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General Motors retires iconic Holden brand as it looks to a future of electric and autonomous mobility.

The post Holden brand killed off as GM switches focus to electric vehicles appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Market operator re-connects and re-synchronises South Australia's grid to the main network more than two weeks after storms tore down main transmission link.

The post South Australia re-connected to main grid as AEMO completes delicate operation appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Cars were swept away by flooding in the town of Hay-on-Wye as Storm Dennis brought heavy rain and winds to the UK on Sunday. Footage posted on social media showed vehicles half-submerged and floating away after a nearby river burst its banks

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Explorer says halting imports would recognise the devastating impact of colonialism on wildlife

Banning the import and export of big game hunting trophies would recognise the destructive impact European powers have had on wildlife in former African and Asian colonies, Sir Ranulph Fiennes has said.

Speaking to the Guardian, the veteran British explorer said hunting endangered species such as rhinos, elephants and lions to keep their body parts as trophies should be viewed with the same scepticism as Chinese traditional medicine in terms of the damage it does to biodiversity.

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Five-year study of animals in Devon finds measurable benefits to wildlife and people

Beavers have alleviated flooding, reduced pollution and boosted populations of fish, amphibians and other wildlife, according to a five-year study of wild-living animals in Devon.

The report, which will help the government decide whether to allow wild beavers to return to England after being hunted to extinction more than 400 years ago, concludes that the species has brought measurable benefits to wildlife and people.

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Use of ‘scrubbers’ to cut air pollution increases pollutants pumped into sea, UN report says

New shipping pollution regulations introduced earlier this year could harm humans by contaminating fish and crustaceans with toxins, according to an internal report compiled by the International Maritime Organization and obtained by the Guardian.

In the report the IMO, the United Nations agency responsible for regulating shipping, says that there is insufficient “toxicity data” to be able to assess the risk to humans caused by the increased use of exhaust gas cleaning systems, which are also known as “scrubbers”.

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Proposed route slices through a major drinking water source and an important stop for migratory birds

To the west of Istanbul, between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, lie diverse landscapes of forest, farms, marshes and ancient settlements. Following a curving line from north to south would connect you through the Terkos Lake, Sazlıdere stream and reservoir and Küçükçekmece lagoon, important water sources for migratory birds – not to mention the city’s residents.

This line, however, is also the path of Kanal İstanbul, a $12.6bn(£9.7bn) mega-infrastructure plan described by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as his “crazy project” when he first mentioned the idea in 2011.

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Former resources minister Matt Canavan says he is ready to cross the floor and do everything he can to support coal industry.

The post Why Canavan will be a more dangerous pro-coal advocate outside of Morrison ministry appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Some parts of Australia have enjoyed excellent rainfall this year, but others have not. Drought relief is still slow and patchy. David Jones, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Andrew B. Watkins, Head of Long-range Forecasts, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Chantal Donnelly, Head of Water Investigations, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Lynette Bettio, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Matthew Coulton, Manager Water Sector Engagement, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Developers and off-takers are working with smaller-scale solar farms in a bid to avoid the pitfalls of Australia’s current grid connection and congestion crisis.

The post Small is beautiful as solar farms look for ways around grid chaos appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A growing number of industrial emitters avoiding limits by using soft rules to secure higher emissions allowances under the Safeguard Mechanism.

The post Coal miners given free ride under Morrison government emissions “caps” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Rio Tinto latest iron ore giant to turn to solar and batteries, saying solar will provide all the daytime power needs of new $2.6 billion mining project.

The post Rio Tinto joins iron ore mining giants making big switch to solar and batteries appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A new supercomputer is to be built by 2022 to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting.

A US firm claims the service it offers saves more than a tonne of carbon, after a pilot study.

In the second episode of The Frontline, a major series on how Australians are already experiencing the climate crisis, we show what daily life looks like in one of dozens of Australian towns that have run out of drinking water

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We analysed what the world's top 58 airlines – such as American Airlines, British Airways and Qantas – are doing about climate change. Even the best airlines are not doing anywhere near enough. Susanne Becken, Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Director, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

2019 was the driest year in Australia’s recorded history. In places like Euchareena in the central west of NSW, water has become so scarce the only option has been to truck it in. But this comes with a serious cost that many can’t afford to pay. In this episode of Full Story we hear from one family about how the cost is not just financial, but cultural and spiritual too

You can read more about Fleur and Lockie Magick Dennis and see them interviewed in this interactive feature.

This story is part of Guardian Australia’s The frontline: inside Australia’s climate emergency series.

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Storm Dennis has hit England and Wales creating severe flooding, especially in south Wales where officials have warned conditions are ‘life-threatening’.

Streets have been evacuated by lifeboat in some of the worst-hit areas and people moved to emergency rescue centres after their properties and businesses were devastated by water from overflowing rivers

• Storm Dennis: six severe flood warnings in place across England and Wales – live updates

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Not all bad news in Victoria for large scale solar projects, with FRV securing finance for a new 85MW solar farm near Benalla.

The post FRV secures finance for new 85MW solar farm in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The insects have been swarming across East Africa in numbers not seen for decades – and the phenomenon may be more common in the future

Last week, the UN issued a warning about the numbers of desert locusts currently swarming through much of East Africa; they have now reached Uganda and Tanzania. The outbreak is the largest for decades and has already devastated crops in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, countries with fragile food security. The problem is not confined to Africa, with swarms also occurring in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

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