Australia, one of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases per capita, passed landmark legislation through its parliament last week, committing the nation to curbing carbon emissions 43% (from 2005 levels) by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050 (Guardian). The legislation marks the first action the Labor Party has taken on climate change since it won power in May, and sets the nation’s first-ever mandated climate targets.

Last week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced $700 million for Great Barrier Reef conservation over the next nine years. More than half the money will go toward water quality, including projects to reduce erosion and runoff of pesticides and nutrients. Other funding will be directed toward conservation and reef management, including projects to address illegal fishing and coral-eating starfish.

Ahead of COP26, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. However, the country will not update its 2030 target of 26-28% emissions reductions from 2005 levels, despite recent estimates that it will reach at least 35% reductions by 2030 (AP News).

Eight teenagers from across Australia have jointly filed a class action lawsuit to stop the expansion of Whitehaven’s Coal Vickery coal mine in Gunnedah.

New South Wales was rocked this week by a dispute Australian newspapers have dubbed the “koala war” (Sydney Morning Herald). The state’s coalition government threatened to come apart following disagreements over the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), a conservation law passed to help protect koalas and their dwindling habitat this past December following the country’s historic bushfires.

New South Wales was rocked this week by a dispute Australian newspapers have dubbed the “koala war” (Sydney Morning Herald). The state’s coalition government threatened to come apart following disagreements over the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), a conservation law passed to help protect koalas and their dwindling habitat this past December following the country’s historic bushfires.

On May 3, the Australian government announced the creation of a $190 million fund to develop hydrogen technology.

On March 2, Australian officials announced that there were no longer any active bushfires in the state of New South Wales for the first time in 240 days.

Widespread bushfires across New South Wales and Kangaroo Island in Southeast Australia have scorched over 25.5 million acres of land, equal to the size of South Korea (Reuters).The fires have claimed 27 deaths and destroyed over 2,000 homes, with conditions expected to worsen the weekend of January 10 (New York Times).

On August 1, the Australian government announced that it was dropping actions against hundreds of farmers for breaching the 2003 Native Vegetation Act that has since been repealed. According to energy and environment minister Matt Kean and agriculture minister Adam Marshall, the actions were dropped to "deliver fairness" to farmers by ensuring that those engaged in activity that is now legal are not punished under historic laws.