Robert McLean's Podcast

The Zero Waste Festival at Melbourne's Federation Square had many attractions, among them a "Repair Cafe".Lia, who plays a key role in organising and helping out at two Repair Cafes, one at Melbourne's "St Kilda", orchestrated the Federation Square Cafe and was kind enough to talk with Climate Conversations.The idea behind Repair Cafes challenges the corporate ideology of our throwaway world and, in the process, helps reduce our carbon emissions.Complementing the Zero Waste Festival, the Repair Cafes play a critical role in reducing our waste stream.

Another 10 people were interviewed, and their responses to 10 similar questions, despite the odd outlier, illustrate their eagerness for a broader understanding of climate change."Keep asking questions", one interviewee said.She said the questions were good, not lecturing and were drawing people along, rather than forcing them to justify their position.If you want to be a part of this project, you can contact me on the phone at 0400 502 199 or via email at r.mclean7@icloud.com.

Author, filmmaker, and activist, Naomi Klein talks about the concern she has for supremacist governments. "AI data centre puts Melbourne's West Gate Bridge at risk";"What flash droughts and a super El Nino will mean for your summer";"‘Deaths Will Continue to Mount,' Scientist Warns After August and Summer 2026 Set US Heat Records";"Investments promising social or environmental benefits need tougher anti‑greenwashing rules";"Half-billion-dollar battery project to power Shepparton North";"Auckland has an overlooked traffic pollution problem – and it's not from exhausts".

Shane Howard, a former key member of the Australian folk-rock group Goanna, is now a conservationist and activist who has a positive outlook, but declares we are now in "nutso-world."Howard was the special guest on the first of a series of webinars organised by The Wilderness Society to recognise and celebrate its 50th anniversary.The next of the "Fight Doom" events is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16.

Former Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, refused to acknowledge climate change when the country was ablaze in 2019/20, and now the present PM, Anthony Albanese, follows the same path despite UN warnings and the collapse of the "third pole" in Nepal."The shift is now absolute': China's BYD says Australia just passed its EV tipping point";"Many Italians Long Resisted Air-Conditioning. Then Europe Got Hotter.";"We're In Deep Shit, But Not Because of El Niño";"Australia called out as world hurtles past 1.5 degree warming goal";"Urgent Global Response Needed to Prepare for ‘Literally Off the Charts' Supersized El Niño, Says UN";"Australia cannot deny its share of the climate catastrophe";"It's Not Just You. America Has Gotten Much Hotter.".

Australia's Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, has described plans to go ahead with the Beetaloo Basin project as "bat-shit crazy"."Nepal knows only too well the devastating dangers of climate change";"Melbourne records its warmest winter on record, as bushfire season looms";"End Times Fascism and the Fight for the Living World.";"This company has built a solar car. I took it for a drive".

Here in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, the climate conversation is rather mute; people know it is happening, want something done about it, but rarely speak about the dilemma.Here at "Climate Conversations", it was decided that an attempt would be made to provide the discussion with some oxygen.Subsequently, it was decided we would ask 10 basic questions about climate change to 500 people in 50 weeks - that is 10 each week for the best part of a year.Overly optimistic? Maybe so, but it is worth a try in the hope that the project might encourage some people to think more deeply about the issue, talk about it with friends and family and demand more action from our decision-makers at all three levels of government: Local, State, and Federal.Thanks, especially, to the first 10 interviewees - Sue, Jennifer, Michael, Kirsty, Dave, Graeme, Lauren, George, John and Jemima.The interviews happened in a variety of environments, and so the quality of the audio varies, something I intend to sharpen up as time passes.

