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Mining, farming, hydropower and chemical sectors aim to weaken key directives

Industry lobbies are mounting a push to roll back EU clean water regulations, even though less than half of the continent’s rivers, wetlands and lakes are in a healthy state.

The lobby offensive is aimed at weakening the bloc’s floods and water framework directives, which require all states to ensure their waterways are in “good ecological condition” by 2027. Conservation groups say the proposed changes could sound a death knell for several endangered aquatic species.

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Algae milk, insect protein and nutrients consumed through a patch or pill may become norm, report says

The food of the future could come in the form of stick-on patches and pills or be delivered by intravenous drip, according to a report that predicts what and how we could be eating as far ahead as 150 years from now.

Jellyfish suppers washed down with algae milk and bread made from insect protein may eventually become the norm, while shoppers will be able to pick up “lab-grown” meat kits from dedicated supermarket aisles – or get them delivered by drone.

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Production must end now, says first ever estimate of plastic’s cradle-to-grave impact

The proliferation of single-use plastic around the world is accelerating climate change and should be urgently halted, a report warns.

Plastic production is expanding worldwide, fuelled in part by the fracking boom in the US. The report says plastic contributes to greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its lifecycle, from its production to its refining and the way it is managed as a waste product.

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In 2019, climate change has re-emerged as the key issue in the minds of voters. RenewEconomy takes a look at the key parties and independents ahead of the election.

The post Climate Change Election: where do parties stand and what can we expect after Saturday? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Adelaide-based sustainable agriculture trailblazer sells solar thermal arid-zone greenhouse business to NZ-based infrastructure group Morrison & Co.

The post Sundrop Farms sells solar tower powered greenhouse business appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New research by Bafta found references to "climate change" lag far behind "beer" or "sex" in UK TV shows.

Antonio Guterres hears from leaders at Fiji summit who warn region is facing ‘an unprecedented global catastrophe’

Governments around the world must introduce carbon taxes, halt plans for new coal plants and accelerate the closure of existing ones if damage to the Pacific from climate change is to be limited, the UN secretary general has told Pacific leaders on his first visit to the region.

Antonio Guterres met leaders of Pacific countries in Fiji, on a trip that will also see him visit Vanuatu, considered one of the countries most vulnerable to natural disasters due to climate change, and Tuvalu, which is at risk of sinking under rising waters.

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Electricians body says new rules on solar installations are no good. “Our members didn’t do 4-year electrical apprenticeship (to) lift heavy solar panels."

The post Electricians reject Queensland solar rule: Adds “nothing but red tape” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Land clearing, deforestation, emissions, drought and warming oceans are all worsening the attack on Australia’s threatened species

• Read more of our coverage of the issues in Our wide brown land series

Australia’s biodiversity is in trouble. The UN global assessment report painted a stark picture: the decline of the world’s natural support systems means that human society is in danger. According to the report, nature is being destroyed at a rate tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the past 10 million years. More than a million species are at risk of extinction, natural ecosystems have declined by about 47% and the biomass of wild mammals has fallen by 82%. All of this is largely because of human activity. And the resulting impacts are likely to worsen unless we take action immediately.

As Guardian Australia has reported, Australia’s natural support systems are at breaking point. Increased land-clearing, warming oceans and a drought exacerbated by climate change are taking their toll on our biodiversity. The country is already experiencing rising oceans, marine heatwaves, longer fire seasons and extreme heat patterns. These are consistent with a changing climate.

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Monash University team says it makes "critical" progress on the path to industrial production of green hydrogen fuel by water electrolysis.

The post Scientists edge closer to stable, cheap green hydrogen production appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Local Government Super has a carbon neutral certified property portfolio

How Australia's solar projects have cannibalised their own market by grouping together and causing congestion in the local grid.

The post How the big solar boom saw major PV projects eat their own market appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The public consultation period for assessment for ongoing export accreditation will be open from 16 May 2019 until 17 June 2019.

The public consultation period for assessment for ongoing export accreditation will be open from 16 May 2019 until 17 June 2019.

Tesla big battery at Hornsdale lifts revenues by 20 per cent in first quarter, inspiring owners Neoen to search for more storage opportunities.

The post Tesla big battery lifts revenues 20% in first quarter, Neoen eyes more storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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

The influx of speculators into the California Carbon Allowance (CCA) market over the past several months will tighten the amount of available permit supply and raise prices going forward, though little change to the WCI programme’s emissions profile is expected, analysts said Tuesday.

This man is growing vegetables in the most northerly major human settlement on Earth.

The US Supreme Court refused Monday to hear an appeal from several fossil fuel and business trade groups that challenged that the Oregon Clean Fuels Program (OCFP) illegally regulates interstate commerce, thereby allowing the state’s low-carbon fuel standard to withstand another legal test.

EU carbon allowances are expected to remain volatile for the rest of the year, analysts said, with prices seen ending 2019 within a wide range that is mostly well above current levels.