Climate Conversations

Phillip Ruddock (pictured) was Australia's Attorney General in 2005, and along with his parliamentary counterparts was well aware of the perils of climate change - "Cabinet Papers 2005: From The Archives";"Previously secret cabinet documents reveal Howard government tried to mitigate 'homegrown' terrorist threat";"Socialism Should Give Us Hope for Tomorrow";"Heat, drought and fire: how extreme weather pushed nature to its limits in 2025";"A gas betrayal. King plan favours foreign buyers, gas cartel over mums and dads";"How Close Are the Planet’s Climate Tipping Points?";"Oregon faced a huge obstacle in adding green energy. Here’s what changed this year";"How the climate crisis showed up in Americans’ lives this year: ‘The shift has been swift and stark’ ";"Greenwashing, illegality and false claims: 13 climate litigation wins in 2025";"Queensland to continue to allow farmers to shoot flying foxes after revoking ban on controversial practice";"Understanding climate change in America: Skepticism, dogmatism and personal experience";"‘Choose people and planet over pain’: UN chief highlights climate impact of war in New Year’s call";"Why you should consider a ‘flight diet’ in 2026";"The great climate vibe shift of 2025";"150 Years of Change: How Old Photos, Recaptured, Reveal a Shifting Climate".

Tijana Jovanovic from Queensland's School of Social Impact interviews freelance journalist and author, Bridget Shirvell, about her book "Parenting in a Climate Crisis: A Handbook for Turning Fear into Action". Shirvell, an Environmental journalist and parent, has created a handbook for parents to help them navigate these questions and more, weaving together expert advice from climate scientists, environmental activists, child psychologists, and parents across the country. She helps parents answer tough questions (how did we get here?) and raise kids who feel connected to and responsible for the natural world, feel motivated to make ecologically sound choices, and feel empowered to meet the challenges of the climate crisis—and to ultimately fight for change.Learn more abourt Bridget from her website: "Bridget Shirvell".

David Spratt's "Climate hot takes for 2025";"Greenpeace’s Fight With Pipeline Giant Exposes a Legal Loophole";"When disasters strike, home batteries could be a lifeline";"Trump Administration Plans to Break Up Premier Weather and Climate Research Center";"‘The biggest transformation in a century’: how California remade itself as a clean energy powerhouse";"Green light for first apartment block in ‘great design’ high-density push";"‘Borrowed time’: crop pests and food losses supercharged by climate crisis";"This Simple Chemistry Fix Could Revolutionize Flow Batteries";"‘The anxiety never disappears’: Monmouth businesses recover from severe flooding".

The Shepparton News has one view about how to best care for the Goulburn River (pictured) - "Government actions wreak havoc" - and the Goulburn Valley Environment Group has another - "Environment group critiques News"."Interstate refugees: Why more Aussies are moving south";"Trump threatens world-leading forecasting and climate research centre";"Australia’s roads are full of giant cars, and everyone pays the price. What can be done?";"The secret to a cooler home could already be sitting in your living room";"Our podcast: Trust, politics and AI. What people think about climate news";"Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?";"How Did a City of 10 Million People Nearly Run Out of Water?";"The Earth Transformed: An Untold History".

Cascadia Times Editor, Paul Koberstein, teamed with Jessica Applegate to write the wonderful book, "Canopy of Titans: The Life and Times of the Great North American Temperate Rainforest".The pair had written an article for the Cascadia Times, but realised that what they had was more than a newspaper article; rather, the adventure of researching the great North American temperate rain forests became Canopy of Titans. There has been much talk, and much money has been spent on creating artificial carbon capture and storage; however, the world already has a natural storage facility in its great forests, a fact emphasised by Paul and Jessica.You can also find the Canopy of Titans here: https://tinyurl.com/y664n7as

The council of the City of Greater Shepparton has extended its approval for the staging of the Spring Car Nationals at the city's showground, in breach of its covenant with the 2020 climate emergency declaration.That apparently simple act of endorsing the continued use of the city's showgrounds for what is a "climate offensive" event effectively amounts to the hidden approval of the business-as-usual paradigm.Here is a Shepparton News article about that issue: "Petrol before planet";"Environment water rejected";"Report indicates basin shortfall";"Biodegradable plastics that actually break down might finally be here";"Is My Morning Coffee Climate Friendly?";"Private companies have raised millions to block the sun. What could go wrong?";"How Sick Is the Planet Johan Rockström’s Planetary Health Check 2025 - COP30";"Government actions wreak havoc";"Rising Tide, rising backlog. Coal protests too big for Zero Tolerance, police & courts".

The Australia Institute's joint CEO, Richard Denniss, (pictured) was one of a trio of guest speakers several weeks ago at an event organised by The Royal Society of Victoria, warning of the emerging problems of recovery from weather-related disasters arising from climate change.‘"Just heartbreak’: At least a dozen homes lost in bushfires near Sydney";"‘Crippling prices’: Manufacturers demand gas reservation";"The $265 million commute: How urban sprawl is costing Melbourne";"What do we know about climate change? How do we know it? And where are we headed?".

Simultaneous storms devastate Asia (picture): "Death toll surpasses 1200 after simultaneous storms devastate Asia";"In 1939, a Royal Commission found burning forests leads to more bushfires. But this cycle of destruction can be stopped";"The Cost of Climate""The surprising technology that could be key to saving the Great Barrier Reef";"Environment Bill passes Senate as Greens cut deal with Labor";"Are UN climate summits a waste of time? No, but they are in dire need of reform";"Reflections from COP30";"Climate “Realism” Is the New Climate Denial";"Solutions for Climate Australia is a national initiative calling on all federal political parties to slash climate pollution this decade";"56 million years ago, the Earth suddenly heated up – and many plants stopped working properly";" A/Prof Hans Baerm Honorary School of Social and Political Sciences".

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) airs grid controversies on the 7:30 Report: "The fight between farmers and the Victorian government is spilling onto the paddock";"Australia’s sales of big cars are out of control";"Helping producers navigate sustainability opportunities";"Blackout risk: Grid ‘not ready’ for coal plant closures, solar surge";"‘The New Price of Eggs.’ The Political Shocks of Data Centers and Electric Bills";"Many Fighting Climate Change Worry They Are Losing the Information War";"Who are the Australians trying to shut down the world’s biggest coal port?";"Australia could miss clean energy target as solar and wind investment slumps, investors warn";"Petrol Vehicles Are 5-20 Times More Likely to Catch Fire than EVs: Peak Body".

Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, signed a sweeping agreement on Thursday laying the groundwork for a new oil pipeline to expand Alberta’s oil sands, exempting the province’s energy industry from several environmental laws.Carney is pictured here with Alberta's Premier Danielle Smith."Canada Lifts Climate Laws for Alberta Oil Sands, Planning Pipeline";"More than 1,000 Amazon workers warn rapid AI rollout threatens jobs and climate";"Revealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown";"Michael Mann To Bill Gates: What World Are You Living In?";"The Supreme Court’s Ethics Code Is a Joke. Big Oil Knows That. ";"Renewable energy zone win";"Preparing for a hotter, drier basin";"Funding for sustainable water solutions";"Water planning over morning tea".