Ambitious emission targets best shot at saving the reef
The report calls on Australia to adopt the "no regret" strategy for the sake of one of the nation's biggest natural assets and tourist attractions.
The authority, which advises government, singles in on two key opportunities to spearhead global efforts to drive down emissions, as the federal government prepares to unveil new 2035 targets in coming months.
It urges "ambitious" targets that offer credible pathway to cut emissions globally to maximise the chance of preserving the reef, which is under increasing threat.
"Addressing both domestic and offshore emissions will be critical," it notes.
The report also points to making the most of a joint bid with the Pacific to host the COP31 climate conference, which offers a platform to drive international momentum in areas that increase the odds to holding global warming to 1.5C.
"Acting now to increase emissions reductions is a 'no regrets' strategy" the report says.
"While parts of the Great Barrier Reef have already been significantly altered by climate warming, deeper and faster reductions will maximise the chance of preserving this natural asset for the future."
This week, the United Nations ramped up pressure on Australia to set a more ambitious climate target and cut emissions by 60 per cent.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen insists Australia is on track to meet the 2030 target, which is 43 per cent.
Ambitious 2035 emissions reductions targets give Australia the best shot at preserving the Great Barrier Reef, according to a Climate Change Authority report.
The report calls on Australia to adopt the "no regret" strategy for the sake of one of the nation's biggest natural assets and tourist attractions.
The authority, which advises government, singles in on two key opportunities to spearhead global efforts to drive down emissions, as the federal government prepares to unveil new 2035 targets in coming months.
It urges "ambitious" targets that offer credible pathway to cut emissions globally to maximise the chance of preserving the reef, which is under increasing threat.
"Addressing both domestic and offshore emissions will be critical," it notes.
The report also points to making the most of a joint bid with the Pacific to host the COP31 climate conference, which offers a platform to drive international momentum in areas that increase the odds to holding global warming to 1.5C.
"Acting now to increase emissions reductions is a 'no regrets' strategy" the report says.
"While parts of the Great Barrier Reef have already been significantly altered by climate warming, deeper and faster reductions will maximise the chance of preserving this natural asset for the future."
This week, the United Nations ramped up pressure on Australia to set a more ambitious climate target and cut emissions by 60 per cent.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen insists Australia is on track to meet the 2030 target, which is 43 per cent.
Ambitious 2035 emissions reductions targets give Australia the best shot at preserving the Great Barrier Reef, according to a Climate Change Authority report.
The report calls on Australia to adopt the "no regret" strategy for the sake of one of the nation's biggest natural assets and tourist attractions.
The authority, which advises government, singles in on two key opportunities to spearhead global efforts to drive down emissions, as the federal government prepares to unveil new 2035 targets in coming months.
It urges "ambitious" targets that offer credible pathway to cut emissions globally to maximise the chance of preserving the reef, which is under increasing threat.
"Addressing both domestic and offshore emissions will be critical," it notes.
The report also points to making the most of a joint bid with the Pacific to host the COP31 climate conference, which offers a platform to drive international momentum in areas that increase the odds to holding global warming to 1.5C.
"Acting now to increase emissions reductions is a 'no regrets' strategy" the report says.
"While parts of the Great Barrier Reef have already been significantly altered by climate warming, deeper and faster reductions will maximise the chance of preserving this natural asset for the future."
This week, the United Nations ramped up pressure on Australia to set a more ambitious climate target and cut emissions by 60 per cent.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen insists Australia is on track to meet the 2030 target, which is 43 per cent.
Ambitious 2035 emissions reductions targets give Australia the best shot at preserving the Great Barrier Reef, according to a Climate Change Authority report.
The report calls on Australia to adopt the "no regret" strategy for the sake of one of the nation's biggest natural assets and tourist attractions.
The authority, which advises government, singles in on two key opportunities to spearhead global efforts to drive down emissions, as the federal government prepares to unveil new 2035 targets in coming months.
It urges "ambitious" targets that offer credible pathway to cut emissions globally to maximise the chance of preserving the reef, which is under increasing threat.
"Addressing both domestic and offshore emissions will be critical," it notes.
The report also points to making the most of a joint bid with the Pacific to host the COP31 climate conference, which offers a platform to drive international momentum in areas that increase the odds to holding global warming to 1.5C.
"Acting now to increase emissions reductions is a 'no regrets' strategy" the report says.
