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Sir James Bevan says extreme flooding in UK indicates urgent need for change if humanity is to survive

The climate emergency is already hitting “worst case scenario” levels that if left unchecked will lead to the collapse of ecosystems, with dire consequences for humanity, according to the chief executive of the Environment Agency.

Warning that this is not “science fiction”, Sir James Bevan said on Tuesday that in recent years several of the “reasonable worst case scenarios” had happened in the UK, with more extreme weather and flooding. And he urged politicians to take action to reduce emissions and adapt to the “inevitable” impacts of the climate emergency.

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Helicopters carried critically endangered great apes deep into forest from rehabilitation centres

Ten orangutans have been released back into the wild in the Indonesian part of Borneo island, with helicopters used to ferry the critically endangered great apes deep into the forest from rehabilitation centres.

The Bornean orangutans had all been in captivity before their rescue. They include Nenuah, a 19-year-old female who had been repatriated from Thailand, according to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF).

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New analysis warns lower electricity prices caused by "tidal wave" of new wind and solar investment could push multiple coal plants into early retirement.

The post “Tidal wave” of new wind and solar will force early coal plant closures appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator has issued over 180,000 carbon credits in its latest round, as secondary market offset prices remain stable after earlier this month hitting their highest since the dismantling of the carbon pricing mechanism.

Blueshore announced as new asset manager for the 20MW Royalla Solar Farm, bringing the total capacity under management to over 600MW.

The post Asset manager Blueshore takes on 20MW Royalla solar farm in ACT appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Forestry Commission accused of funding non-native plantations that damage peatlands and imperil rare species

The natural bowl in the Northumberland hills studded with dumpy young conifers looks innocuous enough. But the English borders are the scene of an increasingly bitter battle as ambitious government tree-planting targets collide with concerns for rare plants and birds.

The government is seeking to dramatically increase tree planting to 30,000 hectares of new trees in the UK each year, with plantations sequestering carbon and helping the government reach net zero emissions by 2050.

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Nearly £10bn worth of investments including in oil and gas made via pension funds in last financial year

Local councils that have declared a climate emergency are continuing to pour money into fossil fuels through their staff pension funds, analysis has shown.

Nearly £10bn worth of investments in fossil fuels, including oil and gas companies such as BP and Shell, were found in local government pension funds in the last financial year, according to an assessment by the campaign groups Platform and Friends of the Earth.

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World’s Forgotten Fishes report lists pollution, overfishing and climate change as dangers

Freshwater fish are under threat, with as many as a third of global populations in danger of extinction, according to an assessment.

Populations of migratory freshwater fish have plummeted by 76% since 1970, and large fish – those weighing more than 30kg – have been all but wiped out in most rivers. The global population of megafish down by 94%, and 16 freshwater fish species were declared extinct last year.

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Craig Kelly takes his strident climate views to the cross-bench. Could a move to the Nationals be on the cards?

The post Liberals lose loudest climate denier as Craig Kelly quits party appeared first on RenewEconomy.

APA still can't find a customer for its proposed new gas generator promised support by Morrison government as it looks to hydrogen opportunities after big first half loss.

The post APA’s new gas generator remains in UNGI limbo, as appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scientists determined the painting's age by examining ancient wasp nests around the artwork.

Poles and wires owner Spark Infrastructure will continue its foray into generation with a string of new renewable energy projects.

The post Network owner Spark ramps up generation plans with 1.5GW of solar, wind and battery appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hawaii’s largest utility easily beats 2020 renewables target as it marches on to 2045 goal of reaching 100 per cent renewable energy on its island grids.

The post Hawaii Electric blows past 2020 target on road to 100% renewable energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Coca-Cola Amatil signs on to switch its Australian beverage facilities to 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2025, aiming for net zero emissions by 2040.

The post Coca-Cola Amatil commits to 100pct renewables by 2025, zero emissions by 2040 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Dalrymple North big battery in South Australia delivers biggest bang per megawatt hour in most lucrative market for battery storage.

The post Dalrymple big battery delivers biggest bang for megawatt hour of storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scott Morrison says Coalition is ‘getting on with’ reductions, but analysis finds end of lockdowns and drought will reverse trend

Most of the reduction in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions last year is likely to be wiped out as transport rebounds after Covid-19 lockdowns and farming recovers from the long-term-drought, according to an audit of national climate data.

Scott Morrison told the National Press Club earlier this month the government was “getting on with” reducing emissions, citing official data that found emissions were down 3% in the year to June to their lowest levels since 1998. He declared “these are the facts”.

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A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Numbers are plunging due to pollution, unsustainable fishing and the draining of rivers.

Address to National Farmers’ Union aims to extend party’s support beyond urban strongholds

Sir Keir Starmer will call on farmers and people living in rural areas to take a fresh look at the Labour party, vowing to push for new investment in food and farming and a revision of subsidy payments, in an effort to move beyond the party’s urban strongholds.

He will urge people to buy more British food, and for more of the public sector’s £2.4bn food procurement budget to be spent locally, as well as calling for subsidised wages for apprentices to shore up the UK’s ageing farm workforce.

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Verra is seeking two Registry Administrators to handle all day-to-day registry functions of the newly in-housed Verra Registry.