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Electricity demand is shifting in numerous power markets operating in the US’ two cap-and-trade programmes due to the coronavirus pandemic, but grid operators said it is too early to determine the exact impact of more employees working from home and government-imposed travel restrictions.

Finnish utility Fortum should commit to phasing out coal and drop its support for western Europe’s last coal plant it will soon control as part of its takeover of German rival Uniper, investors wrote in a joint letter on Wednesday.

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit prices took on significant losses Wednesday as the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus roiled the transportation sector programme.

EU glass packaging manufacturers are collaborating on a pilot project that they believe cut help cut the sector's emissions by 50% by firing furnaces from green power sources. 

A newly discovered fossil bird could be the oldest-known ancestor of every chicken on the planet.

Tiny creature, half the size of a mallard, found in rocks dating back to dinosaur age

Experts have discovered a fossil of the world’s oldest known modern bird – a diminutive creature about half the size of a mallard duck.

Dubbed the Wonderchicken, the remains were found in rocks dating to about 66.8m to 66.7m years ago, revealing that the bird was active shortly before the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs 66m years ago.

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Expert says early cancellation due to coronavirus would damage hopes of progress

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Nicholas Stern, one of the most prominent global experts on the climate crisis, has urged Boris Johnson to resist calls to postpone vital UN climate talks this year, despite the coronavirus outbreak.

Ministers and officials have privately discussed the possibility of postponing the Cop26 talks scheduled for Glasgow this November, but no decision has yet been taken. Travel bans and the shutdown imposed in many countries because of the virus have resulted in cancelled meetings and officials working remotely.

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EU carbon prices cratered for a fifth straight day, crashing by nearly 18% to a near two-year low just above €15 as widespread selling due to the COVID-19 coronavirus continued to spare no market.

Switzerland’s carbon credit procurement agency this week selected five GHG-reducing activities for its second call for proposals, adding to three picked earlier in its efforts to tie up its first emission trade deals under the Paris Agreement’s market-based Article 6.

South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party has included a 2050 net zero emissions target and a new carbon tax as part of its platform ahead of next month’s parliamentary election, moves that would significantly increase the country's climate ambitions.

Venetians say they're seeing fish once again in the city's famous waters.

The AfD are using the climate crisis strategically to distance themselves from the established parties

A dead bird of prey lying in the grass near a windfarm is the stark image on the home page of a new German website. “Climate change – we have got a couple of questions” is the headline that greets visitors, but the questioners already seem to know the answers to their 16 questions. “Due to an alleged climate emergency, new laws are to be passed prescribing a new way of life for us, one that will have adverse environmental effects and could lead to the deindustrialisation of Germany.”

Klimafragen.org is the latest attempt to question the scientific and social consensus around the climate crisis in Germany. The authors, all from well-known climate-denier institutions and conservative political circles, list areas where they say Germany’s climate policy still has blindspots, notably over climate models, sea levels, energy conversion and counter-opinions. Parliamentary groups in the Bundestag, they argue, should provide answers to their questions, although some are based on outdated findings. According to the organisers, about 33,500 people have signed up, seeking answers.

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Chinese projects could generate some 40 million carbon credits eligible for the international aviation industry’s offset market, according to a report published on Wednesday, which stressed the programme would need improvements to remain competitive.

Move will hopefully curb vast wildlife trade from farm, street markets, and online traders

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Vietnam’s prime minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, has asked the country’s agriculture ministry to draft a directive to stop illegal trading and consumption of wildlife over fears it spreads disease.

The directive, seen as a victory for animal rights organisations, will lead to a clamping down on street-side markets dotted across the country, increase prosecutions of online traders and ideally put pressure on thousands of farms with known links to illegal wildlife trading.

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China’s greenhouse gas emissions rose 2.6% to almost 14 billion tonnes of CO2e last year, driven by an increase in energy-intensive manufacturing and oil and consumption, according to a study released Wednesday.

New Zealand carbon allowances fell to their lowest levels since August in Wednesday trade, with the NZ$25 FPO that was considered a price floor as late as last week barely even relevant anymore in the short term as a bearish outlook takes hold amid a flailing economy.

Victorian parliament passes legislation granting the state's energy minister new powers to exempt network investments from RIT-T assessments.

The post Victoria seizes power to speed-up network investments, skip RIT-T assessments appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Copperstring transmission project could unlock huge wind, solar and mineral reserves in Queensland, and save Mt Isa.

The post Copperstring could unlock wind and solar, and huge minerals province appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Anglo American, BHP, Fortescue and Hatch join forces to “de-risk and accelerate” production of renewable hydrogen, in bid to help decarbonise mining sector operations.

The post Mining giants BHP, Anglo and Fortescue join forces for “green hydrogen” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New York state tender delivers 1.3GW of wind, solar and storage projects - at an average cost of below $US19/MWh.

The post New York State announces nearly 1.3GW of low-cost new renewables, storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.