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Tender process for seabed use made more transparent after warnings from energy firms

The Queen’s property manager has bowed to criticism over its plans for the biggest offshore wind auction in a decade by agreeing to fairer terms for renewable energy companies.

The Crown Estate, which holds the rights to seabeds around the British Isles, told windfarm developers on Thursday that it has “refined” its controversial plans for the upcoming tender to make it more affordable to develop renewable energy.

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19 July 1961 Conservationist pioneer Mervyn Cowie works tirelessly to set up national parks, despite opposition from the British colonial territories

Nairobi, July 18
One of the little jokes of the last Kenya Parliament was the way Mervyn Cowie, a nominated member, was often referred to as “the Member for Wild Animals.” In this Parliament there is no place for the director of Kenya’s National Parks. Yet the plight of his wild animals is worse today than he has ever known before.

The immediate causes are those afflicting every farmer – the unprecedented devastation of grazing by army-worm and two years of terrible drought. But there is an even larger danger in the background: the indifference of African politicians to game preservation and the prospect that after independence they may let this greatest of East Africa’s tourist attractions vanish through neglect.

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NSW to offer households interest-free loans of up to $14,000 to install solar and storage, but concerns raised about cost benefits and if it will repeat problems in Victoria.

The post NSW to loan up to $14,000 to homes for rooftop solar and batteries appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Waterwheel plants use snap up mosquito larvae, tiny fish and even tadpoles in freshwater wetlands around the world – including remote parts of north Australia. Adam Cross, Research Fellow, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

South Australia government green-lights EPS Energy plans to install a 280MW solar plus battery storage project near Port Pirie - the fourth huge solar and battery project in the state.

The post Fourth huge solar and battery project approved for South Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The trolls are out and hunting in packs. One solar industry veteran has decided to fight back.

The post Solar industry fights back against surge of climate trolls on social media appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Battery storage companies fear for future in Australia after CEC decides to support strict new standards that will send price of installation rocketing.

The post Australia home battery industry at risk as CEC backs bunker mentality appeared first on RenewEconomy.

FRV lands finance for Goonumbla solar farm, as first of "landmark" pricing solar projects from Snowy Hydro tender gets under way.

The post FRV lands finance for Goonumbla solar farm, to deliver cheap power to Snowy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Experts say the UK looks to be experiencing the arrival of millions of painted lady butterflies.

Union membership is a fraction of what it was but people power is finding a voice through new platforms and movements. People power has given us revolutions, political parties and unions. In part four we look at how people power is now helping to put a range of issues on the political agenda through new platforms, movements and voices in Parliament. We also hear how Parliament itself could be changed.

You are environmentally aware but your boss, who is also your brother-in-law, is extremely wasteful. Do you follow your conscience and leave your job? Or suck it up and carry on? Lizzie Mack and ex-red Wiggle Murray Cook muse on this one.

The motor industry is trying to reduce its carbon footprint in a number of innovative ways.

Fifty years ago, James Burke was one of the presenters leading the BBC's live coverage of the Moon landing.

About 600 million were watching in 1969 - thanks largely to an unlikely outpost in rural Australia.

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

AEMO outlines preferred network plan to unlock $10 billion of wind and solar farms, but Taylor jumps in to spark another rift with state government.

The post Network plans for Victoria wind and solar sparks outrage from Taylor appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the average temperature was 61.6F (16.4C).

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) announced the selection of two offshore wind power projects on Thursday to meet the state’s enhanced zero-carbon electricity goals, a move that could reduce future compliance obligations from the state in the northeast US RGGI cap-and-trade programme.

The northeast US RGGI scheme plans to hold training courses and release guidance documents to help onboard New Jersey compliance entities prior to the state’s entrance into the regional power sector ETS next year, an official said.

Not only carbon dioxide but also soot released from fires has impact on global warming, study finds

The focus on plastics in our oceans has highlighted the global problem of waste disposal. Household bin collection and the recycling, composting, burying or incinerating of our rubbish are key functions of a modern city. But in low-income countries about 90% of waste ends up in open dumps or is burned in the open air.

Obviously, burning waste creates carbon dioxide and the smoke contains health-harmful particles, but it also contains tiny black particles of soot which have a huge short-term climate impact. Researchers from London’s King’s and Imperial colleges burned small samples of rubbish and measured the smoke. Soot amounts were greatest when the rubbish contained two plastics: polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate (more commonly abbreviated to PET and often used to make drinks bottles). Burning waste containing textiles, many of these being plastic, also contributed to high soot releases.

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