Friday, December 16th, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

We need to talk about nuclear fusion. The eco-headlines were dominated by the waves being made by Lawrence Livermore National Lab in California after they successfully performed a new process, generating more power than they put in...and this has never happened before. Look, we're not nuclear scientists, but even we can understand that this is a big deal. 

Something that is a little more our speed? Taylor Swift being targeted once more for her 'excessive' private jet use. We haven't seen the last of the 'climate criminal' discourse just yet. 

We've got more on greenwashing, France's new flight ban, the Sydney to Hobart race and a little bit of festive Christmas content to round out 2022. 

This is our final episode of the Thriving Planet Podcast for the year. Stay green, stay conscious, and we'll be back in your ears come January 2023!

Get the full rundown:

We have a genuine fusion energy breakthrough (via Vox)

Can Fusion Solve the Climate Crisis? (via The New York Times)

Two-thirds of companies in misleading ‘greenwashing’ claims (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Eco-Activists target Taylor Swift, Allegedly leak her travel plans ahead of world tour (via Auto Evolution) 

France Bans Some Shorter Domestic Flights to Curb Emissions (via AFAR)

Sydney to Hobart yacht race sees first electric yacht J-Bird enter, taking on Wild Oats and Black Jack (via ABC News) 

Potted Christmas trees are a rentable alternative to their fake and fresh-cut cousins (via NPR)

We’re also following…

Read about “imperfect environmentalists” on Refinery29

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Show is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, December 9th, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

Who would have thought the top story would have been about a red-wheely bin? Not us. An innocuous photo of an Adelaidian waste bin has taken the internet by storm, as its owner’s only filled it up just once in a year and a half, leaving social media abuzz asking “how, how, teach us your ways”.

More seriously though, this week saw the recently enacted climate protester laws take full effect as Deanna Coco was sentenced to 15 months in jail for her role in disrupting traffic on Sydney Harbour bridge earlier this year. The response has been interesting, with just as many people defending Coco’s actions as there are people celebrating the harsh penalty. 

We talk the renewable energy ‘space race’ going down among the states, Jane Fonda, Justin Bieber, TikTok, and the Winter Olympics along the way. 

Get the full rundown:

Photo of Adelaide bin leave hundred shocked (via news.com.au)

NSW premier describes jailing of climate activist Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco as ‘pleasing to see’ (via The Guardian)

WWF Australia Annual Report 2022 (via WWF Australia)

Annual Climate Change Statement (via The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water)

Jane Fonda: climate change and the UN’s ‘racial sacrifice zones’ (via Spectator Australia)

Justin Bieber launches water brand at Qatar World Cup to improve sustainability (via The Chronicle) 

IOC delays decision on Winter Games host over climate change (via DW)

‘May as well hold it on Mars’: Five weeks before the Winter Olympics, China has almost no snow (via Fox Sports)

We’re also following…

Check out Tucker Lindgren’s TikTok about endangered animals

Read the Washington Post’s op ed on why and how having kids in the wake of climate change is a complex question

How to have eco-friendly sex: the only guide you’ll need for a green bedroom

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Show is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, December 2nd, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

Mars takes the leap into paper-based packaging for some of our favourite choccies, so add them to your list of guilt-free treats. 

World Cup footballers are feeling the heat, new laws aim to prevent another Jukkan Gorge traged, and South Australia’s goverment floats a novel way of dealing with electrical waste.

Plus, Ash is back and she’s brought a new royal update with her. 

Get the full rundown:

Snickers, Milky Way get new paper-based packaging makeover (via the Australian Financial Review)

World Cup footballers face 'unseasonable heat' in Qatar because of climate change (via The Daily Mail)

Barrier Reef flagged as ‘in danger’ (via ABC News)

New heritage laws to stop another Juukan Gorge tragedy (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Rio Tinto funds foundation for traditional owners of Juukan Gorge (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

The South Australian Greens wants to mandate use of expiry dates for electronic devices (via ABC News)

Prince William and Kate to visit US for climate change prize (via BBC)

We’re also following…

Read about the word of the year’s fossil fuel origins

Get a jump on your Chrissy wrapping with Wrappt Melbourne

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Podcast is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, November 25th, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

COP27 went down to the wire, with negotiators striking an historic deal to compensate developing nations for loss and damage after the conference officially closed. 

Meanwhile, the island nation of Tuvalu is turning to the metaverse to preserve its history, culture and landmarks and Australia’s weather is set to get wilder in the coming decades.

Plus, Allen’s Jelly Beans go plant-based. 

Get the full rundown:

Historic deal struck to help poorer countries pay for climate catastrophes (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Tuvalu turns to the metaverse as rising seas threaten existence (via Reuters)

State of the Climate 2022 – Australia continues to warm; heavy rainfall becomes more intense (via the CSIRO)

Don’t bug out, Allen’s is releasing vegan-friendly jelly beans (via Delicious)

We’re also following…

Feast your eyes on the world’s biggest goldfish (via The New York Post)

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Podcast is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, November 18th, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

Australia's Climate and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, went out with a bang as COP27 winds down in Egypt. He signed Australia up for a global alliance that will see wind power supercharged all over the globe.

Environment Tanya Plibersek has also given us some homework to do. She's joined the push for a legally binding treaty on plastic waste.

Plus, Mike Cannon-Brookes had a massive win at AGL's AGM this week, and 'The Office' star Rainn Wilson has had a name change for the ages.

