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Plastic is everywhere – in our food, air, water and oceans. But do we know enough to determine how harmful it is to our health?

If you enjoy a spot of food, like to breathe air and partake in the occasional drink of water (tap or bottled), then you’re almost certainly an unwitting consumer of microplastics.

People who use triangular nylon tea bags are the latest group to be shocked at their exposure to plastics. According to one study, they could be getting about 11bn or so particles of plastic with their Earl Grey or breakfast tea.

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Move comes after Minerals Council attacked planning decisions that cited carbon emissions as a reason for rejecting or imposing conditions on a mine

The New South Wales government is considering legislation that could limit the ability for planning authorities to rule out coalmines projects based on the climate change impact of emissions from the coal once it is burned.

It comes after a campaign from the NSW Minerals Council over decisions that have referenced the impact of “scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions” as a reason for either rejecting a mining project entirely or for imposing conditions on it.

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Biggest offshore windfarm in North Sea will generate electricity for 4.5m homes

The largest offshore wind turbines ever built will begin powering millions of British homes using blades more than 100 metres long by the early 2020s.

Each of the new mega-turbines planned for the world’s biggest offshore windfarm at Dogger Bank in the North Sea will reach 220 metres high and generate enough electricity for 16,000 homes.

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Air France will from next year offset the emissions from all of its nearly 500 daily domestic flights, the airline’s CEO announced late Monday.

California Carbon Offset (CCO) demand has retraced on the secondary market following the slide in WCI allowance prices after the May auction, removing some incentives for compliance entities to procure credits early.

European carbon prices dropped to a new four-month low early on Tuesday on carry-through selling, though buyers helped prevent further losses by pushing EUAs back up to the technical levels breached yesterday.

A remote island in the southern Atlantic Ocean reveals the scale of the problem of plastic waste facing our seas.

China has released a draft allocation plan for its power sector emissions trading scheme trial run, proposing strict efficiency levels for coal-fired power plants that analysts say would force changes at old, inefficient plants despite the lack of an overall CO2 cap for the market.

There were some 1,100km (700 miles) of jams as farmers reacted to plans to cut nitrogen emissions.

Australia’s mangroves and seagrass meadows absorb 20m tonnes of CO2 a year but report warns damage to ecosystems contributing to climate change

Australia’s mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass meadows are absorbing about 20m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, according to a major new study that is the first to measure in detail the climate benefits of the coastal ecosystems.

But the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, warns that degradation of these “vegetated coastal ecosystems” was already seeing 3 million tonnes of CO2 per year being released back into the atmosphere.

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Scientists use new 'environmental DNA' technique to identify each polar bear and their relationship.

The UK-led project to break the land speed record is ready to start testing in South Africa.

Scientists have revealed that Australian seagrass, mangrove and salt marshes absorb 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

The NZ ICCC has multiple 12 month fixed-term positions for analysts/senior analysts available. Candidates will be responsible for providing advice on the development of emissions budgets, including advice on climate change mitigation technologies and approaches, based on strong quantitative analysis.

In a world first, a 24 year-old Brisbane man is taking legal action against his superannuation fund for not factoring climate change into its investment decision. This month the case against REST, the Retail Employees Superannuation Trust, will be back before the Federal Court, where the Judge is expected to set a hearing date.

Solar Victoria confident solar rebate challenges resolved as fresh allocation of 4,000 rebates exhausted in 80 minutes.

The post Another 4,000 Victorian solar rebates snapped up in 80 minutes appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Rooftop solar installations continue strong growth in 2019, hitting a record-equalling 180MW in September.

The post Australia rooftop solar installations equal record 180MW in September appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Three Australian start-ups have been listed amongst the Cleantech Group’s list of 50 early stage companies that could transform the energy system.

The post Three Australian start-ups make list of top 50 global cleantech companies to watch appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A gigantic iceberg has broken away from the Amery ice shelf in east Antarctica. The tabular iceberg, officially named D28, is 1,636 square kilometres in size, or about 50 x 30 kilometres -  the size of greater London or greater Sydney. It separated from the ice shelf last week, on 26 September but scientists said it was not related to climate change

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Our environmental vandalism has made urgent the question of ethical responsibilities across decades and centuries

What if climate breakdown is a violation of the rights of those yet to be born? Finally, this urgent question seems to be getting the attention it deserves. Last month an astonishing 7 million people from nearly 200 countries took to the streets as part of the youth-led global climate strike. Young people around the world recognise that the disastrous repercussions of the already present ecological crisis will fall disproportionately on their shoulders, and the shoulders of generations to come – in particular on those whose communities have emitted the smallest proportion of greenhouse gasses.

Greta Thunberg, whose “school strike for the climate” ignited a movement, often speaks on behalf of those who don’t yet exist. Addressing the UN climate action summit in Manhattan on 23 September she denounced the assembled adults for pursuing money over morality and embracing “fairytales of eternal economic growth” instead of facing the facts of hard science. “Young people are starting to understand your betrayal,” she said. “The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: we will never forgive you.”

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