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The pandemic is a tough lesson in the workings of the natural world – and proves how vital a knowledge of ecology really is

Imagine mentioning William Shakespeare to a university graduate and discovering they had never heard of him. You would be incredulous. But it’s common and acceptable not to know what an arthropod is, or a vertebrate, or to be unable to explain the difference between an insect and spider. No one is embarrassed when a “well-educated” person cannot provide even a rough explanation of the greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle or the water cycle, or of how soils form.

All this is knowledge as basic as being aware that Shakespeare was a playwright. Yet ignorance of such earthy matters sometimes seems to be worn as a badge of sophistication. I love Shakespeare, and I believe the world would be a poorer and a sadder place without him. But we would survive. The issues about which most people live in ignorance are, by contrast, matters of life and death.

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EUAs bounced around the €19 level once again on Tuesday, maintaining their recent support in a market lacking technical direction.

California’s ETS floor price is on pace to rise less than 5% in 2021 as year-on-year inflation dipped in April amid the growing coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the US, according to federal data released on Tuesday.

European oil majors should provide greater clarity on the contribution that carbon offsets and CCS will make towards their voluntary climate goals amid doubts about global supply potential, according to a report commissioned by investors and published on Tuesday.

Exclusive: oil, coal and fracking companies in line to benefit from $750bn bond scheme

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Fossil fuel companies and coal-powered utilities in the US are set for a potential bonanza under federal government plans for a bond bailout, part of the rescue package for the coronavirus crisis.

At least 90 fossil fuel companies, many of them established giants such as ExxonMobil, Chevron and Koch Industries, stand to gain from the Federal Reserve’s coronavirus bond buyback programme, alongside more than 150 utilities including coal-heavy firms such as American Electric Power and Duke Energy, according to a new analysis.

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Utility CEZ reported a ticking over in its hedging during Q1 to ensure its hedging position all-but caught up with the previous year even as its coal-fired output fell away.

South Korean carbon allowances fell 8.2% in Tuesday trade to hit their lowest value since early January as the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus continues to bite, casting doubt over the worth of banking permits to next year.

Australia has delayed by a year the transition to new emission baselines for companies covered by the Safeguard Mechanism as the ongoing coronavirus crisis is making it difficult for emitters to submit new baseline applications in time for the original deadline.

The fall in the carbon dioxide emissions is not just due to the country's coronavirus lockdown.

Funding will benefit species including the Wollemi pine and koala, but more must be done to combat impact of climate-change related events, they say

The government has been praised for committing an additional $150m for wildlife and habitat recovery after the recent bushfire crisis but conservationists also warn it should be coupled with stronger policy to protect species and address threats related to climate change.

The environment minister, Sussan Ley, said $110m of the new funds would be for on-ground recovery work in fire-affected regions, including in vulnerable areas of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and in rainforests on the NSW north coast.

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Solar Citizens calls on Queensland government to embrace wind and solar to unlock more than 50,000 new jobs and take the state past 90% renewables.

The post Queensland urged to unlock $36bn renewable investment boom in lead-up to election appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The review examined hundreds of studies and concluded the lower Murray should remain a freshwater ecosystem, or severe environmental and economic damage will result. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Bruce Thom, Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney Celine Steinfeld, Acting Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists & Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW Sydney Eytan Rocheta, Policy Analyst, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists & Adjunct Associate Lecturer at UNSW Sydney Nicholas Harvey, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Energy Efficiency Council and the Property Council of Australia are calling on state and federal governments to prioritise energy efficiency measures in the effort to restart Australia’s economy.

The post Quick action from governments can drive energy efficiency jobs boom appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Federal expenditure watch dog adds Morrison government's stalled UNGI scheme to its audit hit list, as concerns are raised over lack of transparency and legal basis.

The post Angus Taylor’s stalled UNGI program placed on audit hit list appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hong Kong research team uses water absorption technology to cool solar panels down in the heat of the day and boost their generation output by up to nearly 20%.

The post Research team finds way to make solar panels “sweat” to deliver more power appeared first on RenewEconomy.

AEMO’s Alex Wonhas joins Energy Insiders to discuss the operator’s Renewables Integration Study and how to integrate world-leading 75 per cent wind and solar into Australia’s main grid.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: How to integrate 75 per cent wind and solar into Australia’s main grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Andrew Cotter narrates the nightly walk of the fairy penguins of Victoria's Phillip Island as a high-stakes, long-distance race. ‘There’s the defending champion, wearing his familiar navy blue and white. Great waddling style,’ Cotter says as one penguin hits the lead. Cotter has become one of the pandemic’s viral hits after commentating the antics of his labradors, Olive and Mabel, in videos posted to Twitter.  His latest video is in collaboration with Visit Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Parks in a bid to keep the top tourist attraction in people’s minds even though the park remains closed to visitors amid Covid-19 lockdowns 

• BBC's Andrew Cotter commentates penguin parade on Australia's Phillip Island

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Andrew Cotter narrates the nightly walk of the fairy penguins of Victoria's Phillip Island as a high-stakes, long-distance race. ‘There’s the defending champion, wearing his familiar navy blue and white. Great waddling style,’ Cotter says as one penguin hits the lead. Cotter has become one of the pandemic’s viral hits after commentating the antics of his labradors, Olive and Mabel, in videos posted to Twitter.  His latest video is in collaboration with Visit Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Parks in a bid to keep the top tourist attraction in people’s minds even though the park remains closed to visitors amid Covid-19 lockdowns 

• BBC's Andrew Cotter commentates penguin parade on Australia's Phillip Island

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Through his pioneering role in the green bans movement, the union leader brought environmental concerns to the mainstream

The environmental and social justice activist Jack Mundey died at the age of 90 in Sydney this week. Unusually for a lifelong radical, he has been remembered by many as a true Australian hero.

Mundey has been widely celebrated for his internationally pioneering role in the green bans movement of the early 1970s. He was secretary of the New South Wales Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) when it imposed 42 union bans on potential construction sites in the state.

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