Aid lorries enter Gaza as Israel takes 'tactical pause'
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ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
UN climate chief urges Australia to 'go big' on 2035 emissions target
One of the world's top climate diplomats has urged the federal government to commit to an ambitious 2035 target to cut carbon emissions, saying Australia can reap "colossal" economic rewards if it embraces clean energy. The federal government is due to unveil its 2035 target by September this year, while the Coalition continues to be consumed by a furious internal debate on whether it should maintain its commitment to net zero by 2050. The Climate Change Authority is preparing advice on a 2035 target between 65 and 75 per cent, which will inform the target the government will submit to the UN's climate agency. UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell, who presides over the agency responsible for managing the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, is visiting Sydney and Canberra this week as he presses countries across the globe to ramp up their climate ambitions. Mr Stiell called the new climate target a "defining moment" for Australia, and said the government had "one shot to build a blueprint that protects Aussie workers and businesses by preparing them for a fast-changing global economy". Mr Stiell used a speech to a group of investors and clean energy representatives in Sydney to warn "unchecked climate change" would be an "economic wrecking ball" for the Australian and global economy, and that action was imperative. Mr Stiell said climate disasters were "already costing Australian homeowners $4 billion a year" and that unchecked climate change would "cripple Australia's food production" and drain trillions from national GDP by 2050. "You know half measures will destroy property and infrastructure, hammer households, bankrupt regions, and punch holes in public budgets," he said. "And you know that real action opens the door to real leadership and big rewards for this ambitious, capable country." Standing alongside Mr Stiell, the Climate Change Authority's (CCA) chair Matt Kean said the stakes "couldn't be higher" for Australia, but that pursuing net zero emissions also presented an opportunity for the sun-rich and mineral-rich nation. "'Shine, baby, shine' and 'store baby store' should carry an Australian trademark and be hollered from our rooftops — perhaps with an Aussie accent," Mr Kean said in a reference to United States President Donald Trump's "drill, baby, drill" remark. The CCA boss also said that, ahead of the next international climate conference, "maximum ambition should be the catch-cry". The United States has slashed clean energy subsidies and pulled out of the Paris Agreement under Mr Trump. However, Mr Stiell said investment in renewables in countries like India and China was "off the chart" and "trillions of dollars are shifting" globally. Mr Stiell said a "bog standard" 2035 target would be "beneath" Australia, and that government and business had the capacity to deliver transformational change. "This is the moment to get behind a climate plan that doesn't just write that vision into policy — but delivers in spades for your people," he said. "So don't settle for what's easy. Bog standard is beneath you. Go for what's smart by going big. "Go for what will build lasting wealth and national security. Go for what will change the game and stand the test of time."
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Aid trucks enter Gaza as Netanyahu denies starvation policy
100+ trucks enter the Gaza Strip as Israel pauses military operations Federal MPs to debate removal of emissions targets Mavi Garcia becomes oldest Tour de France Femmes stage winner A convoy of some 100 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, after Israel announced it would be halting its military operations for 10 hours a day. Jordan and the UAE have conducted airdrops into Gaza in the last 24 hours, after Israel announced a series of aid measures in response to growing international condemnation that it is responsible for starvation in Gaza. The World Health Organization says malnutrition rates are on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, with 74 malnutrition-related deaths this year in Gaza - 65 occurred in July]. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist there is no starvation in Gaza, instead blaming the UN and aid groups for failing to deliver aid - even as he conceded some of the restrictions imposed by Israel will be lifted to allow in a minimum amount of aid. "We've just announced that formally. Here are safe corridors . And the UN has no excuses left. No excuses left, stop lying. Stop finding excuses, do what you have to do, and stop accusing Israel deliberately of this egregious falsehood. There is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation Gaza." Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce says he looks forward to the debate over emission reduction targets that will be triggered when he introduces his private member's bill today that proposes repealing Australia's emission reduction targets. The newly reformed Coalition has yet to determine its position on net zero targets, with differing views held by MPs. Over the weekend, the W-A Liberal Party supported a motion to abandon a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, increasing the pressure on federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to drop the policy. Mr Joyce says in his view, emission reduction targets is not the way to go. "We are de-industrialising. We are making it weaker. We are making ourselves more vulnerable. And on the way to doing that - we are just absolutely devastating regional communities. They are just besides themselves. It is really important that people in urban areas understand what is happening in regional areas. You have got to have some empathy. And more to the point. It doesn't work. You can't run a nation on intermittent power.' A new report has found one in five Australian households are struggling to pay their energy bills, with renters more heavily affected. The report by Energy Consumers Australia shows many of the hardest-hit households are not accessing, or aware of, available retailer or government assistance programs aimed at helping to ease energy costs. About a third of households reporting hardship had not contacted their retailer about difficulty paying bills - and almost half said they had not applied for government