Around The Web

How huge floods and complex infrastructure could have triggered ancient Angkor's demise

The Conversation - Thu, 2018-10-18 04:56
A new study reveals that the demise of the ancient city of Angkor was related to the fragmentation of critical infrastructure during a period of climatic instability. Dan Penny, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Why a wetland might not be wet

The Conversation - Thu, 2018-10-18 04:55
Wetlands in Australia are often dry. They may look unassuming but it's a vital part of their vibrant lifecycle. Deborah Bower, Lecturer in Ecosystem Rehabilitation, University of New England Ben Vincent, Research officer, University of New England Darren Ryder, Professor of Aquatic Ecology and Restoration, University of New England John Thomas Hunter, Adjunct Associate Professor in Landscape Ecology, University of New England Lindsey Frost, Technical Officer, University of New England Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England Sarah Mika, Research fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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EPA to unveil plans to weaken rule limiting toxic mercury pollution

The Guardian - Thu, 2018-10-18 03:46

The EPA isn’t rescinding the standard as of yet but has finished deciding to reconsider the analysis for the Obama-era rule

The US Environmental Protection Agency next month will unveil plans to start weakening the economic justification for a rule limiting toxic mercury pollution from coal plants.

The EPA isn’t rescinding the standard as of yet but has finished deciding to reconsider the underlying analysis for the 2011 rule, according to the government’s newly published agenda.

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Mass electrification can help meet BC’s GHG goals, counter LNG growth -study

Carbon Pulse - Thu, 2018-10-18 03:32
British Columbia can achieve its recently updated GHG reduction targets and offset the development of LNG projects in the province through large-scale electrification, according to a white paper released Tuesday by a clean energy trade group.
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CARBON FORWARD 2018: Loss of control makes staying in EU ETS “utterly impossible” for UK -lawmaker

Carbon Pulse - Thu, 2018-10-18 03:22
It will be “utterly impossible” for the UK to remain in the EU ETS post-Brexit, a senior European legislator said Wednesday, arguing that the relinquishment of control involved by British government in such an option makes it politically unfeasible.
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'Your planet needs you': Fracking activists urge public to act after sentences overturned – video

The Guardian - Thu, 2018-10-18 02:48

Three protesters jailed for blocking access to a fracking site walked free on Wednesday after the court of appeal quashed their sentences, calling them manifestly excessive. Simon Blevins, 26, Richard Roberts, 36, and Rich Loizou, 31, were greeted by cheering supporters after judges ruled that they should be freed immediately

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California postpones discussion, final approval of cap-and-trade amendments

Carbon Pulse - Wed, 2018-10-17 23:50
California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) will push back discussion of its cap-and-trade regulations to November, and as a result, no changes will be approved until January 2019, officials said.
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Major polluting projects could face mandatory offsetting under Australia’s Northern Territory’s new Aboriginal carbon plan

Carbon Pulse - Wed, 2018-10-17 22:38
The Northern Territory government on Wednesday released a strategy for Aboriginal carbon farming that included exploring mandatory offsetting for big-emitting resource projects and a potential market for their co-benefits.
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Court quashes 'excessive' sentences of fracking protesters

The Guardian - Wed, 2018-10-17 22:18

Court of appeal gives Simon Blevins, 26, Richard Roberts, 36, Rich Loizou, 31, conditional discharge

Three protesters jailed for blocking access to a fracking site have had their sentences quashed by the court of appeal, which called them “manifestly excessive”.

Related: I was arrested for direct action against fracking. This is too important to stand aside | Esme North

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UK government backs creation of Antarctic wildlife reserve

The Guardian - Wed, 2018-10-17 22:05

Reserve to cover 1.8m km will protect penguins, leopard seals, orca and blue whales

The UK government has thrown its weight behind the creation of the world’s biggest environmental sanctuary, covering a huge swathe of the Antarctic ocean.

The massive 1.8m sq km reserve – five times the size of Germany – would ban all fishing in a vast area of the Weddell Sea and parts of the Antarctic peninsula, safeguarding species including penguins, killer whales, leopard seals and blue whales.

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Renew Estate wins approval for 120MW solar farm and battery near Wagga Wagga

RenewEconomy - Wed, 2018-10-17 20:24

Renew Estate wins development approval for a 120MW solar farm near Wagga Wagga, with plans to add 40MWh of battery storage,

The post Renew Estate wins approval for 120MW solar farm and battery near Wagga Wagga appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Could carbon-capture technology be a silver bullet to stop climate change?

