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Mercury reaches 48.3C on western coast on Sunday, while Northern Territory hit by rainfall far beyond norm

A severe heatwave in Australia led to daily temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) for vast swathes of the country over the weekend, with the Pilbara region in Western Australia particularly badly affected.

After peaking at 47.9C on Saturday, in the remote town of Paraburdoo, Sunday’s highest confirmed temperature at the time of writing was 48.3C, at Onslow airport on the western coast. Onslow is also the joint record holder for Australia’s highest-ever recorded temperature, having reached 50.7C in January 2022. This record could be under threat as the heatwave continues into Monday and Tuesday, with daily maximums of 50-51C possible in the same region.

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The Slim spacecraft was switched off after failing to generate power - but the Sun may now revive it.

Global industry is set on a course of decarbonisation – but Rishi Sunak is fatally in thrall to the Tory anti-environment right

Of all Rishi Sunak’s blunders and policy decisions in 2023, perhaps the most consequential was his move to delay key milestones on the way to net zero. Sunak postponed the banning of sales of petrol and diesel cars and domestic boilers two months after the government authorised more carbon extraction from the North Sea. Cue outrage from the capitalists to the greens, from greens to even some Tories. What on earth was he doing?

There is perhaps some sense in his decision to slow down. If net zero by 2050 is the final target, then the means of getting there must be realistic. But as our climate becomes more inhospitable, affecting food imports, infrastructure and ultimately living standards, the goal must instead be to reduce global emissions as quickly as possible, not meet a distant date for net zero. Yes, realistic means to decarbonise the British economy are needed, but he has not provided them. On the contrary, he is willing away the means, as he admits they are lacking.

David Edgerton is Hans Rausing Professor of the history of science and technology and professor of modern British history at King’s College London

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A Californian ocean carbon startup has announced a significant expansion of its Series A funding round securing an additional $21.5 million, earmarked for the commercialisation of its nascent carbon capture technology.

Wild freshwater eels are at risk of extinction due to overfishing but their meat can now be cultivated from cells

The first lab-grown freshwater eel meat has been produced, potentially solving a diner’s dilemma. Rampant overfishing has caused eel populations to plummet and prices to soar, but the cultivated eel could provide the delicacy guilt-free.

The eel meat was produced by Forsea Foods in Israel from embryonic cells of the Japanese unagi eel. The company collaborated with a Japanese chef to create unagi kabayaki, marinated grilled eel over rice, and unagi nigiri, a type of sushi.

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China on Monday announced the relaunch of its national voluntary offset market with the completion of the first offset transaction on its newly built trading system.

A financial institution in the MENA region has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a UAE-based fintech firm to help its clients integrate carbon credit buying directly into their corporate accounts.

A Japanese trading house plans to start earning credits from carbon capture and storage (CCS) work from next year via a new partnership with a Norwegian company.

The price for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) sourced from Savanna Fire Management (SFM) projects that do not have indigenous co-benefits associated with them have taken a dive in the secondary market.

Economists say funding energy infrastructure, transport, tech and the environment will aid prosperity

The UK should invest £26bn a year in a low-carbon economy to revive prosperity instead of planning tax giveaways that will only lead to further stagnation, leading economists have advised.

Investing in energy infrastructure, transport, innovation in new technologies such as AI, and the natural environment would boost the UK’s economy rapidly, the research found.

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City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is looking to renewables as a solution after the failure of the gas turbines that were supposed to provide back up power to the mining region.

The post Kalgoorlie turns to renewables as fossil fuel backup fails after storms appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Firm Power gets approval for another three big battery projects, including one in NSW in just six months.

The post Firm Power gets approval for three battery projects as NSW speeds up process appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Retiring coal-fired power in the Philippines just five years early could stop 290 million tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere, according to analysts, although the price would be high.

At least seven turbines at a newly commissioned wind farm in Victoria are being pulled down to fix faulty parts.

The post Turbines at newly installed Victoria wind farm pulled down to fix faulty parts appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China is planning to expand its national emissions trading scheme to cover cement and electrolytic aluminium this year, though the government may only start with a simulation trading mechanism for the two industries, local media reported.

BHP has formalised the search for wind, solar and battery projects to support the electrification and decarbonisation of its Pilbara iron ore mines.

The post BHP begins search for half a gigawatt of wind, solar and batteries for Pilbara mines appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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