"While parts of the Great Barrier Reef have already been significantly altered by climate warming, deeper and faster reductions will maximise the chance of preserving this natural asset for the future."
This week, the United Nations ramped up pressure on Australia to set a more ambitious climate target and cut emissions by 60 per cent.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen insists Australia is on track to meet the 2030 target, which is 43 per cent.
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Canberra Times
3 hours ago
- Canberra Times
Dozens killed in Gaza as Israel weighs military action
The United Nations, which has delivered aid to hundreds of distribution points across Gaza throughout the war when conditions allow, has rejected the new system, saying it forces Palestinians to travel long distances and risk their lives for food, and that it allows Israel to control who gets aid, potentially using it to advance plans for further mass displacement.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
At least 20 killed in Gaza as aid truck overturns
At least 20 people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a truck loaded with humanitarian aid overturned into a crowd in the Gaza Strip, according to a report. The Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing medical sources, said dozens more were injured in the incident, which occurred in the central part of the coastal territory. Crowds rushed to the truck on a road south east of Deir al-Balah. It remains unclear whether the incident was an accident or whether people seeking aid caused the truck to overturn. The report said large numbers of starving civilians had gathered to receive humanitarian assistance, and the truck was allegedly forced onto an unsafe route by the Israeli military. WAFA reported that as of Tuesday, the death toll from aid-related incidents reached 52, with 352 injuries, bringing the total number of such fatalities to 1568, with 11,230 injuries recorded in hospitals. The claims could not be independently verified. According to the United Nations, most aid trucks are looted by hungry civilians and armed groups after entering Gaza and before reaching their destinations, often resulting in chaotic and dangerous scenes. The UN warns widespread famine threatens the war-torn territory, home to two million people, despite Israel having allowed increased aid deliveries for more than a week. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pushback from the head of the military over his proposal to seize remaining areas of Gaza it doesn't already control during a tense three-hour meeting, officials said. Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, warned the prime minister that taking the rest of Gaza could trap the military in the territory, which it withdrew from two decades ago, and could lead to harm to the hostages being held there, sources briefed on the meeting said. The Israeli military says it already controls 75 per cent of Gaza after nearly two years of war, which began when militant group Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities in October 2023. The UN has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true. The prime minister's office said in a statement that Netanyahu held a "limited security discussion" lasting about three hours during which Zamir "presented the options for continuing the campaign in Gaza". Netanyahu, who favours an expansion of military operations, told Zamir that so far the military had failed to bring about the release of the hostages, officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that the military chief has both the right and the duty to voice his opinion, but said the military would carry out the government's decisions until all war objectives are achieved. The prime minister's office declined to comment further and the military did not respond to a request for comment. Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss military plans for Gaza with other ministers on Thursday. UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza that such a move "would risk catastrophic consequences... and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza". A Palestinian official said the suggestion of a full takeover of Gaza may be a tactic to pressure Hamas into concessions, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged foreign nations to take heed of the reports. The war was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 hostages. Israel's military response has devastated the tiny, crowded enclave, killing more than 61,000 people - mostly civilians - according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel's campaign has forced nearly all of Gaza's more than two million people from their homes and caused what a global hunger monitor called last week an unfolding famine. with DPA and EFE At least 20 people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a truck loaded with humanitarian aid overturned into a crowd in the Gaza Strip, according to a report. The Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing medical sources, said dozens more were injured in the incident, which occurred in the central part of the coastal territory. Crowds rushed to the truck on a road south east of Deir al-Balah. It remains unclear whether the incident was an accident or whether people seeking aid caused the truck to overturn. The report said large numbers of starving civilians had gathered to receive humanitarian assistance, and the truck was allegedly forced onto an unsafe route by the Israeli military. WAFA reported that as of Tuesday, the death toll from aid-related incidents reached 52, with 352 injuries, bringing the total number of such fatalities to 1568, with 11,230 injuries recorded in hospitals. The claims could not be independently verified. According to the United Nations, most aid trucks are looted by hungry civilians and armed groups after entering Gaza and before reaching their destinations, often resulting in chaotic and dangerous scenes. The UN warns widespread famine threatens the war-torn territory, home to two million people, despite Israel having allowed increased aid deliveries for more than a week. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pushback from the head of the military over his proposal to seize remaining areas of Gaza it doesn't already control during a tense three-hour meeting, officials said. Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, warned the prime minister that taking the rest of Gaza could trap the military in the territory, which it withdrew from two decades ago, and could lead to harm to the hostages being held there, sources briefed on the meeting said. The Israeli military says it already controls 75 per cent of Gaza after nearly two years of war, which began when militant group Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities in October 2023. The UN has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true. The prime minister's office said in a statement that Netanyahu held a "limited security discussion" lasting about three hours during which Zamir "presented the options for continuing the campaign in Gaza". Netanyahu, who favours an expansion of military operations, told Zamir that so far the military had failed to bring about the release of the hostages, officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that the military chief has both the right and the duty to voice his opinion, but said the military would carry out the government's decisions until all war objectives are achieved. The prime minister's office declined to comment further and the military did not respond to a request for comment. Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss military plans for Gaza with other ministers on Thursday. UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza that such a move "would risk catastrophic consequences... and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza". A Palestinian official said the suggestion of a full takeover of Gaza may be a tactic to pressure Hamas into concessions, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged foreign nations to take heed of the reports. The war was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 hostages. Israel's military response has devastated the tiny, crowded enclave, killing more than 61,000 people - mostly civilians - according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel's campaign has forced nearly all of Gaza's more than two million people from their homes and caused what a global hunger monitor called last week an unfolding famine. with DPA and EFE At least 20 people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a truck loaded with humanitarian aid overturned into a crowd in the Gaza Strip, according to a report. The Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing medical sources, said dozens more were injured in the incident, which occurred in the central part of the coastal territory. Crowds rushed to the truck on a road south east of Deir al-Balah. It remains unclear whether the incident was an accident or whether people seeking aid caused the truck to overturn. The report said large numbers of starving civilians had gathered to receive humanitarian assistance, and the truck was allegedly forced onto an unsafe route by the Israeli military. WAFA reported that as of Tuesday, the death toll from aid-related incidents reached 52, with 352 injuries, bringing the total number of such fatalities to 1568, with 11,230 injuries recorded in hospitals. The claims could not be independently verified. According to the United Nations, most aid trucks are looted by hungry civilians and armed groups after entering Gaza and before reaching their destinations, often resulting in chaotic and dangerous scenes. The UN warns widespread famine threatens the war-torn territory, home to two million people, despite Israel having allowed increased aid deliveries for more than a week. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pushback from the head of the military over his proposal to seize remaining areas of Gaza it doesn't already control during a tense three-hour meeting, officials said. Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, warned the prime minister that taking the rest of Gaza could trap the military in the territory, which it withdrew from two decades ago, and could lead to harm to the hostages being held there, sources briefed on the meeting said. The Israeli military says it already controls 75 per cent of Gaza after nearly two years of war, which began when militant group Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities in October 2023. The UN has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true. The prime minister's office said in a statement that Netanyahu held a "limited security discussion" lasting about three hours during which Zamir "presented the options for continuing the campaign in Gaza". Netanyahu, who favours an expansion of military operations, told Zamir that so far the military had failed to bring about the release of the hostages, officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that the military chief has both the right and the duty to voice his opinion, but said the military would carry out the government's decisions until all war objectives are achieved. The prime minister's office declined to comment further and the military did not respond to a request for comment. Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss military plans for Gaza with other ministers on Thursday. UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza that such a move "would risk catastrophic consequences... and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza". A Palestinian official said the suggestion of a full takeover of Gaza may be a tactic to pressure Hamas into concessions, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged foreign nations to take heed of the reports. The war was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 hostages. Israel's military response has devastated the tiny, crowded enclave, killing more than 61,000 people - mostly civilians - according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel's campaign has forced nearly all of Gaza's more than two million people from their homes and caused what a global hunger monitor called last week an unfolding famine. with DPA and EFE At least 20 people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a truck loaded with humanitarian aid overturned into a crowd in the Gaza Strip, according to a report. The Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing medical sources, said dozens more were injured in the incident, which occurred in the central part of the coastal territory. Crowds rushed to the truck on a road south east of Deir al-Balah. It remains unclear whether the incident was an accident or whether people seeking aid caused the truck to overturn. The report said large numbers of starving civilians had gathered to receive humanitarian assistance, and the truck was allegedly forced onto an unsafe route by the Israeli military. WAFA reported that as of Tuesday, the death toll from aid-related incidents reached 52, with 352 injuries, bringing the total number of such fatalities to 1568, with 11,230 injuries recorded in hospitals. The claims could not be independently verified. According to the United Nations, most aid trucks are looted by hungry civilians and armed groups after entering Gaza and before reaching their destinations, often resulting in chaotic and dangerous scenes. The UN warns widespread famine threatens the war-torn territory, home to two million people, despite Israel having allowed increased aid deliveries for more than a week. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pushback from the head of the military over his proposal to seize remaining areas of Gaza it doesn't already control during a tense three-hour meeting, officials said. Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, warned the prime minister that taking the rest of Gaza could trap the military in the territory, which it withdrew from two decades ago, and could lead to harm to the hostages being held there, sources briefed on the meeting said. The Israeli military says it already controls 75 per cent of Gaza after nearly two years of war, which began when militant group Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities in October 2023. The UN has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true. The prime minister's office said in a statement that Netanyahu held a "limited security discussion" lasting about three hours during which Zamir "presented the options for continuing the campaign in Gaza". Netanyahu, who favours an expansion of military operations, told Zamir that so far the military had failed to bring about the release of the hostages, officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that the military chief has both the right and the duty to voice his opinion, but said the military would carry out the government's decisions until all war objectives are achieved. The prime minister's office declined to comment further and the military did not respond to a request for comment. Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss military plans for Gaza with other ministers on Thursday. UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza that such a move "would risk catastrophic consequences... and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza". A Palestinian official said the suggestion of a full takeover of Gaza may be a tactic to pressure Hamas into concessions, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged foreign nations to take heed of the reports. The war was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 hostages. Israel's military response has devastated the tiny, crowded enclave, killing more than 61,000 people - mostly civilians - according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel's campaign has forced nearly all of Gaza's more than two million people from their homes and caused what a global hunger monitor called last week an unfolding famine. with DPA and EFE
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Israel weighs up full Gaza takeover despite concerns of armed forces
'The IDF is prepared to implement any decision made by the security cabinet,' it said. The deliberations come with Israel under pressure both abroad and at home over its approach to the near two-year long war. Several international governments have spoken out against the spiralling humanitarian toll on Gaza's 2 million-plus population, with the United Nations warning of worsening starvation due to Israeli restrictions on food supplies and the devastation wrought by the conflict. US President Donald Trump demurred when asked about Israel's deliberations at the White House on Tuesday, saying his focus was helping to distribute aid to Gaza. 'I know Israel is going to help us with that in terms of distribution, and also money. We also have, the Arab states are going to help us with that in terms of the money and possibly distribution. So that's what I'm focused on,' Trump told reporters at a press conference. 'As far as the rest of it, I really can't say – that's going to be pretty much up to Israel.' Israel agreed to better facilitate aid distribution in Gaza by UN-affiliated agencies and NGOs at the end of July, and on Tuesday said it would further ease commercial access to boost deliveries of food and sanitary equipment, albeit under strict security vetting. Domestically, Netanyahu has lost majority public support for a war that has exhausted military reserves and failed to free all the Hamas-held hostages, according to an Institute of National Security Studies poll published this week. The Islamist group still holds 50 of those kidnapped in the October 2023 attacks that triggered the war, of whom 20 are believed to be alive. Tension over new offensive The military's reservations on stepping up operations in Gaza, which local media, including Ynet, said are led by IDF chief of the general staff Eyal Zamir, has created tension in both Israel's government and the opposition. Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military should implement political policies and that he will make sure 'that is the case'. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a hardline member of Netanyahu's coalition, said on X that Zamir should be 'obliged to state clearly that he will fully comply with the directives of the political echelon'. Opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former IDF chief, called the attack on Zamir 'reckless'. Loading So far, no date has been set for a security cabinet meeting. Science Minister Gila Gamliel, a member of the cabinet, said the discussion had originally been set for Tuesday but had repeatedly been deferred. She said there was still time to find an alternative diplomatic solution to ceasefire talks, which stalled last month. 'At these very moments there's a chance, albeit not as good as before, of success in creating a different platform through the mediators,' Gamliel told Israeli Army Radio. Trump, whose administration is working alongside Qatar and Egypt in the negotiations, has called for Hamas – designated a terrorist organisation by Washington – to surrender and return the hostages. But the Iran-backed group has shown no sign of capitulating, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal and refusing to disarm.
