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Norway's EV success is a simple reminder of something too often forgotten: policy and hard work both result in real change. Can Australia do it too?

The post The electric recipe of Norway’s zero emissions transport boom appeared first on RenewEconomy.

WCI compliance entities and speculators made minimal changes to their net long California Carbon Allowance (CCA) holdings during the past week despite prices  rising on the secondary market, according to US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data released Friday.

Labor calls for greater transparency into fundraising of foundation, which was awarded $443m by Coalition

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation has raised only $21.7m out of a target of $357m in donations more than two years after it was awarded the largest single environmental grant in Australian history.

It has prompted Labor to call for greater transparency from the foundation about its fundraising, while the Greens have said the figure “makes a mockery of the government’s logic” for awarding the grant.

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An old growth forest area has been reinstated in wood production plans after being removed in 2018

A Tasmanian old growth forest area has been earmarked for logging despite the state-owned forestry agency receiving scientific advice that it is vital habitat for the survival of a critically endangered species.

Its inclusion in a “wood production plan” has angered scientists and conservationists, who say there is clear evidence it contains large, hollow-bearing trees used for nesting by the swift parrot, a nationally protected migratory species that breeds in Tasmania and that peer-reviewed science has suggested could be extinct by 2031.

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• Lockdowns, travel bans and factory closures drive reduction
• Dramatic decline falls short of necessary global heating cuts

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the largest drop in heat-trapping emissions in human history, according to a new study.

Lockdowns, travel bans and closed manufacturing sites have caused global emissions to drop by 4.6%, or 2.5 gigatonnes, according to a University of Sydney review of 38 regions and 26 sectors published in the journal Plos One. Fine particle pollution decreased by 3.8% and two other types of air pollution declined 2.9%: sulfur dioxide – which is linked to a number of respiratory issues, and nitrogen oxide, which leads to smog.

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EU nations are only likely to cancel enough EUAs to account for around 15% of emissions reduced due to coal power phaseouts through 2030, with the vast majority of the lost generation being replaced by renewables rather than gas, analysts said in a report this week.

The UN has opened a tender to buy just over 224,000 Gold Standard CERs to offset the organisations annual emissions.

Analysts have raised their short-term EU carbon price forecasts following the huge rally staged in Q2, though most are warning of a pullback from current levels, especially should Europe be gripped by a second wave of COVID-19.

EU loopholes allow use of banned pesticides known to be major killers of key species

Bees and other wild pollinators are not being protected from decline by the EU, with loopholes even allowing for the use of banned pesticides known to be major killers of key species.

A report from the European court of auditors has found that Brussels’ efforts to prevent the decline of bees, wasps, hoverflies, butterflies, moths, and beetles have been largely ineffective.

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California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit prices sank past the $200 level this week as buyers continued to wait for the market to fall further and despite higher gasoline production in the Golden State.

The system of 78 mobile barriers has taken years to construct and its design goes back to the 1980s.

Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is aiming to finalise its post-2020 RGGI regulation next month after failing to meet internal deadlines for an upcoming July committee meeting, an official told Carbon Pulse.

Norway has paid Indonesia for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 11.2 MtCO2e, the first payment under a 10-year-old bilateral forestry deal after a smaller transfer flagged last year never materialised.

Exclusive: reduced congestion most likely reason for lower nitrogen dioxide, scientists say

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Air pollution has remained at lower levels in UK towns and cities despite a return to near-normal traffic levels after the easing of coronavirus restrictions, according to research.

Analysis of data from more than 100 urban roadside locations shows nitrogen dioxide pollution levels were 30% below normal at the end of June, despite HGV traffic being back at 95% of normal levels, vans at 90% and cars at 75%.

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The European Council’s latest proposal for a 2021-27 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) retains the idea of earmarking some revenues from auctioned EUAs for the bloc’s general budget, but wants to leave it to officials to outline the details only after 2021.

Closing prices, ranges and volumes for China's regional pilot carbon markets this week.

The US space agency's next rover is placed atop of the rocket that will send it to the Red Planet.

Queensland-based solar retailer slapped with hefty fine in latest federal crackdown on telemarketing breaches by the solar industry.

The post Queensland solar retailer hit with hefty fine for telemarketing breaches appeared first on RenewEconomy.

South Korean CO2 permits shed another 9.9% in Friday trade to sink to their lowest levels since Oct. 2018 as the market remained flooded with surplus allowances and bereft of demand.

Nissan Leaf owners will finally get access to bi-directironal chargers, and the ability to power their home from their battery on wheels, by the end of the year.

The post Nissan Leaf owners should be able to power their homes with their cars later this year appeared first on RenewEconomy.