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Mining and waste dumping has badly polluted the lakes, including those in the Wilderness World Heritage Area

Metal contamination levels in some of Tasmania’s lakes are among the highest in the world, a new study has found, while those within the state’s Wilderness World Heritage Area have also been badly polluted by mining.

The Australian National University study found atmospheric metal contaminates from historic mining activities in Queenstown and Rosebery in Tasmania had “contaminated most of the Wilderness World Heritage Area”.

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Walking towards this tree, which grows only on a select few mist-shrouded mountainsides in Queensland, can feel like stepping into a prehistoric dinosaur-filled fantasy. Fanie Venter, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Angus Taylor has seized upon an ANU renewables briefing as justification for the government’s do-nothing approach to climate. But meeting our Paris target is certainly not a given.

The post Australia is not on track to meet Paris emissions target – not without policy support appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ARENA-backed project will re-purpose a zinc mine in South Australia into a 5MW/10MWh compressed air energy storage facility, to support the grid and greater use of renewables.

The post SA zinc mine to host Australia’s first compressed air energy storage demonstration appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Does rooftop solar really struggle in the heat? Real data from two rooftop solar systems show how they reliably soldiered on during a recent Adelaide heatwave.

The post How to power through a heatwave – in comfort, on 100% solar energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

It’s boom-time for Australia’s rooftop solar sector, but not everything is rosy. We take a glimpse into the world of “crap solar,” where helping people to save money on their bills is the last thing on the agenda.

The post Tales from the solar gutter – the dark side of Australia’s rooftop PV boom appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Experts and advocates have consistently found dealers and manufacturers putting as little effort as possible into selling electric cars.

The post Car companies aren’t even trying to sell electric cars appeared first on RenewEconomy.

To go into big wind and solar generation big-time will cannibalise AGL's coal generation profits – it's the classic problem incumbents face from industry disruption.

The post Is AGL ready to be disrupted? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW Land and Environment Court judge blocks Hunter Valley coal mine, citing urgent need to cut fossil fuel emissions and avoid "dire consequences" of climate change.

The post NSW coal mine ruled out due to climate change, in landmark court decision appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Premier distances herself from decision to open Ross River dam floodgates, which sent water into Townsville suburbs

The Queensland government has announced an inquiry into the historic flooding in Townsville, as evidence mounts that local authorities failed to anticipate the extreme nature of the recent record rainfall.

The independent inquiry will look into “key preparedness and response elements” to the storms that dumped more than one metre of rain on Townsville in less than a week.

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Renewable certificate prices plunge, reflecting huge pipeline of wind and solar projects and intervention from regulator. It also makes a nonsense of right-wing inventions about the cost of RET.

The post Renewable energy certificate prices plunge as regulator says it’s OK to stall appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The National Museum of Scotland unveils the final three galleries of its £80m redevelopment.

First of 149 turbines installed at site of one of Australia’s biggest, lowest cost, wind energy developments, the 530MW Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in western Victoria.

The post First turbine installed at 530MW Stockyard Hill wind farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Today the Australian Government announces Ms Paula Conboy has advised she will not be pursuing a second term as the Chair of the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).

The post AER chair Paula Conboy will not seek second term appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Herbert Smith Freehills has continued its run as the pre-eminent law firm for project finance in the renewables sector in Australia and New Zealand after topping the Inframation Deals league tables for deal count and deal value in 2018.

The post Herbert Smith Freehills renewables practice dominates project finance league tables for 2018 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

We know energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit of emissions reduction and lower bills, but a new report shows it's also a major job creator, with plenty more potential.

The post Energy efficiency employs more people than coal, oil or gas: report appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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The fellow will be expected to conduct original research and writing on what should be done to prevent and mitigate the consequences of climate change.

A Washington state representative has submitted a bill that would implement a carbon fee-and-dividend type system featuring trading and offsets, which would add to the numerous other climate policies already under consideration in the Evergreen State this year.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices declined this week as entities looked to take advantage of a tighter spread, while RGGI Allowances (RGA) languished despite the ongoing controversies in Virginia.