Australians choose batteries over nuclear after election fought on energy

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Australia has voted in the Labour party, instilling long-term confidence in the country’s renewable energy strategy. The party’s overwhelming majority could pave the way for more ambitious policies; like installing one million home batteries by 2030 and establishing stronger climate targets post-election. This could be bad news for BHP, Rio Tinto, Santos, Whitehaven Coal, and Woodside Energy – the five major Australian fossil fuel companies which have been proven to be responsible for over a trillion New Zealand dollars in climate-related damages between 1991 and 2020. These damages have been linked to specific fossil fuel producers for the first time and could result in stronger cases for litigating climate-related damages and overcoming legal hurdles related to causation.

With signs for significant climate policy coming out of Australia, it may be useful to compare Australia’s mandatory climate reporting regime to New Zealand’s. In an earlier edition of SnippETS, we highlighted that the New Zealand government was looking to weaken our mandatory reporting regime in the face of “woke banks” cutting funding to mining operations and petrol stations. While we may have been the first in the world to introducing mandatory climate reporting, it is safe to say that Australia is going further, requiring over 6,000 entities to report against the IFRS S1 and S2 standards (whereas New Zealand’s regime is based on the older TCFD recommendations). The key differences include the disclosure of governance responsibilities, director liability, and assurance requirements. It is important to note that being captured under New Zealand’s mandatory climate reporting regime does not stop a business falling under Australia’s, meaning that companies in New Zealand may be required to do more.

One of the key components included in both regimes is strategy. What strategies does your company have to reduce emissions? One strategy that Rewiring Aotearoa champions is the electrification of fossil-fuelled machines, providing the numbers to show that replacing 6 million “priority machines” would save New Zealanders money for every tonne of carbon dioxide reduced. Electrification is a no-brainer to reach net-zero emissions, whether it be through electric vehicles, heat pumps or smaller appliances. However, governments need to have a holistic vision of how to expand electricity infrastructure to enable the energy transition. Part of this is considering how to dispose of EV batteries, and New Zealand currently lacks a comprehensive system for dealing with. 84,000 batteries for EVs in New Zealand will reach their end of life by 2030 and if these are dumped in a landfill, the resulting heavy metal pollution could cause immeasurable damage.

In other news, wind farm experts have highlighted a potential issue where wind farms are accidentally “stealing” wind from each other, requiring greater coordination between countries and wind farm manufacturers. The New Zealand construction sector has signaled the need to shift to more sustainable practices and integrate sustainable principles into their work, including greater focus on embodied carbon. And finally, meet the DJs for Climate Action, who use their platforms to educate and encourage action around climate and the environment.

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Australia’s 2025 federal election highlighted a clear voter preference for renewable energy over nuclear power. Labor’s energy platform, which focused on expanding rooftop solar and aimed to install one million home batteries by 2030, strongly appealed to voters. In contrast, the Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear reactors by 2050 failed to gain traction, especially in outer suburban areas where solar energy is increasingly adopted. The election results reflect a strong public endorsement for renewable energy development and a decisive move toward a cleaner, more sustainable national energy policy. Read more…

A recent peer-reviewed study published in Nature estimates that five major Australian fossil fuel companies—BHP, Rio Tinto, Santos, Whitehaven Coal, and Woodside Energy—are responsible for over US$600 billion (A$929.47 billion) in climate-related damages between 1991 and 2020. Researchers from Stanford and Dartmouth universities developed a method to link specific climate harms, such as extreme heat, to individual fossil fuel producers. This approach quantifies economic losses based on the hottest five days per year across decades. The methodology could serve as a foundation for litigating climate-related damages and overcoming legal hurdles related to causation.  Read more…

Australia's mandatory climate reporting regime, effective from 1 January 2025, encompasses a broader range of entities compared to New Zealand's existing framework. Australia's regime, based on IFRS S1 and S2 standards, will require over 6,000 entities—including large proprietary companies and superannuation schemes with assets over AUD 5 billion—to report climate-related disclosures in phases starting from July 2025. In contrast, New Zealand's regime, grounded in TCFD recommendations, applies to approximately 172 entities and is already in force. Key differences include governance responsibilities, director liability, and assurance requirements, with Australia's regime being more detailed and expansive. Read more…

New Zealand has 10 million fossil-fuelled machines, and more than 80 percent of them could be replaced by electric alternatives, according to a new report. Rewiring Aotearoa's Machine Count found upgrading six million of the most easily 'electrifiable' machines in the country - including cars, heaters, lawnmowers, road bikes, ovens and stoves - would save the country approximately $8 million a day, or $3.7 billion each year. As old equipment and or cars reach the end of its life, make the choice to electrify if possible. Read more…

And globally as countries race to wean their economies off fossil fuels and reduce their carbon emissions to net zero by mid-century, switching to electricity in homes and transportation looks like a relatively easy win. Ageing gas boilers can be replaced with heat pumps and water tanks, for example. And millions of vehicles powered by petrol and diesel can be switched out for electric vehicles. Although the cost to change can still be an issue, governments need to send clear signals around expectations of electrification. Read more…

The most common battery technology in use today is the lithium-ion battery that is typically found in virtually all electronic devices in NZ and a lot coming to the end of their serviceable life, particularly first generation EV’s. The Battery Industry Group has been appointed by the government to study legislation for end-of-life battery regulation. The group believes New Zealand should consider adopting the battery passport framework to help manage the disposal of electric vehicle batteries at the end of their lives. Read more…

As offshore wind farms rapidly expand to meet net zero targets, a growing issue known as the "wake effect"—where turbines slow wind speeds downwind—has raised concerns. This phenomenon, sometimes called "wind theft," can reduce neighbouring farms’ energy output by over 10%. As wind farms become denser, especially in crowded seas like the North Sea, disputes between developers have emerged. Experts urge better modelling, planning, and international cooperation to manage wind as a shared resource, avoid legal conflicts, and ensure reliable, sustainable wind energy expansion. Read more…

New Zealand’s construction sector is embracing sustainability as an operational necessity, but progress is hindered by costs, complex processes, limited regulations, and inconsistent client demand. The 2024 Archify Sustainable Futures Report, surveying over 700 professionals, highlights growing awareness of carbon reduction and sustainability goals, yet reveals critical gaps in implementation and carbon tracking. Architects play a key role, but sustainable features are often removed for cost-saving. Stronger policies, clearer regulations, and increased material transparency are needed to embed sustainability as standard practice and ensure meaningful, long-term environmental impact across the industry. Read more…

Earth Night, organised by DJs for Climate Action, is a global initiative transforming nightlife into a platform for climate awareness. Founded in 2018, it brings music, education, and community action together in clubs and bars around the world. Events emphasise sustainability, local talent, and support for climate justice groups. In 2025, nearly 40 events are planned. The initiative aims to inspire climate engagement through joy and creativity, showing that even partying can fuel positive change in the face of environmental crises. Read more…

Hydrology Report - 15th May 2025

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