Climate News: Powerful El Niño shaping for later this year; Nature's champion, Sir David Attenborough turns 100

What appeared, at the time, to be a dearth of news about the quickly unfolding climate crisis prompted me to have a crack at producing a podcast - "Climate Conversations".That was in 2018, and only you, as the listener, can make a judgment good or bad, useful or otherwise.I was fascinated when I discovered that the latest episode of the Reuters Institute podcast, "The Future of Journalism", was to discuss news podcasts.

Apparently unaware of the real cost of coal, both financially and environmentally, coalition leader, Angus Taylor, has hitched his party's fortunes to coal - "Coal comfort: Taylor kicks off Climate War 3.0 in shift from nuclear";"Trump’s Push to Keep Coal Plants Open Is Costing Hundreds of Millions";"How this regional town became a caravan community";"Victoria approves the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere";"Our fragile world is being hammered by one crisis after another. It’s about to get worse";"The Climate Optimist".

From The Washington Post - "Why the odds keep rising for the strongest El Niño in a century":"As David Attenborough turns 100, four experts explore his legacy, from science to storytelling";"Climate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran war";"‘Only the Beginning’: Santa Marta Summit Heralded as New Dawn in Fight to End Fossil Fuel Era";"Australia is one of the world’s biggest gas exporters. Labor will now force companies to save some";“My Green World".

Renewable energy, according to Christriana Figueres will give Australians and Australia everything the climate deniers argue is essential, including energy sovereignty - "This ‘energy crisis’ is fixable. We already have the answers";"Scott was already working late on fuel supply when a call stopped him cold";"Rudd calls to harness ‘physical terror’ of fuel shortages to push renewables";"‘Wars, Uncertainty, and Geopolitical Upheaval’ Led to 2025 Global Military Spending Surge";"Can This Military-Industrial Beast Ever Be Tamed?";"ABC Shepparton "Breakfast" discusses Renewable Energy Zones";"A New Idea to Save the Climate? Dam the Bering Strait.";"Amazon invests in Mooroopna";"Mokoan solar project opened".

Geelong's Mik Aidt (pictured) describes himself on Substack as a "Climate crusader with a creative soul – part journalist, part campaigner, part podcast poet and musician."He writes and speaks about mobilising more people in service to life on Earth. His Substack is "In service to life on Earth".Many would know Mik Aidt through his popular radio show, "The Sustainable Hour" on community radio.This "climate crusader" is truly eager to have people meet face-to-face, and to see that happen, he first established a Climate Cafe in Geelong.Those attending felt the name was somewhat limiting, and so decided the group should change its name to the "Connections Cafe".Although climate is still on the agenda, the new name has allowed the group to explore fresh and exciting topics.

The American-based "Covering Climate Now" recently staged a "press briefing" at which the speakers and hosts explored "America’s Extreme Drought and Its Climate Connection".One of those at the event was Dr Peter Gleick, a leading scientist, innovator, and communicator on water and climate issues. "Who’d have thought a fossil-fuel shill like Trump would be the one to spark a green revolution?";"A prime-time hit job on renewables falls apart under basic facts";"‘Made in China’ EVs are taking over the streets, but just how safe is your data?";"11 Electric Cars Worth a Look With Gas Prices High";"ANZAC Day".

Common Dreams says: "We Must Fight Fossil Fuel Oligarchs to Save Democracy";"Energy security is now inseparable from national security. Australia has options, but they’re being neglected";"Critically Endangered listing of Lower Murray River ecosystem and Macquarie Marshes is a wake up call";"Overheated cows, flooded highways, and now a fuel crisis: why Australia’s food system is in big trouble";"An ‘ordinary’ storm with extraordinary impacts: what made Wellington’s deluge so intense?";"El Niño is set to take hold this summer, driving up global temperatures";"WaterNSW criticised for ‘appalling’ decision after hundreds of turtles left to die in wetlands".

It was the co-Chief Executive Officer of The Australia Institute, Richard Denniss, who told those at a Royal Society of Victoria gathering late last year that recovery would preoccupy Australians as the world's climate system continued to worsen."Bessent Questions the Cause of Climate Change and Its Economic Toll";"‘A Sign of What’s to Come’: Super Typhoon Sinlaku Slams Into Remote US Islands in Pacific";"‘Time for Half Measures Is Over’: Study Warns of Terrifying Atlantic Ocean Current Collapse";"The 'crop' we're not harvesting: Why Australia's brightest source is still underused";"Carbon Removal Industry Reels as Microsoft Retreats";"Climate change media coverage fell 14% in 2025";"Live from SEJ: The State of Climate Journalism";"Climate Change Denial Sees a Resurgence in Trump’s Washington";"Some states will go from record heat to a freeze — thanks to Alaska".

John Brinnard lives in a wonderful place just west of Yandina on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, in a lush piece of forest you could never imagine burning, but after a long, dry spell, that's exactly what happened - bushfire!Was that attributable to climate change? John, in his quiet and considered manner, didn't jump to that conclusion, but he had never seen the bush near his home so dry before or after.John is big on people giving themselves agency through involvement with others concerned about climate issues, and so he has supported "Rising Tide" playing an active role in the group's protests at the Port of Newcastle.He is also involved with the "Urgent Climate Action Network Sunshine Coast ".

Professor Ian Lowe lives in the small coastal town of Marcoola on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, a place he and his late partner moved to in retirement.However, as he points out, once a scientist, always a scientist, and so he continues to devour scientific journals, engage in webinars and travel to conferences covering topics that embrace his interests.The Professor has written many books and has been involved in ensuring others get published.Ian has been a regular at the Woodford Folk Festival and recently was a guest on the day four edition of the podcast, "First Wine of the Day".Although he spent some of his career in England, most of Ian's time was spent at Queensland's Griffith University.