Royce Kurmelovs
@roycerk2.bsky.social
Journalist. Author of The Death of Holden (2016), Just Money (2020) and others.
Buy Slick: Australia's Toxic Relationship with Big Oil (2024) now: https://www.slickthebook.com.au/
For more me: https://www.roycekurmelovs.com/
Buy Slick: Australia's Toxic Relationship with Big Oil (2024) now: https://www.slickthebook.com.au/
For more me: https://www.roycekurmelovs.com/
Pinned
Royce Kurmelovs
@roycerk2.bsky.social
· Jun 6
Slick has been given a reprint --now with a fancy sticker on the cover. If you want to understand Why We Are Like This on climate change, or read about things like that one time the oil and gas industry spied on the son of a prime minister, and you haven't picked up a copy, now's your chance!
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Fear Santos gas plan may start fracking rush that poses ‘major risk’ to NT water supply
by @donnadlu.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
by @donnadlu.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Fear Santos gas plan may start fracking rush that poses ‘major risk’ to NT water supply
Fossil fuel company plans to expand exploration in Beetaloo basin
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Fear Santos gas plan may start fracking rush that poses ‘major risk’ to NT water supply
by @donnadlu.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
by @donnadlu.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
BREAKING 🚨: The government has just announced that they are ending new oil and gas exploration in the UK and have started a plan for workers and communities to transition away from fossil fuels.
🧵
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 5:55 PM
BREAKING 🚨: The government has just announced that they are ending new oil and gas exploration in the UK and have started a plan for workers and communities to transition away from fossil fuels.
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Australia projected to miss 2035 emissions reduction target ‘by a country mile’ unless it ramps up climate policies
Australia projected to miss 2035 emissions reduction target ‘by a country mile’ unless it ramps up climate policies
Climate change minister Chris Bowen acknowledges ‘additional work’ needed to meet 2035 goal
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Australia projected to miss 2035 emissions reduction target ‘by a country mile’ unless it ramps up climate policies
FWIW when we spoke to people familiar with diplomatic lingo, they said this kind of clause was common as it compels the parties to work things out but does not grant either advantage over the other.
In case you wondered about next year's Australian-Turkish COP31, this is the agreement. HT: @carbonbrief.org
The very trick detail: "If there is a difference in views between Turkey and Australia, consultations will take place until the difference is resolved to mutual satisfaction"
The very trick detail: "If there is a difference in views between Turkey and Australia, consultations will take place until the difference is resolved to mutual satisfaction"
November 26, 2025 at 7:09 PM
FWIW when we spoke to people familiar with diplomatic lingo, they said this kind of clause was common as it compels the parties to work things out but does not grant either advantage over the other.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Rich nations blamed operational rifts and budget constraints to hold off funding TFFF, a struggle that reflects a worldwide crisis in climate finance; nearly one-third of the funds raised by global forest mechanisms remain undisbursed.
Carla Ruas on @mongabay.com
news.mongabay.com/2025/11/braz...
Carla Ruas on @mongabay.com
news.mongabay.com/2025/11/braz...
Brazil’s forest fund faces a slow takeoff at COP30 despite initial support
Operational rifts and budget constraints choked ambitious funding from rich nations for TFFF at Belém’s summit.
news.mongabay.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Rich nations blamed operational rifts and budget constraints to hold off funding TFFF, a struggle that reflects a worldwide crisis in climate finance; nearly one-third of the funds raised by global forest mechanisms remain undisbursed.
Carla Ruas on @mongabay.com
news.mongabay.com/2025/11/braz...
Carla Ruas on @mongabay.com
news.mongabay.com/2025/11/braz...
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
China's new coal plant permits set for four-year low in 2025, analysis finds reut.rs/3M2SKEb
China's new coal plant permits set for four-year low in 2025, analysis finds
China's new coal plant permits for 2025 are on track to fall to a four-year low, a new Greenpeace analysis showed on Tuesday, indicating that growing use of renewables is cutting into demand for new coal plants.
reut.rs
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
China's new coal plant permits set for four-year low in 2025, analysis finds reut.rs/3M2SKEb
"Vietnam has been hit by 14 typhoons this year. Five was the average a few decades ago. The rain from the past few days did not even come from a cyclone — but to add inundation on top of injury, a 15th major storm has just formed off the country’s south central coast."
