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Lung damage from dirty air may worsen infections, but isolation measures improving air quality

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The health damage inflicted on people by long-standing air pollution in cities is likely to increase the death rate from coronavirus infections, experts have said.

Dirty air is known to cause lung and heart damage and is responsible for at least 8m early deaths a year. This underlying health damage means respiratory infections, such as coronavirus, may well have a more serious impact on city dwellers and those exposed to toxic fumes, than on others.

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New Zealand carbon allowances on Tuesday fell below the NZ$25 fixed price option for the first time since Dec. 19, as traders in need of cash added to supply.

Germany’s carbon emissions have fallen sharply in 2019 for the third year in a row, bringing the country closer to climate targets it had already written off.

The post Steep emissions plunge puts Germany’s original 2020 climate target back in sight appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A subsidiary of New Zealand’s state-owned grid company has added domestic carbon allowances to its listed products, it announced Tuesday.

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Bloomberg New Energy Finance says hit to demand as Coronavirus takes hold could make 2020 the "first down year for solar capacity addition" in several decades.

The post Coronavirus could deliver first global solar market contraction since 1980s, says BNEF appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Climate Director will hone and implement a strategic program of work that builds on TNC’s growing role as a leader in tackling climate change.

Victorian Andrews government to allow onshore gas exploration, but will permanently ban CSG and fracking. Environmental groups and the Greens label it "disaster capitalism".

The post Victoria lifts moratorium on onshore gas, but permanently bans fracking appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Huge Dundonnell wind farm begins output in Victoria, one of the few large scale wind and solar projects to connect on schedule.

The post Huge Dundonnell wind farm begins production in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Disaster averted as main rule maker backs off on controversial rule change that would have erected more barriers to wind and solar projects.

The post AEMC backs off on COGATI rule change, relief for solar and wind sector appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Independent Zali Steggall to defer presentation of federal Climate Change Bill from next Monday to a later date, as Parliament focuses on its response to COVID-19.

The post Zali Steggall holds fire on zero emissions climate bill amid Coronavirus chaos appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Leeds University study looked at 86 countries and came to broadly the same conclusions about the rich.

Trina Solar says one of its new 500W PV modules coming to Australia this year could cut the levelised cost of energy by 3-4% for solar farms of 1MW or larger.

The post Trina targets Australia’s big solar market with new 500W module appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China PV manufacturer joins RE100 with pledge to use renewable energy only by 2028, says it “firmly believes” world can get to 100% renewables by 2050.

The post China solar giant LONGi pledges to source 100% renewables by 2028 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Oregon can implement an ETS on direct and indirect sources of emissions using existing legislative authority, the state’s Department of Justice (DOJ) concluded, though its legal analysis did not address whether state-run auctions could occur.

A flexibility mechanism built into the global aviation offset programme CORSIA could dampen carbon credit obligations during the scheme’s pilot phase to address coronavirus-related impacts on the emission baseline, eliminating the need for any changes to the underlying ICAO resolution, according to a green group's analysis.

Germany saw its EU ETS-covered emissions from stationary installations fall by nearly 12% last year, according to government figures released Monday, as the EU’s top emitter replaced a significant amount of coal-fired power with cheaper gas and renewables.

A move towards working from home, less air travel and prudent stimulus spending could flatten emissions growth in the longer term. Glen Peters, Research Director, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Switzerland has closed its emissions trading registry and extended the ETS compliance deadline for emitters due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, the government announced Monday, adding that it had also cancelled this month’s allowance auction.

The pace of EU legislative activity on climate policy is set to slow as the response to COVID-19 coronavirus takes the attention of the bloc's institutions and as non-essential meetings are postponed.