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
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
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
This is one of the reasons why developing countries mistrust words at COP. "govt’s commitment was immediately questioned after PM Anthony Albanese, said the country planned to continue to develop new fossil fuel projects, including the Narrabri gas field in NSW." www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
‘Now is the hour’: Labor urged to speed up fossil fuel phase-out to justify Cop30 pledge
Despite Australia signing the Belem declaration, Albanese rejected suggestion Labor shouldn’t develop new gas fields
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:42 AM
This is one of the reasons why developing countries mistrust words at COP. "govt’s commitment was immediately questioned after PM Anthony Albanese, said the country planned to continue to develop new fossil fuel projects, including the Narrabri gas field in NSW." www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
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.
"Despite Bowen identifying himself as the Australian representative, it was not within his power to choose, the deal made clear. Turkey would assign a representative of Australia to that role."
It’s official: Turkey will be boss of COP31 climate talks
And its rival Australia will play a role in running the negotiations.
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:51 AM
"Despite Bowen identifying himself as the Australian representative, it was not within his power to choose, the deal made clear. Turkey would assign a representative of Australia to that role."
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
FutureCoal's Michelle Manook is the public face of a sophisticated pivot in global fossil fuel lobbying. This new approach appropriates progressive rhetoric such as “equity and inclusion”, and subsumes them into the notion of “sustainable coal stewardship”. satpa.pe/kdJCvB9
How an Australian coal lobbyist honed fossil fuel messaging
An Australian lobbyist now leading the world’s key coal body addressed the National Press Club this week, demonstrating a sophisticated pivot in global fossil fuel messaging.
satpa.pe
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
FutureCoal's Michelle Manook is the public face of a sophisticated pivot in global fossil fuel lobbying. This new approach appropriates progressive rhetoric such as “equity and inclusion”, and subsumes them into the notion of “sustainable coal stewardship”. satpa.pe/kdJCvB9
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
As @doctorvive.bsky.social has pointed out a quadrillion times, it such a moment of significant and extreme alarm that fossi lfuel industry talking points are being shamelessly and bluntly repeated by people like this
Very, very, very grim
Very, very, very grim
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today that the fight against climate change was not against the fuels that cause it — only the pollution they emit.
Von der Leyen says EU is not fighting fossil fuels, only emissions
The comment could undermine European countries’ push at COP30 to move away from coal, oil and gas.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 10:22 PM
As @doctorvive.bsky.social has pointed out a quadrillion times, it such a moment of significant and extreme alarm that fossi lfuel industry talking points are being shamelessly and bluntly repeated by people like this
Very, very, very grim
Very, very, very grim
This morning at #COP30 in Belém, Australian joined a group led by Colombia that will plan a fossil fuel phaseout outside the UN process, with the first meeting to be held next year in Santa Marta. It is the most significant statement AUS has made on future of fossil fuels to date.
Story to come.
Story to come.
November 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
This morning at #COP30 in Belém, Australian joined a group led by Colombia that will plan a fossil fuel phaseout outside the UN process, with the first meeting to be held next year in Santa Marta. It is the most significant statement AUS has made on future of fossil fuels to date.
Story to come.
Story to come.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Enten: "This is probably the worst 10 day period for the president in the polls his entire second term. The numbers are just atrocious ... when your best poll has you 14 points underwater, you know it's truly bad and it's as bad as 26 points underwater ... -43 with independents! They despise him."
November 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Enten: "This is probably the worst 10 day period for the president in the polls his entire second term. The numbers are just atrocious ... when your best poll has you 14 points underwater, you know it's truly bad and it's as bad as 26 points underwater ... -43 with independents! They despise him."
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today that the fight against climate change was not against the fuels that cause it — only the pollution they emit.
Von der Leyen says EU is not fighting fossil fuels, only emissions
The comment could undermine European countries’ push at COP30 to move away from coal, oil and gas.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today that the fight against climate change was not against the fuels that cause it — only the pollution they emit.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
The myth is circulating again that it was more radical otg activists and assimilationist gays ("boots and suits") teaming up that was responsible for queer communities' gains late '60s on.
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
November 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The myth is circulating again that it was more radical otg activists and assimilationist gays ("boots and suits") teaming up that was responsible for queer communities' gains late '60s on.
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Former LNG executive admits reality.
“The people who should be worried are the American producers who may not have a market for their gas if they don't have an international buyer. That’s how I see the LNG market evolving.”