Kirsty Bishop-Fox chairs the group behind Victoria's "Zero Waste Festival" and, as the event's director, talks about the Saturday, September 12, event.The program has many highlights, among them the Rewear Runway (a fashion parade revolving around used clothing), appearances by the Climate Choir Melbourne, the Riff Raff Radical Marching Band Melbourne, and a session providing advice on how to read your bills, a fabric swap, a Repair Cafe & Mending Circle, a Clothes Swap and a chance to share your home energy story.There will be a book swap, a chance to become a super eco-warrior, a No-sew Upcycled T-Shirt Bag Workshop and a host of other events to help you reduce your waste.The festival opens with Australia's favourite garden gnome, Costa, for the Melbourne launch of his new book, Costa's Garden: Fruit, with stories, laughter and plenty of gardening inspiration. Dress in your fruitiest outfits (adults and kids alike!) as Costa shares the awe and wonder of the natural world with young readers, budding gardeners and fruit lovers of all ages.Immediately after that, those attending can hear about "Rethinking Plastic: The Good, the Bad, and the Biodegradable", then it is "Everyday Sustainability: Progress Over Perfection" and then "The Rise of Data Centres and the Hidden Footprint of AI".

Nepal floods - "Tsunami of dirt: what caused Nepal's deadly glacial flood?";"What probably triggered the Nepal flood, and why it could happen more often";"Australia's backdown on data centres allows them to use energy from coal and gas. Here's what that means";"The fight over AI data centres is becoming Australia's next Indigenous policy challenge";"$900 million from a canceled wind deal will benefit a Trump donor";"The US military's fatal stance on climate change";"Data center backlash is preventing cities from learning how to handle them".

About 30 people gathered recently at Geelong's Cellar Door Wine Bar for the launch of Mik Aidt's new book, "Man of Earth".Mik has been a truly active climate activist for more than a decade, and that lively approach has seen him involved in a range of processes, allowing him to exercise his journalistic skills through podcasting, radio and now, the authorship of a book.Mik is known to many through "The Sustainable Hour" and "The Geelong Connections Cafe".

Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis is excited about the Tatura Transitions event coming up on Sunday, August 23, at both the town's Cussen Park and the Italian Social Club. GV Community Energy is supporting the event, as are Zero Carbon Tatura; The Goulburn Valley Tree Group; Cussen Park; the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority; Tatura Rotary; Landcare; Sustainability Victoria; and The City of Greater Shepparton.There has been a rush for tickets for this free event, and even though it recently reached capacity, a few additional spots have been added, and they can be secured through Humanitix.

Europe heatwave sees continent roast - "Germany's Rhine River may ‘split in two' as new heatwave roasts Europe";"Electric car emissions benefits are far greater than first thought";"‘Truly Devastating': Trump Ends Federal Funding for Key Arctic Climate Report";"When fuel prices rise, who picks up the pieces?";"‘Climate whiplash' is not simply a buzzword, but a symptom of a warming planet";"These 5 charts show how far rooftop solar and home batteries can take us – and why we still need the grid";"Reef relief: how a late summer monsoon helped cool the Great Barrier Reef at just the right time".

Harry Rosson delivered the latest in the Public Money, Public Good lectures, titled "An economy that puts people & planet first: What it looks like & how to get there".In this lecture, Harry shows how we have been tricked into a destructive growth agenda, and how we can move beyond it for our and our planet's sake.

Monty Don tours the gardens of the River Rhine, wondering frequently about the impact of climate change - "Monty Don's Rhineland Gardens";"Earth Overshoot Day" – the date when humanity has consumed everything the planet can regenerate during the entire year. In 2026, that date arrived on 30 July;"What is climate gentrification? Why house prices are rising outside of Europe's city centres";"Fire, flood and wishful thinking: Why we're not ready for Victoria's climate future".

John Lewis came from England in what seems like a lifetime ago, and his first in Australia was with the Shepparton News.John, who quickly became a favourite with many readers of the city's newspaper, became, along with his family, an important member of the city's community, especially in the arts.Readers loved his "left field" writing, particularly in his column, "My Word", and the obvious empathy he had for people when he wrote about the daily lives of those he reported on.His latest column was: "Heated warnings from Europe"."‘Never seen so many grown men cry': The everyday Aussies who can't afford another disaster";"International rise in chronic idiocy".

