David Ritter

Don’t scapegoat Queensland LNG for gas shortages Manufacturers’ myopic focus on exports ignores more than a decade of unheeded warnings about, and inaction over, the threat of future gas shortfalls.

The head of a fossil fuel lobby group arguing for more gas extraction, ignoring the incompatibility of new fossil fuels with a 1.5°C future, and climate harm caused by fossil fuel exports.

We need to stop legitimising such self-serving arguments by fossil fuel interests.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...

Media and political attacks on Australia’s emissions targets ‘straight out of the climate obstruction playbook’, expert says Prof Christian Downie points to the Business Council of Australia and News Corp newspapers as examples of deliberate obstruction

Great piece by @readfearn.bsky.social on @christiandownie.bsky.social's excellent work on how fossil fuel corporations and industry groups like the BCA use climate obstruction tactics to slow climate progress in Australia and shore up their own interests.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

A global win: 60 countries ratify the Global Ocean Treaty - Greenpeace Australia Pacific Big news for our ocean, 60 countries have now ratified the Global Ocean Treaty, meaning we now have enough ratifications to bring this landmark treaty to life, allowing governments to…

A huge win for people power: 60 countries have now ratified the Global Ocean Treaty, bringing this landmark agreement to life. This will pave the way for high seas marine sanctuaries, giving life the chance to recover and thrive.

Peace through action - Greenpeace Australia Pacific Whoever you are, wherever you stand, whatever you do, there’s a part that each of us can play to address this moment of planetary crisis.

How do we stay grounded and nourished in our pursuit of change now, and in the face of future struggles?

This month’s ‘With Love’ is a reflection on a profound insight shared by my colleague Kara on how we continue on: take action, and peace will come.

www.greenpeace.org.au/ceo-newslett...

The only thing the Albanese government's 62-70% target is good for is being left in the dust.

States & territories, businesses, institutions & communities must accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels and slash emissions at the scale & speed needed for a safe future.

Similarly, businesses and institutions that have aligned with the Paris Agreement are still duty-bound to keep this goal alive, despite the inadequate target the Albanese Government has set today.

We’ve done it before. In the climate policy vacuum of the Morrison government, we got climate mega-polluter AGL to commit to early coal closures, and converted Australia’s largest energy users to 100% renewables for their electricity supply.

Doing our utmost to limit warming to 1.5°C is non-negotiable.

Labor’s weak target cannot be the ceiling for our ambition.

It must be the floor on which communities & businesses build momentum for greater action.

Australians expect that in a national emergency, our elected representatives will step up and lead. Bob Menzies failed this test in 1939; Scott Morrison failed in 2019. John Curtin got it right in 1941.

What does @albomp.bsky.social want his legacy to be?

Albanese has created a fundamental credibility problem for Labor with this inadequate target, just three days after the National Climate Risk Assessment revealed the considerable harms that increased global heating will cause to Australian communities.

Australia wants to co-host COP31 with the Pacific in 2026. With a 2035 target out of step with 1.5°C & a betrayal of Pacific neighbours, how will the government repair its tattered climate reputation?

With this target Labor has created a diplomatic problem by failing our Pacific neighbours for whom climate change is an existential issue.

@albomp.bsky.social admits serious climate action is the “entry fee” for credibility with the Pacific. How will he justify a target that aligns with >2°C?

This target also ignores business calls for policy certainty to super-charge clean energy investment & growth. Why set a target that chokes investor confidence and limits Australia’s economic prospects?

The Albanese government has created long-term political heat by releasing an inadequate target. It will be burned politically every time the Australian electorate experiences severe climate impacts.

By releasing a 2035 emissions target far short of what the best science says is needed to safeguard Australia, the Albanese government has given itself a political & practical problem. There’s only one way out of this mess: 🧵

#auspol

Coalition divisions erupt as more MPs urge leader to dump climate pledge Two more Coalition MPs have urged Sussan Ley to dump support for net zero after Andrew Hastie’s ultimatum that he would quit the front bench if she backed the climate target.

The main purpose of government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. Mere days after the National Climate Risk Assessment, it is so unserious that Coalition MPs see fit to spit the dummy about doing the bare minimum that science demands for a liveable planet.

www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...

Carbon emissions from oil giants directly linked to dozens of deadly heatwaves for first time Study shows how individual fossil fuel companies are making previously impossible heatwaves happen and could have to pay compensation

New scientific analysis has directly linked the emissions from individual fossil fuel corporations to heatwaves. Tracing the responsibility of climate destruction is a huge step forward in the effort to hold big polluters accountable and making them pay for the damage they’ve caused.

