environment report released
Friends of the Earth Australia welcomes the release of the national State of the Environment report. Although required to produce them every five years, the previous Coalition government held up the release of the report, delaying Australia’s ability to respond to the biodiversity crisis outlined in the document.
Australia has produced a national state of environment report every five years since 1995. They assess every aspect of Australia’s environment and heritage, covering rivers, oceans, air, land and urban areas. They show that our natural environment is in continuous decline.
This report is the first to consider how our declining natural environment is impacting on the health and well-being of Australians. It is also the first to include Indigenous co-authors.