Many things trigger migration, but a worsening climate enriches the mood among people to move, to find what they believe is a safer place.The Guardian tells about the thousands of people who stormed into one of Spain's territories in search of a better life, driven by many things, among them a worsening climate: "At least 57 people die as tens of thousands cross to Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco";"Britain could face food shortages as drought continues, farmers warn";"The Fossil Lobby Is Winning: 45 Climate Policy Reversals in One Year";"‘It looked like an atomic bomb': The Aussie pilots flying into a French firestorm";"George and Amal Clooney flee luxury French home as wildfires rage";"Earth's Warming Primed France and Spain to Burn, Scientists Find";"Extreme Heat Has Transformed What Summer Means Across Generations in Europe";"Climate migration is coming. Cincinnati wants to shape its effects.";"Why Climateflation Will Drive Food Prices More Than War";"Wildfires are raging – and the world has junked 45 climate pledges. Disaster looms, and little wonder".

Tim Flannery (pictured) was on the most recent edition of "Australia's Biggest Book Club" organised by The Australia Institute.Long had I been concerned that Tim had said, according to my climate-denying friends, Australia's dams would never fill again.Answering a question about that during this webinar, Tim said it was clearly misinformation and those claiming he said that should produce the evidence.

Tim Flannery, Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist, conservationist, explorer, author, science communicator, activist and public scientist, talks wth Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, about the new book he has written with his daughter, Emma.The book, "A Brief History of Climate Folly", is, according to one bookseller: "An outrageous history of dreamers and schemers who wanted to change the climate, from one of Australia's most recognised names in nature writing".You will find a link to the actual webinar here: "In Conversation with Prof. Tim Flannery".

The name David Wallace-Wells (pictured) was on everyone's lips following the publication of "The Uninhabitable Earth" and here he is being interviewed on the Canal Street Podcast,The title for that episode was "Climate Crisis Isn't Over".This episode of Canal Street is from earlier this year (2026), but it is well worth listening to.

Is humanity on a trajectory toward death - does it have an unwritten suicide pact with itself?Wars and major international sporting events contribute massively to the worsening of the world's climate, resulting in wildfires in both Canada and Europe."More than 200,000 people flee or lock down as wildfires sweep France and Spain";"A Tempting Remedy for Heat-Stricken France: Be More Like Spain";"What to Know About the Wildfires Raging in Western Europe";"MAGA's Response to Wildfire Smoke? Blame Canada!";"Piketty Offers a Vision for Sharing What We Have Left, But How Do We Convince the 1%?".

Fossil fuel companies that ignore bushwalking philosophy will be targeted - "Labor threatens oil giants with emergency offshore clean-up levy";"‘It's dirty': Stoush over whether burning waste for energy is renewable";"Hot nights are stealing people's sleep, researchers say";"Solar generated record 25% of EU power in June with Germany, Spain and Poland leading the race";"US Gov Report Details ‘Robust' Ties Between Climate Crisis and Extreme Weather Events".

Sarah Perkins Kirkpatrick (pictured) is the Deputy Director, Engagement and Impact at The ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, Australian National University.And she, along with the co-editor of CounterPunch and author of "Bad Energy: The AI Hucksters, Rogue Lithium Extractors, and Wind Industrialists Who Are Selling Off Our Future", Joshua Frank, will be guests on Climate Conversations in September. "Too hot, too humid: why the sustained heatwave in India and Pakistan is so dangerous";"Coal plants would cut power costs by 2050, but with a massive price to pay";"Vampire Planet: The El Niño From Hell";"How About an E.V. Charge With That Fried Chicken?";"One of the planet's strongest heat domes will soon scorch the East Coast";"How the Superwealthy Sidestep the Masses to Get to the World Cup".

Ketan Joshi (pictured) from Crikey warns of the power demands of Australia's proposed data centre."Trump Administration Taps Climate Science Critic to Oversee Flagship Report";"Framing the causes of hotter heatwaves";"Hotter Seas in Britain and Europe Threaten Marine Life";"Power companies need more homes to share control of their batteries";"‘Super' El Niño could cause global food price shock lasting into 2028, analysts say";"Heatwave conditions in England and Wales to continue into next week, says Met Office".

Bill McKibben (pictured), who is recognised for his understanding of climate change, has praised Australia for its use of solar power.McKibben was in conversation with Ezra Klein from The New York Times.Many would know of McKibben for his efforts in establishing 350.org, and, more recently, The Third Act.

The U.S.-based 350.org presented the webinar "Fuel on Fire: Reporting El Niño and the true cost of climate change"Among the guests was Shel Winkley, a Senior Engagement Specialist and Chief Meteorologist with "Climare Central", and Gareth Redmond-King, who is the Head of the International Programme at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit".The Executive Director of 350.org, Anne Jellema (pictured) was the moderator.