The government has laid out the perils of the climate crisis – but will Albanese meet the moment? Grave remarks on the potential shocks to people, property and the economy are all too familiar. Putting a credible number on the emissions target is the harder part

Words today.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘Everything we love is at stake’: Climate Risk report lays bare the dire costs of inaction for Australian communities - Greenpeace Australia Pacific SYDNEY, Monday 15 September 2025 — The National Climate Risk Assessment, released today, lays out the catastrophic impacts to communities and ecosystems across Australia if we fail to reduce climate&h...

In unveiling the National Climate Risk Assessment, @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social stressed the huge difference between a 1.5°C and 3°C future; and that inaction is costlier than action.

He's right—the govt must now walk the talk with a 1.5C-aligned 2035 target and fossil fuel phase-out plan. #auspol

Labor approves North West Shelf extension, with conditions The Albanese government has approved Woodside’s bid to run a massive gas facility in Western Australia until 2070.

Today’s approval for Woodside’s North West Shelf erodes the climate credibility of the Albanese government and makes a mockery of our global commitment to limit warming to 1.5C.

The Albanese government must course-correct with a strong 2035 target and by rejecting Woodside’s Browse proposal.

Great yarn from Thom Woodroofe and John Grimes from @smartenergycouncil.bsky.social on why Australia’s credibility as host of COP31 in partnership with the Pacific should be tested by our domestic commitments to a clean energy economy.

www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi...

Bowen says political environment may prevent 2035 emissions target becoming law The climate change minister says he will have to assess whether legislating the government's 2035 emissions target is politically feasible, with the major waypoint towards net zero due to be announced...

A safe climate cannot be held hostage to politics. With Australia’s first climate risk report looming over our heads, now is the time for all parties to come together and protect future generations.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Greenpeace slams the Business Council of Australia for ‘dangerous’ report based on ‘junkyard modelling’ - Greenpeace Australia Pacific SYDNEY, Friday 5 September 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has branded the Business Council of Australia’s latest report and modelling as dangerous, delusional and completely unaligned with the la...

The Business Council of Australia’s flawed modelling for a 2035 climate target epitomises cynical, short-sightedness that could rob Australian businesses of future prosperity.

Science recommends a target of net zero by 2035. The Albanese government must heed this advice, not that of the BCA.

Half a century ago, the Great Barrier Reef was to be drilled for oil. It was saved – for a time In the late 1960s, oil and gas companies began exploring the Great Barrier Reef for oil. It took campaigners, unionists and a royal commission to protect the reef.

Labor saved the Great Barrier Reef once under the leadership of Gough Whitlam. They can continue this legacy by taking genuine climate action to curb global heating, and saying no to Woodside’s plans to drill for gas at Scott Reef.

theconversation.com/half-a-centu...

Just finished reading Marian Wilkinson’s Quarterly Essay, “Woodside vs the Planet”.

One of my key takeaways is that there is a clear statutory pathway through which this beast can be stopped. Environment Minister Murray Watt can reject Woodside’s Browse proposal and Save Scott Reef.

‘If they drill, expect a spill’: ConocoPhillips can’t be trusted to drill for gas off the Victorian coast - Greenpeace Australia Pacific MELBOURNE, Monday 1 September 2025 — Following disturbing allegations multinational oil and gas corporation ConocoPhillips covered up a methane leak at an LNG export hub in Darwin, Greenpeace Australi...

Shocking news this morning that fossil fuel corporation ConocoPhillips may have covered up a methane leak at a gas export hub in Darwin. If ConocoPhillips intentionally covered up a massive incident in Darwin, who’s to say they won’t do it again?

Former UN climate chief urges Australia to set ‘prosperity’ target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2035 Exclusive: Ambitious target would increase the country’s chance of winning rights to host Cop31 in 2026, Christiana Figueres says

Christiana Figueres calls on Australia to set a strong 2035 climate target:

“The new global economy is rising, powered by clean energy and green industry… @albomp.bsky.social now has the chance to show the Pacific and the world that Australia is ready to lead at Cop31 and beyond.”

Coalition’s climate tussles to get public airing as parliament debates Barnaby Joyce’s bill to dump net zero Ideological tensions to be on full display amid growing list of Liberal state divisions opposed to emissions reduction policy

Shameful that as our oceans die & disasters intensify in damage, debates like Barnaby Joyce’s attacks on net zero are sucking up oxygen in Parliament.

The only climate conversation our elected leaders need to have is how to scale up action as fast as possible.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

This week began with the news that, after two weeks of meetings in Geneva, international negotiations to secure a Global Plastics Treaty failed to reach consensus. Much of the narrative post-Geneva…... This week began with the news that, after two weeks of meetings in Geneva, international negotiations to secure a Global Plastics Treaty failed to reach consensus. Much of the narrative post-Geneva ...

For a deeper analysis of this topic, check out my latest post on LinkedIn:

Enough is enough. We need decision-makers to speak plainly about the wrecking role that vested fossil interests play in global negotiations, and to support measures to clean up the process from destructive interests.