The Guardian - Wed, 2018-10-17 20:00

Few companies specialize in carbon removal and the tools they produce are currently still expensive

Peter Fiekowsky, a physicist and entrepreneur, hates silver bullets.

But at a climate summit in California last month he found himself pitching one. In partnership with the company Blue Planet, he was demonstrating a low-tech-looking machine that can pull carbon dioxide from the air and store it in construction materials.

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Republican lawmakers react to the IPCC report – ‘we have scientists’ too! | Dana Nuccitelli

The Guardian - Wed, 2018-10-17 20:00

Journalists grilled GOP politicians on climate change. It didn’t go well

Major climate science reports usually pass by largely unnoticed, but in the wake of the latest IPCC report a number of journalists laudably grilled Republican lawmakers about its findings. While their responses were predictably terrible, it’s nevertheless crucial for journalists to hold GOP politicians accountable for their climate denial and policy inaction. Donald Trump’s answers were particularly ignorant and nonsensical in his 60 Minutes interview with Lesley Stahl.

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Anti-fracking activists appeal against prison terms amid protests

The Guardian - Wed, 2018-10-17 19:59

Hundreds gather outside high court in London as jailed trio challenge sentences

Several hundred supporters of the three protesters jailed for blocking access to the Preston New Road fracking site have gathered outside the high court in London before their appeal against their sentences.

Simon Blevins, 26, and Richard Roberts, 36, were jailed for 16 months, and Rich Loizou, 31, was jailed for 15 months, after a four-week trial last month led to their convictions for causing a public nuisance.

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Bahrain applies to Green Climate Fund to help clean up waste from fossil fuels

The Guardian - Wed, 2018-10-17 19:47

Oil-rich kingdom says money is needed to protect against water scarcity but request sparks strong criticism and fears over the fitness of the public fund

Bahrain – one of the world’s most oil-rich nations – has applied to the international Green Climate Fund for $9.8m for its National Oil and Gas Authority, raising questions over whether taxpayer-funded assistance for poor countries is reaching its intended targets.

The kingdom has requested the funding to clean up wastewater from the oil and gas industry, which it says is necessary to protect against water scarcity in future – a problem that is likely to grow worse around the world as a consequence of climate change.

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EU Market: EUAs shed gains after UK auction clears at record discount

Carbon Pulse - Wed, 2018-10-17 19:43
European carbon prices shed their gains on Wednesday morning after the fortnightly UK auction cleared at a record discount to the secondary market.
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Does your state have the best tap water?

ABC Environment - Wed, 2018-10-17 17:25
Wannon water from Hamilton WTP in Victoria has won the title of Australia's best tasting tap water.
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Landmark work on frog extinction crisis wins at PM's science prizes

The Guardian - Wed, 2018-10-17 17:16

Lee Berger wins Frank Fenner prize for life scientist of the year while ANU emeritus professor Kurt Lambeck wins prime minister’s prize for science

The sudden crash of several frog species in Australia and central America between the late 1970s and 1990s was a global mystery. Six species were lost in Queensland alone. The prevailing wisdom was environmental factors must be to blame for their extinction. Could it be rising pollution? Or ultraviolet radiation from the growing hole in the ozone layer?

It turned out it was neither. A group of Australian scientists showed environmental change was not responsible, and in the process upended conventional thinking about what can trigger species loss. It started as a theory from Rick Speare, a Townsville-based doctor and vet: that an infectious disease was spreading north through Queensland, wiping out frog species as it went. He invited Lee Berger, a veterinary science graduate from the University of Melbourne, to join the investigation as a PhD candidate.

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Mark Butler calls on Melissa Price to apologise over Pacific Islands 'insult'

ABC Environment - Wed, 2018-10-17 17:06
The Environment Minister has been accused of misleading Parliament after she denied insulting the former President of Kirabati.
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Hyundai mixes messages on Australia arrival date of Kona EV

RenewEconomy - Wed, 2018-10-17 17:00

Hyundai Tweets that Kona EV available in Australia mid November, then deletes the Tweet a day later. Confusion ensues.

The post Hyundai mixes messages on Australia arrival date of Kona EV appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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