"Record wildfires in Europe show failure to adapt carries a mounting cost";Australia's Labor Party has been accused of "incrementalism" on a webinar organised by "The Australia Institute" - After the landslide: one year on from the historic 2025 election.Visit the "Wilderness Society" and learn about the highlights from April to June 12026.

Greens Leader, Larissa Waters (pictured), wants the Federal Labor Government to rake in huge sums by properly taxing the gas industry."The biggest myth about EVs is dying and sales are surging";"The world is failing to curb carbon, and we may be close to a scorched earth tipping point";"Fragmented and incomplete: why isn't anyone in charge of Australia's EV charger rollout?";"The Mad Scramble to Dim Sunlight".

Kate Aronoff says "This Is the Week for Democrats to Start Saying “Climate Change” Again";"Heat Starts to Break in Western Europe, as Central Europe Begins to Broil";"Without Climate Change, U.S. Heat Wave Called ‘Virtually Impossible'";"Voters Rank Billionaires, Then Corporate Landlords as Top Villains to US Society and Economy";"Wildfires rage in Spain and Portugal, as France heatwave deaths rise""‘Climate Change Is Here': Wildfires Ignite Across Europe Following Deadly Heatwave";"As Millions Endure Extreme Heat, Climate Group Tells Congress: ‘Protect People, Not Data Centers'";"As High Heat Cancels July 4 Plans, US Must ‘Declare Our Independence From Fossil Fuels'";"The Pacific Ocean is running a fever. Why that's an ominous sign.".

The co-founder and executive director of "Covering Climate Now", Mark Hertsgaard, recently moderated a Press Briefing entitled "Deadly Heat, Vital Reporting".In this press briefing, panellists discussed climate adaptation best practices, attribution and end-to-end science, and storytelling tips, equipping journalists to deliver the coverage their audiences need.Covering Climate Now said: "As millions of Europeans swelter under record-shattering heat and North America faces similar temperatures next week, civic-minded reporting can literally save lives. "As journalists, we're part of the 'social infrastructure' that shapes how communities experience extreme weather. In the short term, providing accurate and timely information on the dangers and how to stay safe is imperative. The best reporting also explains the “why” behind extreme weather: global warming driven by burning fossil fuels has overheated the planet, making heatwaves hotter, longer, and more frequent.""‘Frustrating start' to ski season as climate change and El Nino weather pattern converge";"Heat Wave Spreads East on Wednesday, Putting Millions More at Risk".

Barry R. Davis has written a book about something whose success is often invisible - should "The Preventioneers" be successful, there is nothing to show/see.The author has pulled something of a magical trick, as his excellent book is about an issue for which there is no obvious evidence or visible result.And that, of course, is the sleight of hand, for if the efforts of his subjects bring success, the disaster does not happen."The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries That Changed Our World" takes on a journey through inspiring stories of individuals who shaped prevention as a public good.For those of us concerned about climate change, Davis explores the motivations and achievements of climate scientist James Hansen.It's an enjoyable book, well worth reading.

The fourth seminar in the Powering the Future series was presented by Dr. David Kearns from the Global CCS Institute.Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly recognised as essential to achieving net zero, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, chemicals and LNG. This seminar examined the role of CCS in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region, where industrial emissions, energy demand growth and existing infrastructure make carbon management especially important. The presentation outlined why most credible climate pathways include large-scale CCS deployment, and how the technology is evolving alongside broader decarbonisation efforts.The seminar also explored recent advances in CCS policy, deployment and technology development across Australia and the region, including new projects, carbon management hubs and cross-border collaboration. Alongside this progress, it will address the major barriers still limiting deployment — including policy uncertainty, investment and infrastructure challenges, and the need for stronger market incentives. The discussion concluded with a practical assessment of what is needed to accelerate CCS deployment and strengthen Australia's role as a regional leader in carbon management.You'll find a "recording of the event here".