Vietnam’s Year of Floods, Mud and Death
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:20 PM
"Vietnam has been hit by 14 typhoons this year. Five was the average a few decades ago. The rain from the past few days did not even come from a cyclone — but to add inundation on top of injury, a 15th major storm has just formed off the country’s south central coast."
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Communities along Cambodia’s O’Ta Bouk River are experiencing severe water contamination, skin ailments and the collapse of fish stocks, which they blame on an unregulated gold mine operating upstream inside Virachey National Park.
Toxic runoff from politically linked gold mine poisons Cambodian rivers, communities
*Sources have requested pseudonyms be used to protect their identity out of fear of retaliation from the government or mining companies BANGKOK, Thailand/RATANAKIRI, Cambodia — “When you touch the…
news.mongabay.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Communities along Cambodia’s O’Ta Bouk River are experiencing severe water contamination, skin ailments and the collapse of fish stocks, which they blame on an unregulated gold mine operating upstream inside Virachey National Park.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Second part of this great, devastating, reporting.
"As the auto industry struggled through the subsequent financial crisis, other car companies and battery retailers also declined to sign on. Green Lead collapsed"
Explore this gift article. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
"As the auto industry struggled through the subsequent financial crisis, other car companies and battery retailers also declined to sign on. Green Lead collapsed"
Explore this gift article. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
The Auto Industry Was Warned: Battery Recycling Was Poisoning People
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Second part of this great, devastating, reporting.
"As the auto industry struggled through the subsequent financial crisis, other car companies and battery retailers also declined to sign on. Green Lead collapsed"
Explore this gift article. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
"As the auto industry struggled through the subsequent financial crisis, other car companies and battery retailers also declined to sign on. Green Lead collapsed"
Explore this gift article. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Ten years after the Pinery bushfire tore through an area roughly the size of Greater Adelaide, those who were there reflect on how it changed their lives.
Community now better prepared 10 years on from deadly Pinery bushfire
Ten years after the Pinery bushfire tore through an area roughly the size of Greater Adelaide, those who were there reflect on how it changed their lives.
www.abc.net.au
November 24, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Ten years after the Pinery bushfire tore through an area roughly the size of Greater Adelaide, those who were there reflect on how it changed their lives.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
🚨 SCOOP: Toyota and Aston Martin secretly lobbied a Conservative cabinet minister to weaken Britain’s climate policy.
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
Victory! We’ve won major legal battle exposing car industry lobbying
After two years we can finally reveal “backdoor channels where corporate money hijacks our democracy.”
democracyforsale.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:57 AM
🚨 SCOOP: Toyota and Aston Martin secretly lobbied a Conservative cabinet minister to weaken Britain’s climate policy.
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
"It is located 5km from the town of Deniliquin, but none of that town’s population of more than 2,700 people objected to it.
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
November 24, 2025 at 10:09 AM
"It is located 5km from the town of Deniliquin, but none of that town’s population of more than 2,700 people objected to it.
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Please read this & help save the State Library of Victoria, entering its 'now fully trashed' era. I didn't go to uni - for me the Library was higher education in later life, research for my job, a revelation about what ordinary people could have access to. It changed my life. Not just a building.
The State Library of Victoria’s ‘major’ proposed cuts include slashing the number of reference librarians and free computers for public access. Some staff are shocked.
Proposed cuts at State Library of Victoria go against its mission – and will hurt the disadvantaged
theconversation.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Please read this & help save the State Library of Victoria, entering its 'now fully trashed' era. I didn't go to uni - for me the Library was higher education in later life, research for my job, a revelation about what ordinary people could have access to. It changed my life. Not just a building.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Researchers warn that the alga Karenia cristata, which has killed around a million animals in Australian waters in one of the biggest algal blooms ever seen, could harm marine life elsewhere
Toxic algae blighting South Australia could pose a global threat
Researchers warn that the alga Karenia cristata, which has killed around a million animals in Australian waters in one of the biggest algal blooms ever seen, could harm marine life elsewhere
www.newscientist.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Researchers warn that the alga Karenia cristata, which has killed around a million animals in Australian waters in one of the biggest algal blooms ever seen, could harm marine life elsewhere
To give you an idea about just how eventful the end of COP30 was, I wrote and rewrote this entire 2000 story for @drilledmedia.bsky.social three times over a period of about six hours as it was all happening.
