Louise Morris

The Pacific has been sounding the alarm. Why aren't we paying attention?

On Wednesday, 14 October, three speeches were given in Canberra at three different venues. The President of Palau spoke at the Australian National University. Tuvalu’s Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Maina Talia, spoke at the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) conference. Australia’s Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, spoke at the National Press Club. Together, they highlighted the gap between what the Pacific is telling us, and what Australia is saying back.

Climate

The Pacific has been sounding the alarm. Why aren't we paying attention?

OPINION

The Pacific is drawing the map while Australia digs up the road

On Wednesday in Fiji, Pacific ministers said what Australian ministers have so far avoided saying. The region needs a plan to end its dependence on coal, oil and gas. At a high-level pre-COP31 side event in Nadi, Navigating the Pacific Energy Transition, ministers discussed their intention to develop a regional roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels.

Climate

The Pacific is drawing the map while Australia digs up the road

OPINION

While the cameras chased a garland snub, Tuvalu told the world what COP31 must deliver

If you only followed mainstream coverage of the Pre-COP Leaders' visit to Tuvalu, you could be forgiven for thinking the big issue was headwear.

Climate International Affairs

While the cameras chased a garland snub, Tuvalu told the world what COP31 must deliver

OPINION

Pacific Red Lines are a test of Australia's climate integrity

The "Red Lines for 1.5°C" come from the Pacific Climate Justice Demands, built each year through a consultation across a network of more than 290 organisations. They were unveiled in a visual action led by communities already living the impacts these climate negotiation talks are meant to address.

Climate International Affairs

Pacific Red Lines are a test of Australia's climate integrity

OPINION

Woodside can't sell Browse gas, so now it's selling AI data centres

When a gas project can't win on the facts, it goes shopping for a new story. Last week, Woodside's CEO Liz Westcott told a Perth business breakfast that the proposed Browse gas and CCS project could power AI data centres and keep AUKUS shipyards humming. The same project was once sold to keep the lights on in WA.

Climate Artificial Intelligence

Woodside can't sell Browse gas, so now it's selling AI data centres

OPINION

Australia is failing to map out a fossil fuel transition plan

At a side event during the 81st UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Feleti Teo of Tuvalu, and Ireland's Minister of State Timmy Dooley unveiled their shared vision for the Second Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF-2), to be co-hosted in Tuvalu in 2027. In doing so, Tuvalu and Ireland have just set the agenda for the next chapter of the fossil fuel transition. Australia needs to show up with more than talking points and have an action plan.

Climate

Australia is failing to map out a fossil fuel transition plan

OPINION

Albanese's Climate Week speech left out the numbers that matter most

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened Climate Week NYC on Monday by leaning on Australia's renewables progress: massive rooftop solar uptake, ten thousand home batteries a week, enough wind and solar for six million households. Numbers worth noting. But they're not the numbers that determine whether Australia is doing its job on climate and phasing out fossil fuels.

Climate

OPINION

Australia is becoming the world's carbon dumping ground

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) asked what we thought about Australia importing other countries' carbon pollution and dumping it under our oceans. Submissions on the plan, which would see Singapore ship its industrial CO2 to Australia for a fee to be pumped into depleted oil and gas fields off our coast, have now closed. If that sounds like a big step, it isn't. The groundwork was laid three years ago in federal parliament, and almost nobody noticed.

Climate

Australia is becoming the world's carbon dumping ground

OPINION

Big Tech's AI boom is turning into a lifeline for Big Gas

Everyone's talking about how much power AI will need. Almost no one is talking about where that power is going to come from. In Australia, the honest answer is gas, and a mountain of dodgy offsets to make it look clean.

Climate Artificial Intelligence

Big Tech's AI boom is turning into a lifeline for Big Gas