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Last decade was also hottest yet in 150 years of measurements, say scientists

The year 2019 was the second hottest on record for the planet’s surface, according to latest research. The analyses reveal the scale of the climate crisis: both the past five years and the past decade are the hottest in 150 years.

The succession of records being broken year after year is “the drumbeat of the Anthropocene”, said one scientist, and is bringing increasingly severe storms, floods, droughts and wildfires.

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Global data from three agencies also shows that 2019 was the second warmest year since 1850.

EUAs soared back above €24 early on Wednesday, unwinding the previous session's losses as Poland's large auction attracted the strongest demand seen so far this year.

China’s decision to make its ETS intensity-based rather than having an absolute CO2 cap will make emission cuts more expensive, according to researchers, who say the system can still achieve significant reductions.

NZUs rose further in Wednesday trade to extend this week's record high, but with secondary market prices now 16% above the 2019 Fixed Price Option level some market participants expect increased volatility in the next few months.

Divestment decision by the world’s biggest fund manager called a breakthrough – but only a first step

In recent decades, environmentalists have grown used to disappointment when big companies and Wall Street pay lip service to concern over the climate crisis. On Tuesday, it looked like something might have changed.

The decision by the private equity giant BlackRock – the world’s biggest fund manager – to exit investments that “present a high sustainability-related risk” has been welcomed by environmentalists as a significant moment in the battle to reshape the relationship between money and the climate crisis.

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Researchers claim a 30-minute, low-temperature cycle sheds fewer microfibres. Now the onus must be on detergent manufacturers to ensure their products work in colder water

Clothes washed at 25C on a 30-minute cycle shed fewer microfibres into waste water and keep their colour for longer, researchers at the University of Leeds have found. This makes sense. After all, consumers have long been advised by detergent manufacturers and environmental organisations to turn down the dial on the washing machine to 30C. Dropping to 25C is a small adjustment, but possibly a greater psychological one: will clothes really be clean at that temperature, and on such a short cycle?

Lucy Cotton, the report’s lead author, explains that 25C is usually the “inlet” temperature of water in a washing machine – the natural, unchilled and unheated temperature at which the water enters the drum. Her research tested the release of dye and of microfibres from a range of consumer clothing, such as Fruit of the Loom T-shirts. However, the clothes were not dirty when they went into the wash, and only the release of microfibres and desorption of dye were measured. “We weren’t testing for cleanliness,” she says. “One of the things that is useful about this study is that it puts the onus on detergent manufacturers to explore this area. Can they make the cleanliness happen in a cold, quick wash?”

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Facility threatens UK’s aim to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, report says

Britain’s first new deep coalmine in 30 years is unnecessary and incompatible with UK climate ambitions, according to a report.

The £165m Woodhouse colliery in Cumbria was given cross party-backing in March 2019, leading to protests from climate campaigners who said the mine would harm the UK’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

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F1 has promised a move to 'credible offsets and breakthrough C02 sequestration programs'. But there's a persistent lack of clear detail in the how, what and where. Michelle O'Shea, Senior Lecturer Sport Management, Western Sydney University Neil Perry, Research Lecturer, Western Sydney University Sarah Duffy, Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

320MW hybrid wind and solar project near Port Augusta in South Australia will begin construction in June after its new owner Iberdrola gives final approval.

The post South Australia’s biggest wind solar hybrid project gets financial green light appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tesla shares surge another 10 per cent on Monday, taking its market value to more than GM and Ford combined.

The post Tesla shares surge to more than $US500, becomes “existential threat” to carmakers appeared first on RenewEconomy.

After suffering big losses on fossil fuel investments, world's largest investment manager dumps thermal coal investments and issues warning to directors who fail to respond to climate change

The post BlackRock, world’s largest investment manager, pulls out of thermal coal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Solar farms warned of tighter constraints in Victoria, as more projects face delays and others may be blocked from grid.

The post Victoria solar farms face tighter constraints, new projects may be blocked from grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Science minister Karen Andrews says climate science is settled and it's time to "move on" and do things - but that doesn't include tighter emissions targets.

The post Science minister says climate denial waste of time, but emissions targets won’t change appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Wildlife group says rare species could be wiped out by rail link and calls for a "greener" approach.

A scheme to stop cars travelling across the city has been proposed, but how would it actually work?

Younger Murdoch calls out climate denial spread by his family's media interests in Australia, the US and UK.

The post James Murdoch slams family’s media empire for serving as platform for climate denial appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Analysis shows Australia won't achieve its 2020 target to reduce greenhouse emissions by 5 per cent until 2030.

The post Australia will not hit its 2020 emissions reduction target till 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The UK government shows "lack of clarity" on funding the COP26 conference in Glasgow this year.

People with access to green spaces are more likely to be more environmentally friendly, study says.