One Nation Party leader, Pauline Hanson, has just addressed the National Press Club and, in doing so, illustrated that she, her party and supporters are locked into 20th-Century thinking, seemingly unaware that this is the 21st Century, a time and place that needs a whole new approach and athletic thinking.Here is a story from The Melbourne Age - "‘We must be monocultural': Hanson demands end to multiculturalism, calls climate change a hoax", and another from The Guardian - "Pauline Hanson's speech ‘shameful' and echoed ‘rubbish' from rightwing figures in UK and US, critics say".

"Sorry, climate change is still dangerous, no matter what nonsense Trump emits" - Michael Man and Genevieve Gunther."3 Months of Trump's Disastrous Iran War Has Cost US Consumers $60 Billion in Extra Energy Costs​";"‘Deep concerns': Labor gas plan triggers alarm in Asia";"Wind and Solar Overtake Gas. What It Means for Energy Strategy";"Four EU countries push Brussels to ease carbon market pressure on industry";"Capitalism trumps climate: Why BHP's green ambitions turned to empty promises";"Trump's misfire: The electric car takeover is now unstoppable";"The race for oil: will Jamaica be the next country to drill and what does that mean for its green pledges?".

David Spratt, the Research Director for Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration, has damned the recent Federal budget for not mentioning climate even once - "Turning a blind eye to climate risk threatens derailment".The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Four Corners program. "The BHP Files", alerted viewers to the big miners' deceptions about carbon emissions."Revealed: huge climate cost of harmful emissions from US immigration flights";"For 44 years, Australia has subsidised diesel use. Is it time to stop?";"How lethal humidity threatens to displace millions in our region";"Capitalism trumps climate: Why BHP's green ambitions turned to empty promises".

Greater City of Shepparton's Climate Resilience Officer, Jack Bowmaker, has encouraged city residents to attend the first-ever "GV Home Energy Expo" on Sunday, June 14.Mr Bowmsaker, or "Jack" to most, points to an array of reasons why people should visit the expo, among them, they can learn how to set up and equip their homes, making them cheaper and more comfortable places to live.The expo is free, and those attending will have the chance to win a portable induction hotplate when they register on the City of Greater Shepparton Facebook page.

Book author and associate professor, Fernando Racimo, discusses academia's complicity in the polycrisis, and its potential for transformation towards serving social and ecological well-being.His book, "Science in Resistance", provides a first-person account of the Scientist Rebellion, a global movement of scientists and scholars rising in collective resistance for climate and social justice. Racimo combines his own experiences in activism with interviews with dozens of scientist-activists around the world, as well as insights from research on activism and direct action.Racimo, an Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the "University of Copenhagen", explores the challenges academics face when taking a stand against systems of oppression. He focuses particularly on how academic institutions are complicit in exploitative and extractive logics, and how they could be transformed from the bottom up to become institutions that foster social and ecological well-being.The webinar was organised by the School of Regulation and Global Governance from the Australian National University.

Natalie Kyriacou was one of several speakers at the May 9 event at the Melbourne Town Hall, "Recovering Democracy Together" where she asked the question "How will history judge us?""Trump Has Created a Climate Opportunity";"The Iran War Is Crippling One of the World's Wealthiest Nations";"White Supremacy Is the Point of the Trump Presidency";"Dookie calls for the ‘ugly' truth";"Rainfall good sign for cropping farmers";"Farmland flooding authorised in NSW";"Goorambat appoints lobby group over battery concerns";"Extreme weather, floods and fires threaten to compound Victoria's road woes".

What appeared, at the time, to be a dearth of news about the quickly unfolding climate crisis prompted me to have a crack at producing a podcast - "Climate Conversations".That was in 2018, and only you, as the listener, can make a judgment good or bad, useful or otherwise.I was fascinated when I discovered that the latest episode of the Reuters Institute podcast, "The Future of Journalism", was to discuss news podcasts.

Apparently unaware of the real cost of coal, both financially and environmentally, coalition leader, Angus Taylor, has hitched his party's fortunes to coal - "Coal comfort: Taylor kicks off Climate War 3.0 in shift from nuclear";"Trump's Push to Keep Coal Plants Open Is Costing Hundreds of Millions";"How this regional town became a caravan community";"Victoria approves the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere";"Our fragile world is being hammered by one crisis after another. It's about to get worse";"The Climate Optimist".

