what is the go with Sydney weather. just chill tf out for bit

Listening to ABC RN this morning, and presume the state of geopolitics has gotten so bad that we’ve been subsumed back into the British Empire?

We went from there being a genuine possibility that diesel fuel credits could be wound back in the Federal budget in May, to a lack of diesel supplies causing a 20%+ crash in mining company valuations - in like 3 weeks. www.afr.com/markets/equi...

When I wrote this piece, barely a year ago, I reflected on how US dependence on fossil fuels left it vulnerable to market disruption that may be caused by Russia and China. I didn't fully appreciate that the US could be its own biggest threat. tempestsandterawatts.substack.com/p/trumps-dri...

As a sci-fi nerd with a small child, Project Hail Mary is A+, right in the feels.

Abolish landlords.

Good news that ACCR will appeal the judgement in the greenwashing case it brought against Santos. "In our view, the judgment sets the bar for corporate communication about climate commitments well below market and investor expectations." www.accr.org.au/news/accr-to...

Thinking about how last year I went to the NYC St Patrick's day parade, thinking I could show my son Irish Dancers, but instead just saw group after group of bagpipers. like wtf.

Not the approach I would recommend, but you could abolish the fuel tax credits paid to miners, heavy transport et al., and then drop fuel prices by about 20 cents for *everyone* and it would be revenue neutral for the government. www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Cheers to everyone who delayed fossil fuel phaseout by saying "you can't switch off fossil fuels overnight" Because thanks to them everyone now has to face a situation where fossil fuels are switched off overnight 🙃🙃🙃

Being a Sixers supporter brings nothing but misery and disappointment. Just don't become one.

ASX getting absolutely wrecked, except for fossil fuels.

No one fails short of hype and expectations like Australian drivers at the Australian GP. Webber, Ricciardo and Piastri have 26 career race wins and 100 podiums between them. No podiums at the Australian GP.

Perhaps we were always in The Terminator timeline? www.newscientist.com/article/2516...

Amazing piece giving insight into the relationship between major fossil fuel companies and senior government officials. 130 direct, personal, text messages in 4 months between a Woodside rep and a DCCEEW deputy secretary. www.smh.com.au/environment/...

Santos beat greenwashing claims in court, and while the ruling exposes the limits of climate law, the battle for climate justice and accountability is just ramping up. open.substack.com/pub/tempests...

Like clockwork, fossil fuel companies will profit from war.

Huge. www.bbc.com/news/live/cp...

There’s a phrase for this sort of thing.

Another instance of the Labor resources minister parroting the fossil fuel industry line. Threats to funding is just another attempt to silence those who seek to hold fossil fuel companies accountable in court. www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Oil and gas producer Woodside qualified the potential financial impacts of climate litigation in the highest bucket. Interestingly, it did not try to quantify the potential liabilities that could arise through the advances in climate attribution science, but acknowledged it could have an impact.

Was the greenwashing claim against Santos successful? No. Santos’ representations might not be misleading, but that does not mean the company’s actions are an adequate response to the climate crisis that we face, and to which it is a major contributor.

bro. Is Albo just turning into Scott Morrison?

Joint statement from Climate Integrity and other leading voices on climate, democracy and public integrity, following further fossil fuel industry attacks on public interest climate litigation. climateintegrity.org.au/latest/clima...

I'll write up a more detailed account of the ACCR v Santos judgement this week, but just pointing out that the judgement makes at least one factual error. There is no Scope 3 reporting under the NGERs Act. cer.gov.au/schemes/nati...

A reminder that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains 8th in the order of succession for head of state for Australia.

jfc, the feature image had me thinking Big Lez had been nominated for an Oscar… www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/m...

Yikes

What is even going on here. Govt fines Alcoa for unlawful clearing, but then immediately issues an approval so that further clearing is lawful. What does Watt think is the purpose of the EPBC Act? www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Santos' profit fell by 25% in 2025. So in response, they gave the CEO a $4.7 million 'growth' bonus and announced that they will sack 10 per cent of the workforce.

"We have assessed that gas product (including LNG) is not vulnerable on the basis they will have a significant role in meeting Asia and Australia’s decarbonisation targets." wild.

Santos thinks it'll still be selling gas and oil over the long term. "Over the longer term, while global demand may shift in response to decarbonisation trends, we expect regional demand for gas to remain strong, underpinned by its role in energy security and the transition to lower carbon energy."

Santos' latest climate disclosures show its Scope 1 and 2 emissions (those covered by the Safeguard Mechanism) as 3.81 MT in 2025. Meanwhile, its Scope 3 emissions (emissions from the gas it sells, not regulated by any government policy) is a massive 28.4MT.

Bad outcome in the federal court for ACCR's greenwashing case against Santos. More details about the claims here: www.accr.org.au/news/austral...

Nick Hanna is running this free clinic tomorrow. Might be useful for a bunch of you.

As I say here, there is no scientific justification to revoke the engagement finding. In fact, over the last 15+ yrs, the evidence of how climate change affects our health has only grown. Higher risk of allergies, dementia, fertility, heart disease, and death: that’s what’s on the line. @nature.org

Australia currently ahead of Canada on the Winter Olympic medal table.

FUCK YEAH A GOLD.

With Angus Taylor about to contest the leadership, the Liberal Party has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.

"This article is more than 6 years old" www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

god, the prospect of a leadership spill makes me miss old twitter. I'll never forgive Elon Musk for taking that from us...

Great piece from @roycerk2.bsky.social on the influence that Japanese gas companies are seeking to flex over Australia's policymakers. drilled.media/news/japan-a...

Re-sharing this post from last year, given it has new relevance now that we’ve seen the donations data leading up to the 2025 election. Fossil fuel interests are major backers of these groups. Millions and millions. open.substack.com/pub/tempests...

I think Australia could really do with some winter Olympic medals right about now…

I say this as someone who was there, it was pretty clear that the Herzog protest was proceeding peacefully and NSW Police were largely responsible for inflaming conflict with protesters. Initially by the poor way they restricted movement around Town Hall, and then by things like this…

The NSW Supreme Court just upheld the protest ban in the Sydney CBD during Herzog’s visit on the basis that it’s a declared ‘major event’. It’s a bad precedent, and could mean the NSW Government can push almost protest of a visiting leader - including Donald Trump - out of the CBD.

Heartbroken. Jon was that rare mix of someone who could be so funny, but also right on the button when it comes to critiquing government bullshit. Legend. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

The decline of the Washington Post appears, at best, self inflicted. At worst, it was by design. The explicit change in editorial position cost it readership and subscribers. But also, it’s not like Bezos lacks money. www.natesilver.net/p/the-sad-an...

Fossil fuel companies gave millions to buy political access and influence before the 2025 election (It me) www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/05/f...

“While the sums donated to the major parties remain significant, they are dwarfed by the scale of funding flowing from the coal industry into astroturfing campaigns.” www.tempestsandterawatts.com/p/coals-hidd...