Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie shares her thoughts on today's two major climate announcements.

Looks like fossil fuel corporations have dined and dashed 🤬. It's time to end the free ride for fossil fuels. Sign our petition calling on the PM and key Ministers to act: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/actions/end-the-free-ride-petition/

South Koreans told to "immediately stop all outdoor activities" as an extreme heatwave fuelled by climate pollution hits the country with some cities recording 5 days over 40C. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-03/south-korea-heatwave-hottest-day-on-record/106989934

Koreans told to stop all outdoor activities as heat hits record high

Authorities in South Korea have warned residents to immediately stop all outdoor activities amid an extreme heatwave. 

abc.net.au

The odds have changed. New attribution analysis shows human-caused climate change made central Spain's extreme fire-danger conditions at least 20 times more likely, and southwestern France's at least 2 times more likely. Source: World Weather Attribution, via Euronews, July 2026

Fiona Katauska nails it again. Rapidly worsening climate change has plunged us into a different, far more dangerous fire era. But we still can listen to the climate scientists and do everything we can to cut the climate pollution from coal, oil and gas.

Fuel prices go up from Monday as the temporary excise discount ends. It's a good moment to ask: why does this keep happening? Australia imports around 80% of its refined fuel, which means every global oil shock flows straight through to the bowser.

We recognise the impact of Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Australia’s longest serving Energy and Climate Minister following the announcement that she’s retiring from politics. Under her leadership, she helped to quadruple the share of renewables in Victoria. The Climate Council thanks Minister D’Ambrosio.

🌍 GOOD CLIMATE NEWS | JULY 2026 Here's your monthly reminder that while the climate challenge is real, so is the progress being made.

More coal means more climate pollution. More climate pollution means more dangerous bushfires, floods, heatwaves and droughts. The proposed HVO coal mine expansion would lock in decades of pollution at a time when Australians are already paying the price for worsening climate impacts.

Record-breaking wildfires tearing through Europe, extreme heat & fires in and North Africa, unprecedented heat in Japan and destructive storms in Chile prompted UN Climate Chief to issue a global warning. We need urgent action to cut the climate pollution if we want to secure a safer future for all.

Join Professor Tim Flannery and Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie tonight for a free online conversation about the ideas shaping our climate future. Register now via the link in our bio.

Big tech is expanding fast, but it shouldn't come at the expense of Queensland communities. We can support innovation while still putting people and their communities first.

As communities across Europe and North America face devastating wildfires, we're thinking of everyone who has been impacted, including those who have lost homes and livelihoods, been forced to evacuate, and the emergency crews responding on the front line.

🚨 The AusAlert that will sound on your phone shortly is a test for a future warning system to prepare Australians for fires, floods and other emergencies. But we can’t rely on emergency alerts alone; we need to cut the climate pollution from coal, oil and gas that’s driving these worsening events.

🌍 Global temperatures are rapidly climbing 📈 Climate pollution from coal, oil and gas is driving worldwide heating that's endangering our lives, our communities, and our livelihoods. We must do all we can to slash our climate pollution in order to secure a safer world. Video: NASA Science

Sorry folks we had a typo in our last post! We've reached a major milestone in the shift to cleaner transport as Australians bought a record 32,570 electric vehicles in June, or 23.3% of all new car sales, up from 8.4% in January. 🚙

At a public hearing in the Hunter Valley last week, Sophie spoke out against the polluting project, which if approved will unleash more than 800m tonnes of climate pollution over its lifetime – more than 7 times NSW’s annual climate pollution.

Driven largely by the AI boom, a new wave of data centre growth is coming to Australia. 📈 Left unchecked, data centre growth could pose real risks to Australians, including potential climate harms and surging power prices. 💸💸💸

Climate pollution is superheating Aussie alpine regions, and hitting our ski industry right now. "Alpine ski resorts in New South Wales and Victoria saw climate records shattered at the weekend with maximum temperatures up to 12C above average." https://bit.ly/4fmca1N

Australian ski resorts smash July climate records with temperatures 12C above average

Resorts in New South Wales and Victoria face a warm and dry start to the season with only sporadic falls of natural snow

theguardian.com

A harrowing visual of the smoke from 100 wildfires burning across northern Ontario, Canada. Climate change is making fires all around the world more unpredictable and dangerous. We to stop climate pollution from coal, oil and gas if we want to secure a safer future for all. Data: NASA GEOS-FP

🚨 Book giveaway‼️ Register for our upcoming webinar with Professor Tim Flannery and Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie for your chance to win one of 10 signed copies of Tim's new book, Climate Folly. Head here to register: https://climc.nl/TimFlanneryWebinar

Climatologists are watching the strengthening El Niño with increasing alarm, saying the forecasts from climate models in the coming months are “mind blowing” and “astounding”. https://climc.nl/4f7lFmT

‘We are waiting with bated breath’: Super El Niño forecast could make 2027 hottest year on record, BoM says

Most Australian capital cities have at least 80% chance of unusually warm and dry spring as climatologists watch develop

climc.nl

Nearly 1 in 5 matches at this year's World Cup were played in heat so extreme a players' union says they should've been delayed or postponed. We must slash climate pollution to protect the sports we love to watch and play. https://climc.nl/4vEGn2v

Nearly one in five World Cup matches reached heat levels players’ union warns against

Guardian analysis finds 19% of games reached heat levels warranting delays, as Fifa defends its player safeguards

climc.nl

Today, a NSW commission will hear why it should or shouldn't approve a proposal for the biggest coal-mining project in NSW history. We stand in solidarity with everyone speaking out against this climate bomb – and call on the Commission to reject this polluting proposal.

Our CEO Amanda McKenzie on the AI datacentre boom: "Unchecked, this growth could mean soaring prices and rampant climate pollution. The government must adequately regulate datacentre growth to ensure it occurs in the best interests of Australians.” https://climc.nl/3RFSZbs

Albanese’s AI blueprint sparks calls for datacentre moratorium until new regulations in place

Prime minister’s plan will create energy regulations for datacentres in Australia

climc.nl

Let’s stick with what’s already working to deliver reliable, affordable and clean power: renewables backed by storage.

The latest CSIRO report on the costs of generating electricity counters the claims by the Coalition and One Nation that abandoning a net zero climate target would bring down power prices. bit.ly/3Rhc2J4

Coalition and One Nation’s plan to ditch net zero would not lower power prices, CSIRO report finds

GenCost report contradicts parties’ claims about abandoning emissions target, and finds nuclear would be most expensive

theguardian.com

Mining giants are some of the biggest polluters in Australia and they are not cutting pollution fast enough. The Albanese Government must end the free ride for fossil fuels with a $50m cap on diesel rebates for big miners.

The Murdoch media drawing attention to this vital climate issue: 10,000 excess deaths across Europe during the June heatwave which would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change. bit.ly/4ybx78i

Europe saw 10,000 excess deaths in late-June heatwave, data show

European countries reported more than 10,000 excess deaths during the record-breaking heatwave that engulfed the west of

news.com.au

We can't believe we're posting this again... But for anyone who needs a reminder, nuclear power is twice the cost, decades away, and we’d already be at 96% renewables before a single reactor could be built. So let’s stick with what’s already working: renewables backed by storage.