Get the full rundown:

‘This could be the Cop where we lose 1.5C,’ warns Alok Sharma – as it happened (via The Guardian)

Winds of change: While in Egypt, Bowen backs Australian offshore wind (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Australia joins call for global treaty to end plastic pollution (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Mike Cannon-Brookes succeeds in shaking up AGL board (via The Guardian)

Rainn Wilson changes his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson (via Instagram)

We’re also following…

Find your ArcticRisk name 

Check out The Iconic’s pre-loved edit

Follow @wastemanmick on Instagram

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Show is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, November 11th, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

There's no denying that the BIGGEST story to rock the nation this week is REDcycle. Everyone's talking about how the soft plastic recycling scheme has been caught in a lie, sending the waste not off to be recycled but to a warehouse to be stockpiled. 

There's more controversy where that came from as both Billionaires and Rings of Power (yes, the Lord of the Rings spin-off show) land themselves in hot water. We're talking mass consumption and mass waste reports coming out of both camps. 

We give you the top headlines stories out of COP27 now that we're about a week in to the summit and Krissi drops some delightfully uplifting news about bees. 

And if you didn't know it already, it turns out Dobby the house elf is apparently going to be sustainability's undoing. 

Get the full rundown:

Coles, Woolworths recycling scheme collapses after secret stockpile revealed (via SMH)

The fire that sparked the end of Coles and Woolies plastic recycling program (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Billionaires burning more carbon than a country (via The Oz)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says climate change policy is impossible without peace (via ABC News)

Where are all the women? (Post by She Changes Climate on LinkedIn)

Serious concerns raised in NZ about environmental impact of major productions including Amazon’s Rings of Power (via The Guardian)

New native bee species with distinctive 'snout' discovered in Perth's Kings Park (via ABC News)

'Potter' Fans Place Socks at Dobby's Gravesite — but They Put Wildlife at Risk (via Green Matters)

We’re also following…

With no recycling, what should you do with your plastic bags and pasta packets? (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Ditch Cyber Weekend and Black Friday, opt for Green Friday instead

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Show is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, November 4th, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

We get emotional...along with the rest of the world as Sir David Attenborough touches our hearts for what could be the final time. Cop27 cops a lashing from Aussie shores and Greta Thunberg herself, it seem the global summit can't catch a break after allowing Coca-Cola to be their sponsor. 

It's good news for the Amazon this week, with Brazil's new president at the helm, it's more than likely the lungs of the planet will be saved. Plastic conversation reach fever pitch in more ways than one and Country Road enters the sustainability chat. 

Get the full rundown:

Sir David Attenborough: The Future of our Frozen Planet (via BBC Earth)

Greta Thunberg to skin ‘greenwashing’ Cop27 climate summit Egypt (via The Guardian) 

Confirmed: Chris Bowen, not Anthony Albanese, to attend UN climate summit (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

How Lula Won the Most Crucial Election in Brazil for Decades (via TIME)

Lula cheered for new climate policies after Brazil election (via Reuters)

World’s top plastics users unlikely to miss sustainability goals (via Bloomberg)

Single-Use Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds, Cutlery and More Will Be Banned in NSW From Tomorrow (via Broadsheet)

Beyond Waste: Recycling Plastics into Bespoke Homewares (via Country Road)

We’re also following…

Check out the hand-made recycling poster from Kristen’s local Woolies on Instagram

Cheer up with NASA’s smiling sun pic

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Show is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, October 21st, 2022: This week in the sustainability news cycle…

It's all about the rebrand...'weather' people want it or not. The Bureau aka BOM has not only ticked off our Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek but turned their overly loyal fans against them, in one messy and unnecessary swoop. 

Moving out of the clouds and into the wardrobe, fashion has a pretty big week as well. Not only did an undercover investigation into Shein get released but the 2022 Ethical Fashion Report dropped, and as we rummaged through the bottom drawers, we discovered the math just ain't mathing on this one. 

Everybody's boyfriend Pat Cummins re-enters the chat and cows become the latest player in the adult sex toy and sexual health realm. No, we're not making this up. You might be seeing lube made from cow snot on the shelves soon. Sustainability really is the gift that keeps on givin'. 

Get the full rundown:

$220K Bureau of Meteorology rebranding ‘ridiculous’, says Plibersek (via SMH)

Inside the Shein Machine: UNTOLD (via Channel 4)

Shein Is Even Worse Than You Thought (via The Cut)

Shein factory workers get 35 cents per garment, work 18-hour days, a new report says(via Business Insider)

Ethical Fashion Guide (via Baptist World Aid)

From Target to Sheike: Australia’s most and least ethical fashion brands, ranked (via Smart Company)

Cummins raised objection to Cricket Australia’s Alinta deal (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Pat Cummins says he will not appear in any more ads for Cricket Australia energy company sponsor (via The Guardian)

Lubricant made from cow mucus proves effective against HIV and herpes (via Technology Networks Biopharma) 

We’re also following…

Learn how to have environmentally friendly sex (via Triple J)

Watch Jane Goodall’s Masterclass where she teaches conservation 

For more bite-sized bits of sustainability news, follow Thriving Planet on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website.

Listen to our Terminology Guide episode here

The Thriving Planet Show is a product of Avid Collective.

Hosts and producers: Ash Webb and Kristen Amiet

Producer: Luke Spano

Editing and sound mixing: Alex Smith of Make Noise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.