Australian mining giants 'may be breaking law' by ignoring climate change risks

More than a dozen of Australia’s largest mining and infrastructure companies may be in breach of their legal duties by refusing to consider the financial risks posed by climate change, an investor action group says.

 The Australian Securities and Investments Commission audited
 60 mining and infrastructure companies and found only
 10 identified climate as a material risk.

In September, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission published a report that said “the law requires” relevant companies to “include a discussion of climate risk” in their annual report.

Market Forces, a group that advocates for environmentally sustainable investment, assisted shareholders at company annual general meetings. Almost all of those companies ignored or dismissed climate change as a financial risk to their business.

“Directors are legally required to consider climate risk. Failure to do so may constitute a breach of their legal duties,” Market Forces campaigner Rachel Deans said.

Read the story from The Guardian by Ben Smee - “Australian mining giants 'may be breaking law' by ignoring climate change risks.”

Predicted West Gate Tunnel pollution seriously under-estimated, expert warns

Toxic pollution caused by the $5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel will breach Victoria's air quality standards and be emitted at levels that have been seriously under-estimated, a former Environmental Protection Authority principal scientist has warned.

Leading respiratory experts also warn that people living in parts of Melbourne's inner-west who already battle some of Victoria's worst pollution will be exposed to even higher risks of asthma and cardiovascular problems due to projected increases in truck and car traffic.

Read the story from the Melbourne Age - “Predicted West Gate Tunnel pollution seriously under-estimated, expert warns.”