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Brown coal generators must now dance to the tune of rooftop solar
Victoria's ageing brown coal generators forced to dance to the tune of rooftop solar as new minimum demand levels set during daylight hours.
The post Brown coal generators must now dance to the tune of rooftop solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.
A new Threatened Species Strategy
Tahlequah the orca - famous for carrying her dead calf for 17 days - gives birth again
Researchers estimate the new calf, which was seen ‘swimming vigorously alongside its mother’, was born last week
An orca who became famous around the world in 2018 when she carried her stillborn calf aloft in the water for 17 days has given birth to a healthy baby.
The not-for-profit Center for Whale Research spotted the baby, dubbed J-57, “swimming vigorously alongside its mother”, named Tahlequah, on Saturday in waters near the border between the US state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia. They estimate that the calf was born on Friday.
Continue reading...Taylor to force clean energy funds to back gas and carbon capture
A leaked draft of the Morrison government's 'technology investment roadmap' suggests it will open up clean energy funding to fossil fuel projects.
The post Taylor to force clean energy funds to back gas and carbon capture appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Queensland fast-tracks renewable zones with $500m “shot in the arm”
Queensland government unveils a $1 billion Covid-19 recovery stimulus package, a full half of which is being dedicated to fast-tracking three new renewable energy zones.
The post Queensland fast-tracks renewable zones with $500m “shot in the arm” appeared first on RenewEconomy.
People hate cruelty to animals, so why do we do it?
Climate Offset Manager, Carbon Forest Services – Wellington
Senior Analyst Climate Change Operations, Ministry for Primary Industries – Wellington
Energy giant to close biggest coal generator in Germany after just five years
“Economically and politically dead”. Energy giant wants to close down its newest and biggest coal generator in Germany after just five years because it is losing money.
The post Energy giant to close biggest coal generator in Germany after just five years appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Newest coal generators rank amongst Australia’s worst for reliability
"All hype and spin." New "low emissions high effeciency" coal fired generator in Queensland' among the worst in Australia in terms of reliability.
The post Newest coal generators rank amongst Australia’s worst for reliability appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Photos from the field: capturing the grandeur and heartbreak of Tasmania's giant trees
Unesco urged to oppose 'alarming' changes to Australian environment laws
Conservation groups warn Australia’s natural world heritage sites are ‘under more pressure than ever before’
Australian conservation groups have written to the UN’s peak environmental heritage body urging it to oppose the Coalition’s bid to devolve the approval process for projects to state and territory governments.
In a letter to the director general of Unesco, the 13 groups warn of the “alarming moves … to weaken legal protection for Australia’s 20 world heritage listed properties” through changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Continue reading...Prominent scientist slams forestry association for dismissing logging links to bushfire risk
Exclusive: John Dargavel says his professional body ‘damaged and demeaned’ all foresters by dismissing links between logging and bushfire risks
A veteran Australian forestry scientist has launched a blistering attack on his professional association after it used the retraction of a scientific paper to dismiss links between logging and increased bushfire risks.
In an open letter to the Institute of Foresters Australia seen by Guardian Australia, Dr John Dargavel said the institute’s reaction “damages our standing” and “demeans all foresters in the public eye”.
Continue reading...Extinction Rebellion calls move to class it as organised crime group 'ridiculous'
Climate group criticises move by UK government as Labour condemns newspaper protest
Extinction Rebellion has described government moves to treat the climate crisis protest movement as an organised crime group as “ridiculous.”
The group said associating it with the state’s definition of a crime gang as “characterised by violence or the threat of violence and by the use of bribery and corruption” was an insult to the thousands of ordinary citizens who supported its cause.
Continue reading...ESB puts “coal exit strategy” at centre of energy market shakeup
ESB releases discussion paper on energy market reforms, designed to smooth the exit of coal generators, and the transition to wind, solar and storage.
The post ESB puts “coal exit strategy” at centre of energy market shakeup appeared first on RenewEconomy.
'The whole place was a toilet': Dartmoor reels from camping boom
Hundreds of campers descended on the Devon national park this summer as the UK’s Covid lockdown eased
The scene could hardly be more idyllic. A broad grassy bank next to a clear, burbling river. Downstream from the stone bridge, herons patrol the shallows, while deer, wild ponies and cattle trot down the hillside in the early autumn sunshine for a drink.
This spot at Bellever in the heart of Dartmoor was very different at the height of the summer, when hundreds of “fly-campers” descended from across the UK with tents, gazebos, music systems, fairy lights and generators to grab a taste of post-lockdown freedom.
Continue reading...Enough with 'local' and 'organic'. We'll begin to eat well when we farm well | James Rebanks
Our diet should be shaped by what works for the land, argues the farmer-author
As a farmer, I’m supposed to hate vegans and environmental activists, but that’s nonsense. Even when I don’t agree with everything they say, I share their wish to make the world a better place and their concern about the state it’s in today. In an age of increasingly apocalyptic news about the natural world, we are frequently warned that the things we are buying and eating are driving ecological collapse. Sensible and thoughtful people everywhere are asking the same question: what should I eat?
It is a good question and an important one that speaks of a growing public awareness of our footprint on Earth and our wish to do less harm, individually and collectively. But as a farmer I know that that question masks another, far deeper one, that we must all ask ourselves: how should we farm?
Continue reading...Why a lack of squished bugs on the windscreen is a worrying sign | Tim Adams
The dramatic drop in insect populations is to be highlighted by David Attenborough
We were in Cornwall for a fortnight at the end of last month, driving back to London on the bank holiday. Unpacking the car, I found myself crouching to peer at the front numberplate with my phone torch. I’m old enough to remember when long summer journeys left windscreens and headlights stippled with insects. Looking at the car last week, though, there was no evidence of that one-time carnage, hardly a squished bug to be seen.
Continue reading...Approved inverters and agents named for strict new rooftop solar controls
South Australia names first batch of inverters and "agents" that will ensure new rooftop solar systems can ride through faults and be remotely switched off if needed.
The post Approved inverters and agents named for strict new rooftop solar controls appeared first on RenewEconomy.