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Stationary emissions regulated under the EU ETS fell by 3.1% in 2018 as new renewables capacity displaced coal, resuming a downward trend since 2010 that was interrupted in 2017, a report found on Wednesday.

Energy Insiders returns with an interview with former CEFC boss Oliver Yates, now challenging Josh Frydenberg in the “Menzies” seat of Kooyong, and a wrap of recent events.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Oliver Yates takes on Josh Frydenberg appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tritium co-founder James Kennedy joins The Driven podcast to outline how a small group of solar car enthusiasts became world leaders in electric vehicle fast charging stations.

The post The Driven Podcast: Tritium’s James Kennedy on the rapid transition to EV charging appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a climate-based executive order on Tuesday committing the southwestern US state to cut emissions and uphold the goals of the Paris Agreement via a market-based mechanism and other clean energy measures.

Many of Britain’s native species tackle the cold as caterpillars, but one heads to the African tropics

I’ve disturbed several pristine peacocks hibernating in my log pile in this deep midwinter, but butterflies that endure winter in their adult form are a minority. We may see species including the brimstone, red admiral, small tortoiseshell and comma on a sunny winter’s day.

Most British butterflies tackle winter as caterpillars, superbly camouflaged on bare branches (purple emperor), encased in elegant hibernacula (winter quarters) of withered leaves (white admiral) or even submerged in bogs (swallowtail).

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More lenient standards for coal plants and other industries, along with a lower number of overall participants, will see the forecast compliance unit deficit for large Canadian emitters regulated by the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) nearly halved this year, according to new analysis released Tuesday.

"The water that has gone out of those lakes has been at the call of either the Murray Darling Basin Authority, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, the NSW Environmental Holder, and our obligations under the plan."

European carbon prices climbed back above €23 on Tuesday, clawing back some of Monday’s heavy losses as the energy complex reversed its early declines.

Just one out of a possible 775 development approvals was refused on the basis that it would harm the southern black-throated finch, despite this endangered species being protected by federal law. April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Eric Vanderduys, Research Projects Officer, CSIRO James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Since China stopped accepting Australia's recyclable plastic, the majority of exported plastic waste is now going to developing nations in South East Asia. Monique Retamal, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Elsa Dominish, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Le Xuan Thinh, Director, VNCPC Nguyen, Anh Tuan, Senior researcher Samantha Sharpe, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Anne Taylor is impressed by 16-year-old’s Greta Thunberg’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Geneva

Jeremy Corbyn considered it wasting time at a “billionaires’ jamboree”, referring to a quarter of the cabinet flying to Davos in the middle of the Brexit impasse (The week that was, Environment, 26 January).

Greta Thunberg (Mountain mover, 26 January) clearly didn’t think it was a waste of time. Taking 32 hours to get there by train, the 16-year-old activist practised what she preaches. What could be more important than the future of our planet? As she said in her speech: “Either we choose to go on as a civilisation or we don’t.”

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Of 775 projects overlapping bird’s habitat that government assessed over two decades, only one was refused, study reveals

Environmental laws that formally protect the endangered black-throated finch have also sanctioned the broadscale destruction of its natural habitat, leaving the species at risk of extinction, a new study says.

The study, led by University of Queensland research fellow April Reside, and published on Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science and Policy, charts the exile of the black-throated finch from more than 80% of its former range.

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Humane Society will argue shark control measures conflict with authority’s responsibility to protect reef

Environmentalists will on Wednesday launch a legal challenge aiming to stop the legal killing of sharks, including several protected species, in the world-heritage listed Great Barrier Reef marine park.

The Queensland government runs a shark control program that uses drum lines – baited hooks to lure and kill sharks – near popular swimming spots along the state’s coast.

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California utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday amid mounting liabilities from wildfires over the past two years.

Coalition worth $6.5tn challenge fast food chains over lack of low-carbon plan

McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King have been urged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains by a coalition of global investors, with the animal agriculture industry criticised for being one of the world’s highest-emitting sectors without a low-carbon plan.

Increasing concern that the industry is neglecting climate change and has failed to set emissions targets – unlike other sectors – prompted more than 80 investors representing $6.5tn (£4.94tn) to challenge fast food chain owners to put robust targets in place for their meat and dairy suppliers, in what could prove a landmark demand.

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Rescue workers in Brazil waded through treacherous mud looking for bodies as pressure mounted on the mining company responsible for a dam that burst and spilled a flood of iron-ore waste

• Brazil dam collapse: five arrested including three mining firm staff
  

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A research cruise gets under way as part of the biggest ever US-UK joint venture in Antarctica.

NZUs have barely budged over the past week amid firm demand, making the NZ$25 fixed price option an increasingly tempting way for emitters to meet their 2018 obligations.

SeaWorld says Kayla, aged 30, "inspired generations of guests and employees to care and learn".