(paywalled)
“The people who should be worried are the American producers who may not have a market for their gas if they don't have an international buyer. That’s how I see the LNG market evolving.”
(paywalled)
Souki Sees Need for U.S. LNG Developers to Shift Strategy as New Era Dawns
Discover the evolving landscape of the U.S. LNG market through the lens of industry expert Charif Souki, as he highlights the shift in strategy needed for American developers in this new era of global...
naturalgasintel.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Former LNG executive admits reality.
“The people who should be worried are the American producers who may not have a market for their gas if they don't have an international buyer. That’s how I see the LNG market evolving.”
(paywalled)
“The people who should be worried are the American producers who may not have a market for their gas if they don't have an international buyer. That’s how I see the LNG market evolving.”
(paywalled)
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
As expected, overnight, they dropped fossil fuels from the drafts AGAIN.
You can't make this discussion happen last minute during COP30 just to look good (or in hopes that it will lead to a map that lets developing country oil producers drill for longer).
You have to want to focus on it!
You can't make this discussion happen last minute during COP30 just to look good (or in hopes that it will lead to a map that lets developing country oil producers drill for longer).
You have to want to focus on it!
Let's be clear: there's not roadmap YET approved at COP30 for the end of fossil fuels.
What many countries are supporting is the INITIATIVE to set the roadmap. Because it was not originally part of the COP30 agenda - a big gap in the agenda that Brazil only last week decided should be addressed.
+
What many countries are supporting is the INITIATIVE to set the roadmap. Because it was not originally part of the COP30 agenda - a big gap in the agenda that Brazil only last week decided should be addressed.
+
November 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
As expected, overnight, they dropped fossil fuels from the drafts AGAIN.
You can't make this discussion happen last minute during COP30 just to look good (or in hopes that it will lead to a map that lets developing country oil producers drill for longer).
You have to want to focus on it!
You can't make this discussion happen last minute during COP30 just to look good (or in hopes that it will lead to a map that lets developing country oil producers drill for longer).
You have to want to focus on it!
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Here is a map view of the record high temperatures in October 2025 across the #Antarctic. Compare this blob of anomalies greater than 5°C with the Arctic from my earlier post. Yikes!
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds... using a 1981-2010 reference period.
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds... using a 1981-2010 reference period.
November 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Here is a map view of the record high temperatures in October 2025 across the #Antarctic. Compare this blob of anomalies greater than 5°C with the Arctic from my earlier post. Yikes!
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds... using a 1981-2010 reference period.
Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds... using a 1981-2010 reference period.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
It's day 12 of #COP30 and finally we have movement on the text.
In summary, it looks like the small minority of opponents of transitioning away from fossil fuels have been allowed to run roughshod over this text.
But let's dive in...
In summary, it looks like the small minority of opponents of transitioning away from fossil fuels have been allowed to run roughshod over this text.
But let's dive in...
It's day 11 of #COP30 and it's the second dawn without a new text.
Looks to be another fairly quiet day today until we get that draft text.
Looks to be another fairly quiet day today until we get that draft text.
It's day 10 of #COP30 and several media are reporting more than 80 countries support a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, we're waiting on new text that was promised to drop this morning...
Meanwhile, we're waiting on new text that was promised to drop this morning...
November 21, 2025 at 11:16 AM
It's day 12 of #COP30 and finally we have movement on the text.
In summary, it looks like the small minority of opponents of transitioning away from fossil fuels have been allowed to run roughshod over this text.
But let's dive in...
In summary, it looks like the small minority of opponents of transitioning away from fossil fuels have been allowed to run roughshod over this text.
But let's dive in...
Its the morning post fire here at #COP30 and security gates on both sides have been erected at the pavilions in the exhibition hall to protect the belongings of those who had to get out quick. The area where the fire took hold has been blocked off with sheets of cloth.
November 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Its the morning post fire here at #COP30 and security gates on both sides have been erected at the pavilions in the exhibition hall to protect the belongings of those who had to get out quick. The area where the fire took hold has been blocked off with sheets of cloth.
Reposted by Royce Kurmelovs
Not necessarily a higher-power believer, but maybe we should take the nudge from this all too on-the-nose metaphor and...do something???
BREAKING: COP30 Blue Zone venue is being evacuated after a firealarm was triggered. Smoke visible.
November 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Not necessarily a higher-power believer, but maybe we should take the nudge from this all too on-the-nose metaphor and...do something???