Australia’s LNG Exporters and Miners Confront Union Strikes

Labor unrest puts pressure on Australia’s mining and LNG industries

Labor unrest is rising in Australia’s resources sector, with heightened strike risks at mines and ports. That adds to high costs and red tape, which big players such as BHP warn is damaging the country’s investment appeal. Unions have been supported by a law introduced by the Labor government in 2022, which allowed multi-employer wage negotiations, more flexible work requests, and industry-wide strikes, resulting in more industrial action. Unions are achieving victories, particularly in the oil and gas industries, which is encouraging more workers to unionize as they seek pay rises and job security amid 4% inflation and three interest rate rises. 

Recent actions include a June strike that disrupted Ichthys LNG shipments, which was eventually resolved with Inpex. Ichthys LNG accounts for about 10% of Australia’s LNG output. Shell’s Prelude floating LNG vessel is next in wage negotiations, with potential strikes possible if no deal is reached. BHP warns Australia risks losing its status as a top mining destination if costs and productivity aren’t addressed. Australian mine workers are already among the world’s best-paid, and further wage rises could accelerate automation by companies such as BHP and Rio. 

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Further reading: Australia’s top export sectors face rising strike threats

UK watchdog bans fashion ads over unproven recycling claims

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned Google ads from Calvin Klein, Adidas, and Uniqlo for promoting “recycled” clothing and shoes, as the companies could not sufficiently prove their environmental claims. The specific ads banned were Adidas’s “recycled running shoes,” Calvin Klein’s “recycled tops for women,” and Uniqlo’s fleece coats and jackets made from “recycled materials.”

The companies argued that only certain products or parts used recycled materials, as supported by internal documentation or certifications, and that consumers would not interpret the ads as applying to all their products. The ASA ruled that the unqualified use of the term “recycled” would lead consumers to believe the products were made entirely from recycled materials. Absolute environmental claims require a high level of substantiation and clear explanation. 

These bans are part of a broader ASA investigation into environmental claims in the retail fashion sector. In December, the ASA also banned similar misleading ads from Nike, Superdry, and Lacoste. 

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Further reading: Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein ads in UK banned over ‘recycled’ clothing claims

EU deepens regional partnerships through new connectivity agenda

On 23 June, the European Commission launched the Connectivity Agenda Platform and concluded agreements with international financial institutions that are expected to mobilize up to €2 billion for strategic connectivity investments in the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus. The Platform was unveiled at a high-level ministerial meeting hosted by Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, and Commissioner for Sustainable Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

The meeting involved ministers and representatives from EU Member States, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the G7, and international financial institutions. The goal of the Connectivity Agenda Platform is to coordinate investments and policy actions across transport, energy, digital connectivity, and trade sectors under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. Participants agreed to strengthen the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) and invited the Commission to assess its functioning and propose priority actions to improve its competitiveness. 

The Cross-regional Connectivity Agenda was first presented in Luxembourg in October 2025. 

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Further reading: EU launches Connectivity Agenda Platform to strengthen links between Europe and Central Asia through the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus

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London air pollution deaths fall 40% in five years

Deaths linked to air pollution in London fell by an estimated 40% over the five years from 2019 to 2024, according to new analysis by Imperial College London. Mayor Sadiq Khan credited the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) with saving lives and improving public health, despite initial opposition. 

The study showed sharp reductions in toxic air pollution: nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels down 41% and fine particulate pollution down 28% since 2019. Air pollution caused 6,400 to 8,000 premature deaths in 2019, down to 3,800 to 5,100 in 2024. Air pollution is a serious public health risk, and stronger links have now been made to cardiovascular conditions, dementia, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. Outer London boroughs, such as Bexley, Havering, and Sutton, had the highest ratios of deaths attributed to air pollution in 2024. 

Even though the report doesn’t directly attribute improvements to ULEZ, Khan highlighted the policy’s impact. Khan’s other supporting measures include £2.7m for indoor air filters in 200 primary schools and an increase in zero-emission buses from 30 to more than 3,000.  

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Further reading: Deaths linked to London air pollution have fallen 40%, study estimates

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com —  In the Cover Photo: An aerial view of a construction site in Australia. Cover Photo Credit: Iain