Sydney declares state of emergency over climate crisis
The decision makes Sydney the first major city in Australia to declare a climate emergency, but nearly the 660th to do so worldwide.
Australia & Oceania
New Zealand ‘wellbeing’ budget focuses resources on vulnerable populations
New Zealand’s Labour coalition government has unveiled its “world-first” well-being budget which offers billions for mental health services, child poverty, and family violence.
Residential solar booming in Australia: Q1 installations up 46% from 2018
A record amount of new solar capacity has been fitted to Australia’s households and businesses in the first three months of this year, an increase of 46% on the same period last year.
Researchers find cure for the fatal sting of the world’s most venomous creature
Researchers have finally discovered an antidote to the deadly sting that is delivered by the most venomous creature on earth — the Australian box jellyfish. Each box jellyfish carries enough venom to kill more than 60 humans.
World Surf League will now award equal pay to men and women athletes
17-year-old Caroline Marks became the first woman to win the same $100,000 prize as her male counterparts earlier this week when she won the first competition of the 2019 World Surf League’s Championship Tour.
Sydney announces 100% renewable energy by 2050 target
Sydney will purchase only 100% renewable energy that’s generated by wind or solar starting next year.
Australia adding one mega-solar project per month
Australia is adding one mega-solar project equivalent per month, with the current installed base of 10 gigawatts projected to double by the end of 2020. The latest mega-solar project is a 333 MW project in Griffith, New South Wales.
Queensland, Australia breaks ground on $3.5 billion solar farm
The massive 5100-acre solar farm will be built in three 500 MW sections with 500 MWh of battery storage.
Australia is planting a billion trees to fight climate change
The government estimates that the project, which will run until 2050, will eventually remove 18 million tons of greenhouse gases per years.
Grid-scale solar power tripled in Australia in 2018 as renewables met 20% of energy output
“2018 will go down as the year that fossil fuels began an inexorable decline in Australia’s electricity supply.”