support. The recommendations for change include the introduction of stronger minimum energy performance standards for rental properties. Independent MP Zali Steggall says the issue of misinformation in political advertising must be dealt with once and for all. She has urged the federal government to back her private member's bill* - or reintroduce its own lapsed legislation on the issue. Ms Stegall's bill would ban material in political advertising that is misleading or deceptive. It would also allow the Australian Electoral Commission to receive complaints and give it enforcement powers to remove content. Ms Stegall says the growing risks posed by AI content and deepfakes underlines the urgent need to act. "We protect consumers against being scammed out of their money when it comes to misleading and deceptive advertising. We must do the same when it comes to politics. We cannot have a situation where elections are hijacked by third party campaigners and bad faith actors that can put any level of misinformation out there. And there is no recourse. We also know AI is growing in power and ability to make a very misleading message." In cycling, veteran Spanish rider Mavi Garcia has won the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes. At the age of 41, Garcia has made history as the oldest stage winner of the race. The Liv-AlUla-Jayco rider launched her decisive move with 10 kilometres remaining, opening a gap of around 20 seconds on the chasing pack. She held on through the explosive final climb, crossing the line three seconds ahead of her pursuers. Garcia says the win means a lot to her. "I have had really hard times last year and now I feel it is different. It is more motivation for me. And now I believe more. In the training, I was really really good condition. But in the races never arrive. Not only the victory, but not my good feels - and also a lot of crashes, and a lot of things happen. And now, I don't know it is really good nowadays." Lorena Wiebes sprinted to second place, with Kim Le Court Pienaar of Mauritius finishing third and taking the overall leader's yellow jersey. Dutch star Marianne Vos, who wore the leader's jersey after winning Saturday's opening stage, finished fifth and surrendered her overall lead to Le Court Pienaar.
SBS Australia
7 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Israel announces daily pauses in military bombardment of Gaza as aid airdrops begin
Israel announced a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and new aid corridors as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies into the enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which the government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have broken off with no deal in sight. US President Donald Trump, on a visit to Scotland, said Israel would have to make a decision on its next steps in Gaza, and he did not know what would happen after the collapse of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with Hamas. Military activity will stop from 10am to 8pm until further notice in Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area along the coast, in central Deir al-Balah and in Gaza City, to the north. The military said designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place between 6am and 11pm starting from Sunday. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said staff would step up efforts to feed the hungry during the pauses in the fighting. "Our teams on the ground ... will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window," he said on X. In their first airdrop in months, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates parachuted 25 tons of aid into Gaza on Sunday local time, a Jordanian official said, adding that those were not a substitute for delivery by land. Palestinian health officials in Gaza City said at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes. Work on a UAE project to run a new pipeline that will supply water from a desalination facility in neighbouring Egypt to around 600,000 Palestinians along the coast would also begin in a few days, the Israeli military said. Dozens of Palestinians have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total deaths from malnutrition and hunger since 2023 to 133, including 87 children. On Saturday, a five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of malnutrition at Nasser Hospital, health workers said. "Three months inside the hospital and this is what I get in return, that she is dead," said her mother, Israa Abu Haleeb, as the baby's father held their daughter's body wrapped in a white shroud. The Egyptian Red Crescent said it was sending more than 100 trucks carrying over 1,200 metric tons of food to southern Gaza on Sunday. Some had been looted in the area of Khan Younis after entering Gaza, residents said. Naima Abu Ful holds her malnourished 2-year-old child, Yazan, at their home in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Source: AP / Jehad Alshrafi Aid groups said last week there was mass hunger among Gaza's 2.2 million people and international alarm over the humanitarian situation has increased. A group of 25 states including Britain, France and Canada last week said Israel's denial of aid was unacceptable. The military's spokesperson said Israel was committed to international law and monitors the humanitarian situation daily. Brigadier General Effie Defrin claimed there was no starvation in Gaza, but appeared to acknowledge conditions were critical. Israel cut off aid to Gaza from the start of March to pressure Hamas into giving up dozens of hostages it still holds and reopened it with new restrictions in May. Many Palestinians expressed some relief at Sunday's announcement, but said fighting must end. "People are happy that large amounts of food aid will come into Gaza," said Tamer Al-Burai, a business owner. "We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up." Health officials at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals in central Gaza said Israeli firing killed at least 17 people waiting for aid trucks. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at suspects endangering troops and was unaware of any casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to allow the entry of humanitarian supplies whether it is fighting or negotiating a ceasefire and vowed to press on with the campaign until "complete victory". Hamas said Israel was continuing its military offensive. "What is happening isn't a humanitarian truce," said Hamas official Ali Baraka.
