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Nuclear Regulatory Commission keen to allow material to be disposed of by ‘land burial’ – with potentially damaging effects

The federal agency providing oversight of the commercial nuclear sector is attempting to push through a rule change critics say could allow dangerous amounts of radioactive material to be disposed of in places like municipal landfills, with potentially serious consequences to human health and the environment.

Related: Coca-Cola and Pepsi falling short on pledges over plastic – report

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The filmmaker’s latest venture is an excruciating mishmash of environment falsehoods and plays into the hands of those he once opposed

Denial never dies; it just goes quiet and waits. Today, after years of irrelevance, the climate science deniers are triumphant. Long after their last, desperate claims had collapsed, when they had traction only on “alt-right” conspiracy sites, a hero of the left turns up and gives them more than they could have dreamed of.

Planet of the Humans, whose executive producer and chief promoter is Michael Moore, now has more than 6 million views on YouTube. The film does not deny climate science. But it promotes the discredited myths that deniers have used for years to justify their position. It claims that environmentalism is a self-seeking scam, doing immense harm to the living world while enriching a group of con artists. This has long been the most effective means by which denial – most of which has been funded by the fossil fuel industry – has been spread. Everyone hates a scammer.

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City leaders publish ‘statement of principles’ putting climate action at centre of recovery plans

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Mayors from many of the world’s leading cities have warned there can be no return to “business as usual” in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis if humanity is to escape catastrophic climate breakdown.

City leaders representing more than 750 million people have published a “statement of principles”, which commits them to putting greater equality and climate resilience at the heart of their recovery plans.

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Habitat destruction forces wildlife into human environments, where new diseases flourish

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Humanity’s “promiscuous treatment of nature” needs to change or there will be more deadly pandemics such as Covid-19, warn scientists who have analysed the link between viruses, wildlife and habitat destruction.

Deforestation and other forms of land conversion are driving exotic species out of their evolutionary niches and into manmade environments, where they interact and breed new strains of disease, the experts say.

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Climate action is a vital protection against further global shocks, especially as governments plan their post-pandemic stimulus packages. Anna Skarbek, CEO at ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A tri-partisan mix of Liberal, Labor and Greens energy ministers show that states and territories are so far ahead of federal Coalition government on climate and energy, it's as though they are in a different industrial era.

The post States so far ahead of Australia government, it’s as if they are in a different industrial era appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Southern California Edison – the primary electricity supplier for much of Southern California – has signed seven contracts for 770MW worth of battery-based energy storage intended to replace ageing natural gas plants set to retire as soon as possible. As one of the largest procurements of its kind, Southern California Edison (SCE) is looking to...

The post California utility secures 770MW of battery storage to replace gas plants appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Carbon Markets Institute chief says new found government cooperation provides chance to align Covid-19, bushfire responses with climate action.

The post Covid-19 co-operation lays out pathway for climate ambition, CMI says appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A review of EPBC Act provides some hope for new laws to disable the onslaught of new fossil fuel projects and the demise of our natural environment.

The post New environment laws must address main cause of the biodiversity crisis – climate change appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Victoria energy minister says federal Coalition should get on with providing a proper legislative framework for the development of offshore wind projects.

The post Victoria calls on feds to “put aside ideology” and pave way for offshore wind appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Leading solar manufacturer Longi launches new product on Australian market, while AEMO pushes for new inverter standards and ability to “switch off” rooftop solar when needed.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Longi’s launch, and AEMO’s big solar switch appeared first on RenewEconomy.

After all we have already endured in 2020 we should know that stopping an emergency is far better than responding to one

In just a few short months, many more people in Australia have faced greater adversity in 2020 than in the decade since we emerged from the global financial crisis.

The bushfires that affected the health of millions, claimed lives and livelihoods, blighted our landscape and destroyed communities were unprecedented in size and intensity. Now the acute shock of the Covid-19 pandemic has also taken lives and left many more living in fear, while throwing hundreds of thousands out of paid work, shattering businesses and leaving us facing an unstable new world.

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The Operations Analyst will support critical services to identify, assess, account and report climate related components and impacts of IFC's investment, advisory and green bond issuance activities. The Operations Analyst will also support the development of novel methodologies and products to scale up IFC climate investments and green finance activity in emerging markets.

Bicycle shops across the UK say demand for new bikes, and repairs for old ones, has risen sharply.

Park rangers in Africa say the closure of safari tourism is leading to an increase in poaching.

A significant battle is shaping up over a 200MW wind farm proposed for Tasmania’s north-west, but it’s not the prospect of turbines – or the renewable energy project, itself – that is upsetting locals. The point of contention for the UPCA\AC Renewables Jim’s Plain project, which late last week got the green light from Tasmania’s...

The post Tangled wires: Are transmission lines the new battle front for renewables? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Prices for EU Aviation Allowances (EUAA) have collapsed in the past few days as experts see zero demand in the coming months from the sector, which has been ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 impacts will weigh on EU ETS carbon prices into next year but not on EU lawmakers’ resolve to reform the market or wider climate policies, a survey published on Wednesday found.

Technology leaps and improved efficiency are driving down the cost of solar PV electricity in Australia to $A30/MWh, below operating cost of most coal and gas.

The post Technology leaps driving cost of solar PV electricity in Australia to just A$30/MWh appeared first on RenewEconomy.