Around The Web

Mulga is an Aussie icon: hardy, adaptable, and absolutely everywhere. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The mining industry is going green - at least in its electricity supply. A special “live” podcast from the Energy and Mines conference in Perth.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Mining industry turns to wind, solar, batteries and hydrogen appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Survey says teachers feel ill-equipped to educate pupils, as school strikes continue

A growing number of teachers want their pupils to learn more about the climate crisis and are calling for environmental training so they can prepare children for a rapidly changing world, according to a poll.

The findings from YouGov research commissioned by Oxfam come before the latest round of school climate strikes on Friday, in which it is expected that hundreds of thousands of young people will walk out of classrooms around the world.

Continue reading...

Global marine contractor Van Oord and heavy lifting and transport specialist Mammoet partner with Queensland's Verton Australia to develop safer method for installing wind turbine blades.

The post Queensland company joins global effort to improve wind turbine installation appeared first on RenewEconomy.

After a bumper year of profits in 2018, EnergyAustralia has taken a hit from state and federal retail power price re-regulation, suffering a write-down of up to $A1.3 billion.

The post EnergyAustralia hit by power price interventions, coal troubles appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Miners turn corner on renewables, with minimum 50% wind and solar considered the norm, and looking to use cheap renewables to build industries rather than just export ore.

The post Miners see 50% renewables as standard, but are aiming for 100% appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Two “silent catalysts” will push European carbon prices higher in the coming months, analysts predict, calling the market’s current focus on Brexit and gas prices “short-sighted”.

The 180MW Berrybank wind farm will use turbines constructed in a former car factory in Geelong.

The post Berrybank wind farm begins construction with turbines made locally in old car factory appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Taronga Conservation Society Australia has announced the birth of a Western Lowland gorilla. The female, yet to be named, was born on Thursday 6 June to Frala, an experienced mother, and was sired by Kibali

• ‘Gorilla selfie’: DRC park ranger explains photo that went viral

Continue reading...

BHP puts its Chile and Australian electricity contracts out to tender, and expects renewables to feature strongly in "game-changing" shift.

The post BHP energy tender could deliver “game changing” shift to renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Britain is set to obtain more of its power from zero-carbon sources than from fossil fuels.

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

How one amputee is helping scientists improve the lives of other people who rely on prosthetic limbs.

Four California assemblymembers asked state regulator ARB this week to adopt the Tropical Forest Standard (TFS) for international sector-based offset programmes despite ongoing disagreement and environmental justice opposition to the proposal.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices dropped significantly on the secondary market this week as aggressive sellers caused the first major retracement since this spring’s bull run began, while RGGI allowances (RGA) dipped slightly amid New Jersey finalising its regulations to join the nine-state ETS.

The New York legislature late Wednesday passed an omnibus climate bill that will see the Empire State make deep emission cuts through 2050 with the possible use of some in-state offsets, though environmental justice groups lamented compromises made regarding the allocation of green project revenues.

EU leaders failed to agree on setting a 2050 date for the bloc to reach net zero emissions late Thursday, as talks broke with four nations holding out.

Concern grow over ammonia particles from fertiliser and bioaerosol from intensive farms

We think of the countryside as being a place of fresh air. Each weekend thousands of us leave our cities to hike or cycle in rural areas or simply to enjoy time in nature. Increasing attention is being given, however, to air pollution from farming. Ammonia from fertiliser and slurry mixes with air pollution from cities, traffic and industry to add to the particle pollution that plagues many parts of the world. It is estimated that halving ammonia from farming could avoid about 52,000 premature deaths from air pollution across Europe each year and 3,000 in the UK.

Increasing attention is also being paid to bioaerosol from intensive farming. In animal houses these are tiny particles and dust from the animals themselves, their food, bedding and waste. They can also include fungi, bacteria and pollen. A recent review by Imperial College and Public Health England found evidence of respiratory problems in farm workers and raised concerns about exposure for people living close to intensive livestock farms, including some evidence of increased asthma in children. Bioaerosol concerns mean that composting facilities need to be at least 250 metres from UK homes and schools, but farms can be nearer and only require assessment if they are closer than 100 metres.

Continue reading...

You can barely communicate with your kids, but these creatures are sending complex interspecies instructions. Alyssa Weinstein, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Oregon Senate Republicans fled the state on Thursday in protest of a scheduled final vote of a WCI-modelled cap-and-trade bill, leaving Democrats without a quorum to conduct any business in the interim.