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 Tomorr...

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 clima...

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...

The Shepparton News has one view about how to best care for the Goulburn River (pictured) - "G overnment actions wreak havoc " - and the Goulburn Valley Environment Group has another - " Environment group critiques News" . "I nterstate refugees: Why more Aussies are moving south "; " Trump threatens world-leading forecasting and climate research centre "; &q...

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...

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 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...

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 "; " Envi...

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&...

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,...

Ben Pederick (pictured recording an interview post The Adaptation Game - TAG) is a big man with a big smile, a big heart and some equally big ideas about how we step up to the challenges we confront arising from the seriously different weather events being brought to us courtesy of a worsening climate. The City of Greater Shepparton has bought several sets of The Adaptation Game, and locals have b...

Australia's Climate and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen (pictured), is attending climate talks in Belem, Brazil, at COP30. However, the talks have gone a little awry for Australia, as it has ceded COP31 to Turkey. " Australia can win big international bids when it wants. This was an omnishambles "; " Anger, questions over Albanese’s call to concede COP to Turkey" ; "‘ Avo...

California Governor Gavin Newsom (picture) steals the spotlight at COP30 in Brasil - " Newsom in the Spotlight at the Climate Conference That Trump Decided to Skip "; " This widely used chart makes the clean energy switch seem much harder than it actually is "; " Indigenous People, Long Sidelined at Climate Talks, Take the Stage in Brazil "; " ‘ I didn’t agree to...

Liberal Party leader, Sussan Ley (pictured), is at the centre of discussions that mean little to what it is that Australians need to hear about addressing climate change. " These numbers say net zero is doomed – and so is Sussan Ley "; " Where the sky keeps bursting "; " Greenwashing in the Evergreen State "; " Ley’s job on the line as Liberals reject net zero "; " Birrell advocates for coal, gas,...

Marian Wilkinson has sliced through the fossil fuel companies, particularly Woodside, and our politicians, in her latest Quarterly Essay," Woodside vs The Planet: how a company captured a country ". The Australian investigative journalist is interviewed here by the co-convenor from Climate 200 , Kate Hook. It's long — more than an hour — but well worth your time.

Victorian Trades Hall Council assistant secretary, Danae Bosler (pictured), told those at the Saturday, November 8, launch of the Climate Safety Plan, that it was the workers who bore the brunt of the world's changing climate. She argued that they knew best what the problems were and how they should be confronted and resolved. Nurse practitioner and union member, Sigrid Pitkin, explained to th...

The new book, " Human Nature " by climate scientist Kate Marvel is, in a sense, a whole new genre, for in it Marvel explores the feelings of a climate scientist, and from it we learn that they are just like us with emotions ranging across the entire arc of human feelings. Marvel talks about her new book with Columbia University's Andre Revkin, who is one of America’s most honoured an...

Melbourne's recent All Energy Conference was fascinating for many reasons, but left me flummoxed, as it was, at its essence, about limiting climate change, even though it seemed to be about growth. The exhibits were impressive, almost like social events with free coffee, lots of meetings, and the exchange of ideas (pictured). " The $4.1 million question: How did the BOM get its new websit...

Robin Bell (pictured), a Marie Tharp Lamont Research Professor with the Marine and Polar Geophysics department at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, was one of three speakers at a webinar organised by The Columbia Climate School and chaired by the Professor and Senior Vice Dean, Columbia Climate School; Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Jeffre...

Geelong's Mik Aidt (pictured) has found a new connection through the Geelong Connection Cafe that meets for the first time this Friday at 3:00 pm. Mik, who has been deeply involved with climate activities in the city for about 15 years, mainly through " The Sustainable Hour ", has worked with others from the city's former Climate Cafe to create this new body to reinvigorate conne...

A Treaty with Victoria's indigenous people brings benefits to all, and our environment. " Here comes the sun! The solar energy revolution – podcast "; " Extreme weather costs Australia more than any other rich country, bar one "; " Gondwana Link - connecting people, connecting nature "; " Man arrested, accused of starting deadly Palisades Fire in California &...

Richard Denniss (pictured) was one of a trio of speakers at an event at Melbourne's Royal Society of Victoria to consider: "What is Australia Risking? Future Impacts of Climate Change". The event was convened by Climate Communications Australia and hosted by T he Royal Society of Victoria , and offered a unique chance to discuss the report with Risk Assessment experts. The event focu...

Bill McKibben (pictured), a climate activist, author, and occasional newspaper columnist, has encouraged people to be less individualistic and join groups. He was among those on a panel organised by The New York Times as a part of its annual "Climate Forward" conference assembled to discuss " The future of climate activism in the Trump era " Mik Aidt has a special guest on his...

Chris Bowen (pictured) is Australia's Climate Change and Energy Minister, who says it is the toughest job he has ever had. Mr Bowen, also the Federal Member for McMahon , was a guest on a recent webinar organised by Australia's Climate Council . He was interviewed by the CEO of the Climate Council, Amanda McKenzie. And from The Melbourne Age we have the story: "C OP out? Prospect of c...

Rebecca Huntley (pictured), Australia's pre-eminent social researcher, watched Sydney's 2019 School Strike for Climate students marching in the city's streets and, mesmerised by what these young people were doing, she wrote a book - " How to Talk about Climate Change in a Way That Makes a Difference ". But the drive those students ignited didn't end there, for working wit...