Environmental groups in Australia are gearing up to take the government to court for what they see as a host of anti-environment measures. Over the past few months, green groups have objected to the Abbott government’s repeal of the carbon price in favor of a “direct action” policy, the bid to remove parts of Tasmania’s forests from World Heritage protection, and the handover of power to pro-development state governments. Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s comment in March that Australia has too much “locked up forest” fueled the conflict. Now, environmental groups intend to move away from lobbying and take legal action against what Brendan Sydes, chief executive of the new Environmental Justice Australia office, calls the “dismantling of the clean energy package.” According to national director of the Wilderness Society Lyndon Schneiders, one challenge will be to a series of coal and gas projects that Schneiders considers “disastrous" for the global climate. For the full story, see http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/25/green-groups-to-wage-legal-war-against-tony-abbotts-pro-development-agenda. Earlier: http://elr.info/international/international-update/economists-criticize-abbott-government%E2%80%99s-climate-change-policy