New Zealand bans all new offshore oil exploration as part of 'carbon-neutral future’

The New Zealand government will grant no new offshore oil exploration permits in a move that is being hailed by conservation and environmental groups as a historic victory in the battle against climate change.

 New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern
looks to the future with oil exploration ban. 

The ban will apply to new permits and won’t affect the existing 22, some of which have decades left on their exploration rights and cover an area of 100,000 sq km.

The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said her government “has a plan to transition towards a carbon-neutral future, one that looks 30 years in advance”.

Read Eleanor Ainge Roy’s story from The Guardian - “New Zealand bans all new offshore oil exploration as part of 'carbon-neutral future’.”

Hurricane Harvey: Connecting the dots between climate change and more extreme events

The science of attributing extreme weather to climate change is complicated and developing every day. 

Here’s a guide of what we know about the links between climate change and Harvey to help unpack the elements that contributed to this historic and unfolding storm. 

Read the Climate Code Red story - “Hurricane Harvey: Connecting the dots between climate change and more extreme events.”

'Wide, long, and loud applause' for state-wide fracking ban

Victorian Premier. Daniel Andrews, had, for
various reasons, been out of favour with many
people, but his historic state-wide ban on
fracking had won him, and his government
wide, long, and loud applause.

A permanent ban on fracking and all exploration and development of unconventional onshore gas will be introduced across Victoria, in a move the state government described as historic and a first for Australia.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government would introduce the ban later this year, to protect the state's valuable farming sector, which earned billions of dollars in exports each year and employed nearly 200,000 people.

"We've listened to the community and we're making a decision that puts farmers and our clean green brand first," he said.

South Gippsland resident Deborah O'Connor said she was "thrilled" with the government's decision.

Read the story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Victoria to ban fracking: 'The health and environmental risks ... outweigh any potential benefits'.”

Good news is rare in the climate change conversation, but this wonderful news!

Wonderful news!

The world’s media is alive with news of the announcement by America and China to act to significantly reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.

The New York Times says: “Deal on Carbon Emissions by Obama and Xi Jinping Raises Hopes for Upcoming Paris Climate Talks”.

Mother Jones reports: “BREAKING: The US and China Just Announced a Huge Deal on Climate—andIt's a Game Changer”.

On the ABC it is: “US and China's climate change agreement prompts calls for Australia to follow suit”.

One of many stories in the Melbourne Age is: “Barack Obama praises 'historic' climate deal as Labor steps up attack on Coalition”.

Tim Flannery writes in the Age: “Time for Australia to get as serious as US and China on global warming”.

The Guardian says: “US and China strike deal on carbon cuts in push for global climate change pact”.

On CNN the story is: “US and China reach historic climate change deal, vow to cut emissions”.