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Thinktank report deems Morrison government ‘an increasingly regressive force’

Australia is the worst-performing country on climate change policy, according to a new international ranking of 57 countries. The report also criticises the Morrison government for being a “regressive force” internationally.

The 2020 Climate Change Performance Index, prepared by a group of thinktanks comprising the NewClimate Institute, the Climate Action Network and Germanwatch, looks at national climate action across the categories of emissions, renewable energy, energy use and policy.

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ITK forecasts that the tine weighted spot price average in Victoria for the March 2020 quarter will be lower than the current futures quote, but price forecasts are inherently subject to error. The price forecast has fallen despite the fact the weather forecast continues to be terrible. Seeing climate change problems emerging as predicted won’t...

The post Know your NEM: More renewables, lower prices, questions over battery storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Brazil, China, India and Saudi Arabia are criticised as anger grows at a UN climate change meeting.

Energy minister tells governments gathered in Madrid ‘technology is central’ to reducing emissions

Angus Taylor has touted investments in technology as central to fighting climate change in Australia’s official address to UN climate talks, but sidestepped the country’s controversial plans to use a carbon accounting loophole to slash its Paris climate target.

The emissions reduction and energy minister told the world’s governments gathered in Madrid that the Paris climate agreement “sent a powerful signal to the world that countries are serious about climate action.”

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E3G is looking for an enthusiastic practitioner to lead E3G’s work on Europe-China climate diplomacy and cooperation, analyse and interpret Chinese climate related policy and activities, and facilitate engagement between E3G’s Chinese partners and European climate policy & actors. The role will be based in E3G’s London office.

The British Embassy in Ankara is part of a world-wide network representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to hire a Climate Change Policy Adviser to contribute to British Embassy work to combat Climate Change, including diplomatic action to support delivery of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in December 2020.

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

It is disappearing from our countryside, but what is the real story behind its inclusion in the famous carol?

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…” I bet you’re already singing the next line: “a partridge in a pear tree!” The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of our best-known Christmas carols, even if its repetitive format does sometimes drive us round the bend.

But what of the partridge itself? When I was growing up on the edge of London, the grey partridge was, if not exactly common, a fairly regular sight. If I took a trip to East Anglia, they were ten a penny. Nowadays, I struggle to find them anywhere.

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The NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean has broken ranks with his Liberal colleagues in Canberra and is demanding more action be taken on climate change.

Yesterday the air pollution in Sydney hit an unprecedented high, with the thick smoke haze forcing the closure of ferry routes, evacuations of buildings and workers walking off the job.

Representatives from around 200 countries, including Australia, are meeting in Madrid this week to discuss climate targets and how they'll meet their commitments under the Paris agreement.

Representatives from around 200 countries, including Australia, are meeting in Madrid this week to discuss climate targets and how they'll meet their commitments under the Paris agreement.

If Australia catches 25% of the battery metals market, it could double the mining revenue it currently gets from coal exports.

The post Can we dig it? Battery metals market may be worth twice coal exports appeared first on RenewEconomy.

European carbon prices dipped back below €25, giving back all of yesterday’s gains in an otherwise uneventful day.

The point of an argument can become lost when debating climate change. Greta Thunberg show us how to stay on-topic. Peter Ellerton, Lecturer in Critical Thinking; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Burning non-recyclable waste to generate energy sounds like a great idea – but incineration plants need an ongoing waste stream to be viable, which perpetuates the make-use-dispose mentality. Jeff Seadon, Senior Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

WCI carbon auction volume owned by California will dip nearly a quarter next year, while Quebec's free permit allocation to industrial entities will increase compared to 2019, according to Carbon Pulse analysis.

The World Bank’s Pilot Auction Facility (PAF) will hold its fourth auction on Mar. 3, 2020 to buy methane emission reduction credits from projects in the developing world, the bank announced Tuesday.

Several rich-nation governments have pledged a total of $100 million to extend through 2030 and revamp the World Bank-led PMR carbon pricing technical support facility for emerging economies.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D) intends to once again back a low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) during the 2020 legislative session, but his administration will not endorse a state senator's WCI-modelled cap-and-trade bill, an advisor told Carbon Pulse on the sidelines of the UN climate summit Tuesday.