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News DeskEnvironmentCoalition Moves to Strip Overseas Emissions Disclosure Rules
Verified Curriculum CorpusPublished: Today
Environment·CEFR C1·Advanced

Coalition Moves to Strip Overseas Emission Reporting Rules

Article Level ·●C1·Advanced
2 min read·131 words·Audio: 1:01
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Studio Narration
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Reading PassageRead-along: word by word (UK)
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The Coalition has announced its intention to rules fossil fuel producers to disclose greenhouse gas emissions generated when their products are burned overseas. The move comes in the wake of a High Court ruling that confirmed New South Wales planning authorities should have conditions on scope 3 emissions from the Mount Pleasant coalmine. A majority of three judges to two found in favour of the NSW couple at the centre of the case. Nationals leader Matt Canavan has the ruling as 'net zero on steroids'. The requirement for planning authorities to consider scope 3 emissions has existed in the New South Wales planning system for almost 20 years. Separately, 141 countries at the UN voted to support the International Court of Justice opinion, while eight countries

Study this lesson

Activities for CEFR C1, all based on the story above.

1. Vocabulary

Useful words and phrases from the story, with meanings and examples.

Words from the story

6 Target Terms
in the wake of/ɪn ðə ˈweɪk əv/
idiom · C1

As a direct result of or immediately following a significant event.

“In the wake of the scandal, several senior officials resigned within a single week.”

Often with: in the wake of a ruling, in the wake of a crisis, in the wake of a disaster

dismantle/dɪsˈmæntl/
verb · C1

To take apart or remove an existing system, structure, or set of rules.

“The new government vowed to dismantle the outdated regulatory framework inherited from its predecessor.”

Often with: dismantle rules, dismantle an argument, dismantle a system

weighed/weɪd/
verb · C1

Considered carefully and evaluated before making a decision.

“The committee weighed the risks before approving the expansion project.”

Often with: weighed conditions, weighed the evidence, weighed the options

characterised/ˈkærəktəraɪzd/
verb · C1

Described or labelled something in a particular way, often reflecting the speaker's opinion.

“The critic characterised the film as a masterpiece of understated emotion.”

Often with: characterised as, characterised the ruling, characterised the response

dissented/dɪˈsentɪd/
verb · C1

Formally expressed disagreement, especially in a voting or judicial context.

“Two members of the board dissented from the final report, citing insufficient data.”

Often with: dissented from the opinion, countries dissented, the judge dissented

obliging/əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/
verb · C1

Requiring or compelling someone to do something by law or rule.

“The new directive is obliging all departments to file compliance reports by March.”

Often with: obliging producers, obliging companies, obliging applicants

2. Check your understanding

Questions about the story. Answer first; each question explains the answer.

Reading Comprehension

Fact Verification
Passage

The Coalition has announced its intention to dismantle rules obliging fossil fuel producers to disclose greenhouse gas emissions generated when their products are burned overseas. The move comes in the wake of a High Court ruling that confirmed New South Wales planning authorities should have weighed conditions on scope 3 emissions from the Mount Pleasant coalmine. A majority of three judges to two found in favour of the NSW couple at the centre of the case. Nationals leader Matt Canavan has characterised the ruling as 'net zero on steroids'. The requirement for planning authorities to consider scope 3 emissions has existed in the New South Wales planning system for almost 20 years. Separately, 141 countries at the UN voted to support the International Court of Justice opinion, while eight countries dissented.

1. What does Matt Canavan's phrase 'net zero on steroids' suggest about his view of the ruling?
2. What is the relationship between the High Court ruling and the Coalition's announcement, as stated in the text?
3. Which statement about the scope 3 emissions requirement is supported by the text?

3. Practice

Activities with instant feedback. Try each one before you look at the answer key.

Contextual Syntax Drill

Grammar & Tenses

Fill in each blank with the grammatically correct passive or active form of the verb indicated in parentheses.

1. The rules obliging fossil fuel producers to disclose emissionsby the Coalition in its recent announcement.(present perfect passive)
2. New South Wales planning authoritiesconditions on scope 3 emissions from the Mount Pleasant coalmine.(past modal (should have + past participle))
3. Nationals leader Matt Canavanthe ruling as 'net zero on steroids.'(present perfect active)
4. The requirement for planning authorities to consider scope 3 emissionsin the New South Wales planning system for almost 20 years.(present perfect with duration)

Lexical Matching Drill

Vocabulary in Context

Select the matching definition for each target news term extracted from the report.

in the wake of
dismantle
characterised
dissented
obliging

4. Write or speak

A short task in your own words.

Guided Writing Practice & Model Comparison

Productive Synthesis
Writing Prompt:

Write a concise summary in your own words (target: 120–180 words). Incorporate the target vocabulary: High Court, scope 3, dismantle, dissented.

Target range: 120–180 words·Current: 0 words
Self-Assessment Checklist Rubric0 of 4 criteria met

Review your draft against each pedagogical criterion before completing the exercise:

Editorial Discussion & Reflection

Spoken & Written Reasoning

Formulate your opinion on these real-world questions. Take brief notes or practice answering out loud.

1. Why do you think the Coalition chose to announce its plan to dismantle the rules only 'in the wake of' the High Court ruling, rather than before it? What might this timing suggest about its political motivation?
2. Matt Canavan called the ruling 'net zero on steroids.' Do you think this kind of characterisation helps or hinders public debate about climate policy? Give reasons.
3. The UN vote showed 141 countries supporting and eight dissenting. What does such a large majority suggest about the global significance of this issue, and why might a small number of countries still dissent?

Answer key and explanations

Try the activities first: you learn more by checking your own answers. Then compare.