COP-tastrophe: How the COP of Implementation, Truth, Forests, and Indigenous Peoples Failed on All Counts
COP30 began full of promise but ended as yet another reminder that the mechanism for global climate governance is broken.
drilled.media
November 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
To give you an idea about just how eventful the end of COP30 was, I wrote and rewrote this entire 2000 story for @drilledmedia.bsky.social three times over a period of about six hours as it was all happening.
Australia has joined a Colombian government initiative to plan a phase out of oil, gas and coal marking the strongest statement the government has made regarding the future of fossil fuels.
Story here:
Story here:
November 23, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Australia has joined a Colombian government initiative to plan a phase out of oil, gas and coal marking the strongest statement the government has made regarding the future of fossil fuels.
Story here:
Story here:
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
A comprehensive rundown of the #COP30 shenanigans from @roycerk2.bsky.social. From what I saw, the Colombians were the only ones whose negotiators and civil society groups were on the same page, and they carried the whole world on their shoulders.
November 23, 2025 at 1:40 AM
A comprehensive rundown of the #COP30 shenanigans from @roycerk2.bsky.social. From what I saw, the Colombians were the only ones whose negotiators and civil society groups were on the same page, and they carried the whole world on their shoulders.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Read @roycerk2.bsky.social to find out how #cop30 ended
One of Australia’s best journalists, covering an issue that is still not getting enough attention #climate
One of Australia’s best journalists, covering an issue that is still not getting enough attention #climate
The #COP30 text commits to following the science and embracing information integrity while stripping away all mention of fossil fuel phaseout @roycerk2.bsky.social reports.
drilled.media/news/COP30-w...
drilled.media/news/COP30-w...
COP-tastrophe: How the COP of Implementation, Truth, Forests, and Indigenous Peoples Failed on All Counts
COP30 began full of promise but ended as yet another reminder that the mechanism for global climate governance is broken.
drilled.media
November 23, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Read @roycerk2.bsky.social to find out how #cop30 ended
One of Australia’s best journalists, covering an issue that is still not getting enough attention #climate
One of Australia’s best journalists, covering an issue that is still not getting enough attention #climate
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
The #COP30 text commits to following the science and embracing information integrity while stripping away all mention of fossil fuel phaseout @roycerk2.bsky.social reports.
drilled.media/news/COP30-w...
drilled.media/news/COP30-w...
COP-tastrophe: How the COP of Implementation, Truth, Forests, and Indigenous Peoples Failed on All Counts
COP30 began full of promise but ended as yet another reminder that the mechanism for global climate governance is broken.
drilled.media
November 23, 2025 at 1:38 AM
The #COP30 text commits to following the science and embracing information integrity while stripping away all mention of fossil fuel phaseout @roycerk2.bsky.social reports.
drilled.media/news/COP30-w...
drilled.media/news/COP30-w...
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
I was the bassist in a well-known group in the 80s to 90s. Decent career. On Ken Bruce's Popmaster, a contestant couldn't name any of our hits. This hurt more than any of the regular kickings we got from those smug fucks at the NME.
November 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I was the bassist in a well-known group in the 80s to 90s. Decent career. On Ken Bruce's Popmaster, a contestant couldn't name any of our hits. This hurt more than any of the regular kickings we got from those smug fucks at the NME.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Humans will NEVER colonize another planet. Never.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
November 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Humans will NEVER colonize another planet. Never.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Exxon freezes plans for major hydrogen plant amid weak customer demand reut.rs/4ohcQYR
Exxon freezes plans for major hydrogen plant amid weak customer demand
Exxon Mobil has paused plans to build what would be one of the world's largest hydrogen production facilities due to weak customer demand, CEO Darren Woods told Reuters in an interview on Friday.
reut.rs
November 22, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Exxon freezes plans for major hydrogen plant amid weak customer demand reut.rs/4ohcQYR
"Since the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, Australia isn’t in the business of being bold. It does business as usual. Boldness, after all, attracts attention. Boldness is risky and doesn’t carry the same return on investment as gas or coal."
Me Australia's failed COP31 bid.
Me Australia's failed COP31 bid.
reneweconomy.com.au
November 22, 2025 at 1:28 AM
"Since the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, Australia isn’t in the business of being bold. It does business as usual. Boldness, after all, attracts attention. Boldness is risky and doesn’t carry the same return on investment as gas or coal."
Me Australia's failed COP31 bid.
Me Australia's failed COP31 bid.