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Streamlining carbon neutral certification for EPD products

Department of the Environment - Thu, 2018-03-08 15:55
The Carbon Neutral Program and the Australasian EPD Programme Ltd have worked together to develop a new streamlined process that makes it easier for products with an Environmental Product Declaration to achieve carbon neutral certification.
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Country diary: trees stand as witnesses to history

The Guardian - Thu, 2018-03-08 15:30

Chicksands Wood, Bedfordshire A shaft of sunlight enticed me to a place where the wood’s medieval heart beat still

Almost seven centuries ago, a great calamity 50 miles out to the east sent men with axes and saws into priory-owned Chicksands Wood. The Norman central tower of Ely Cathedral had collapsed, and the architect of its replacement chose to bridge the gap not with stone, but with wood. To this day, the Octagon Tower has Bedfordshire oak timbers holding up its roof to heaven.

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RMIT’s “cheaper, cleaner” proton battery has li-ion firmly in sights

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 14:20
Australian RMIT team make “crucial step” towards cheap, sustainable energy storage after demonstrating rechargeable “proton battery” prototype.
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Tesla Semi trucks its first all-electric load … of Tesla batteries

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 14:18
Tesla's all-electric heavy duty Semi truck makes its first trip, carrying Tesla battery packs, of course.
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Pas-de-deux: Two big coal units trip at same time in Victoria

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 14:16
Two big coal units fail simultaneously in Victoria, taking total trips to 44 since start of summer, and 13 for brown coal generators since Christmas. Tesla battery hopped in again.
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Future tense: how the language you speak influences your willingness to take climate action

The Conversation - Thu, 2018-03-08 14:15
Research suggests that speakers of "present-tensed" languages such as German and Finnish - in which the future can be describe in the present tense - are more likely to support stronger climate policies. Astghik Mavisakalyan, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University Clas Weber, Lecturer, University of Western Australia Yashar Tarverdi, Research fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Biggest joke about NEG? It addresses just 2 seconds of outages

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 13:34
Much-hyped National Energy Guarantee will address problems that cause just an average 2 seconds of outages a year, and is "pointless" on emissions. Coalition urged instead to aim for 70% renewables.
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Tasmania tapped for second trial of wind farm’s ability to stabilise grid

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 12:53
A second ARENA-backed trial of wind farms' ability to provide frequency control ancillary services to be conducted in Tasmania.
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Analysis: UK carbon emissions in 2017 fell to levels last seen in 1890

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 12:50
Carbon Brief analysis shows the UK’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuels fell by 2.6% in 2017, driven by a 19% decline in coal use.
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Another “extraordinary” month for solar, as homes “max out” roof space

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 12:33
New analysis shows "extraordinary" amount of rooftop solar installed in February, with more homes seeking to "max out" available roof space with modules.
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Office and tourism sectors join climate change battle

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 12:30
Following its success with Sydney’s major commercial landlords, the City is now enlisting the office, accommodation and entertainment sectors in the battle to slash carbon emissions.
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Clean energy leader, Chloe Munro, to chair impact investment group’s solar boards

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 12:24
Leading Australian Impact Funds Manager, Impact Investment Group, today announced that Chloe Munro AO, will chair the board of directors for the company's solar energy investment funds.
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Climate change 'impacts women more than men'

BBC - Thu, 2018-03-08 12:15
Women are disproportionately affected by the impacts of changing weather patterns, studies show.
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Australian homes, business installed 6.5 solar panels per minute in 2017

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 11:52
It’s official: CER data says Australian homes and businesses installed record total of 1057MW of solar, mostly on rooftops, in 2017.
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City of Sydney buys into Ausgrid network’s push for more solar

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2018-03-08 11:37
City of Sydney add funds to help Ausgrid's push for more rooftop solar in Australia's biggest city to avoid costly grid upgrades.
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Record-high wool price leaves Australian growers in shear delight

The Guardian - Thu, 2018-03-08 10:13

Strong demand from China, as well as European fashion houses and US sportswear companies, is proving a boom for the industry

The price of wool has reached an historic high after decades of poor returns and Australian woolgrowers are saying the market is stronger than it has been in 30 years.

The price signal, the eastern market indicator, reached a record $18.30 per kilogram this month, double where it was eight years ago. The hike has been driven by strong demand from China and European fashion houses, as well as growing interest from shoe and sportswear companies in the US.

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Why aren't Australia's environment laws preventing widespread land clearing?

The Conversation - Thu, 2018-03-08 05:30
Australia's federal environment laws are inadequate to halt Australia's alarming rates of land clearing and species loss. A more robust set of laws are urgently needed. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Climate change tightens grip on US west coast despite progressive aspirations

The Guardian - Thu, 2018-03-08 05:20

California, Washington and Oregon have led criticism of Trump’s climate policies, but change hasn’t been easier closer to home

California’s exposure to climate change has been laid bare with warnings that San Francisco faces a far worse threat from rising seas than previously thought, while the agricultural heart of the state will increasingly struggle to support crops such as peaches, walnuts and apricots as temperatures climb.

The findings, from two new scientific studies, come as California’s neighboring west coast states Oregon and Washington have both faltered in their legislative attempts to address climate change and deliver a rebuke to Donald Trump’s dismissal of the issue.

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Gorilla sanctuary workers in eastern DRC kidnapped by militia

The Guardian - Thu, 2018-03-08 03:11

Eighteen hostages are alive and abductors are demanding a large ransom, local sources say

Eighteen employees of a gorilla sanctuary in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have been abducted by a militia group, sources have said.

An official with an NGO said the abduction took place on Monday in the area of Nzovu, in Kahuzi-Biega national park. They said an armed group called the Mai-Mai Raia Mutomboki was responsible.

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Another oil firm seeks sweeping injunction against UK protesters

The Guardian - Thu, 2018-03-08 02:52

Critics say legal move by UK Oil and Gas, that could see protesters at its sites jailed and fined, is draconian and anti-democratic

Another firm is seeking a sweeping injunction against environmental protesters, drawing accusations that the legal move is “draconian and chillingly anti-democratic”.

UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) has applied for a broad injunction to prevent campaigners from mounting protests that it says would unlawfully interfere with its operations.

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