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From washing out plastic bags to repackaging tissues, Guardian readers offer some more unusual tips for cutting down on waste

Could your garden be the key to your zero-waste ambitions? Gardeners at the National Trust’s Knightshayes estate in Devon have grown luffa plants to produce their own sponges in an attempt to cut down on waste. They are as easy to cultivate as courgettes, according to the kitchen garden supervisor, Bev Todd. Just sow the seeds in April or May in a warm and sunny spot, and give the plant a support to scramble up. Once the fruit matures and withers, squeeze it to loosen, and peel off the skin. Wash and remove the seeds and flesh, hang to dry and voilà – your own sustainable sponge.

If you find that inspiring, Zoë Morrison, a blogger and the author of Eco Thrifty Living, has another green-fingered suggestion: “I like to regrow vegetables from their bottoms, so that they can be saved from the bin or the compost heap.” She has successfully regrown lettuce, celery and leeks this way.

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Carl Lis OBE, chair of National Parks England, warns young people being priced out of scenic areas

More affordable housing should be built in England’s national parks to help communities excluded by spiralling prices driven by second homes, the new chair for the authorities has said.

Carl Lis OBE, chair of National Parks England, has warned that young people and national parks staff are being forced out of some of the most scenic parts of the country by high prices, driven in part by exclusive holiday homes.

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The Australian Government has lodged a submission for Murujuga Cultural Landscape in north-west WA to be included on Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List.

The Australian Government has lodged a submission for Murujuga Cultural Landscape in north-west WA to be included on Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List.

A glass of dairy milk produces almost three times more greenhouse gas than any plant-based milk. But vegan options have drawbacks of their own

• ‘Like sending bees to war’: the deadly truth behind your almond milk obsession

For environmentally minded consumers, the news is hard to swallow: almond milk is not healthy for the planet and the popular milk substitute is especially hard on bees. Our recent investigation into the connection between California’s industrialized almond industry and a record 50bn commercial bee deaths created quite a buzz. The widely read story prompted one primary response from readers: “What should we be drinking instead?”

This is a thorny question, and food sustainability experts are reluctant to single out any one plant milk as best because all have pros and cons.

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Scott Morrison says ‘we are playing our part’, and given climate change cannot be stopped, Australia needs to focus on bushfire resilience and adaptation

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has rejected suggestions Australia could increase its international advocacy on climate change, saying the country is already “carrying its load” and must adapt to a warmer climate regardless of emissions policy.

After indicating that the government would “evolve” its climate change policies to address heightened concerns about the role of global warming in Australia’s ongoing bushfire crisis, Morrison used a keynote speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday to talk up the government’s current policies, including its emission reduction targets.

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The BBC's Justin Rowlatt explains some of the challenges of doing science in the Antarctic.

Scott Morrison repeats the standard script from the coal lobby in major speech that questioned the value of the Paris Agreement.

The post Morrison questions importance of global climate treaties, to treat symptoms of climate change appeared first on RenewEconomy.

AGL says ageing Liddell plant is so old that it is throwing up new issues that are not found elsewhere in the world. And the Coalition wants it to keep going.

The post AGL says it’s getting harder to keep Liddell coal plant online appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Head of NextEra says cost of wind and solar paired with battery storage will soon beat the cost of coal, gas and nuclear.

The post Big US utility says “near-firm renewables” soon to be cheaper than fossil fuels appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Many holidaymakers faced fuel shortages and choking smoke in the South Coast bush fires, but one Tesla owner explains how his EV handled the emergency and became a safe haven.

The post How a Tesla Model 3 became safe haven in Australian bushfires appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Three Belgian companies to use excess offshore wind power for "green hydrogen" plant in port of Ostend.

The post Trio of Belgian companies announce totally “green hydrogen” plant appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australian winemakers have lost smoke-tainted crops and political leaders apparently cannot solve the Murray Darling crisis. Perhaps climate change is getting the better of us. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Simec Atlantis, the once Australia based and now global developer, owner, and operator of the world’s largest operational tidal stream array, publishes operational data ahead of a major expansion.

The post World’s largest operational tidal stream array generated 13.8GWh in 2019 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Soft demand is keeping gas prices low, the Coalition's bad choice on gas generation, and why community storage makes more sense than household storage.

The post Know your NEM: Soft demand keeps prices low, Coalition’s bad gas play appeared first on RenewEconomy.

AGL signs up for "giant" battery in Queensland located next to new solar farm near Wandoan, as energy minister hails batteries as "game changer" for the grid.

The post AGL signs 15 year deal for “giant” battery in Queensland appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Swedish teenager started a climate change protest that grew into a global movement of millions.

New Zealand team races to make Wellington first city in Southern Hemisphere to boast a zero-emissions electric ferry.

The post New Zealand builds first zero-emissions commuter ferry in southern hemisphere appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

The 2020 COP26 UN climate summit in Glasgow will be the final opportunity for countries to agree to the rulebook for the Paris Agreement’s market-based Article 6, but countries will still press on with carbon market deals over the next decade if negotiations come up short for a third straight year, experts said Tuesday.