Around The Web

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

California’s Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee (IEMAC) on Friday urged the Air Resources Board (ARB) to further analyse the impact of surplus allowances on the cap-and-trade programme and to examine metrics to track the number of banked allowances.

Power sector emissions in California rose in July above the previous year's monthly estimate by the California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO), while fuel consumption dropped slightly in May due to lower diesel sales, according to state data.

EU carbon prices finished higher on Friday in a choppy session spurred by the second failed auction of the week, notching an 11% weekly rise following a string of highly volatile sessions.

A California Superior Court judge halted new housing projects in San Diego County that had sought to use out-of-county carbon credits to offset emissions after opponents challenged the jurisdiction's climate plan.

Massachusetts’ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released amendments to finalise regulations that would install the post-2020 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) changes, including the emissions containment reserve (ECR).

Erik Solheim is criticised for risking the UN's reputation by extensive use of expensive air travel.

EU carbon prices are unlikely to climb any more this year after tripling in value, analysts said, adding that there's possibility that EUAs could crash if speculators launch a mass sell-off.

The week’s top environment news stories and green events. If you are not already receiving this roundup, sign up here to get the briefing delivered to your inbox

UN environment chief criticised by UN over frequent flying

Build walls on seafloor to stop glaciers melting, scientists say

UK pledges £2.1m to save Asian tigers and African chimpanzees

EU must end new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030 to meet climate targets – report

Microplastics can spread via flying insects, research shows

Air pollution linked to much greater risk of dementia

Two directors quit key fracking firm amid ‘Tory rebellion’ claims

Germany launches world’s first hydrogen-powered train

Air pollution particles found in mothers’ placentas

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A herd of bison, orangutan babies and a pod of hippos are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world

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A rare gulper eel is caught on camera displaying its huge pouch-like mouth in Hawaii.

Officials believe the spaceship Hayabusa-2 has put rovers on an asteroid's surface, making history.

Erik Solheim’s huge travel bill is a ‘reputation risk’ and he has ‘no regard’ for rules, says draft internal audit

The globe-trotting travels of the UN’s environment chief have been sharply criticised in a draft internal audit as “contrary to the ethos of carbon emission reduction”.

Erik Solheim, executive director of UN Environment, was travelling for 529 out of the 668 days audited, spending $488,518 (£370,380), according to the report. The audit also said he had “no regard for abiding by the set regulations and rules” and claimed unjustified expenses.

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Black plastic, which cannot be recycled, to be phased out by end of month

Lidl UK says it will remove black plastic from its entire fruit and vegetable range by the end of the month.

Black plastic packaging is not recyclable in the UK, as it cannot be detected by the sorting systems used for plastic recycling, and the supermarket chain says its move will save an estimated 50 tonnes of black plastic waste a year.

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The mayor of London is proud of his work boosting cycling in the capital, but his critics say too little is being done

On a blustery September day two years into his mayoralty of London, Sadiq Khan appears atop a Santander cycle to open a stretch of kerb-protected bike lane – the 2.5km extension of cycle superhighway 6, from Farringdon to Kings Cross. It may be the first time he’s appeared officially on a bike since his 2016 election campaign but he seems genuinely passionate about cycling and walking, and has clearly done his homework – even if some of his stats don’t tell the whole story.

Flanked by his deputy mayor for transport, Heidi Alexander, and his walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, Khan is bullish about his cycling record. This despite ongoing criticism over delays, and a bruising exchange with Westminster city council this summer – the council he brands “anti-walking, anti-cycling” after it blocked cycle superhighway 11 and Oxford Street pedestrianisation in quick succession.

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South Korea’s GHG emissions rose 0.2% in 2016 to 694.1 MtCO2e, primarily due to an increase in energy-related emissions, the government announced Friday.

Energy firm EDL received its first offsets from the Clean Energy Regulator this week, having contracted to sell more than 2.5 million carbon credits to the Australian government from four waste coal mine gas power stations.

The New Zealand government could see a NZ$2.1 billion ($1.4 bln) bump in revenue if it brought agriculture into its emissions trading scheme and phased out all free allocation of carbon permits, according to the government-appointed Tax Working Group.

Amid concerns that Australia might botch its Paris Agreement obligations, one of the nation’s biggest business groups on Friday said environmental concerns had no place in free trade talks with the EU and should be kept to relevant international forums such as the UNFCCC.

Closing prices, ranges and volumes for China's regional pilot carbon markets this week.