Around The Web

EUAs climbed back towards €22 after touching a three-week low on Wednesday, as higher natural gas prices lifted the wider energy complex.

Gas mining is expanding across Australia, and has been touted as part of the answer to cutting emissions. But there is evidence that this rollout will pose significant health and environmental risks. Melissa Haswell, Professor of Health, Safety and Environment, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology David Shearman, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If you’ve ever travelled to an Australian desert, you may have been in the presence of one of Australia’s most elusive marsupials. The Anangu people call it the itjaritjari but it is more commonly known as the marsupial mole – even though it is not actually a mole. Living entirely underground, this eye-less creature with pincer-like limbs has mostly defied scientific study until one scientist decided to bury some microphones ... Benjamin Law talks to Chris McCormack about his trip to Uluru in pursuit of this remarkable animal

Continue reading...

Australia has highest rate of mammal extinction in the world but government admits it ‘does not have data’ on plans

The federal environment department has admitted it does not know whether recovery plans meant to prevent extinctions of threatened species are actually being implemented.

Related: Wombats, sharks, possums, frogs: Australia's animals at risk of extinction – interactive

Continue reading...

The author and scientist, who has returned to his roots at the Australian Museum, says the world is about to see a major shift towards climate action

Tim Flannery laments that young Australians today will never be able to experience in the same way the natural wonders he enjoyed in his youth.

He grew up in Melbourne on remnants of the sandplain flora, “one of the great floristic gems of Australia,” he says. Once smothered in flowers in springtime, it has now largely been lost through development and altered burning regimes. Flannery, 63, spent his youth swimming and scuba diving in northern Port Phillip bay, which he says is now also gravely deteriorated.

Continue reading...

Recent gains in the California Carbon Allowance (CCA) market are leading traders to question whether prices could diverge from historic trends amid an influx of bullish new speculators, with some predicting the rise will be short-lived.

As the UK’s deer population explodes, more of the animals are heading into urban areas. Why – and will they be welcome there?

If you head out to the shops today, or a churchyard, or a school, or a playground, and you live in a town or city, you might be in for a surprise. Cats, dogs, squirrels, even foxes are part and parcel of our urban landscapes now but increasingly, it’s not out of the question that you might just as easily meet a deer.

The deer population in the UK is at the highest it has been for at least 1,000 years, at around two million. Over the past few decades, does and stags have been spotted in urban areas and villages around the UK, from Glasgow, to Sheffield and London. This week, the Royal Horticultural Society released guidance on how gardeners can deer-proof their outdoor spaces. Replace tulips with daffodils and red hot pokers, it suggests, because deer don’t like the taste and it will stop them rummaging through your flowerbeds.

Continue reading...

Allegations that animals not fit for consumption are entering food chain raise doubts over Netherlands’ inspection regime

An investigation into the Dutch food safety authority has been ordered by the minister of agriculture, Carola Schouten, following repeated allegations that sick cows are being slaughtered in the north of the Netherlands.

A number of cases have been brought against cattle traders and slaughterhouses for transporting and offering sick cattle for slaughter in recent years, with several consequent convictions. Now the government is to review the Dutch food safety authority (Nederlandse Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit, NVWA). The NVWA is responsible for monitoring the slaughterhouses, but questions have been raised about its effectiveness since it was established in 2012.

Continue reading...

Japan’s most powerful business lobby this week urged the government to prioritise economic growth in the battle against climate change, such as backing exports of efficient coal power technology while steering clear of an explicit price on carbon emissions.

Like living relics from a bygone era, the last of Africa’s big tusker elephants roam in a vast, remote wilderness in Kenya. In partnership with the Tsavo Trust NGO and the Kenya Wildlife Service, Will Burrard-Lucas spent months photographing these rare animals. His series of intimate portraits are captured in his book, Land of Giants

Continue reading...

The public is being asked to contribute entries to a national nature diary documenting the arrival of Spring.

Scientists and campaigners warn that factories in coastal villages are wreaking environmental and economic havoc

Before the arrival of fishmeal factories in the Gambia, Musa Duboe would catch red snapper and barracuda to be sold at the local market. But his income had begun to dwindle due to depleted stocks.

Then in 2016 the Chinese-owned fishmeal plant Golden Lead began operating out of the coastal town of Gunjur, increasing demand for fish to export for overseas aquaculture.

Continue reading...

Rare creature found at the mouth of Murray River in South Australia

A rare giant sunfish has washed ashore at the mouth of the Murray River in South Australia.

Linette Grzelak posted a picture on Facebook of the sunfish, which was spotted by a couple of fishers on the beach at the weekend.

Continue reading...

• Strawberries, spinach and kale among most pesticide-heavy
• Conventionally farmed kale could contain up to 18 pesticides

About 70% of fresh produce sold in the US has pesticide residues on it even after it is washed, according to a health advocacy group.

According to the Environmental Working Group’s annual analysis of US Department of Agriculture data, strawberries, spinach and kale are among the most pesticide-heavy produce, while avocados, sweetcorn and pineapples had the lowest level of residues.

Continue reading...

Sun Metals CEO says company looking to expand portfolio of renewable generation assets to further reduce its exposure to volatile grid electricity prices.

The post Sun Metals eyes wind, battery storage in shift to “most competitive electricity” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Like other big utilities, EnergyAustralia is making hay from its coal assets while the sun shines. How it manages the transition to renewables and storage will be key.

The post EnergyAustralia juggles legacy coal assets and new storage as transition accelerates appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The push by the network lobby to limit exports from rooftop solar is more about defending their investment in gas pipelines. It must be resisted.

The post Why the network push to limit rooftop solar exports should be resisted appeared first on RenewEconomy.

EnergyAustralia explains why wind and solar will be “bedrock" of Australia’s grid.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: EnergyAustralia explains why wind and solar will be “bedrock” of Australia’s grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Sonnen expects to see a rapid expansion of its market reach, and battery storage production in its new Adelaide factory, following its purchase by oil giant Royal Dutch Shell.

The post Sonnen looks at 10-fold increase in production after Shell purchase appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Archaeologists hope to uncover new details of a site where dead may have been left for scavengers.