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Massive $300m bill to keep Liddell online, but not reliable, for 3 more years
Leaked conclusions from the Liddell taskforce say it would cost $300 million to keep two units operating until 2026, and won't solve reliability issues.
The post Massive $300m bill to keep Liddell online, but not reliable, for 3 more years appeared first on RenewEconomy.
India’s ancient tribes battle to save their forest home from mining
A rash of newly approved mines could destroy swathes of the Hasdeo Arand forest – and with it the biodiversity local villagers depend on for survival
Words and photographs by Brian Cassey
Laksmi Shankar Porte emerged from the forest. In his hands were an axe, a small scythe and a large crop of grass. Like many of the Gond people living in India’s Hasdeo Arand forest, he will use the grass to make ropes, brooms and mats.
The Hasdeo Arand is one of the largest contiguous stretches of dense forest in central India, covering about 170,000 hectares (420,080 acres) of the state of Chhattisgarh. It is rich in biodiversity, contains many threatened species and is home to elephants, leopards and sloth bears.
Continue reading...‘Overwhelming and terrifying’: the rise of climate anxiety
Experts concerned young people’s mental health particularly hit by reality of the climate crisis
Over the past few weeks Clover Hogan has found herself crying during the day and waking up at night gripped by panic. The 20-year-old, who now lives in London, grew up in Queensland, Australia, cheekbyjowl with the country’s wildlife, fishing frogs out of the toilet and dodging snakes hanging from the ceiling.
The bushfires ravaging her homeland over the past few weeks have taken their toll. “I’ve found myself bursting into tears … just seeing the absolutely harrowing images of what’s happening in Australia – it is overwhelming and terrifying.”
Continue reading...Fires and floods: maps of Europe predict scale of climate catastrophe
Without urgent action, rising sea levels by end of century could leave cities under water
A series of detailed maps have laid bare the scale of possible forest fires, floods, droughts and deluges that Europe could face by the end of the century without urgent action to adapt to and confront global heating.
An average one-metre rise in sea levels by the end of the century – without any flood prevention action – would mean 90% of the surface of Hull would be under water, according to the European Environment Agency.
Continue reading...Independent MP floats plan to end Australia’s climate policy paralysis
Yes, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere helps plants grow, but it’s no excuse to downplay climate change
Solar and wind curtailment reached record levels in 2019, says AEMO
AEMO says curtailment reaches record levels - partly due to new constraints on solar farms in Victoria and NSW, and to impacts of negative pricing events.
The post Solar and wind curtailment reached record levels in 2019, says AEMO appeared first on RenewEconomy.
West Australia grid officially hits more than 50% renewables for first time
AEMO data shows the Western Australia grid's solar and wind generators combined to supply 51% of underlying system demand in November of 2019.
The post West Australia grid officially hits more than 50% renewables for first time appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Cheap solar and wind send power prices to three-year low, as coal output falls
Record 2019 renewables help deliver dramatic decline in wholesale electricity prices in Q4, despite a marked increase in outages from the nation's coal-fired generator fleet.
The post Cheap solar and wind send power prices to three-year low, as coal output falls appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Independent Zali Steggall eyes end of ‘climate wars’ with zero carbon bill
Steggall unveils climate bill that aims for zero emissions by 2050, and seeks bipartisan support through a a "conscience" vote.
The post Independent Zali Steggall eyes end of ‘climate wars’ with zero carbon bill appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Solar and battery “community renewables park” planned for Orange, NSW
ITP Renewables plans for 5MWW of solar and 5MWh battery storage opened for exhibition by the Orange City Council in central western New South Wales.
The post Solar and battery “community renewables park” planned for Orange, NSW appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Sydney's Warragamba Dam levels surge to 62% capacity after torrential rain
512,452 megalitre deluge across all the city’s catchments equivalent of nine months’ worth of water in less than a week
• NSW floods and weather: rain eases but chaos continues – live
The water level in Sydney’s dams has risen by more than 20 percentage points in one day after torrential rain on Sunday brought the best inflows for nearly three years.
More than 363,681 megalitres flowed into Warragamba Dam alone on Sunday as the dam rose from 43.8% to 61.8% of capacity. Across all of Sydney’s catchments, 512,452 megalitres poured in.
Continue reading...Coalition compares wind and solar to “dole bludgers”, pushes for coal, nuclear
Coalition dials up rhetoric against wind and solar, as right wing compares renewables to "dole bludgers" and demands new coal, while moderates back nuclear.
The post Coalition compares wind and solar to “dole bludgers”, pushes for coal, nuclear appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Solar Orbiter: Sun mission primed for launch
The endangered wolf that walked 8,712 miles to find love
Wolf known as OR-54 left home in Oregon in search of a mate, and scientists tracked her progress – until she died last week
A young female gray wolf bid goodbye to her family, left home and crossed the state line into California to find love.
Related: Succulent mania: the perfect fad for a rootless generation | Alice Vincent
Continue reading...Huge solar, wind storage project in Queensland touted as “battery of the north”
Renewable Energy Partners says a proposed scheme to combine solar, wind and pumped hydro storage in Queensland could become the "battery of the north."
The post Huge solar, wind storage project in Queensland touted as “battery of the north” appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Climate change: Why are US senators wearing this symbol?
Solar Orbiter launch: what is it and what's it going to do?
Fashion as a force for change: Halima Aden – in pictures
Halima Aden, born in a refugee camp in Kenya, is now a catwalk regular who is using her position to change preconceptions about modest fashion
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