Coal union moves to unlock Glencore gates

The coal union has secured an important early victory in its attempt to parachute six unemployed members into Glencore's Collinsville coal mine, which was re-opened last year as a non-union operation, according to the Australian Financial Review.

On Monday, courtesy of a set of orders from the Fair Work Commission, the union secured access to a wealth of senior management deliberations over the construct of the Collinsville work force from September 1 to November 30 last year.

Queensland coal mine could hurt endangered finch, court hears

Plans to build Australia's largest coal mine in central Queensland would wipe out the habitat of the world's most significant population of an endangered finch, a court has heard.

The Land Court of Queensland began hearing a challenge to Indian giant Adani's proposed $16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin, on Tuesday.

Opponents argue the mine's economic benefits have been overstated and the environmental costs will be high.

Australia not among rich nations releasing post-2020 emission goals on time

Australia has been left behind by most other wealthy nations in failing to disclose its post-2020 carbon reduction goals by the first quarter of 2015 as agreed at a global gathering in Peru last December, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The 28-nation European Union has announced that it would cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% on 1990 levels by 2030.

US President Barack Obama is expected on Tuesday, US time, to formally submit to the United Nations his country's plans to cut carbon pollution 26% to 28% on 2005 levels by 2025.