Margaret Gleeson

The discovery of a significant koala population in close proximity to the proposed Wallarah 2 coal mine on the New South Wales Central Coast has given renewed vigour to a 20-year long community campaign against the mine.

A protest against BlackRock in San Francisco on May 23.

Larry Fink, CEO of the world’s biggest fund manager BlackRock, made a pitch on January 14 for a “more sustainable and inclusive capitalism” because of the threat posed by global climate change. Fink’s company controls US$7 trillion in investments.

A protest outside Siemens office in Melbourne, December 10.

Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser issued a statement on January 12 confirming the multinational conglomerate will fulfil its contract with Indian mining giant Adani to undertake signalling work for the rail link project to its proposed mega coal mine in Central Queensland.

The dire lack of government leadership over the New Year bushfire crisis contrasted strongly with the incredible community solidarity and self-organising that took place on the ground. If there is a silver lining to the bush fire catastrophe, it is this community power, which prevented more death and destruction.

Farmers have lost an appeal to stop a coal mine extension in the Darling Downs, but they haven't given up.

Protest outside the Brisbane headquarters of Adani contractor GHD Engineering on August 1.

Federal government attempts to silence environmentalists can, in large part, be explained by the successes of the campaign that has stalled Indian mining giant Adani’s Carmichael coal mine from going ahead.

A Stop Adani protest in Brisbane on October 23.

Could Indian mining firm Adani’s Carmichael coal mine, in Central Queensland, become a stranded asset? A number of recent events indicate the answer could be “Yes”.

A rally against the Wallarah 2 coal mine in Wyong on October 26

Coast Environmental Alliance organiser Emma French told the rally: “We want to raise awareness of this coal mine that is only 5 minutes away from Wyong and 20 minutes from Gosford, and will create 28 years of non-stop destruction of our land, our air, our water and our children’s futures”.

Labor’s announcement that it supports declaring a climate emergency is no doubt directly related to the growing movement for climate action. Yet it is also clear that, for now, this remains little more than an empty gesture.

Lawyers for Climate Action Australia wants peak legal bodies to recognise the climate crisis and declare a “climate emergency in recognition of the need for urgent action”.

In spite of Adani Australia CEO Lucas Dow’s claim last year that the corporate energy giant did not require a cent, the company looks set to sign off on a secret royalty deal with the Queensland government.

Adani will receive a $900-million-seven-year low interest royalty capital subsidy on September 30. This will mean Queensland will not receive a royalty return from Adani’s mine for years.

The Australia Institute (TAI) released its latest annual Climate of the Nation 2019 report on September 10. The annual report, first produced by the Climate Institute and for the past two years by TAI, has been tracking attitudes on climate change for more than a decade.