From The Washington Post - "Why the odds keep rising for the strongest El Niño in a century":"As David Attenborough turns 100, four experts explore his legacy, from science to storytelling";"Climate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall' profits from Iran war";"‘Only the Beginning': Santa Marta Summit Heralded as New Dawn in Fight to End Fossil Fuel Era";"Australia is one of the world's biggest gas exporters. Labor will now force companies to save some";“My Green World".

Renewable energy, according to Christriana Figueres will give Australians and Australia everything the climate deniers argue is essential, including energy sovereignty - "This ‘energy crisis' is fixable. We already have the answers";"Scott was already working late on fuel supply when a call stopped him cold";"Rudd calls to harness ‘physical terror' of fuel shortages to push renewables";"‘Wars, Uncertainty, and Geopolitical Upheaval' Led to 2025 Global Military Spending Surge";"Can This Military-Industrial Beast Ever Be Tamed?";"ABC Shepparton "Breakfast" discusses Renewable Energy Zones";"A New Idea to Save the Climate? Dam the Bering Strait.";"Amazon invests in Mooroopna";"Mokoan solar project opened".

Geelong's Mik Aidt (pictured) describes himself on Substack as a "Climate crusader with a creative soul – part journalist, part campaigner, part podcast poet and musician."He writes and speaks about mobilising more people in service to life on Earth. His Substack is "In service to life on Earth".Many would know Mik Aidt through his popular radio show, "The Sustainable Hour" on community radio.This "climate crusader" is truly eager to have people meet face-to-face, and to see that happen, he first established a Climate Cafe in Geelong.Those attending felt the name was somewhat limiting, and so decided the group should change its name to the "Connections Cafe".Although climate is still on the agenda, the new name has allowed the group to explore fresh and exciting topics.

The American-based "Covering Climate Now" recently staged a "press briefing" at which the speakers and hosts explored "America's Extreme Drought and Its Climate Connection".One of those at the event was Dr Peter Gleick, a leading scientist, innovator, and communicator on water and climate issues. "Who'd have thought a fossil-fuel shill like Trump would be the one to spark a green revolution?";"A prime-time hit job on renewables falls apart under basic facts";"‘Made in China' EVs are taking over the streets, but just how safe is your data?";"11 Electric Cars Worth a Look With Gas Prices High";"ANZAC Day".

Common Dreams says: "We Must Fight Fossil Fuel Oligarchs to Save Democracy";"Energy security is now inseparable from national security. Australia has options, but they're being neglected";"Critically Endangered listing of Lower Murray River ecosystem and Macquarie Marshes is a wake up call";"Overheated cows, flooded highways, and now a fuel crisis: why Australia's food system is in big trouble";"An ‘ordinary' storm with extraordinary impacts: what made Wellington's deluge so intense?";"El Niño is set to take hold this summer, driving up global temperatures";"WaterNSW criticised for ‘appalling' decision after hundreds of turtles left to die in wetlands".

It was the co-Chief Executive Officer of The Australia Institute, Richard Denniss, who told those at a Royal Society of Victoria gathering late last year that recovery would preoccupy Australians as the world's climate system continued to worsen."Bessent Questions the Cause of Climate Change and Its Economic Toll";"‘A Sign of What's to Come': Super Typhoon Sinlaku Slams Into Remote US Islands in Pacific";"‘Time for Half Measures Is Over': Study Warns of Terrifying Atlantic Ocean Current Collapse";"The 'crop' we're not harvesting: Why Australia's brightest source is still underused";"Carbon Removal Industry Reels as Microsoft Retreats";"Climate change media coverage fell 14% in 2025";"Live from SEJ: The State of Climate Journalism";"Climate Change Denial Sees a Resurgence in Trump's Washington";"Some states will go from record heat to a freeze — thanks to Alaska".

John Brinnard lives in a wonderful place just west of Yandina on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, in a lush piece of forest you could never imagine burning, but after a long, dry spell, that's exactly what happened - bushfire!Was that attributable to climate change? John, in his quiet and considered manner, didn't jump to that conclusion, but he had never seen the bush near his home so dry before or after.John is big on people giving themselves agency through involvement with others concerned about climate issues, and so he has supported "Rising Tide" playing an active role in the group's protests at the Port of Newcastle.He is also involved with the "Urgent Climate Action Network Sunshine Coast ".

