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Government ends incentives to buy new hybrids and cuts those for electric vehicles

Incentives for consumers to buy hybrid and electric cars rather than diesel or petrol alternatives have been slashed by the government, adding thousands of pounds to the price of a new low-emission vehicle.

Car manufacturers said the decision was an “astounding” move. It comes only three months after the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, published a Road to Zero strategy to curb vehicle emissions by promoting greener cars and three days after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change called for an urgent switch to electric vehicles.

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A rhinoceros hornbill and a white moray eel are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world

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High court rejects request to temporarily block Cuadrilla operation in Lancashire

The first fracking in the UK for seven years will start on Saturday, the shale gas company Cuadrilla has confirmed, after campaigners lost a last-minute legal challenge to block the operations.

Lancashire resident Robert Dennett won an interim injunction last Friday against Lancashire county council, putting a temporary halt to the start of fracking at a well outside Blackpool.

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When he was searched by police, Daniel Lingham said: "I've been a silly man, haven't I?"

Closing prices, ranges and volumes for China's regional pilot carbon markets this week.

China’s environment ministry has clarified the structure and role of its climate change division, adding the construction of the national emissions trading scheme to its list of duties after omitting the ETS from an initial overview published last month.

New Zealand carbon allowances on Friday came down from the record highs seen earlier in the week, with some observers saying a correction to below NZ$25 might be due.

Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator issued 228,473 new carbon credits this week, with all recipients under contract with the Emissions Reduction Fund, leaving no fresh supply to the secondary market.

Of 10,620 new passenger vehicles registered in Norway in September, nearly half were electric.

The post Norway electric car sales chart record month appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China made Teslas could be headed Australia's way, after news of progress on a site for a factory near Shanghai.

The post Tesla China EV factory a step closer, with $200m land deal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Jaguar sounds new solution to the silence of electric vehicles, a year ahead of upcoming global noise regulations.

The post Jaguar adds sound to I-Pace, ahead of EV regulations appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Canada Q3 sales figures show Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model 3 leading way in battery electric vehicle sales – and Model 3 only hit north America market in May.

The post Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf drive EV sales in Canada appeared first on RenewEconomy.

‘Inseparable’ Sphen and Magic show ‘great excitement caring for their egg’ and are natural parents, aquarium says

Two male penguins have “proposed” to each other in a Sydney aquarium, and are now the proud foster parents of an egg.

Sphen and Magic, two gentoo penguins, have built a bigger nest than any other couple, take turns incubating, and have been praised by staff as model parents.

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Farmers are ‘up for radical thought’ following bad harvests due to extreme weather, NFU says

From low-emission cows to robotic soil management, the farming industry will have to explore new approaches in the wake of a UN warning that the world needs to cut meat consumption or face worsening climate chaos.

That was the message from Guy Smith, vice-president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), this week as policymakers began to discuss how Britain can address the challenges posed by the recent global warming report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

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ARENA tips $2.9m into trial with Monash University and technology partner Indra Australia to run Clatyon campus entirely on renewable energy.

The post Monash Uni 100% renewable microgrid trial wins ARENA backing appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Solar’s big year, an interview with German battery storage maker Senec, and a round-up of the highlights of the All Energy conference.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Solar’s big year, and Senec storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scientists are racing against the clock to figure out how to propagate the rare leek orchid before it goes extinct. Marc Freestone, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Melbourne Renewable Energy Project partners and Pacific Hydro are celebrating after taking home one of the Premier’s 2018 Sustainability Awards.

The post Nation-first renewable energy project recognised appeared first on RenewEconomy.

SolarEdge has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a major stake in Kokam, a provider of Lithium-ion battery cells, batteries and energy storage solutions. 

The post SolarEdge to acquire Kokam appeared first on RenewEconomy.

PRESS RELEASE Tritium Pty Ltd’s global success in the electric vehicle fast-charger market has been recognised with the Premier of Queensland’s Exporter of the Year Award and the Manufacturing Award. The Awards were announced last night (October 11, 2018) at a gala dinner in Brisbane. As a winner of the Queensland Awards, Brisbane-based Tritium automatically...

The post Tritium’s manufacturing of EV chargers recognised with Queensland Export Awards appeared first on RenewEconomy.