One academic says prediction for 2066 ‘is negligent in ignoring the economic damage’ on the horizon
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An Australian government snapshot of life in 40 years has been sharply criticised for underplaying the economic and social damage expected due to the worsening climate crisis.
The government’s seventh intergenerational report, which projects out to 2066, finds the effects of global heating four decades from now are “highly uncertain”, pointing to the pace of the global energy transition as a key source of unpredictability.
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Breaking Waves: Ocean News
09/21/2026 - 23:00
09/21/2026 - 22:11
Genetic evidence has revealed a previously unknown gentoo penguin species on the remote Kerguelen Islands and shown that gentoos actually consist of four distinct species. The discovery also highlights a growing threat, as warming oceans could leave several island populations with little suitable habitat by 2050.
09/21/2026 - 20:54
Rooftop solar alone generates more than half of all power used, as clear sunny days and low demand drive record-breaking surge
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Sunshine and wind met 80.4% of demand on Australia’s main power grid on Saturday, setting a new high bar for renewable electricity.
Solar panels on rooftops provided more than half of the power used in the national electricity market, the grid that supplies the eastern states, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, for 30 minutes around lunchtime. This was complemented by solar and windfarms, and a small amount of hydro (1%). Fossil fuels, coal and gas, contributed 20%.
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09/21/2026 - 16:26
Prime ministers of Australia and Iceland discuss effects on their countries even as some shy away in face of war and inflation
World political leaders are descending on New York for the UN general assembly and some of them are putting the climate crisis on the agenda as they spoke on Monday at the start of the city’s annual Climate Week.
This year’s Climate Week – which runs alongside UNGA – comes after months of extreme heat in large parts of the world including Europe and the US, wildfires in Africa, flash flooding in Asia and a record-breaking El Niño.
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09/21/2026 - 14:31
Super El-Niño has already broken temperature records and is predicted to bring an extremely wet winter to the state
‘Jaw-dropping’ El Niño bursts through temperature record months before peak
California is bracing for a record breaking El Niño that is expected to bring severe winter storms and flooding across the state, with the state’s governor declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of extreme weather in the months ahead.
The global climate phenomenon known as a “super El Niño” is already breaking temperature records and drawing predictions of an extremely wet winter in places such as California, where El Niño typically brings more severe winter storms and flooding risks. Several coastal California cities have recently faced high surf, flooding and coastal erosion linked to Hurricane Marie as well as El Niño. Experts have said the effects offered a glimpse at what the coming winter could look like.
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09/21/2026 - 14:00
New rules include a ban near schools and require datacentres to source their own renewable energy, but won’t apply to projects already in pipeline
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Datacentres in Victoria will be banned in residential areas, required to use renewable energy and contribute to the community but regulations won’t apply to existing centres or dozens currently planned.
On Tuesday the premier, Ben Carroll, and the artificial intelligence minister, Anthony Carbines, released the government’s sustainable datacentre action plan.
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09/21/2026 - 12:00
Prime minister says ‘climate security is the new national security’ in keynote speech in New York
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Australia understands the dangers of global heating and the urgency of climate action as much as any other country, Anthony Albanese has said in a keynote speech shortly before the United Nations general assembly.
Giving the opening address at a Climate Week event in New York on Monday, the prime minister said Australians had experienced the impact of climate breakdown up close with a series of disastrous bushfires and floods in the past decades.
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09/21/2026 - 11:18
Iowa senator Chuck Grassley calls for embargo on diesel exports as tariffs and Iran war drive up costs for sector
Donald Trump is facing growing calls, including from within his own party, to boost support for US farmers as his administration faces mounting anger over its treatment of the agricultural sector.
Republican senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa called on the US president to place an embargo on diesel exports this weekend and help farmers grapple with high prices.
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09/21/2026 - 10:00
Salmon companies operating in Tasmanian marine areas deployed almost 1,800 explosives in first half of 2026, government figures reveal
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More than 150,000 underwater explosives have been used to deter seals at Tasmanian salmon farms since 2016, according to new government data.
Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE Tas) data released last week revealed salmon companies directed almost 1,800 underwater explosives at seals at fish farms in the first half of 2026.
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09/21/2026 - 10:00
New study describes two species, Anchiale robusta and Anchiale mabiensis, both found in far north Queensland
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Two new large stick insect species have been identified by Australian researchers, in a discovery they say illustrates how little we still understand about insect diversity.
The two species, both found in far north Queensland, are described in a study published in Austral Entomology.
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