Professor Ian Lowe lives in the small coastal town of Marcoola on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, a place he and his late partner moved to in retirement.However, as he points out, once a scientist, always a scientist, and so he continues to devour scientific journals, engage in webinars and travel to conferences covering topics that embrace his interests.The Professor has written many books and has been involved in ensuring others get published.Ian has been a regular at the Woodford Folk Festival and recently was a guest on the day four edition of the podcast, "First Wine of the Day".Although he spent some of his career in England, most of Ian's time was spent at Queensland's Griffith University.

Peter Simek leads EarthX, one of the world's largest convenings of environmental and sustainability leaders, bringing together policymakers, investors, scientists, innovators, and advocates to accelerate pragmatic, market-driven solutions. Recently, EarthX announced programming and additional speakers for "Earthx2026", a three-day Congress of Conferences taking place in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole on April 20–22, 2026. Under Peter's leadership, EarthX has evolved into a global platform focused on finding common ground and advancing scalable environmental progress.One of the speakers at "EarthX 2025" was Peter Fiekowsky from the "Foundation for Climate Restoration"'"Saudi Arabia could be seven days away from chaos if Iran's water war hits home";"Sweden's ‘old‑growth' natural forests store 83% more carbon than managed woodlands – new study";"US interest in electric vehicles surges as gas prices jump amid Iran war";"Making Coal, Oil and Gas Corporations in Australia Pay Their Fair Share for the Costs of Climate Change";"Gas giants warn against windfall gains tax as Pocock says ‘wartime profits' should go to struggling Australians";"Russian tanker drifts into Libyan waters amid environmental warnings";"‘Just as Big Oil Predicted': Fossil Fuel Industry Under Fire as Record Heat Broils Western States";"'Do not get more powerful than this': Cyclone Narelle set to slam far north Queensland";"Cyclone Narelle: ‘compact', dangerous and unusually predictable";"‘Disaster inertia': why must NZ keep relearning the same lessons from extreme events?".

Capitalism is, for many, the root of the problem regarding climate change, and some see the solution in degrowth, and others in what's known as "green growth".The Columbia Climate School tackled this issue through its webinar "Perspectives Dialogue, “Degrowth vs. green growth: can capitalism solve climate change?”Those hopeful of gaining an Australian perspective on this issue, at least from the degrowth angle, will have the chance on Sunday, March 22, to join the Degrowth Festival at Curtain Square in Carlton, not far from Melbourne's CBD.Also, those eager to learn more about what's happening in Sunday should listen to the Climate Conversations with Tonié, one of the organisers.

Darwin's successor, the late Edward O. Wilson, clearly understood humanity and the dilemmas it facedwhen he said it has "Palaeolithic emotions, medieval Institutions and God-like technology".Read the story about the late professora nd hear the interview in a story from The New York Times: "E.O. Wilson, a Pioneer of Evolutionary Biology, Dies at 92";"Deny, delay, downplay: How governments hide climate change intelligence";"Bundaberg residents told to evacuate as floods trigger memories of 2010 disaster";"Israeli Strikes on Fuel Depots Send Black Clouds Over Iranian Capital";"The Iran war has triggered a fuel price rise. What does this mean for Australian consumers?";"The Interview: Rebecca Solnit Says the Left's Next Hero Is Already Here";"“A tidal wave of hostile messaging:” The billions spent each year by fossil fuel industry demonising renewables";"War With Iran Is Turning the Energy Affordability Crisis Into a Calamity";"‘Labor can't have it both ways': How the EV industry will fight any plan to wind back tax breaks";"Sea Levels Are Already Higher Than Many Scientists Think, New Study Shows".

The war in Iran, initiated by the U.S. and Israel, may have trapped some twenty per cent of the world's fossil fuels, but sunshine is still free to shine anywhere in the world.This webinar, organised by "Covering Climate Now", was a press briefing considering "The Iran War and the Climate Emergency".Two websites mentioned by speakers that would help reporters covering the Iran conflict were "Forensic Architecture" and the "Conflict Observatory".