About Earthed: Australian climate + sustainability news
News and chat for people who like Australia's native plants and animals and who don't like climate pollution.
From zoos breeding Lord Howe 'tree lobsters', to farmers hosting wind, solar and carbon farms - from Tasmanian rangers getting rid of feral cats on Little Dog Island, to Wollongong scientists inventing a better way to make hydrogen - we talk about it here.
Hosted by Murray Griffin and Dr Franziska Curran.
(Want more Australian sustainability news and conversations? Listen to our 'Track Changes' podcast, featuring chats with climate change and sustainability experts.)
Turning a big mine into a lake; Saving our rarest marsupial
This week, we talk about saving one of Australia's most critically endangered animals – which lives on a diet of truffle-like fungus. And speaking of critically endangered fussy eaters, we've got some good news on dugongs, which feed off seagrass.
Plus, we find out why a dairy farmer in Victoria's western district is one of many business owners who is very happy about the expansion of a major clean energy scheme. And we talk about plans to turn a coal mine that's six kilometres long and 3.5 kilometres wide into a big lake.
Earthed is a quick, weekly round-up of climate of climate, nature and sustainability news from around Australia. It's hosted by Murray Griffin and Franziska Curran. If you enjoy this episode please follow the show, and rate it!
Links this episode:
Can Ningaloo Reef cope with extreme marine heat waves? https://wamsi.org.au/news/innovative-regeneration-program-launches-to-protect-was-coral-reefs/
Recycling solar panels: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/nsw-leads-australia-new-solar-panel-recycling-mandate
Turning a huge coal mine into a lake:
https://engage.vic.gov.au/Hazelwood-Rehabilitation-Project-IAC
So much plastic waste: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/publications/australian-plastics-flows-fates-report-2024-25#recycled
How plastic waste affects seabirds:
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/flesh-footed-shearwaters-toxic-ocean-plastic-diet.html
Doing more to protect NSW renters from high energy bills:
https://renew.org.au/advocacy/fit-to-rent-report/
A huge coal mine expansion:
https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/news/hunter-valley-operations-coal-mine-approved-conditions
Saving the Noisy Scrub-bird:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=830114569446555
29 Sept 2026
Footy fever! AFL and NRL bird and animal mascots
Game on! In this special episode we celebrate the AFL and NRL grand finals.
Which team mascot is classified as a threatened species? And which team mascots are feral pests? Which team mascot is the most abundant in Australia? And which team mascot makes the longest migratory journey (regenerating several times along the way)?
Plus, which player in Saturday's AFL grand final is a climate change activist?
Find out the answers to all these questions and more in this special episode. Follow the Earthed podcast for a weekly roundup of climate change and nature news from around Australia. Links this episode:
Earless dragons: https://earlessdragonalliance.com.au/about-the-dragons/
Alex Pearce calls for climate action: https://www.smh.com.au/national/athletes-turn-up-the-heat-on-politicians-over-climate-change-20250217-p5lcui.html
Global Citizen Now summit: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/now/perth/
Frontrunners (protecting the future of sport, protecting the future of all of us): https://www.frontrunners.org.au
Footy for climate (protecting the future of grassroots footy): https://footyforclimate.org.au
Artist Cheryl Davison and the story of the black swan:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1139381119914018
22 Sept 2026
It's electrifying! A new push to get Australia off gas and diesel
Plus, why did eyes roll when Australia's environment ministers agreed to urgently reduce packaging waste? And what does a soon to be rat-free island in the Timor Sea have in common with an Antarctic penguin?
Also this week, choosing which parts of Australia to prioritise for nature restoration, and inventing a better way to make green hydrogen.
Earthed is a news and chat pod for people who like Australia's native plants and animals and who don't like climate pollution. Hosted by Murray Griffin and Dr Franziska Curran.
Links this issue:
The Electrifying Australia website - https://electrifyaustralia.org.au/case-studies
Jenny Edwards from Rewiring Australia talking about Tradies Day - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jenergy27_electrifyaustralia-activity-7506603755468152832-wAX0
David Pocock talking about a new home electrification scheme - https://www.instagram.com/reels/DdYHQBPBYDG/
A new national renewable energy scorecard - https://ieefa.org/articles/ieefa-launches-australian-renewable-energy-scorecard
An Australian Conservation Foundation expose report on deforestation for beef production - https://canopy.acf.org.au/asset/333bfb8f-5189-4818-b5f9-d83af92e8db2/Bulldozers-and-broken-promises.pdf
In-cray-dible news on spiny crayfish - https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/in-cray-dible-news-freshwater-biodiversity
'I've got chills, there multiplying ...' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYk0_U7kf3g
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