Around The Web

From dressing properly, to keeping warm in power cuts, to signalling for help when stranded.

Our rural rights of way need to be reclaimed and protected. But time is running out, and I urge people to join the cause

As Covid lockdowns drag on, and full spring is still some way away, it’s inevitable that thoughts should turn to getting outdoors. That’s what is behind the constant questions about domestic or foreign holidays; and it’s what sells the seemingly endless stream of stories about cold water swimming or moving to “the country”.

It’s not just a matter of fleeting wish fulfilment. Travel and tourism are a mainstay of the British economy, accounting for about 10% of jobs and nearly 10% of GDP. Walking, cycling and generally spending time in the British countryside are among our favourite pastimes, spanning everything from high-end glamping to quick local walks with the dog.

Continue reading...

Reef water quality report card gives condition of marine environment a ‘D’ grade relative to earlier reports

A government report card has found the marine environment along the Great Barrier Reef’s coastline remains in poor health, prompting conservationists to call for urgent action ahead of a world heritage committee meeting this year.

The reef water quality report card, released on Wednesday, said the health of corals and seagrass meadows in inshore areas had not improved, but water quality was slightly better than previous years.

Continue reading...

Danish shipowner Maersk announced Wednesday that its first carbon neutral vessels could operate as of 2023, a rollout far faster than previously planned and coming as the wider EU shipping industry urges Brussels to impose targets for cleaner fuels as part of its climate package due in June.

Pennsylvania should consider delaying the implementation of its RGGI-aligned cap-and-trade regulation by one year and provide further evidence of  Governor Tom Wolf’s (D) statutory authority to implement the programme through executive means, an independent review board said Tuesday.

Traders differ wildly over how Wednesday’s first WCI auction of the year will perform, with some foreseeing another undersubscribed quarterly sale and others anticipating a sell out potentially above the floor price.

To reach this conservation goal, the country will have to conserve more than 400m acres of land and waterways in the next 10 years

It was an executive order that made waves in environmental circles: after only a week in office, President Joe Biden pledged to preserve 30% of US lands and waters by 2030.

The so-called 30 by 30 conservation goal has already met with bipartisan support in Congress, and it aligns with science-based global preservation targets to reach an eventual target of 50% by 2050.

Continue reading...

Exclusive: With 30% of infertility unexplained, pollution could be an ‘unignorable’ risk factor, scientists say

Exposure to air pollution significantly increases the risk of infertility, according to the first study to examine the danger to the general population.

The analysis of 18,000 couples in China found that those living with moderately higher levels of small-particle pollution had a 20% greater risk of infertility, defined as not becoming pregnant within a year of trying.

Continue reading...

Local action alone can’t fix the Tories’ broken planning system. We need a national fightback

It would be easy to imagine the English countryside is a lovely place. Everyone has been talking about discovering the wonder of nature during lockdown and there are constant reports of droves moving out of towns and cities for more pastoral locations.

In many ways, however, the opposite is true. Look around and you’ll find local actions groups protesting, petitioning and even praying to save precious stretches of countryside from destruction. If you are one of the escapees from town, I’d check your new view isn’t earmarked for development.

Continue reading...

More Nationals supporting Joyce amendment and Liberal Craig Kelly says he will consider it

The deputy Liberal leader, Josh Frydenberg, has rejected Barnaby Joyce’s call to allow the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in coal in a bid to slap down a growing Nationals revolt.

The Morrison government has deferred the looming internal brawl on coal by removing its own bill from the daily program, but on Wednesday more Nationals came out in support of the Joyce amendment and Liberal Craig Kelly said he would consider it.

Continue reading...

The committee overseeing the Japan-Kenya Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) programme has approved issuance of credits to a solar PV project in Kenya, the first time a scheme in the east African country earns JCM offsets.

AEMO says number of connected wind and solar projects hit record high in 2020, but the queue for connection and registration is also growing.

The post Wind and solar projects join grid in record numbers, and connection queues grow appeared first on RenewEconomy.

In WA, the politics of energy is turned upside down as Labor labels the ambitious clean energy plan of the WA Liberals as reckless and too costly.

The post Labor energy minister “horrified” by Liberals “risky” zero emissions energy plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

SolarEdge announces solar revenue records for 2020, including in Australia where it charted 30% year on year growth – despite Covid.

The post Global inverter giant charts record revenue for 2020, “led by Australia” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Problems at a major solar farm in Queensland raises the “cowboy” issue again, and why are new homes being built with roofing too weak to host solar panels.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Does the solar industry deserve the “cowboy” label? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Whitehaven Coal – the kind of pure play thermal coal miner that investors are abandoning in droves – lost $94 million in the six months to December.

The post Collapsing thermal coal price pushes miners deep into the red appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Barnaby Joyce calls for CEFC to fund "high intensity" coal plants, but the emissions threshold he proposes would make that impossible.

The post Barnaby Joyce blunders attempt to open CEFC funds to “high intensity” coal plants appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The government hopes to claw back money from a £1.5bn fund to promote home insulation.

Oil major Total sets new target of growing its renewable energy capacity to 100GW by 2030.

The post Oil major Total targets 100GW of wind and solar capacity by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

National Parks Association of NSW outraged by plan to build overhead transmission infrastructure for Snowy 2.0, saying damage to Kosciuszko is unacceptable.

The post Outrage over Snowy 2.0 transmission line concession in Kosciuszko National Park appeared first on RenewEconomy.